Born in Chennai (formerly Madras) in India, Dr. Smith graduated from Ethiraj Women's College and Madras Christian College in the University of Madras, with BA and MA degrees in English, respectively, and from Auburn University with a Ph.D. in English Literature in 1988.
Smith served on the Board of Trustees at Fairleigh Dickinson University and on the Executive Committee of the International Association of University Presidents, where she led an initiative to develop women as academic leaders globally.