Catching up with Former Professor Cecil Smith

(as it appeared in the Spring 2002 Alumni Newsletter)

After 13 years in academia and 23 years as a private consultant, former Professor Cecil Smith still finds himself very busy--even busier than some of his former graduate students. Professor Smith notes that his students "went on to successful careers, most in industry but a few in academia. Many of them are now retiring to do woodworking, volunteering, or the like. I am still working! I have obviously done something wrong."

Smith remembers his years at LSU (1966-79) as "very enjoyable" (with the exception of a few too many faculty meetings). During these years, he played a major part in creating a preeminent program in process control in the Department of Chemical Engineering, an achievement that Smith calls "both fun and professionally rewarding." Then, he had the honor of acting as the first Chair of the Computer Science Department from 1974-79. "In starting Computer Science departments, all universities drew on resources in other departments," says Professor Smith. "I got into computing through process control, being an active participant in the second wave of process computer installations. People my age had to learn it the hard way. I can still proudly say that I have never had a formal course of any kind in computing!"

Smith eventually gave up academia for the private sector in 1979 because his "outside activities just continued to increase." For a short time, he pursued project work but "this was just not rewarding professionally. I prefer to work with a few companies on a continuing basis, the objective being to get the most out of automation." Smith's consulting work also included a LOT of travel. States Smith, "in the consulting business, there are two realities. First, you have no job security. Second, you live out of a suitcase.
I started traveling with the philosophy that if I did not miss one flight in five, I was getting to the airport too early. My wife still contends that [once] they nearly closed the door on her foot!"

In addition to working as a consultant, Professor Smith develops and teaches process control courses within the continuing education context of AIChE. He has developed two simulators specifically for teaching process control as practiced in industry and currently offers a computer-based training (CBT) product on process control. "During the coming years I intend to focus my efforts on enhancing my existing CBT product and developing new CBT products, all in process control," says Smith. "I truly believe that CBT is the future of continuing education. The days of flying half-way across the country to live out of your suitcase for two or three days to listen to a live(?) lecturer have to end. CBT is not perfect, but it is better than this! One obstacle is that CBT is often viewed as taking human interaction out of the learning experience. This is neither correct nor appropriate. Distance learning still involves human interaction, but via chat rooms, e-mail, etc."

And while Professor Smith, accompanied by his wife, still travels for business, he and his wife also travel for pleasure. "We now drive to most places, including Mexico and Canada. We have been to all 50 states, most of the national parks, etc. We love New Mexico and Arizona (except for Phoenix). Maybe one day I will be able to retire there."