Everyone has a story.
Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person—someone well-known, influential, or successful—and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
BY TONY TAGLAVORE, JOURNAL SERVICES
Do you like math?
Probably not.
Do you know anyone who likes math, other than your accountant?
Doubtful.
Unless you know Dr. Robert T. Smith.
And he doesn’t like math. He loves math. Why else would Robert write 10 books on calculus?
I always had an infinity for mathematics. I was good at it. I never had to work real hard at it. But I had no clue where it would lead me.”
The teaching and application of Math led Robert to the Chancellor’s office at LSUS. The Philadelphia native came to Shreveport last July, after serving six years as Provost of Valdosta State University in Georgia.
“It’s enormously satisfying to know that by virtue of me investing a little bit of energy and a little bit of ingenuity in terms of helping people think about a subject most people find pretty dense, pretty dry, I’ve given them an easy way to think about (math).
Robert told me his 68-year-long story over lunch at Silver Star Grille in Shreveport.
He enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with fries and a Coke. That’s a break from the usual at-his-desk lunch — a container of thick, Greek Yogurt. I had a Strawberry Pecan Salad, and a water with lemon.
Wearing a gray sport coat with an LSUS pin and a navy-blue tie — I was surprised he wasn’t wearing purple and gold — Robert hardly looked his age. He’s thin, the result of taking at least 10,000 steps a day.
“If I’m going somewhere on campus, I walk. I walk everywhere. I don’t drive anywhere on campus.”
Robert believes being on several campuses through the years — “I never left college. I went off to college when I was 18, and I’ve never left in a sense.” — has something to do with his youthful attitude.
“I love being with young people. It’s part of what keeps you young. Talking to young, energetic, 18, 19, 20-year-olds. It’s great fun. I really think that’s kept me young over the years.”
One of two children (an older brother), Robert grew up on the rough-and-tumble streets of a Philly suburb.
“There were a lot of street toughs, trying to make a lousy day for you.”
That meant at an early age, Robert learned to take care of himself. “It was either that or be bullied.”
That was a lesson which would prove beneficial.
“If you don’t stand up for yourself, if you don’t stand up for what’s right, that’s going to be an indicator for life.”
Robert went to Widener College (Chester, Pennsylvania), earning a double-major in math (no surprise) and German. Then it was on to graduate school at the University of Delaware, where he received his PhD in Applied Mathematics—working on problems related to engineering and physics.
But it was in his first job, a tenure track position at Virginia Tech, where Robert found his calling.
“I decided what I really liked about my job was teaching. I really wanted to make a difference in the lives of students.”
He continued doing that in the classroom, and eventually in administration. After leaving Tech, Robert worked at Millersville University (Millersville, Pennsylvania) for almost 28 years as a Professor, Department Chair, and Dean.
“I realized I was having an impact on the lives of not just my own students in my own classroom, but on students throughout the university. I was able to see some things we were doing that we could do better. I could work with students who needed some help, see what the problem was, and help them to be successful.”
Robert then began applying for Provost opportunities, and got one at Armstrong State University (Savannah, Georgia). But after less than two years, Armstrong State consolidated with Georgia Southern University.
“Essentially, my job was going to go away . . . . I (wasn’t) going to be Provost anymore, and I worked really hard (for that.)”
Robert was offered another position within the Georgia Southern system, but it wasn’t one he liked. However, not long after, Robert received a phone call from Valdosta State. They were looking for a Provost.
“Within three weeks, I interviewed, had been offered the job, and accepted the job. A few weeks later, I was there.”
He remained “there” six years, where his desires turned to becoming a college President or Chancellor.
“(Those positions) are few and far between. They’re hard to come by. I wondered if this was something I could actually do.”
Robert was a finalist for those positions at a few colleges, including LSUS.
“I didn’t know much about Shreveport, or LSU-Shreveport. I flew here. I saw the area. More importantly, I saw the campus and met the people on campus. I called my wife and said, ‘If they offer me this job, I’m going to accept. This is it. This is a great opportunity.’”
They did, and he did. But then came the tough part. Something that would hinge heavily on the trust Robert’s wife, Pam, had in her husband.
“My wife could not come here to look for a house, because she was leaving for a trip she had planned for more than a year to do birding in Costa Rica. It was the trip of a lifetime.”
That meant it was up to Robert — he and Pam have been married 35 years — to choose their home. Talk about trusting your spouse.
“We had been looking at houses online. She sent me here with a list of the ones we agreed we would look at. I narrowed down the list and gave her video tours on my cell phone of the two houses we were pretty sure of. We made an offer and had it accepted in a day. All the way driving here from Georgia,
I was thinking, ‘Boy, I hope she really likes the house. And she did.’”
And Robert likes where he works.
“The faculty and staff are energetic and focused on this institution and our students. Our official name is LSU in Shreveport. I really want to lean into that name. Not too many universities have a three-letter name that everybody recognizes. LSU is one of them. If you said ‘USC’, you would have to say, ‘Wait a minute. Is that South Carolina or Southern California.’”
After 90 minutes, it was time for Robert to get back to the business of running a university. So, I asked my final question. As always, ”What is it about your story that can be an inspiration to others?”
“Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing, but evaluate every opportunity. See if it’s the right one for you. There are many different paths you can go. I never sat out to be a Department Chair, Dean, Provost, or Chancellor. I just wanted to teach.”
And even though he’s no longer in the classroom, Robert continues to teach – by giving advice.
“Listen when others say things to you. A lot of times, it’s other people who are going to see other qualities in you that you can’t see yourself, and say to you, ‘Have you ever thought about X, Y, or Z?’ Maybe that’s the right opportunity.”
Just like LSUS was the right opportunity for Robert.
Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com