By Emily Hubbell

Dr. Arthur Smith was promoted to a full professor position this quarter, ten years after he began teaching at Ohio University in 1998.

“Being a full professor means more is expected of you. It makes you expect more of yourself, as well,” said Smith, whose application for the position consisted of “three big binders”—one focusing on his teaching, one on his research and one on his service. 

Smith might have never joined the academic world if it weren’t for his post-doctoral advisor at Carnegie Melon, who urged him to pursue teaching instead of the industrial side of physics.

After ten years of teaching, Smith said the most challenging part is explaining a concept that is simple to him but may not be as simple to his students.

“You’re teaching things you think you know well. You do know them well, but transmitting them to other people is not as easy as you think,” he said, adding that his first course evaluations were a “reality check.”

Although Smith enjoys teaching entry-level courses like Physics 201, graduate courses in solid state physics are some of his favorites because they are closely related to his own research.

But for Smith, the role of a professor goes beyond the classroom and even the laboratory.

“People awarded you with the title [of full professor] because you have proven you have a contribution to make to the department,” Smith said. “I ought to have concern for something other than myself.”

Service is an important component of a professor’s job description, he said. Smith has made a larger contribution by staying involved in his department and in the university as a whole.

Smith is the director for NQPI and a faculty senator on the Professional Relations Committee. He has also been involved in the university’s graduate admissions efforts and is active on the department’s advisory committee. 

In his day-to-day life, Smith says he makes efforts to advance the science and technological expertise of his department and tries to stress cooperation among faculty members.

“People think professors boss everybody around, but that’s not how it should be. Their role should be guidance,” Smith said. “All faculty have the same privileges. Professors just have more responsibility.”

In recognition of his promotion, Smith will present a lecture, titled "Exploring Magnetic and Spintronic Materials at the Nanoscale and Beyond," at 4 p.m. April 22 in Baker University Center 242. Dr. Smith's presentation is one of eight talks in the New Professor Lecture Series.