Aug. 16, 2008 – Linda I. Smith has been hired as the director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs in the Institutional Advancement (IA) component at the University of the Virgin Islands. Smith will lead UVI's annual giving campaign. She will also provide leadership for the alumni office and its 12 local and national chapters, support the vice president for IA and serve as a senior staff member of the IA component. Her duties and responsibilities include identifying donors, cultivating alumni donors, developing recognition and stewardship programs, and managing the annual fund budget.
Smith has more than 20 years of experience developing and executing revenue enhancement initiatives in both the public and private sectors. Most recently she held a senior management position in the Virgin Islands' health care industry. Smith has also held management positions in the maritime and logistics industries. She possesses a wealth of management experience throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, the United States and the world markets.
The two-time UVI alumna said the love for her alma mater and the fact that UVI is the only institution of higher learning in the Virgin Islands are all things to be passionate about. "I, among others, represent a fiber in the UVI quilt," she said. "UVI has molded and shaped my life so much that I've always wanted to come back to make a difference," Smith said. "In essence, this is my way of giving back."
"Linda Smith is a great asset to the university," said Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Henry Smith. "Not only does she come to the university with a wealth of knowledge, she has the unique advantage of being an alum of UVI who now has the responsibility of working with other UVI alumni," he said. "I am confident that Ms. Smith will lead the office of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs well."
Her short-term goals include improving the annual giving data information system, improving alumni outreach, increasing donor opportunities and increasing the community's awareness about UVI and alumni accomplishments. "I think that it's key for us to get the success stories of alumni out there," Smith said. "We have conferred graduates who go on to become doctors, scientists, senior executives, CEOs and a host of other professionals."
Smith holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in management from UVI, along with several national and local awards and certificates. Excited about the opportunity to serve, she thanked her supporters. "It's because of the love and encouragement of my parents and my family that I'm where I am today," she said.
Smith's office is located in the Great House on UVI's St. Croix campus. She may be reached at 692-4023 or lsmith@uvi.edu.
