James Smith’s 26-Year Journey Built on People, Purpose, and Possibility
- James Smith has served Bellevue University for nearly 26 years in faculty and student leadership roles.
- Smith currently serves as Associate Vice President and Dean of Students.
- Smith is a strong advocate for adult learners, first-generation students, and students pursuing new opportunities through education.
- Smith credits Bellevue University's culture of caring, connection, and support as the reason he has remained at the institution for more than two decades.
Smith Didn't Expect to Stay
When James Smith came to Bellevue University nearly 26 years ago, he didn’t expect to stay. In fact, he assumed the opposite.
After a successful career in the private sector, Smith accepted a position at Bellevue University thinking he’d teach for a while, gain some experience, and eventually move on.
“I thought I’d probably just do it for a little while,” he says with a laugh.
Nearly 26 years later, he’s still here. Today, Smith serves as Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, a role that allows him to do what he’s enjoyed most throughout his career: help people succeed. By the way, having earned his E.D.D., he still goes by James.
And while Bellevue University has changed dramatically during his tenure—with new buildings, expanded programs, and tremendous growth—Smith says the reason he’s stayed has remained remarkably consistent.
“We’re still small in how we treat people,” he says.
From Texas to Nebraska - and an Unexpected Career
Smith grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and came to Nebraska to visit his parents, who were relocated here with the military.
Then life happened. He met his future wife in a shopping mall. “It was a true ’80s love story,” he jokes. That chance meeting changed everything.
After building a career in telecommunications, sales, and marketing, Smith found himself at a crossroads. He had been traveling constantly and wanted something different—something with more purpose.
He had always wanted to teach. Bellevue University gave him that opportunity.
He joined the faculty, teaching in the business program for more than a decade before transitioning into student affairs and, ultimately, becoming Dean of Students.
Education is the greatest thing for socioeconomic growth. Whether it’s a trade or a traditional degree, education is the way you better your life.
The Power of a Second Chance
Ask Smith what he loves most about Bellevue University, and his answer comes quickly. It’s the students.
More specifically, it’s the students who might not have had an opportunity somewhere else. “We take the top 100 percent of every graduating class,” he says with a smile. Behind the humor is something he deeply believes: education changes lives.
Bellevue University serves many first-generation college students, adult learners, working parents, and students whose paths haven’t been perfectly straight.
And Smith wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Education is the greatest thing for socioeconomic growth,” he says. “Whether it’s a trade or a traditional degree, education is the way you better your life.”
Throughout his career, he’s watched students overcome financial hardships, family responsibilities, and personal struggles to walk across the graduation stage. Those moments never get old.
“They’re really appreciative because they’ve struggled,” he says. “Being able to help improve lives—that’s a pretty cool feeling.”
Understanding Today’s Students
As Dean of Students, Smith has also witnessed significant changes in student life.
Today’s students are entering college in a world shaped by social media, constant connectivity, and the lingering effects of the pandemic.
He believes many students missed important social experiences during COVID and are still rebuilding those skills.
At the same time, technology has fundamentally changed how people communicate.
“I think people aren’t as comfortable talking to people,” he says. “And that’s kind of a sad thing.”
However, Smith remains optimistic. He sees students who are eager to learn, willing to grow, and deeply appreciative of the opportunities they’ve been given. What they often need most isn’t judgment. It’s guidance.
Why Relationships Still Matter
For someone who works in higher education, Smith spends surprisingly little time talking about policies, programs, or processes.
He talks about people. He talks about relationships. He talks about conversations.
Even after years of working with online students, he still values face-to-face interactions.
“When you actually talk to people and get to know them, know their families and their situations, that makes a big difference.”
He believes one of the most important things universities can do is create opportunities for meaningful human connection.
Sometimes that means helping students through difficult situations. Sometimes it means having hard conversations. And sometimes it means simply being present.
The relationships built during those moments often last long after graduation.
“I still get letters from students,” he says. “I stay in touch with some of them.”
For Smith, those relationships are among the most rewarding parts of the job.
When you actually talk to people and get to know them, know their families and their situations, that makes a big difference.
A Growing University That Still Feels Personal
When Smith joined Bellevue University, the campus looked dramatically different.
There was no Educational Services Building. No Fieldhouse. No state-of-the-art athletic facilities.
Today, online students who visit campus for commencement are often amazed by what they see.
The University has grown tremendously.
Yet Smith believes Bellevue University has preserved something rare.
Despite approaching 1,000 employees (full-time) and serving students around the world, the University still feels personal.
“You can still walk into the president’s office and talk,” he says. “People genuinely care about each other. You can’t put a price tag on what we have here,” Smith says.
The Bellevue University Difference
When asked about the most positive change during his 26 years at Bellevue University, Smith doesn’t mention buildings or enrollment numbers.
He talks about culture. He talks about kindness. And he talks about the University’s willingness to give people another chance and to do a little more than expected.
It’s what he calls “the Bellevue University way.” Students feel it. Employees feel it. Alumni remember it. And it’s why a man who once planned to stay only a short time is still here more than two decades later.
Because sometimes, the places that change the most are the ones that never lose sight of who they are.
For James Smith, Bellevue University has grown in every imaginable way. But at its heart, it remains exactly what convinced him to stay:
A place built on people, purpose, and possibility.
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 70,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 85 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).