ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119
BY REPRESENTATIVE JEFFERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Dr. Dorothy Vick Smith for her years of service to Dillard University in New
Orleans.
WHEREAS, born in New Orleans but reared in McComb, Mississippi, the
professional educational journey of Dorothy Vick Smith began at Jackson State University,
where she received a bachelor of science degree in history education and a master of arts
degree in history; and
WHEREAS, the pursuit of excellence in her chosen field led Dorothy V. Smith to
the University of Kansas, where she received a master of philosophy degree in history and
a doctor of philosophy degree in American history; following her terminal degree, Dr. Smith
earned a Society of American Archivists certificate from McGill University in Montreal,
Canada; and
WHEREAS, in her ever-expanding quest for knowledge, Dr. Smith traveled to
Austria, China, and Ghana to conduct research; she studied the Russian language at the
University of Iowa and spent additional research time in Russia and Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Smith is dean of the College of General Studies, professor of
history, and university archivist at Dillard University in New Orleans; she has taught at
Southern University at New Orleans, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, the
University of Kansas, and in 2005, was a senior visiting research fellow at Princeton
University; she served as director of the Daniel C. Thompson–Samuel DuBois Cook Honors
program and was outreach coordinator at the National Endowment for the Humanities in
Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, highly sought nationally for her historical and social knowledge,
Dr. Smith has spoken before church congregations, schools and universities, and labor and
social organizations; she has made presentations at the John C. Stennis Space Center, the
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National Center for Black-Jewish Relations conference, and the National Council of Black
Political Scientists conference; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Smith has published in myriad journals; her works have graced the
pages of the Journal of Southern History, African World News, Louisiana History, African
and Asian Studies, Talking Drums: The West African News Magazine, The Chronicle of
Higher Education, and Africa Today; her professional affiliations include membership in the
National Council of Black Studies, the Association for the Study of African American Life
and History, and the Southern Historical Association; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Dorothy V. Smith was the recipient in 1980 of a Personality of the
South award and in 1981 was honored as an Outstanding Young Woman of America; in
1996, Dr. Smith received an Outstanding Teacher Award from Dillard University and the
United Church of Christ; she was a National Security Exchange Program Fellow in 1997;
she won the Torch Bearer Award: Outstanding Educator in New Orleans in 2008 from the
National Council of 100 Black Women, Inc.; and in 2010, Dr. Smith won the Trail Blazer
Award from the Dillard University Senior Class of 2010; and
WHEREAS, the contributions of Dr. Dorothy Vick Smith to the world of academia
and to society cannot adequately be recounted; her service to Dillard University has been
exemplary, and it is fitting to honor this learned woman for her commitment and untiring
dedication to her students, cohorts, and audiences far and wide.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Dr. Dorothy Vick Smith for her many years
of service to Dillard University; does hereby recognize and acclaim the research
contributions she has given to the academic world and to society; and does hereby express
best hopes that her mark in history will continue to be made for many years to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Dr. Dorothy Vick Smith.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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