Ronald J. Smith received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in plant and soil science from Tuskegee University, Alabama. He is a current PhD candidate in agricultural and biological engineering and ecological engineering at Purdue University, where he has been a research assistant, research fellow and graduate fellow in the Office of Multicultural Programs. He has completed the professional development programs “Preparing Future Faculty” and “Communicating Across Cultures.” Volunteer engagements have included the Peer Mentoring Program, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), and Junior MANRRS. He holds memberships with the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Agronomy Society of America, MANRRS, , and the National Society of Black Engineers, among several others. His future research program will combine engineering, plant science, and socio-ecological approaches to investigate food production, product enhancement, materials management, resource consumption, and waste reduction. As a professor, he looks forward to further understanding how students’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions shift in the context of an intercultural approach to engineering. He hopes to create an active learning environment where diverse talents are respected and maximized. His plan is to develop instructional materials that support learning outcomes that are practical, theoretically and culturally relevant, and allow students to make interdisciplinary connections that translate beyond the classroom.

Research Interests

Engineering Systems to feed the world