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• 1 2018-12-09T22:37:59-08:00 First African American Faculty Member 6 Dr. Calvin Smith was the first African American faculty member at A-State. plain 2018-12-10T14:14:19-08:00 Dr. Calvin Smith was the first African American faculty member at Arkansas State University. While Dr. Smith was the first African-American faculty member, that is not the only thing he is known for. Dr. Smith was an integral part of the university during his tenure.  He began teaching history at A-State in 1970 and worked there until his retirement in 2002. He was recognized as a professor emeritus and helped established the Heritage Studies doctoral program in 2000. He was the first distinguished professor of heritage studies at Arkansas State.  
  
  Dr. Smith's achievements went far beyond being the first African-American faculty member. His contributions to the university were more than his race. He served as assistant dean and interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, interim dean of University College, and director of the Advising Center in the Arts and Sciences College. In 2005, he received an honorary doctor of humane letters,  "in recognition of outstanding achievements and exemplary contributions to education and the preservation of history."  Dr. Smith passed away in 2009. [1]
  
  Dr. Smith's impact continues to shape the physical and social landscapes of Arkansas State. In 2017, a new residential facility opened called The Circle,  in honor of four of the first African-American families to work and live at Arkansas State. One of the graduate halls at the circle, Smith Hall, was named in Dr. Smith's honor. [2] There is also a scholarship in the history department in his honor called the C. Calvin Smith African American Scholarship. It was established in 2002. According to the Department of History's Scholarship page, the "award benefits an African-American student pursuing a BSE in Social Science who has achieved at least sophomore status with a 2.75 overall grade point average." [3] 
  
  [1] “Professor Emeritus Dr. Calvin Smith Dies Christmas Eve; Funeral Set for Dec. 31.” 2009. NewsRelease. Arkansas State University. http://asunews.astate.edu/Calvin Smith Obit.htm.
  [2] “Ribbon Is Cut, The Circle Is Dedicated in Campus Ceremony.” 2017. Arkansas State University. Arkansas State University. August 7, 2017. https://www.astate.edu/news/ribbon-is-cut-the-circle-is-dedicated-in-campus-ceremony.
  [3] “Scholarships.” n.d. Arkansas State University. Arkansas State University. Accessed December 9, 2018. https://www.astate.edu/college/liberal-arts/departments/history/scholarships/.