Jarvis Announces Mrs. Patricia Smith as Chief Operating Officer
Jarvis Christian University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Patricia Smith, MBA, as Chief Operating Officer. A distinguished executive leader with decades of experience in organizational management, strategic operations, hospitality, and business development, Mrs. Smith brings a dynamic combination of corporate leadership expertise and institutional commitment to her new role.
Mrs. Smith has served Jarvis Christian University in several leadership capacities, most recently supporting the institution through roles connected to External Relations, Strategic Partnerships, and Jarvis Online. Her appointment as Chief Operating Officer reflects both her extensive professional background and her longstanding dedication to advancing the University’s mission and operational excellence.
Throughout her professional career, Mrs. Smith has established herself as a respected leader across the hospitality, travel, and business sectors. She most recently served as Vice President of Government Travel for HotelPlanner.com, where she directed strategic initiatives related to government travel solutions, stakeholder engagement, and brand positioning. Under her leadership, the organization strengthened its standing as a trusted global provider for government travel management services.
Her professional experience also includes executive and leadership roles with several of the nation’s premier hospitality and travel organizations, including Continental Airlines, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, and IHG Hotels and Resorts. Across these organizations, Mrs. Smith successfully led regional and multi-brand operations, implemented enterprise-wide operational strategies, advanced revenue management initiatives, and directed transformational improvements focused on efficiency, profitability, and service excellence.
In addition to her corporate leadership experience, Mrs. Smith was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Meetings and Events Network, LLC, a nationally recognized conference management and logistics firm serving business, religious, and technology organizations throughout the United States. Through this work, she further demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and large-scale event execution.
A proud alumna of Jarvis Christian University, Mrs. Smith earned her Bachelor of Business Administration after beginning her collegiate studies at Southern University and A&M College. She also earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Hospitality from Louisiana State University Shreveport and an Executive Certificate in Business Administration from Liberty University. Additionally, she holds professional certifications in Hotel Industry Analytics and Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Analytics. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration degree as a doctoral candidate at Liberty University.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Mrs. Smith remains deeply committed to civic engagement and community service. She actively serves in women’s ministry initiatives and maintains lifelong membership in Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated. She and her husband of 34 years are proud parents of three adult children.
As Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Smith will help lead institutional operations while supporting the University’s ongoing strategic priorities, operational effectiveness, and commitment to student success. Her appointment represents an important step forward as Jarvis Christian University continues strengthening its leadership infrastructure and advancing its mission of transforming lives through higher education.