Harold Ivan Smith
Class of 1969

From outsider . . .  to participant

“As a shy, quiet student who sat in the back of the classroom, a Trevecca professor’s comments on my paper initiated a defining moment in my life. Scrawled in red ink at the top of my paper were ‘You have a mind and you can write. Why don’t you move to the front of the class and participate?’ His invitation for me to contribute to class enabled me to become the first in my family to graduate from college.”  

After graduating from Trevecca, Smith earned a master’s degree and two doctorates and has enjoyed a career as nationally known grief counselor and speaker; he is the author of 45 books about grieving. At Homecoming 2007 he received one of two awards presented annually to alumni who have distinguished themselves and represented Trevecca in significant ways.