President Dr. Colleen P. Keith

Meet our President

Welcome from the President

Dr. Colleen Perry Keith became President of SMC on July 1, 2009.

Prior to coming to SMC, she served as Executive Director of Development at Ohio University in Athens, OH.

Dr. Keith, a native of upstate New York, has more than 20 years of experience in higher education, in capacities including student service roles, program development, teaching, fund raising, and administration.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from State University of New York in Binghamton, a Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University.

While at Ohio University, Dr. Keith also taught courses in the Master of Business Administration and Master of Communication degree programs at Franklin University. She previously taught in the freshman program at both The Ohio State University and Rogers State College.

Her academic career includes a decade at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, where her responsibilities as Executive Vice President included oversight for business and finance, operations, buildings and grounds, personnel and benefits offices, budget creation and management. As Vice President for Development at the Ohio Seminary, she led the staff in planning and implementing a $30 million campaign that surpassed its goal.

Dr. Keith began her career in higher education working as an advising specialist at Rogers State College, formerly a two-year public college, in Oklahoma. She continued in a similar role at The Ohio State University regional campus in Marion, OH, serving as a program manager and academic advisor.

Her husband Barry is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 20 years experience and has also been varsity high school baseball coach. Dr. Keith has a son who attends Miami University of Ohio.