Kevin Smith is what you’d call a family man.
The chief financial and compliance officer at UCLA has framed photos of his family on his desk and beams when he speaks of his two children, who are almost five and eight.
As a parent and the primary provider for a family of four, Smith said he knows what it’s like to balance work and family life. With this kind of experience, he said he’ll be better able to relate to similar staff concerns as the 2011-2013 UC staff advisor to the regents.
Smith developed interest in the position while working in UCLA Communications Technology Services where he befriended Dave Miller, one of the first UC staff advisors to the regents.
As the two advanced through the ranks, Smith watched as Miller developed the trial position of liaison between the UC Board of Regents and UC staff into a permanent appointment by the board.
At that time, Smith knew he wanted to apply, but wanted to wait until his children were a little older so that the position’s frequent travel and late hours would not affect his family life. This year, the couple talked extensively about the position. After his wife gave her full approval and support, Smith applied.
Two weeks ago, he received the congratulatory call from UC President Mark Yudof and attended his first regents meeting this past week to observe the interaction between the staff advisor and the board.
He’ll start his two-year term on July 1 and serve as the staff advisor-designate for his first year before taking over in 2012. Until then, Smith said he does not want to discuss specific concerns of UC staff, but he acknowledged there will be much to discuss.
“The next few years will be a transformative time for the Regents,” Smith said, referring to the multi-million dollar cuts in state funding. “I’d like to take my background to advise the regents at this important juncture.”
This background includes extensive experience in financial management. In his current position at the chancellor’s office, Smith works with budget and financing for both Chancellor Gene Block and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh. He has also worked in the health care insurance industry at CIGNA HealthCare.
“He’s a financial person, so that adds an extra layer of understanding to the (state funding) cuts and their magnitude,” said Gerard Au, president of the UCLA Staff Assembly. “He’s a very talented and smart person, so I have no doubt he will represent us well.”
Beyond his practical experience, Smith said he’s passionate about the university and wants to make sure it goes in the right direction, especially with regard to its three components ““ students, faculty and staff.
“(The staff) keep that engine going,” he said. “I’d like to explain the staff perspective and I want the regents to make decisions with staff in mind.”
As part of his UC-wide position, he said he wants to visit each campus to explain the regents’ decisions to staff while getting their feedback.
So far, he’s attended a few UCLA Staff Assembly events, like the staff picnic, where he worked with financial processing, Au said.
At the same time, Smith also wants to help the 170,000 UC staff and faculty to help themselves and learn to advocate to the state.
“When you can have folks at my level and below writing letters and showing up at events, that really opens (legislators’) eyes,” he said.
Smith saw advocacy efforts firsthand at UC Day at the state capital in March. Though he expected many colleagues to show up, he said the bulk of the advocates were alumni. With this in mind, he hopes to encourage more staff to advocate more frequently.
“It’s been a long, slow slope of disinvestment (by the state) and it’s getting pretty close to hitting quality and no one wants to see that happen,” Smith said. “Something has to change ““ there’s only so many levers we can pull.”