Harvard’s Mike Smith recalls his road traveled, and outlines path ahead
A childhood forged in the Northeast’s Kittatinny Mountains put Michael D. Smith on the path to becoming the Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at Harvard. Deep in Stokes State Forest in New Jersey, Smith discovered a sense of independence and self-reliance that served him well in 11 years of navigating Harvard’s largest School. A member of the computer science faculty since 1992, Smith became dean of FAS at the invitation of President Drew Faust in 2007. He stepped down this month, succeeded by Claudine Gay. Smith, who is also the John H. Finley Jr. Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences, will return to teaching. As he prepared to depart the deanship, he sat down for an interview with the Gazette to discuss his life and tenure. Q&A Michael D. Smith GAZETTE: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? SMITH: A used-car...