Eleventh President, 1994-2005
Birth: Prince Edward Island, Canada

Rev. Philip A. Smith, O.P., Ph.D. was the fifth of six children born to Philip and May Smith, devout Catholics of Irish origin, on Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. The 2,184-square-mile island in the Canadian Maritimes was home to hundreds of small farms, one of which was the Smith farm.

In his youth, Father Smith performed the chores associated with mixed farming, including caring for farm animals and milking cows, tilling soil, tending and harvesting crops. He attended class in a one-room schoolhouse, but for financial reasons, he was unable to attend high school and college until ten years later.

From his parents, Father Smith learned the importance of family and faith, of honesty and integrity, of loyalty to self and obligations to others. From his mother, a teacher, he learned the importance of education and a love of reading.

From his father, the importance of work and responsibility. From the unconditional love he received from both parents, he experienced a glimpse of God’s infinite and unconditional love for him and each person.

Formal Education

Returning to education in 1957, Father Smith enrolled in the challenging St. Dunstan’s Preparatory School in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and while there decided to pursue a vocation in the Dominican Order. Needing two years of college before joining the Dominicans, he attended Guzman Hall at Providence College from 1959-61 and entered the Dominican Novitiate in August of 1961.

After his Novitiate, Father Smith was assigned to St. Stephen’s College in Dover, Mass for three years of study in philosophy. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Providence College in 1963 and a master’s degree in philosophy from St. Stephen’s College in 1965. He was assigned to the College of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. in 1965 for theological studies prior to his ordination to the priesthood in 1968. While in Washington, he received a bachelor of sacred theology and a lectorate in sacred theology from the College of the Immaculate Conception. Father Smith earned his doctoral degree in philosophy and religion from Drew University in Madison, N.J.

Teaching

Father Smith began his teaching career in 1970 at Caldwell College in Caldwell, N.J. where he served as instructor, then as associate professor of religious studies from 1976-1981. In 1981 he was assigned to PC where he was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor in the philosophy department. In 1988-89 Father Smith was a visiting professor of theology at St. Thomas University in Rome for the first semester and a Visiting Scholar at the Kennedy Institute for Ethics in Washington, D.C. for the second.

Areas of Research and Publication

Father Smith’s areas of expertise include systematic and moral theology, specializing in bio-medical ethics, dimensions of addiction, legal and moral aspects of abortion, general moral issues; Catholicism in America; philosophy of the human person, philosophy of law and the relationship of morality to law.

Administration

Father Smith was president of the College of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., from 1990-1994; he served as President of Providence College from 1994-2005.

Leadership Beyond the Campus

• Secretary of Education for Province of St. Joseph from 1976-1980
• Member, Provincial Council of the Province of St. Joseph from 1984-1988 and from 1993-1997
• Member, Intellectual Life Commission of the Province from 1984-1988 and from 1990-1994
• Member, bishops and presidents committee of the American Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (AACCU)
• Member, board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) 1998-2001
• Chair, presidents committee of the Big East Conference 1998-1999
• Member, board of trustees of the New England College of Finance 1995-1999

Locally, Father Smith serves on a number of community boards including those of St. Joseph’s Health Services of Rhode Island, Sovereign Bank, the Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the Providence Public Library and the Lincoln School Board of Visitors.