Joining us today is President Ryan Smith, President of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College. He joined the institution as President in October 2019.

Ryan spent the first 23 years of his career working as a Vice President and partner with Smith financial advisors. In 2007 he was elected to the Gallipolis City School board, and in 2012 he won election to be State Representative for the 93rd District of Ohio. He served as Finance Chairman and in 2018, Ryan was elected to serve as the 103rd Speaker of the Ohio House until stepping down from his post in October 2019.

He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B. S. degree in Finance. His wife, Vicki, graduated from Rio Grande and they are the proud parents of four children.

Questions:

• The University of Rio Grande is a private university founded in 1876, and Rio Grande Community College is a public community college that was founded in 1974. They have separate boards and funding structures. Can you discuss with our audience about this unusual model and its advantages?
• For a small institution located in a rural region, you have quite an intercollegiate athletic program. Tell us about the program and the students who participate.
• You do not come from a traditional path to become a university president. However, you have been a public servant first at the local school board and then the state legislature, where you served not only as a legislature but as Speaker of the House. Are they similar in any way and what lessons in leadership you learned in public office are applicable in your current position?
• The school has been in the community since 1876. Can you tell us about the school’s involvement with the outside community meaning businesses and people in the region?
• I have read articles and talked with individuals over the past years that question the viability and sustainability of smaller colleges and universities. Tell us why in your opinion the value of small schools such as yours to higher education