Thank you, Dr. Smith!

By Ty DeMartino '90

It may have been only 16 months, but Darlene Brannigan Smith, PhD, truly left a positive mark on Frostburg State University during her tenure as interim president.

When Smith, an accomplished marketing and business professional who previously served at the University of Baltimore as dean of the Merrick School of Business, executive vice president and provost, came out of retirement to take the Frostburg position, she knew the University was in a “challenging” place. The campus was navigating financial and morale concerns, as well as the aftermath of the retirement and passing of FSU President Dr. Ron Nowaczyk.

Still, Smith remained undeterred.

“My highest priority at FSU is to ensure stability during this transition in leadership,” she shared in March 2025, outlining a vision grounded in strategic progress, student success and regional impact.

She delivered on that promise.

Smith immediately focused on completing the University’s Middle States accreditation process while developing new Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for the institution. She filled critical positions, restructured offices, revived FSU’s Homecoming parade, advocated for Frostburg at the state level, strengthened and created regional partnerships and oversaw ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new dining facilities, a revitalized planetarium and the naming of the Children’s Literature Centre in honor of the Nowaczyk family.

During an emotional speech at her farewell reception in June, Smith stated, “I’ve always felt I’ve had a rewarding career, but I now believe that everything I have done in the past enabled and prepared me to come to FSU… This is an exceptional university.”

Thank you, Dr. Smith, for all you’ve done for Frostburg State University and the Western Maryland community. You’ll always be an honorary Bobcat.

To view Dr. Smith’s farewell video, click here.

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