Brian Smith

Religion

With a broad background in education, political science and theology, Brian Smith found great satisfaction in a 33-year career at Ripon College. “I enjoyed sharing my knowledge and experience with students and accompanying them in the learning process,” he said.

He was born in August 1940 in Freeport, New York. He received degrees from Fordham University in New York, New York, Columbia University in New York, Woodstock College in Maryland, and Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a doctorate in political science from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Prior to coming to Ripon, he taught political science for seven years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With an additional academic background in theology, he served as a Jesuit priest before teaching at MIT.

He came to Ripon College in the fall of 1987. At Ripon, held the positions of associate professor of religion and professor of religion, as well as the chair of the Department of Religion from 1987 to 2015, then chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion.

During his tenure, he held the Charles and Joan Van Zoeren Chair of Religion, Ethics and Values and served as co-director of the Center for Politics and the People for several years.

Smith taught courses on religion and politics, ethics and international affairs and comparative world religions. He was widely published with an expertise on the role of the church and the state in South America.

The Ripon Commonwealth Press named Smith its Person of the Year in 2012, citing his compassion and skills both as a listener and a teacher.

He retired in 2020 and for a few years continued as co-director of the Center for Politics and the People and did part-time teaching online with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Online and Continuing Education (OCE) program for non-traditional students.

Ripon College honored him with the James Underkofler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at Ripon College in 2018.

He said he is most proud of his accomplishments in teaching and the publication of his numerous books and articles.

Ripon is a special place because of its small classes and opportunities to give students ongoing personalized attention, Smith said. “Liberal arts education exposes students to a wide variety of sources of knowledge and thus prepares them for fulfilling and productive lives as responsible citizens,” he said.

Ariel Dickinson, Class of 2012, said: “I learned an important lesson from Brian Smith. He taught my World Religions class and my History of Christian Theology and Ethics class. He showed me that, as a former priest, he could accept and see the beauty in other religions, and criticize his own. It was beautiful to watch someone honor other people’s beliefs while still loving his own — something I strive to do every day.”

Hope Bell, Class of 2015, recalled: “The professors at Ripon taught me some amazing life lessons. The two that stick with me the most are “It’s OK to ask for help” and “Your ideas are not always crazy, just different. You’re going to change the world someday.” Professor Brian Smith taught me both of those lessons. I had him for many classes, and he has been very encouraging and helpful since I graduated as well.”