Steve Smith has more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of information technology in higher education. His educational background includes an undergraduate degree with an emphasis in broadcasting and filmmaking from the University of Iowa and a graduate degree in telecommunications from the University of Hawaii.

His professional experience includes campus computing, library systems, public broadcasting, distance delivery, and extensive experience in network operations and design including satellite systems to remote areas and high speed Internet2 optical networks. In his role as chief information technology officer for the University of Alaska and UAF he has worked on policy, regulation, IT investment strategy, and public-private partnerships. He was a founder of the Fairbanks Community Network and is one of three U.S. representatives on the Information Communications Technology Network for the Arctic Council, comprised of the eight arctic nations. He is on the executive board of the Northwest Academic Computing Consortium, past chair of the Pacific Northwest Gigapop Advisory Council, a board member of ResearchChannel, and the executive liaison for the University of Alaska for Internet2. In 2007 he led the consolidation of the statewide IT departments with the University of Alaska Fairbanks IT departments, now known as the Office of Information Technology.