"let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and                             glorify your Father which is in heaven."

BIOGRAPHY OF DR. IRVING H. SMITH

"I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less travelled by, that has made all the difference."                                         --Robert Frost

Dr. Irving H. Smith is a developmental psychologist and former Johns Hopkins University professor with more than 40 years of professional experience. His teaching domains include Health Psychology, Aging Psychology/Advanced Gerontology, Leisure and Aging, Sports Psychology, Psychology of Stress, and Psychology and Spirituality. He was honored as one of the "Most Inspiring Professors" at Argosy University's American School of Professional Psychology, more than a year after he left the institution.

His Master's Degree thesis was designed to improve the health and psychological well-being of older individuals through exercise, physical activity and lifetime sports participation. His Ph.D. dissertation was an evaluative research study of the barriers, determinants and predictors of participation in exercise, physical activity and lifetime sports programs for older individuals.

Irving Smith is a member of the International Honor Society, Pi Gamma Mu.

Dr. Smith served as a national surrogate speaker for former US President Clinton's National Healthcare Reform Initiative, articulating and interpreting national healthcare reform public policy. He also served on a panel of speakers/presenters as part of the White House Conference on Aging. 

In 1996, he founded  the Prince George's County, Maryland Centenarian Research Study.  For more than 10 years he served on the board of directors of the National Recreation and Park Association, most notably as the regional director of the mid-Atlantic region of the Leisure and Aging Section representing Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. 

Dr. Smith served  for five years on the Advisory Board of the Community Mental Health Center at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC and he is also a speaker/presenter at international, national, and local conferences, including the International Conference on Aging and Physical Activitiy.

In 1993, Dr. Smith initiated the first countywide Juneteenth Celebration in Prince George's County. The celebration received a major boost in 2008 when the County Council Chairman along with the State Senator began funding the celebration. That year Dr. Smith served as Master of Ceremonies along with the National Juneteenth chairman. In 2009 and 2010, Dr. Smith served as Master of Ceremonies along with local radio personalities. On June 17, 2010, Smith presented the history of Juneteenth Day before the Prince George's County Planning Board. Please click on the Juneteenth icon for a transcript of that presentation.

In 2009, Dr. Smith initiated the Living Legends program in Prince George's County. This program honors the last living Buffalo Soldiers of World War II who reside in Prince George's County. Please see the connected YouTube video of this program.  

Dr. Irving H. Smith is profiled in Outstanding People of the 20th Century. Individuals were chosen for inclusion to this international publication based on the significance of their contributions to society and the world community. He is also profiled in Marquis Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in America. Marquis is the world's foremost chronicler of noteworthy individuals whose significant contributions have proven to be of lasting value to society.

Smith is a nationally certified Master Sports Administrator and a nationally certified Sports Science Instructor. He is the proud father of five sons: Bryan, Rashard (deceased), Irving (deceased), Rev. Nevada Smith, and Ryan and he is the very proud grandfather of five lovely granddaughters: Jordan,  Shemiah, Gabrielle, Layla, and Azah.