Dayle M. Smith, Ph.D., is dean of the LMU College of Business Administration where she leads strategy, operations and fundraising for executive, graduate and undergraduate programs. Her vision and strategic plan for the college prioritizes three key goals: embracing business as a force for good; ensuring an entrepreneurial and agile perspective; and building a global, transdisciplinary and inclusive mindset. Smith led CBA’s efforts to become a signatory to the United Nations PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education) initiative as well as the implementation of the university strategic spotlight initiative related to interdisciplinary collaboration.
Smith is president of the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools (IAJBS) and on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). She’s also on the Advisory Board for the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) and the Board of Trustees for the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative (GRLI). Smith previously served on the Innovation Committee for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), participating in strategic dialogue around DEI, technology, and the impact of business education on society. She was a founding member of Women in Business Education (WiBE) and former chair of the AACSB’s Women in Management Education (WAME) affinity group. She currently serves on WAME’s steering committee. Smith has been named four times to the LA 500 “Most Influential People in Los Angeles” list by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Prior to joining LMU in 2018, Smith served as dean of the David D. Reh School of Business at Clarkson University where she held the Elmer D. Gates Endowed Professor of Innovative Business Culture. At Clarkson, Smith was instrumental in growing a diverse faculty; developing new programs; merging two business schools; naming the business school; and funding student start-ups, two endowed faculty chairs, and co-leading the design and development of a boundary-spanning Innovation Initiative with the dean of engineering.
Before Clarkson, Smith served on the faculty at Georgetown University and University of San Francisco. In her 20-year career at USF as professor of leadership and organizational behavior, Smith took on administrative roles as department chair, associate dean and director of the Business Honors Program. In 2010-11, Smith was selected as a Fulbright Scholar, joining an interdisciplinary team of scholars on a multi-year initiative with seven Hong Kong public universities to reform Hong Kong’s General Education Curriculum.
Smith has taught internationally throughout Southeast Asia and Europe, working with executives, MBAs and undergraduates across a variety of programs. She has been active in the role of service learning in an academic environment and received numerous awards including the nationally prestigious Top 10 finalist Ehrlich Award. At LMU, Smith has grown the portfolio of graduate business programs from three to nine including the M.S. in Business Analytics, M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Innovation, and joint, interdisciplinary degrees with other colleges on campus.
As author of over 25 books and numerous articles, Smith’s research has focused primarily on leadership, communication and organizational behavior. She is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship and the emerging role of B-Corps on a global scale. Smith has given dozens of presentations around the world on topics related to higher education, entrepreneurship and women in leadership. As an active consultant on design thinking, developing innovation cultures and leadership development, she has served as a principal for a consulting firm working with organizations in the areas of strategy, innovation culture, leadership, team development, and executive coaching. Smith also co-founded an entrepreneurial start-up, Lexingford Publishing, and led the company as CEO before stepping down to an advisory role.
Smith earned a Ph.D. in organizational communication from USC and a B.A. in communication studies from the University of Texas, Arlington. Her personal interests include traveling, kayaking, golfing, playing tennis, and spending time with her husband and grandchildren.