Of Sound Advice

Times Are Changing

My parents grew up during segregation in the South and I was born in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. These two things had a profound influence on my own life journey. Having parents who were born and raised during the Jim Crow era and who started their family at the height of the Civil Rights Movement are forever a part of my DNA.

Treat Everyone With Respect

Growing up, I learned early on that everyone deserves respect. In the Catholic faith, there's an emphasis on self-reflection and being the best people we can be. Those are themes that have run throughout my life and they are principles I try to bring to my work. Treating people the way you want to be treated is a lesson that has been ingrained in me since I can remember.

The Power of an Education

My parents placed a huge emphasis on education. My grandmothers were domestics, my grandfathers were laborers, one was a stone mason and the other had little formal education. Now, in the three generations since my grandparents, we have lawyers, educators, physicians, business owners, accountants, engineers, you name it. I’ve seen how education transforms not only individuals, but also families and communities.

Finding Her Way to USD

The USD opening was presented to be a potential good fit. During my first interview, I thought there could be value alignment. Additionally, despite the fact that the interview was over Zoom, there was a certain warmth generated. I was invited to campus for the second-round interview and had an opportunity to meet people and get a feel for the community. I left that day believing it could be a really wonderful fit. I believed this position could provide me the opportunity to be my full and authentic self, to incorporate all parts of me in the service of educating our students.

Leaning on Her Faith

Thanks to my parents and grandparents, I had a deep spiritual upbringing, a strong belief in the power of God — it’s a strength we can fall back on and use to propel ourselves forward and help others. Part of what faith and religion have meant for me is never giving up, having faith in yourself and having faith that things will work out according to God’s plan.

From Litigator to Student Affairs

Being a lawyer taught me to be strategic, to think from multiple perspectives, to be an effective communicator and to tell a story in ways that will influence, sway or compel people to take some action. I loved the intellectual stimulation. The part I didn’t get so much in my particular law practice was being radically compassionate. I had to shore that up, especially moving to student affairs and working with people who had dedicated their careers to supporting and helping students develop.

Leaving Doors Open

I had never thought about completely leaving the practice of law. Then I got a call from Saul Green. We were on a University of Michigan Law School committee together, and he told me the law school was looking for a new position called director of academic services. The law school dean asked people to put out feelers and I’m told my name kept coming up. When Saul called me, I said, “No, I’m not applying. Why would I ever go back to the law school as an administrator?” He said, “You may not want to do it now, but your name is already out there. Dust off your resume, write a cover letter and keep your name circulating because you may want to take that path later.”

Thriving at USD

I am blessed to have a team of people who are dedicated to student growth and development. Through the Thriving Student Model, we’re asking, systematically and strategically, how we not only help students succeed, but how we help them thrive. And what does thriving really mean in the 21st century at a contemporary Catholic institution like USD? We’ve divided the model into several categories — academic success, inclusive community, belonging, holistic wellness, experiential learning and, the thing I love the most, joy. We want to help students experience meaning and thriving in all categories. We don’t just ask how to help students, but how to help all students. In that sense, the model is anchored in inclusive excellence.

Thriving Student Model at Work

Nationally, the mental health of college students is a significant concern. At USD, we are increasing access to mental health services and support. One way we’re doing that is by expanding the diversity of counselors in the counseling center. We have Black, Latino and bilingual counselors. One counselor is both a USD alumnus and a veteran. We want students of all backgrounds to feel comfortable coming to the counseling center. That’s one example of how we think about inclusivity and how we serve a diverse population of students.

Students Are the Hope for the Future

Our students make me feel hopeful about the future. I love students at USD. They’re smart, they’re dedicated, they work hard and they care about each other and are strengthening their compassion. The culture of care we talk about at USD is real — and part of the reason it exists is because our students are heavily invested in community and in each other.

— As told to Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)

Kimberly White-Smith, EdD Dean, School of Leadership and Education Sciences