October 13, 2006

Industrial Engineering Students Benefit From Advisor’s Experience

  — For Clarence Smith building relationships is the key to success in college

Smith (Photo: Amy Craig)

Ask graduates from the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering what they remember most about their department, and more than likely you’ll hear the same name — Clarence Smith. A three-time George H. Blessis Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award winner, Smith (IE ’69) has taken the art of advising to a higher level, one that helps students develop the skills they need to succeed both in college and in their careers.

“Advising goes beyond just having the answer or signing a form,” says Smith, assistant head of the department. “It’s building a relationship to mentor the student and nurture that student’s experience. It may be the one activity on campus where a student, on a continuing basis, can interact with a concerned adult who is not a parent to help them achieve a meaningful learning experience.”

An industrial engineering graduate from NC State, Smith has been a consistent and important advocate for students in the department for 28 years. His eight years of experience working for Goodyear Tire and Rubber prior to joining the NC State faculty coupled with his extensive knowledge of the university are an invaluable asset for the college and his students. His personable style and warm demeanor have welcomed countless entering freshmen, making them feel much at ease, and his wisdom has benefited many students working through the challenges of college and preparing for a career. A natural “people person,” Smith is able to guide students through both the academic and personal growth processes that occur during the college years.

His commitment to the students in industrial engineering has made him the “go to” person when it comes to advising questions and solutions in the College of Engineering. In addition to numerous letters of gratitude from students and alumni, Smith also receives letters from parents. One family wrote, “It’s true — you can count the important people in your life on one hand. You would be considered number one as the constant person [our daughter] turned to for reliable and true answers. In speaking about you, she was always saying,‘’ll talk to Clarence about it,’ and we eventually found ourselves saying,‘Talk to Clarence about it before you decide.’ It is certainly a tribute to you.”

As advisor for the senior design course in the department, Smith has helped students learn more than just industrial engineering principles. His students have used their skills to help improve the lives of others through interesting, real-world projects.

In 1999 Smith’s senior design students designed the logistics for supplying water rations for the entire Special Olympics World Games. The students created a flow that guaranteed that ice and water would be available as needed at more than 150 venues spread across Raleigh and surrounding areas. The experience gave students the opportunity to work as a team using their skills to perform a public service.

In a recent senior design project, Smith’s students worked with Stop Hunger Now, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency food relief to people in crisis in more than 55 countries. Three teams of senior design students applied industrial and systems engineering principles to improve the organization and productivity of Operation Sharehouse in Raleigh, the local food distribution arm of Stop Hunger Now.

The projects, like Smith himself, helped the students experience the importance of using what you know to help others — a trademark of Smith’ own career.

“There are many heroes in the academic world that get recognized for their widely visible contributions, but many heroes go about doing their business in invisible ways,” says Dr. Stephen Roberts, professor of industrial and systems engineering and former head of the department. “Clarence Smith is one of these. His work is somewhat invisible, unless you are someone who has crossed his path. His impact is manifold and influences how you live your life and what you do, especially as an industrial engineer.”

— weston —

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