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Dr. James Smith majored in chemistry as
an undergraduate student, but got an education of another kind
at his part-time job as assistant manager of a drive-in theater.
" It wasn't long until I was running that place from stem to stern," he
said. By the time he graduated, he was the highest-paid assistant manager in
the chain. He also learned more about management than he ever did in a classroom.
It was another of Smith's college pursuits that dominated his life for
the next 21 years. After taking ROTC in college, he joined the U.S. Air
Force. He served all over the country and the world and earned his doctorate
in public administration from the University of Alabama, along the way.
During his two decades of service, Smith worked in communications electronics,
with classified documents as a security officer, taught others how to
arm and deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles, earned a prestigious
position doing strategic planning at Offutt Air Force Base, and served
on the faculty at the Air War College.
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" Every place I was, I was a briefing officer, basically explaining
and teaching others," he said.
After retiring, Smith returned to Nebraska and joined the faculty at Dana,
where he quickly learned to love the broad education a liberal arts education
provides.
"
One of my favorite classes is LARP (where students read books and
discuss with faculty)," he said. "I read books I would
never have touched."
Smith said he thinks liberal arts approaches, like LARP, give Dana students
advantages not found at other schools.
"
The broad education gives you a horizon that helps you solve problems.
It gives you a broader perspective on the world, which is smaller
all the time. If you want to be part of the greater community,
Dana is a great opportunity."
James Smith
Assistant Professor of Business
jsmith@dana.edu
402 426-7905
Office: DC 204
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