Mike Smith is not your typical storyteller.
As vice chancellor for public service and engagement, his narratives are about the involvement of UNC faculty in the state.
"The faculty do an enormous amount of public service for North Carolina, and yet I don't think it's well known that we do that," Smith said. "One of the things we're trying to focus on is seeing if we can do a better job of telling the story of the things we're already doing."
Smith's post was created by Chancellor James Moeser in September 2006. Since taking the position Nov. 1, Smith has developed many initiatives aimed at highlighting the work of UNC faculty in North Carolina.
And with Moeser set to leave office in June, Smith will be an essential component to carrying out some of Moeser's initiatives.
"So much of what I'm doing is Chancellor Moeser's vision," Smith said. "In some ways it's perceived that when the chancellor made the decision to create this position, it sent a signal to people that we're taking this more seriously."
This year Smith created the Carolina Engagement Council, which aims to increase dialogue among faculty about becoming involved with the community.
He also serves as liaison for the Golden LEAF Foundation, which is in the process of reserving at least $10 million for faculty to become engaged with rural communities.
Because many of his projects are in the initial planning stages, Smith said it's too early to identify any major accomplishments, though he predicts all of them will be successful in the long run.
Smith has been working with Carolina Connects, a program Moeser started in which administrators visit communities to discuss issues important to citizens.
"There are a lot of people who are hurting right now, and they want to feel that the University is stepping up and answering the bell on some of these issues," he said. "I think we are doing a lot, but there are some areas where we can and need to try to do more."
From his N.C. travels with Moeser, Smith said many North Carolinians have similar concerns, including economic development, education, health care and the environment.
"The needs are great now in the state because of all the transitions," Smith said.
Lynn Blanchard, director of the Carolina Center for Public Service, said Smith's dedication makes him effective in his role as vice chancellor for public service and engagement.
"Mike manages to bring together a passion for the work and courage to make some of the hard decisions," she said. "He's very inclusive and a thoughtful problem solver."
But while Smith has spent the past year working to promote UNC's service to the state, he also has been serving as the dean of the School of Government.
Smith, who has led the school for 15 years, said balancing the two jobs has been one of his biggest challenges this past year.
"I'm really lucky that I'm a person who has lots of energy and doesn't require a lot of sleep," he said. "That's turned out to be very important."
Anita Brown-Graham, director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University, said Smith's busy schedule never hinders his leadership.
"He is very collaborative and supportive," she said. "He makes people want to rise to the occasion."
Although balancing two jobs has been difficult, Smith said it's a minor obstacle compared to getting to know the various aspects of the University.
Despite working at UNC for 29 years, Smith said he still had a lot to learn when he took on the new position. "Really learning the incredible array of things that this campus is doing that make a difference has been a challenge but also a joy," he said.
And Smith said he's realized that UNC's service work is a story that has been written but not told - changing that is his main goal.
"The question isn't: How do we go from zero to 60?" he said. "We're already going 60, and the question is: How do we go even faster, and how do we do it even better and how do we tell people about it?"
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
