Skip to main content

Meet Our Faculty: Darrell Smith

Darrell “Brent” Smith

Assistant Professor
Manual Machining
School of Applied Technology and Technical Specialties

What he teaches:
Intro to Machining
Basic Lathe
Advanced Lathe
Basic Mill
Advanced Mill
Intro to Grinding

Number of years teaching at SLCC:
21 years


Undergraduate:
Salt Lake Community College
Journeyman machinist and 30 years industry experience

Why working at SLCC matters:
I absolutely love meeting and socializing with people. SLCC has such a diverse population, and I enjoy meeting and learning about everyone’s different background and experiences. I think this helps me identify better with students and motivates me to become the best teacher and mentor that I can become.

Greatest professional challenge:
I teach a skilled trade. It has always been a challenge getting more students into the trades. We have just finished our third year having a booth at the Pathways to Professions expo, which is a big step in getting the information on skilled trades out to high school and junior high students.


Greatest professional accomplishment:
Converting the Machining program into a Competency Based Education format (CBE). This conversion has been in the works for a few years, and I am proud to finally be finished with it. The CBE format will enable my students to graduate from my program at a much quicker pace than before, which will help them get started with their careers much sooner. 

Advice for students or others:
Live, Laugh, Love. This statement means a lot to me. It really simplifies everything in life. Live your life to the fullest, including taking some risks. Always find a way to laugh. Laughter truly is the best medicine. Love everyone for who they are and not what you wish them to be.

Future plans:
My main focus for the future is to continue to strengthen my machining program. I don’t ever want to stop pursuing perfection.

Family:
I have been married for 18 years now to a beautiful wife.  We have four children: Dacie (29), Nathan (27), Kyle (23) and Hudson (7) and our dog “Flower.”

Hobbies:
My hobbies are dictated by my seven-year-old son, who has created his own YouTube channel and now wants to start giving away merchandise to all his subscribers. All my free time is helping my son.


Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the  Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education  for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning.  Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)  allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024.   “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.”   As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an  11-member committee  in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...
Post a Comment
Read more