Dr. Bruce Smith is the Executive Director for DEI at Portland State University. Bruce is a long time higher education leader who has worked in K-12 and higher education for more than two decades as a teacher, professor, administrator, and coach. Bruce has worked with students, staff, faculty, and parents to develop strategies for success in the classroom and on the field of play.
As a higher education administrator, Bruce has been a leader in student life, athletics, and equity and justice, working at both small private liberal arts colleges and flagship state institutions, in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon. Bruce specializes in leading inclusive engagement experiences; managing comprehensive student support; mentoring and supervising staff; creating connections between curriculum and co-curriculum; and developing equity and justice institutional strategies.
As a professor and teacher, Bruce’s work focuses on African American life and culture; the sociology of education; sport studies; and American studies. Having taught college courses at University of California, Berkeley; University of Arizona; and Colorado State University, Bruce possesses expertise in developing engaging, student centered, identity conscious pedagogy.
