Anthony D. Smith in the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee
Lifelong Learning Propels MATC Alum to Senior Role at Marcus Center
Anthony D. Smith's career was already going well when he decided to attend college at MATC. He was employed at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in marketing and community relations when he enrolled in 2010.
Going back to college later in life can seem daunting, but Smith enjoyed pursuing his Marketing and Communication associate degree. “As an older adult, going to school and being in class with 19-year-olds, 20-year-olds, and trying to keep up with them was challenging … but I learned to appreciate my cohort. We traveled through that journey together and I’m very happy because I had that opportunity,” he said.
In fact, approximately 90 percent of MATC students come to the college as a working adult, while the other 10 percent come directly from high school.
Smith worked for 13 years at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and then joined Children’s Hospital. He was a marketing and community relations specialist when he took advantage of the hospital’s tuition reimbursement program.
After completing the associate degree, Smith attended Marquette University to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications. Smith, like more than 3,700 MATC students each year, took advantage of MATC’s transfer partnerships with four-year colleges and universities.
This lifelong learner took additional courses at Marquette through its executive leadership program. In July 2018 he began a job with the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee, where he is the director of community engagement and inclusion.
He and his wife, Wendy, who works for Milwaukee Public Schools, have one son. Smith is the pastor of Newport Missionary Baptist Church, where he also serves as the minister of music. In May 2019, Smith will begin serving as an MATC Foundation Inc. board member. He serves on several additional boards and leads some as the chairperson... getting the education behind it, coupled with my career goals, it transformed me to be a better person, a better friend for others, be a better husband, be a better dad.
“I had a good idea of what I wanted to do and what my career was going to be, but after getting the education behind it, coupled with my career goals, it transformed me to be a better person, a better friend for others, be a better husband, be a better dad,” he said.