Kendolyn Smith Appointed Program Director for the Health Science Majors for Clayton State University’s College of Health
(October 13, 2026) - Dr. Kendolyn Smith is a pharmacist and public health professional with more than 30 years of combined experience in healthcare. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to serving others, advancing public health, and helping individuals and communities achieve better health outcomes. Now, as the newly appointed Program Director for Health Science Majors in Clayton State University’s College of Health, she brings that same commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Smith was recently appointed to lead the Health Science Majors program, a role that builds on her longstanding relationship with Clayton State University. She began teaching at the university in 2012 under Dr. Peter Fitzpatrick in the Department of Healthcare Management, but her connection to the institution began long before her professional career in academia.
Smith said. “My connection to Clayton State started well before I ever went to any university. I'm a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools (Benjamin E. Mays). I took piano lessons on Clayton State's campus when I was about 10 years old and played in Spivey Hall for our culminating recital.”
Smith brings a diverse academic background and extensive professional experience to her new leadership role. She has earned an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Georgia and a Master of Public Health from Emory University with an emphasis in Health Policy and Management. She also earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions in Omaha, Nebraska.
Throughout her healthcare career, she has worked across many roles focused on helping people understand their health conditions and medication therapy. She spent over 13 years in roles within top tier pharmaceutical companies - roles in district training and leadership to being an essential health professional as an immunizer during the COVID pandemic. “I immunized so many people in the midst of a pandemic and that was probably one of the most memorable experiences that I will carry with that reflected true collaboration of my professional skills in public health and pharmacy.”
Smith says, “In this role as the new Program Director for the Health Science Majors, I will be working with the students alongside of my other professional colleagues to establish ways to enter into the healthcare career tracks that they want to be in. I tell them to think broadly about healthcare and be introspective as well, because there are so many avenues to be successful. I want students to think outside of the box.” She explains that “I want them to realize that you don't have to just think of health care in a silo, because you can be clinical, non-clinical, you can develop skill sets in an area, you can network with other and discover what area of healthcare best fits their skills, passion and professional goals.”
The idea of pushing students to explore career options began in the classroom. She said, “When I am teaching my classes, I try to do things that will require students to utilize transferable skills like teamwork, critical thinking and collaborative communication. One example is the creating public service announcements, classroom panel discussions and infographic presentations. I want them to have debates in class where they are integrating creative thoughts about where healthcare has been and where it is going. I want them to think beyond being caregivers. They have to know we communicate insurance issues to patients? How do we minimize errors in patient care? What will be the future of healthcare how what will be their role in that future?
Another way that’s career explorations has become a part of expanding the mind about roles in healthcare is to invite people with career experience to speak with students on campus. Smith said, “We have Morehouse School of Medicine coming soon to share about their graduate programs. We just had a geriatric wellness professional Jessica Holt and we have had Occupational Therapy students come to share real world experiences about their professional program and expertise in the field.
Smith added, “My goal as the Program Director for Health Science students is to ensure that students are prepared to go out into the community and have the applicable skills to fill various roles”. My idea of social mobility is that when they go through the health science program, they know where they can go when they step off of the graduation stage.
Whether they become patient advocates, human resource professionals for healthcare organizations, health and wellness professionals, graduate students in non-clinical programs, researchers, leaders who work in hospitals or clinics as physician assistants, nurses, dental hygienists, occupational therapists, physicians or pharmacists in their future.