Julie Smith, a Park Scholar and NC State alum, is NC State’s new assistant vice chancellor for external affairs, partnerships and economic development.

Smith said that in her role, she aims to maintain the current success of the university and continue to nurture the meaningful relationships the university has made with others.

“I am so excited and honored to be back at NC State; with it being my alma mater, it feels like I am back home,” Smith said. “I am also excited to come here at a really exciting time for the university. We are doing a bunch of great things. Also, this division was just created. It is about 6 months old, and getting to come in and shape the future of the division is really exciting to me.” 

According to Smith, her role for this newly created division focuses on enhancing the intersection of academics, industry and governments. She serves as the university liaison for NC State and local relations and works to develop and promote the university’s priorities to external stakeholders.

In addition, Smith keeps policy leaders informed about NC State’s progress and provides leadership oversight and coordination for the office of external affairs, partnerships and economic development. 

“Not only do I want to maintain the success the university has enjoyed under the leadership of Chancellor Woodson, but I want to continue that success and move NC State forward on the upward trajectory that is has been on,” Smith said. “In terms of enhancing… it’s my goal to continue to develop the relationships we have, enhance them, and look for new relationships.”

Smith said she graduated from NC State and also attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for law school. She then began to work for the N.C. Sheriff’s Association in downtown Raleigh, serving as the associate general counsel. Smith has most recently worked for UNC-Pembroke as the assistant to the chancellor of external affairs.

Smith said that although her role at UNC-Pembroke was very similar to her new role at State, she continues to learn more about her role and the university each day.

“I came from a smaller institution,” Smith said. “We had a different plan there, and NC State is a much larger institution. Right now, I am learning more about State, because even though I went to school here, things have certainly changed. Being a student, there are so many things that go on that you have no idea about… I am still learning about all the great things we do on campus, learning the players and what’s important to the university.”

With a background that includes law school and the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, Smith said that each of her roles in the past have helped her grow, understand and thrive in her current role at NC State.

“In law school and at the N.C. Sheriff’s Association, they placed a huge emphasis on thinking critically, which is very important in my role as vice chancellor,” Smith said. “At the Sheriff’s Association, something else that I learned to do is to look at a piece of legislation or an issue from three different perspectives: a legal perspective, a political perspective and then also seeing how it works in practice… Learning to think critically and thinking in those terms at the Sheriff’s Association helps me in my role now, because on a daily basis I am confronted with these issues, and I have to think of them with all those hats on at once.”

Smith said that she is very excited to work for NC State and enhance the mission of the university.

“I want to build on the great work the university has already undertaken,” Smith said. “I want to continue to ensure that legislators, members of the Board of Governors and other folks understand their return on investment that NC State gives, to not just North Carolina, but beyond.”