Roger Smith

Roger Smith first came to Colorado College during the summer of 2008. He served as the director of the Office of Minority and International Students (OMIS) before stepping into his new role as director of parent and family giving, based in CC’s advancement division.

Smith was born in Saint Albert, Alberta, Canada, and, after working for a global nonprofit based in Denver, he “fell in love with the region and wanted to come back.” Smith and his three kids, ages 9, 6, and 4, enjoy hiking in the mountains with their golden retriever, Buddy, every weekend. On his love for Colorado, he said, “it’s an incredible place for adventures and establishing memories that my kids will have for a lifetime.” Smith completed his undergraduate degree and M.B.A. at private liberal arts institutions in Wisconsin. He also graduated from a musical theater high school and was involved with an acting agency for about 10 years. Smith also played in the amateur Canadian Junior Football League as a running back and kick returner.

Now, his focus is all about CC’s families. “Engaging parents in the life of the college is a top priority. Their support is critical to ensure that students enjoy the world-class educational and immersive learning opportunities that make Colorado College a one-of-a-kind academic experience. In collaboration with parents, we can bolster innovative educational programs, deepen our scholarship, expand our reach, and cultivate the minds of our students.”

When asked about any experiences that play into his current role, Smith replied that he has “worked in 20 countries and all of those experiences have been mind-expanding, transformative, and fascinating. Encounters that stand out include doing prison outreach in northeast Germany and corporate community impact initiatives through build-a-bike programs targeting inner-city youth.” Within the world of higher education, Smith also has served as the director of leadership gifts and as corporate and community relations director.

Smith can be contacted at roger.smith@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6083.