Smith Blends Majors for a Truly Broad Education

By Sharon Omahen

Jeremy Smith may seem a quiet computer expert at first glance, but he's a surprisingly well-rounded student. And it's not by chance. He makes a point of broadening his educational horizons.

After graduating from Pike County High School in 2000, Smith earned an associate's degree in computer science and mathematics from Gordon College. He planned to continue his focus on computers at Georgia Tech but decided to go instead to Athens and the University of Georgia, where he majored in Japanese and comparative literature.

"A lot of the best technology comes from Japan," said Smith, who had learned the language from Japanese friends. "I thought it would really be helpful if I knew Japanese. And animation is a large part of their culture."

By spring 2004, Smith thought he'd earned his double-major bachelor's degree and returned home to Pike County. He planned to build up a side business (Web design and computer support) and start paying off student loans. But he learned that he still needed two courses to finish his degree.

"I really didn't want to pack everything back up and move yet again," he said. As luck would have it, he didn't have to. The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was starting to offer degrees in nearby Griffin. Smith became one of the program's first students, declaring yet another new major: environmental science.

"Dr. (Jerry) Johnson helped me find a technology connection by finding me a job on campus working with Dr. (Ian) Flitcroft in the GIS (global information systems) laboratory," he said. "I knew instantly this was something I wanted to do."

Smith's computer skills quickly earned him a summer internship helping the U.S. department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's GIS specialist in Athens. When the specialist transferred away, Smith filled in until a replacement could be hired.

In December, he was among the first four students to earn bachelor's degrees from UGA's Griffin campus. "It's decision time again," he said. "I may find a job in federal government or focus on my business." With Smith's track record, it's not surprising that his list of possibilities includes graduate school in Athens.

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