Dr. Rob Smith

Rob Smith serves as Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation and Associate Professor of Psychology at Berea College. In his administrative role, he leads the College’s campus-wide efforts in assessment, institutional effectiveness, and accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). With more than a decade of experience in academic leadership, he focuses on fostering a culture of continuous improvement that links assessment, planning, and decision-making to student learning and institutional mission.

A faculty member at Berea for more than two decades, Rob teaches courses in statistics and research methods that emphasize applied inquiry and project-based learning, guided by the belief that students learn most deeply through active engagement with real questions and data. He also occasionally teaches the Senior Research capstone course – comprised of independent, student-initiated research projects – and the General Psychology course. In addition, he routinely serves as the faculty sponsor for students completing psychology-related summer internships, mentoring them through experiences that bridge classroom learning with professional practice.

Rob earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2003 and maintains licensure to practice in the state of Kentucky, though his current work is focused on higher education. His recent professional interests explore how generative AI can enhance assessment and accreditation work by streamlining evidence collection, strengthening faculty engagement, and supporting data-informed improvement. His work reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening educational quality and transparency across all areas of the College.