July 29, 2005
Media Advisory
To: News Directors and News Editors
From: Veronika Avery, Assistant Director of Media Relations, 342-5444, vavery@ulm.edu

Dr. Ruth E. Smith, Professor of Spanish and Head of the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, will deliver the commencement address for the 2005 Summer Commencement Ceremony on August 13 in Fant-Ewing Coliseum at 2 p.m.

During her thirty years at ULM Smith has established herself as an exemplary teacher, receiving multiple teaching awards from Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the College of Liberal Arts.

Smith received her bachelor of arts from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma and her Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.

As a leader in foreign language education in the state, Smith has served foreign language teachers as president of the Louisiana Foreign Languages Teachers Association and of the Antonio Margil Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

She has been a member of a wide variety of committees, and since 1979 has advised the local chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, national Spanish honor society, of which she is a co-founder.

Smith was also a driving force behind the foundation of the University Honors Program, serving as its co-director from 1990-1998, as chair of the Honors Council from 1993-1998, and now as ex-officio member of the Council. She was president of the Louisiana Collegiate Honors Council from 1996-1997.

Before becoming an administrator in 1995, Smith exhibited her leadership ability and demonstrated the regard in which her colleagues hold her by being elected president of the Faculty Senate in 1981-1982 and again in 1985-1986.

For this and other ULM news online visit www.ulm.edu. While there, check out ULM's on-line calendar for all of ULM's upcoming events.