Hoke L. Smith | |
Birth Date: | 7 May 1931 |
Birth Place: | Galesburg, Illinois |
Death Place: | Baltimore, Maryland |
Occupation: | President, Towson University |
Hoke L. Smith (May 7, 1931 - March 27, 2004) was the tenth president of Towson University.
Early in Smith's administration, he focused on Towson's status as a "comprehensive university." One of the first changes was the a new governance structure and the establishment of six colleges. With public higher education seriously under-funded, Smith set out to strengthen alumni and development programs as a source of alternative funding.
During his administration, Towson added 20 new undergraduate programs, 19 new graduate programs and the 3 doctoral programs. In 1997, Smith led Towson to its latest name change to Towson University.
On March 27, 2004, Smith died of liver cancer at his home in Baltimore.