Rick Smith has more than 30 years’ experience in higher education, healthcare administration, public relations, crisis communications training, marketing, business development and television news. He currently serves as the senior vice president of advancement and chief development officer for the Kentucky College of Art + Design (KyCAD). 

Previously, he served as vice president of external relations and development and later the interim vice president of institutional advancement, athletics and alumni relations at Kentucky State University.

In 2005, Smith was named the vice president of community relations and marketing at Southeast Alabama Medical Center, where he served for five years before joining the senior leadership team at Ephraim McDowell Medical Center, where he served as the senior vice president and chief marketing officer.