Suzanne Smith is SUNY Potsdam's 18th president and joined the campus in April 2023. She served as the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Southwestern State University from 2018-2023. Dr. Smith worked at Washington State University Vancouver from 1997-2018 and eventually transitioned from faculty to administration. She believes in putting student success at the forefront of everything she does.

During her time in Washington, she spent considerable time working with and researching the Hutterites, their parenting practices, and their way of life. She has authored many publications and has presented throughout the country on this topic.