Kim Smith

Kim Smith is the recipient of the 2008 ORCC Judith Ramaley Faculty Award. 

Kim has been an instructor of sociology for 12 years at Portland Community College. She feels that service-learning has transformed her teaching, helping her feel like she truly makes a difference in the lives of her students and in the community.  Over the years, Kim has had more than 550 students participate in service-learning projects, providing over 5,600 hours of service to hundreds of agencies.  One particularly memorable experience was joining another instructor and PCC staff as guides for student leaders engaging in an alternative spring break to New Orleans in 2007.  She shared, “It was heart-breaking and frustrating to see the devastation, but educational and healing to be able contribute a small part to rebuilding New Orleans.”

Kim served as PCC’s Service-Learning Faculty Coordinator for three years, during which time the service-learning program shifted from being a grassroots initiative of a few dedicated faculty to an institutionalized and nationally recognized effort of great value to PCC.  She conducted extensive faculty trainings, initiated a Service-Learning Award for students, made a video demonstrating PCC’s service-learning program, gave numerous presentations on the benefits of service-learning at national conferences, and helped organize meetings and forums between PCC and community organizations to build campus-community partnerships. 

Kim has recently coordinated a national grant, the Students4Giving: Inspiring Philanthropy project, funded by the national Campus Compact and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund.  PCC was one of five recipients nationwide, and the only community college to receive the grant.  This grant allowed her Social Movements class to collaborate with an Accounting course in the development of requests for proposals and the distribution of $10,000 to non-profits in the Portland metro area.  This project will continue with the support of the PCC Foundation office and will help administer the city’s "Vision Into Action" funds to support youth-sponsored service projects.

In addition, Kim serves as a leader in the community by serving on the Board of Directors for Hands On Greater Portland, an organization that helps facilitate volunteerism with over 300 non-profits in our community.  She has organized several student Teamworks projects and regularly participates in citywide service days, including leading the PCC Action Team for four Comcast Cares Days.

As is evident, Kim’s life is a dedication to teaching and service.  She is a great asset to Portland Community College, to her students, and to the larger community as a whole.