President of Cisco College Announces Retirement

The Cisco College Board of Regents voted on August 27, 2015 to accept the resignation of college President Bobby Smith to be effective on January 4, 2016. President Smith plans to retire after more than 40 years of diverse involvement with the college, the last five of which were spent serving in the role of President.

Smith expressed “profound feelings of pride and love for Cisco College and the community” saying, “My greatest wish is for on-going success and accomplishment for each”. 

His long time involvement with Cisco College began when he was a student from 1966-1968, then in 1978 Smith became a member of the Board of Regents. In 1980, Smith left the Board of Regents when his CPA firm was contracted to perform the annual independent audit for the college, a responsibility he held from 1981-1987. Then in 1988 he was hired as Chief Financial Officer for the college. Smith remained in that position until he became President five years ago.  

Smith’s expertise in finance has benefitted the college greatly, as he navigated the complex issues surrounding new legislation of state funding for community colleges. Another accomplishment brokered by Smith as President of the college was his leadership during the closing of the RN Nursing program by the State Board of Nursing. He spearheaded an alliance with Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Nursing for a pathway to an RN to BSN program, and contracted with Dr. Pearl Merritt, Executive Dean of Nursing at TTHSC as Dean of the Cisco College School of Nursing. A new curriculum was created for the nursing program, which is now used as a model across the state. The Cisco College School of Nursing has become a highly successful component to the college. 

President Smith will continue to serve the college over the next few months, as he assists in handing off his responsibilities to someone he hopes will bring “a fresh perspective and a new outlook” to Cisco College.