Dalhousie's Faculty of Management appointed Dr. Mike Smit to the role of dean this summer for a five-year term following an international search.
Dr. Smit, an Information Science professor and researcher at Dal for 11 years, is uniquely positioned to guide the future of management education at Atlantic Canada’s largest university. In addition to his impressive list of credentials and awards, he has demonstrated his commitment to, and passion for, the university, the students, the region, and his colleagues.
He has also served as acting dean of the Faculty for the past 18 months.
“It is a privilege and an honour to continue to serve this Faculty," says Dr. Smit. "I first came to Dalhousie because I wanted to do cool things with smart people, and it’s a privilege to do that every day. I look forward to continuing to spend time connecting beyond our walls: with alumni, businesses, government and public institutions, and friends.”
Dr. Kim Brooks, Dal’s vice-chancellor and president, preceded Dr. Smit in the role. She says she is “excited to see the Faculty of Management’s trajectory during its next chapter.”
“Through the pandemic, leadership transitions, and a recent restructuring of the Faculty, Dr. Smit’s leadership has brought a welcome sense of stability," she says. "Even more important than his intellect and institutional knowledge, Dr. Smit has excelled in this role because of his ability to connect with those around him and to lead with levity, joy, and straight-talk, even in the most challenging situations.”
A research and community leader
Dr. Smit came to Dal for a BCSc and then a MCSc after which he went to the University of Alberta to complete a PhD and to York University for a postdoctoral fellowship. Quickly establishing himself as a scholar of emerging technology, he used and continues to use his knowledge to explore how data, AI, and management can be used for the public good.
Alongside his career, he has been a community volunteer, a startup co-founder (successfully and, self-admittedly, not-so-successfully), and a STEAM/entrepreneurship summer program director.
Recognition of Dr. Smit’s reputation as an interdisciplinary researcher and his leadership qualities have drawn him into many high profile and ambitious projects addressing some of the most pressing concerns of our time.
As principal investigator for the Building Bridges research project, Dr. Smit is helping leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for gathering and analyzing data about Canada’s oceans. He recently served as deputy scientific director for the Ocean Frontier Institute, a global leader in ocean research, where he played a key role in launching Transforming Climate Action, a $397-million research program investigating the role of the ocean in climate change.
Some of his prior roles at the Faculty include associate dean academic and acting associate dean of research. In 2022 he was awarded the Lloyd Fraser Award for exceptional contribution to the Dalhousie Senate, and in 2017 he was recognized by the university with a teaching award.
A well-suited match
His interdisciplinary background matches well with the unique Faculty of Management, where in addition to offering undergraduate degrees in both commerce and management, students can pursue graduate degrees in business administration, public administration and information sciences, and digital innovation. New PhD programs in Information and in Management were recently approved by the university Senate, reflecting the growing research intensity in the Faculty.
Dr. Sandra Toze, program director for Information programs, who’s worked with Dr. Smit since his arrival at Dal, says his talents are vast. In addition to being optimistic and dedicated, she appreciates his authenticity and inquisitive mind.
“The thing that singles Mike out, is that’s he’s a disruptor who consistently challenges himself and his colleagues to consider, why do we do the things that we do,” she says.
Matthew Martel (BMgmt’14), a member of the faculty’s advisory committee, a member of the decanal search committee, and the chief executive officer of the Black Business Initiative, feels there is a lot of support behind Dr. Smit, not just at Dal, but in the community at large.
“What I find valuable is that he doesn’t just know how to anticipate the needs of the businesses, but he also understands the solutions that businesses are exploring," says Martel. "I hope that he continues to take the lead when it comes to diversity and inclusion, going above and beyond the standards.”
Dr. Smit is married and the very proud father of two girls. The eldest of four children, he grew up on a dairy farm in rural Nova Scotia.
Learn more about Dr. Smit here.
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