Mary Levi Smith | |
|---|---|
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| 11th President of Kentucky State University | |
| In office October 30, 1991 – June 30, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | John T. Wolfe Jr. |
| Succeeded by | George Reid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Levi 1936 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2020 Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Spouse | LeRoy Smith |
| Occupation | Educator, academic administrator |
Mary Levi Smith (née Mary Levi; 1936 – November 28, 2020) was an American educator who served as the 11th president of Kentucky State University (KSU) from 1991 to 1998. She was the first female president of KSU and the second woman to lead a state university in Kentucky.
Smith began working at KSU in 1970, becoming an assistant professor in 1974 and the dean of the College of Applied Sciences in 1983. In 1988, she was appointed as the vice president for academic affairs, and became interim president of KSU after the resignation of Raymond Burse. She was not selected for the permanent position, but the new president, John T. Wolfe Jr., faced charges of financial misconduct and resigned in October 1991. Smith assumed the duties of the presidency and was officially appointed as president less than two weeks later. She served as president of KSU for almost seven years and retired in 1998. She also went by the name Mary Levi Smith–Stowe.[1][2]
- ^ "Hall of Distinguished Alumni, Mary Levi Smith-Stowe". University of Kentucky Alumni Association. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Mary Smith-Stowe". The State Journal. December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2024.