LEARNING TO LIVE FULLY ETBU Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences Laurie Smith is recognized as Professor with Distinction
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or her excellence in service, scholarship, teaching, and integration of faith and learning, Dr. Laurie Smith was named the 2018 Professor with Distinction. The award includes a $1,500 honorarium to be used for professional development and personal enrichment. A former student of Dr. Smith described her as, “truly caring for her students. Always making herself accessible, she teaches in a way that enables her classes to understand and absorb the material. Dr. Smith is dedicated to helping students, especially when they are struggling. She encourages us in our walk with Christ by relating the subject matter to her own faith.” For almost 30 years, Dr. Smith has taught courses in research, criminology, and gender studies. In 1994, she initiated a course entitled, Death and Dying. In 2001, the course became a platform for Dr. Smith to share how her faith impacted her personal grief journey and an outlet to give a message of hope to students. “I always tell my students that we can all learn about living from studying dying,” Dr. Smith expressed. “Everyone must face death at some point, whether our own or death of a loved one. However, our society is uncomfortable with talking about death realistically. The class gives students the opportunity to explore different
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aspects of death and how it relates to them.” Dr. Smith continued, “When my son died of SIDS 17 years ago, the course became more personal. I openly talk about how the experience affected me and my family, and emphasize how the Lord guided me through the dark and difficult period after Andrew’s death. I’m doing what God designed for me to do. It is not a job. It is a joy.” Saved at a young age, Dr. Smith was led to Christ by the same pastor, who offered her a job at ETBU 19 years later. Her testimony is a story of her growth as a Christian, the process of coming to trust in God’s perfect timing and purpose, and realizing how God uses even the most tragic circumstances for good. “God meets all of us where we are and provides what we need in each moment,” Dr. Smith shared. “We all have spiritual landmarks that come along the journey of faith – moments where we must make a choice to turn to Him or from Him. In a moment, everything I knew, believed, and trusted in was shaken. I had to decide between becoming bitter or becoming better. Since that moment, the Lord has taught me that I can rely on Him, who loves me, will not leave me, and has plans not to hurt me, but to restore me.” Dr. Smith has worked at East Texas Baptist for 27 years and currently serves as Dean of the School