Noting that his life has been serendipitous and ruled by unique opportunities, Dr. Anderson D. Smith currently holds the title of Regents professor of psychology emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology after accruing more than 45 years in academia. Formerly serving Georgia Tech as a professor of psychology, director of psychology, associate dean of the College of Sciences, vice provost for undergraduate studies and senior vice provost for academic affairs, Dr. Smith started his career as a research and teaching assistant at the University of Virginia in 1966.
Throughout his career, Dr. Smith is proudest of serving as president of St. Anne’s Terrace Retirement, Inc., an independent retirement facility in Atlanta. Specializing in gerontology, also known as the study of aging, Dr. Smith is also proud of his instrumental role in developing an undergraduate learning commons at Georgia Tech during his tenure as vice provost. Lending his expertise to literature as well, he was an editor of the Journal of Gerontology from 1980 to 1986 and edited the book “Aging in the 1980s.”
Civically involved as well, Dr. Smith was a vestryman at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and sat on the Atlanta board of directors of the Northside Shepard’s Center. Affiliated with the North Atlanta Teen Center and Zoo Atlanta, Inc., since 1997, he is a past member of the National Council on Aging, past vice chairman of the Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit and past associate affiliate scientist at the Yerkes Regional Primate Center.
In light of his distinguished contributions to gerontology and academia, Dr. Smith received the Award for the Advancement of Psychology and Aging from the American Psychology Association in 2011, the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in 1997 and the Monie Ferst Sustained Research Award from Sigma Xi in 1982. Furthermore, Georgia Tech honored him with the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1975, and he has been the recipient of several grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and National Institutes of Health.
Looking towards the future, Dr. Smith intends to begin dedicating his time as a consultant to various companies, including one business that is developing an artificial intelligence platform to be an assistant to caregivers to those struggling with dementia.
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