Co-Founder/Partner, Rodney D. Smith, has served in the higher education and not-for-profit community for the past 28 years. In addition to his work with Sophic, Dr. Smith recently served as Vice President for Access and Engagement, where he led all of the college's diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives. Smith has also served as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), where he specialized in courses that address racial and ethnic diversity, and cultural understanding. Rodney holds a doctoral degree from Tennessee State University and a Bachelor's degree from Morris Brown College.