Program Consulting and Public Speaking
Adam Smith
Adam A. Smith serves as Chief Consultant, Grant Writer and Public Speaker for CollegeMatters. Mr. Smith is a dynamic community leader who has spent his career focusing on enhancing the educational opportunities of disadvantaged children and adults. Mr. Smith and the CollegeMatters Team have worked as consultants in organizational leadership, program assessment, leadership development, community organizing and strategic planning for decades. Our team can work with your school, non-profit, church or organization to analyze your processes, help change strategic direction, help to engage participants and families and design new initiatives and programs based on national best practices. CollegeMatters specializes in grant writing and has written successful proposals to all Federal Departments, and at the state, local and private levels.
Adam A. Smith is a dynamic community leader who has spent his career focusing on enhancing the educational opportunities of disadvantaged children and adults. Mr. Smith has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Education from Concordia University, Masters in Educational Administration & Supervision from National-Louis University and is currently pursuing his PhD in Community College Leadership at Colorado State University. He has built programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the educational aspiration, access and success of hundreds of students throughout the Midwest.
Mr. Smith is currently the first Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education and Life-Long Learning in Rockford, Illinois. This position within the Senior Staff of the Mayor of Illinois’ second largest city, is responsible for creating educational partnerships, programs, policies and initiatives aimed at decreasing Rockford’s horrific dropout rate and the dismal number of adults who attain a Bachelor’s Degree. The initiatives that Adam has created have increased Rockford Public School attendance rate, decreased chronic truancy by forty percent and resulted in the authorization of the community’s first charter schools. Adam established the state’s first, FREE Teen Enrichment and Engagement facility, nCENTER and founded the nFACTOR Youth Movement that has over 4,000 teen members throughout the Midwest www.the-n-factor.com).
Prior to his position with the City of Rockford, Adam worked at Rock Valley College as the College’s Director of College Activities and Community Outreach and the Founding Director of its Upward Bound and Workforce Investment Act Youth Programs. Mr. Smith also has an extensive background in community advocacy, empowerment and development through positions at Comprehensive Community Solutions, a major community development corporation and while serving as the Executive Director of the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Center in Madison, Wisconsin. He served as Associate Head Football Coach at Rock Valley College for six years and is currently a Professor at Judson University teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Human Services, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership.
Adam has conducted speeches and presentations on the importance of education, decision-making, African-American History, leadership, and the community’s inability to adequately education children of color at local, state, regional and national conferences. He is a sought after keynote speaker at college and universities, civic groups, leadership organizations and awards ceremonies. Mr. Smith’s ability to relate well with students, educators, community members and college staff in a manner that is both thought provoking and motivational is his strength as a speaker.
Mr. Smith has been recognized by President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Governor of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson for his service to the community, leadership and commitment to enhancing the educational opportunity of all Americans. He is founder of the educational research and advocacy organization, Allied for Children’s Education and has created organizations aimed at helping disadvantaged students realize their goal of a college degree. Mr. Smith has created community-wide partnerships that have resulted in major decreases in truancy, the creation of Rockford’s City University, charter public school development and community-wide education reform. Adam has spent his life working with young people as an advocate, mentor, leader and empowering force. He works every day to attack the systems that act as barriers between marginalized populations, educational and life success.
Contact CollegeMatters so that we may cater our consulting, grant writing or motivational speaking to the needs of your organization. 815-519-1624
Seminars and Workshops
College Matters recognizes that the preparation for college starts young and that many adults are transitioning to different careers through higher education. Therefore, we provide seminars and workshops that are designed to assist all students regardless of age with finding that right career, finding a great post secondary experience, navigating the mound of paperwork and forms, and ensuring college and financial success. Seminars range from “What is the Best Career for Me” to “Financial Aid 101: The Ins and Outs”. See the Ala Carte Menu for more details or contact your College Matters representative today.
