Q & A with Shirley Smith
Meet Shirley Smith - Associate Professor of Business
Background
Degrees & Certificates
- Bachelor of Science
- Master of Business Administration
- Doctor of Business Administration, Candidate
Professional Organizations
- Past District Director, Toastmasters International
- Past Director, Priscilla's Lost & Found (mentoring women)
Q & A
What do you do at CCD?
I am an instructor in the Business Department
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I am a new faculty member of this great institution and I love everything about my role here specifically when my students display that "Ah- ha" moment regarding challenging content matter. The peers in my department are pretty outstanding as well as they have created a warm and friendly work environment.
When you're not working, what do you do?
I travel quite a bit, but completing my business study (dissertation) consumes a vast amount of my personal time.
What moment at CCD stands out as the most memorable?
The moment I got the call, "You're hired!"
Who had the greatest influence on your education and/or career path?
My father had the greatest influence on my education and career path. Despite the fact that he had but a third-grade education, he was a very successful entrepreneur. As a young child, he took me to a lot of his business meetings and I would read contracts and other materials for him. He would memorize what I said and no one ever knew his difficulty in reading. As I read, I learned. He drilled in me, "Go to school and get a good education. Don't depend on anyone else for your well-being." Despite the fact that when I got older and tried to venture into the field of English/Language Arts, I always found myself coming back to Business and all the things that my father taught me.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
When making the decision on whether or not I should move from Houston, Texas to Denver, my best friend said, "Sometimes you have to go to grow." And grow I did by making the move.
Which three people (living or dead) would you invite to dinner, and why?
1. My parents, as I have questions I would like to talk to my parents about in regards to business, raising children and life.
2. Barack Obama. I would love to discuss how he deals with difficult personalities, his decision-making process and his experience as the first black president.
What or who can't you live without?
I cannot live without my relationship with the Lord, my husband, sons and my beautiful grandchildren.