What does Dr. Reggie Smith, CEO of USDLA, think about the Black Lives Matter Movement?

On today’s episode of the Black Lives Matter Radio Show hosts Tony Farmer and Hope Katz Gibbs welcome Dr. Reggie Smith III, the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors for the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

As the organization’s first African-American CEO (2018), Reggie is a recognized authority on media and telecommunications issues and has served as a presenter, keynote speaker, and judge at various events and conferences, including Mobility: A Game Changer for African-American Communities Braintrust, the Black Media Coalition’s Conference, Annual Pacific Telecommunications Council Conference, and Excellence in e-Learning Awards.

For his work, he has won an array of awards for his insight and dedication, including being recognized for distinguished service in supporting distance learning to include the USDLA Hall of Fame Award, Black Engineer of the Year Award for Community Service, Federal Government Distance Learning Association’s (FGDLA) Hall of Fame Award, FGDLA Pillar Award, Virtual World Association’s Excellence Award and the Action Hero’s Award from the Missouri Association of Community Task Forces. In 1993, he received a letter of commendation from New York’s mayor David Dinkins for supplying emergency programming during an asbestos crisis in the city’s schools.

That’s not all. As part of his determination to help as many students as possible, he serves as the board chairman for the Patriots Training Technology Center, which oversees STEM programming for more than 1,500 students annually. He is a Board Trustee for Berkeley College, which enrolls approximately 8,000 students each year, including more than 900 international students in its baccalaureate, associate degree, and certificate programs.

Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree in English Communications from Lincoln University in PA, his MA in International Management from the University of Maryland University College, and his Ph.D. in Education from Capella University.

So it’s a privilege to interview Reggie for our Black Lives Matter Radio Show.

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• Scroll down to read our Q&A.
• Click here to learn more about Dr. Smith

8 QUESTIONS FOR DR. REGGIE SMITH: Black Lives Matter Radio Show

Your Host: Tony Farmer

Tony: Given that this is our Black Lives Matter issue of Inkandescent Health & Wellness magazine, I want to start by asking about your experience in your career as a black man.

Reggie Smith: I’ve had broad experience across several industries for over 30 years.  As a black man, I’ve experienced challenges far and wide, but I would not solely make them black vs. white issues. I’ve had negative experiences from white managers and/or staff that undervalued my credentials and/or experience. In some cases, I’ve been labeled as a person with “too much experience” once it was discovered I had a Ph.D. What is “too much experience” when that same experience is why I won the business contract and delivered exceptional work to that same client? Then there is the black side: how I’ve been “tossed under the bus” by some of my fellow black men. I tend to chalk such experiences up as jealously. In my experience, it does not matter if you are white or black. Your character and how you treat others is the only thing that matters.

Tony: With protests erupting, is your belief about the current situation in the US and the world?

Reggie Smith: As a black man, there are so many potholes to avoid, and at the end of the day, we only want a fair playing field. These experiences ran