University of St. Thomas Athletics
Football
Smith Ware, Dr. Michelle
Dr. Michelle Smith Ware
- Title:
- Director of Academic Support Services for Athletics (Football Academic Advisor)
- Email:
- smit3151@stthomas.edu
- Phone:
- 651-962-5952
Michelle Smith Ware joined St. Thomas as the Director of Academic Support Services for Athletics in October 2020. She was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Academic Support Services in June 2024.
In her role, Smith Ware leads all academic support services efforts, including strategically setting the vision for and leading the development of a sustainable structure for academic support services, as well as overseeing programming and advising for St. Thomas student-athletes.
Smith Ware came to St. Thomas after spending 12 years in the Center for University Advising at the University of Notre Dame. Most recently, Smith Ware served as the Faculty Academic Advisor, Associate Advising Professor for the College of Engineering. She also was the Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program. In this role, Smith Ware was the primary first year engineering liaison to Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes. She also advised first-year student-athletes in engineering regarding course selection, schedule building, major selection, and proactively monitored student-athlete grades throughout the academic year. As the Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, Smith Ware shared responsibilities for strategic planning and daily operations of the program, including the development and implementation of program policies and procedures, program assessment, and preparation of annual reports. Additionally, she also led the coordination of programming for undergraduate scholars to connect with the network of over 700 Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar alumni. She began at Notre Dame in 2008 as Faculty Academic Advisor, Assistant Professional Specialist for First Year of Studies. She was appointed Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program in 2014 and was soon promoted to Associate Professional Specialist in 2017. She received the Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising and at the same point moved into Associate Advising Professor in 2019.
Smith Ware also has previous experience in intercollegiate athletics at Miami University of Ohio, the University of Maryland, Dartmouth College, Springfield Public Schools, the National Football Foundation Center, Springfield College, and the University of New Orleans. She has also taught classes at Notre Dame, Florida Atlantic University, Miami (OH), and Maryland.
Smith Ware received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She moved on to earn her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College in Massachusetts and attained a PhD in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University.
Smith Ware resides in St. Paul with her husband KiJuan and daughter (Kalyx).
In her role, Smith Ware leads all academic support services efforts, including strategically setting the vision for and leading the development of a sustainable structure for academic support services, as well as overseeing programming and advising for St. Thomas student-athletes.
Smith Ware came to St. Thomas after spending 12 years in the Center for University Advising at the University of Notre Dame. Most recently, Smith Ware served as the Faculty Academic Advisor, Associate Advising Professor for the College of Engineering. She also was the Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program. In this role, Smith Ware was the primary first year engineering liaison to Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes. She also advised first-year student-athletes in engineering regarding course selection, schedule building, major selection, and proactively monitored student-athlete grades throughout the academic year. As the Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, Smith Ware shared responsibilities for strategic planning and daily operations of the program, including the development and implementation of program policies and procedures, program assessment, and preparation of annual reports. Additionally, she also led the coordination of programming for undergraduate scholars to connect with the network of over 700 Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar alumni. She began at Notre Dame in 2008 as Faculty Academic Advisor, Assistant Professional Specialist for First Year of Studies. She was appointed Co-Director of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program in 2014 and was soon promoted to Associate Professional Specialist in 2017. She received the Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising and at the same point moved into Associate Advising Professor in 2019.
Smith Ware also has previous experience in intercollegiate athletics at Miami University of Ohio, the University of Maryland, Dartmouth College, Springfield Public Schools, the National Football Foundation Center, Springfield College, and the University of New Orleans. She has also taught classes at Notre Dame, Florida Atlantic University, Miami (OH), and Maryland.
Smith Ware received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She moved on to earn her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Athletic Counseling from Springfield College in Massachusetts and attained a PhD in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University.
Smith Ware resides in St. Paul with her husband KiJuan and daughter (Kalyx).
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