Dr. Douglas Smith, director of the Department of Learning Spaces & Audio/Visual Technologies, is the recipient of the 2020 Williams Outstanding Technology Service Award. He was honored at the annual University-Wide Teaching & Learning Symposium in January.
“Doug brings both broad and deep understanding of multiple instructional technologies to his work, as well as a mastery of user-centered design,” noted Associate Vice President for Academic Technologies Mark Walbert. “He leverages that knowledge to discover how to push the limits when planning an instructional space. He projects a unique blend of passion and expertise into his classroom designs and embodies the concept of a servant-leader.”
Smith’s impact is strongly felt across campus. Nearly every classroom at Illinois State has been influenced by Smith and the Learning Spaces team—in fact, to many support staff, the ubiquitous instructor stations found in hundreds of ISU classrooms are known informally as “Doug Carts.”
Smith’s knowledge of classroom design and expertise in instructional technology has been instrumental in updating, upgrading, and managing almost every instructional space on campus. As a result, faculty, staff, and students can enter almost any classroom and expect to find consistent, well-maintained instructional technology for their use.
Smith is an Illinois State University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He received a master’s degree in music education from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in educational technology from Purdue University. Smith joined the University staff in 2002 as director of the Department of Learning Spaces & Audio/Visual Technologies.
The Williams Outstanding Technology Service Award was established in 2001 by David B. and Kay O. Williams to recognize an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the University in the area of technology and service. It provides recognition and a monetary award to a staff person who has made extraordinary contributions to the University in the area of technology support that has a direct impact on scholarly activities of students and/or faculty.
