Wendy Smith

Wendy K. Smith

Dana J. Johnson Professor of Management

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson professor of management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics and co-director Women’s Initiative at the University of Delaware. She earned her doctorate in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School, where she began her research on strategic paradoxes — how leaders and senior teams effectively respond to contradictory, yet interdependent demands. Working with executives and scholars globally, she received the Web of Science Highly Cited Research Award for four consecutive years and received the Decade Award from the Academy of Management Review. Her work has been published in such journals as Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, Organization Science and Management Science. She has taught at the University of Delaware, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania – Wharton while leading classes for executive and senior leadership teams around the globe.

Online Courses

Past Webinars

  • Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

    May 8, 2026
    This webinar presents a strategic approach to enrollment forecasting that blends the enrollment team’s relational insights with financial analysis and data modeling. Learn how to strengthen projections using internal data alongside external signals.
  • There's More Room for Change Than You Think This item is protected

    April 24, 2026
    To stay competitive in today’s educational landscape, independent schools should modernize spaces by aligning with evolving pedagogical trends and technology advancements. Learn how existing spaces can be transformed to better serve a campus community.
  • Effortless Efficiency: Payroll to Performance This item is protected

    April 13, 2026
    Efficiency is paramount through the entire Human Resources function. In this webinar, HR leaders and business officers will explore how to streamline workforce management from payroll processing to performance evaluation.
  • Mission (and Margin) Possible: Leveraging Campus Assets This item is protected

    March 30, 2026
    From summer programs and rentals to strategic partnerships, schools can unlock new income streams. This webinar explores practical strategies to maximize underutilized assets, assess operational readiness, and design sustainable initiatives.
  • Blending Respect and Efficiency in the Business Office This item is protected

    February 20, 2026
    Join members of NBOA’s volunteer Human Resources Council for a practical discussion on strategies to safeguard your working hours without compromising collegial relationships —all while saving time.

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