How Jerry Smartt Turned Language and Leadership into Community

Written by Shaylee Gibbs

Dr. Jerry Smartt is not a Wichita native, although many have not known this city without her. She has been in positions of leadership, a consistent attendee of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, and a friendly face on the Friends University campus for 50 years. The abundance of community around her is one of joy and connection, and one that Dr. Smartt knows was given to her by the Lord.

Dr. Smartt grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She studied at the Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her future husband, Dan Smartt. Following Dan’s job opportunity in Wichita, she pursued her first master’s degree at Wichita State University. In 1975, she was hired at Friends University with a shrinking Spanish program. She refused to let an opportunity for global education slip through her hands.

“I asked, how could this program grow? Where can I put my energy into supporting this branch of education, instead of letting it slip away? There may not have been an astounding amount of support, but I wanted to try,” said Dr. Smartt.

Cultivating International Opportunities

Inspired by the travels of her childhood, Dr. Smartt created study abroad opportunities to Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Cuba. She pursued any opportunity, beyond the classroom, that would grant her students access to bridge cultures beyond university classes. The Spanish program took off, garnering dozens of students interested in seeing the world and learning from Hispanic cultures.

“In my classes, and even in the Latino Leadership program, I always tell my students that they are choosing to bridge two different but similar cultures. They can, and will be, someone who builds bridges through language, friendship and caring,” said Dr. Smartt.

‘I asked, how could this program grow? Where can I put my energy into supporting this branch of education, instead of letting it slip away?’ — Dr. Jerry Smartt

Dr. Smartt began volunteering with the Sister Cities program in Wichita, where she facilitated the establishment of a sister university arrangement with La Salle University in Cancún. Alongside eight different Wichita mayors and City Councils, Dr. Smartt traveled to develop cultural, educational and business ties to bridge two Mexican cities, Tlalnepantla and Cancún, with Wichita. She worked as a translator and interpreter for the city officials, often writing speeches up at the last moment and interpreting live on camera.

“I had to be on my toes. Interpreting is a complicated skill, as is writing speeches in both Spanish and English. I had pride in creating cohesive messages, and it was one of my favorite experiences,” said Dr. Smartt.

She is proud to have served the foreign language teachers of Kansas as president of the Kansas World Language Association (KSWLA). She presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Recently, she created the Latino Leadership program at Friends University, a scholarship program of outreach students with a 2.5 GPA and a desire to develop leadership skills. By building bridges of understanding and respect internationally through Sister Cities, statewide through KSWLA, and locally with the Wichita Hispanic Chamber, she has enriched her life beyond words.

Family and Faith

Despite a busy professional career, the height of Dr. Smartt’s life was raising three sons and being a part of her grandchildren's lives.

“I am blessed with an amazing family, with my generous husband, talented sons and daughters-in-laws and six amazing grandchildren. They are the light of my life,” said Dr. Smartt.

Even after 50 years of teaching at Friends University, and even more building Wichita into a vibrant multicultural community, Dr. Smartt doesn’t take credit for the lives she touched. While some may call it luck or coincidence, Dr. Smartt called it God’s plan.

“I never expected to work at Friends for this long and never predicted the unsolicited experiences that have come to me,” said Dr. Smartt. “I had the energy and a family that allowed me to pursue this stupendous career and life. But it was not in my hands; I was not in charge of this. God was there and presented me with so many opportunities, and I said ‘Yes, si se puede’.”