Zack Smith currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Leadership Strategy and Engagement at his alma mater, UC San Diego. He works directly with the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Chancellor to advance strategic university initiatives through transformational relationships and philanthropy. He leads a team of passionate development experts who are responsible for the development and facilitation of multi-faceted strategies and personalized stewardship processes for donors and prospects who are the university’s most capable and generous donors in considering transformational gifts to support the campus’ highest priorities.

Smith previously served as the Vice President of University Development and Alumni Engagement at Cal Poly. At Cal Poly, he led a team of more than 70 individuals to advance Cal Poly's "Learn by Doing" mission. He also served as the CEO of the Cal Poly Foundation. 

Smith served as the Executive Director of Development for the Jacobs School of Engineering at University of California, San Diego. Smith led the efforts of the external relations staff at the Jacobs School which includes major and principal gifts, donor relations, stewardship, and events. Smith worked directly with the Dean of the School to provide strategic direction for a comprehensive major and principal gifts program as the University completes the next comprehensive campaign. Smith served in a similar role at his alma mater, the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.

At the Palomar Health Foundation, Smith served as the Senior Director of Development where he oversaw a team of fundraising professionals dedicated to the advancement of Palomar Health, California’s largest public health care district. Prior to this position Smith served as the Director of Major Gifts within the Palomar Health Foundation where he had the primary fundraising responsibility for the divisions of Orthopedic Medicine, Cardiovascular Care, Men’s Health, Rehabilitative Care, and Neurosciences.

Smith also served as the Associate Director of Major Gifts and Donor Relations at California Western School of Law. There, he built the school’s first comprehensive major gifts program. Smith successfully created a breakthrough in fundraising, leading to the school’s most successful years of philanthropic support in the school’s history at that point.

At Portland State University, Smith started as a telefund caller and was quickly promoted to various posts in the Office of Annual Giving and eventually a Major Gifts role.

Smith cultivated his passion for higher education at Portland State University, where he earned a B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, while Minoring in Civic Leadership. Smith was a member of the PSU Wrestling Team and competed in the PAC 10 Division during which time, he was honored as an All-Academic PAC 10 wrestler. He went on to earn his MBA at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.