Dr. Stephen E. Smith, president emeritus of Eastern Oklahoma State College, was among 12 people inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame during the 31st annual ceremony Nov. 3 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Smith served more than 30 years in education, including 13 years as president of Eastern Oklahoma State College. Appointed at age 38, he was the youngest college president in the state at the time. During his tenure, Eastern expanded academic and online programs, completed $14 million in campus construction and renovations, secured more than $47 million in grants, and established the college’s largest endowed scholarship.
A native of Quinton and a proud member of the Choctaw Nation, Smith has also held leadership roles at the state and national levels in higher education. He retired in 2020 and was previously inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame.
The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society honors people for outstanding contributions to higher education in the state.