UM Names Smith President

The University of Mobile (UM) Board of Trustees has elected Dr. Charles W. Smith, Jr. as its sixth president. Smith most recently served as senior vice president for institutional relations and assistant professor of christian leadership at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Missouri. During his 11-year tenure, Smith oversaw a variety of functions, including the offices of enrollment management, advancement, alumni relations, church partnerships, student and resident life, marketing and communications, financial aid, dean of students and student success. He also co-founded the For The Church conference and resource platform and established the For The Church Institute, a growing suite of free online classes serving thousands of students globally. As an elected faculty member, Smith also taught various business and leadership classes at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, including designing and overseeing a PhD in Christian Leadership. During his time in Kansas City, the institution experienced record success, with enrollment growing from 1,100 to more than 5,200 students. A Montgomery native, Smith replaces Lonnie Burnett after he retired and UM launched a nationwide search for a new visionary leader in October 2023.