He earned the B.S. in Mathematics, Magna cum Laude, in 1973, and the Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in May 1979 from the State University of New York at Albany. Dr. Smith is a scientist with over 29 years leading global technology, innovation and setting business vision in engineering thermoplastic resins, composites, process and product development from the lab to the manufacturing to customer. He is recognized as the foremost expert in polyester with extensive experience in polycarbonate process and product technology. He was most recently employed at Adzel, Inc. in Forest, Virginia. Dr. Smith comes to Penn State Behrend with 23 patents, the Dan Fox Award from GE Plastics Worldwide, Technologist of the Year in 1988, as well as twelve GE managerial awards.