Mike Smith was named dean of the School of Government when the School was created in 2001. He joined the faculty of the School (then the Institute of Government) in 1978 and served as director from 1992 to 2001.

As a faculty member, Smith wrote, taught, and consulted extensively in two fields: civil liability of public officials and legal aspects of corrections. As dean, he has expanded the School’s capacity to assist public officials in the areas of  management and leadership, finance, and administration, but without reducing the traditional strengths in public law. Smith has also improved faculty diversity and broadened the School’s financial base through fundraising, which includes successfully securing a legislative appropriation to expand and renovate the Knapp Building, which was re-dedicated as the Knapp-Sanders Building in 2004. Smith also negotiated the successful transition of the Master of Public Administration program to the School of Government in 1997. He serves on a wide range of boards, commissions, and committees inside and outside the University.

Smith earned a BA from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.