New residence hall to be named for former housing chief

A 425-bed residence hall under construction on North Park Street will be named for Newell J. Smith, who headed University Housing for 28 years prior to his retirement in 1983.

The UW Board of Regents approved naming the facility Newell J. Smith Hall once UW–Madison completes acquisition of the residence hall.

Paul Evans, current director of University Housing, worked with Smith for five years and saw his devotion to student and parent needs.

“The one constant during his tenure was his unwavering belief that students needed to be active participants in decision-making, and leaders in providing programs and services for students,” Evans says.

During Smith’s career, Evans says, he enthusiastically embraced the notion that University Housing should be a respected partner in the university’s overall educational mission. He recognized the importance of learning outside of the classroom, an ethic that remains a trademark of University Housing today.

“University Housing is thrilled with the Board of Regents’ approval to name our new hall after Newell Smith,” Evans says. “He made a huge difference in the lives of the students and staff that benefited from his leadership.”

Smith entered the university as a freshman in 1936, and was a student worker in the residence halls, where he lived for all of his undergraduate years. He joined the university staff in 1941 and, with the exception of military service in World War II, Smith served continuously until his retirement.

From 1955 until 1983, Smith was University Housing director, at a time when the university underwent dramatic change. During that time, enrollment nearly doubled, the number of residents living on campus almost tripled and new buildings such as Sellery, Ogg and Witte halls were built.

In all, Evans says, Smith oversaw construction of 1,100 apartments and residence halls providing 5,000 residence hall beds.

“Today, we are very proud of the programs and services we provide the students who live on campus,” Evans says. “In large part, they can be traced back to the things Newell started and the standards he led and lived by.”