TAMUC Professor Honored as ‘Star’ Texas Photographer

Chad Smith, professor of photography at Texas A&M University-Commerce, was recently honored as a “Star of Texas” by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) at their annual winter meeting held at the University of Texas at Arlington.

The award is the highest honor given by the association and recognizes an individual or company for their contributions to photographic education in Texas.

Smith is a three-time alum of A&M-Commerce, receiving his B.S. in Journalism in 1980, an M.S. in Journalism in 1985 and an M.F.A. in Art in 1993, when the university was known as East Texas State University. After stints at Texas Christian University and the University of Oklahoma, Smith came back to his alma mater and has taught at A&M-Commerce since 2003.

The ATPI recognized his contributions to the association in their award announcement, noting that Smith supported the organization by hosting the ATPI Summer Workshop for Instructors multiple times, serving as a judge for ATPI contests, administering the Texas High School Shoot-Out photography contest, teaching classes at the ATPI Winter Conference, and providing support for students and teachers from around Texas and other parts of the country.

Read more about the award.