Mark Smith

Mark Smith graduated from MIT in 1978 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. He then earned a masters’ degree from Georgia Tech in 1979 and a PhD in 1984. Smith became a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Tech. His research focused on voice synthesis, specifically teaching computers to analyze a person’s voice from just a few notes. He also worked on high-definition (HD) television transmission.

In fencing Smith was US foil champion in 1981 and 1983. He won a silver medal in team foil at the 1983 Pan American Games, and competed at the 1982 World Championships and the 1979, 1981, and 1982 Universiade. Smith was a fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) in 1995, and won four IEEE signal processing society paper awards – in 1989, 1992 and two in 1995. At Georgia Tech he was voted an outstanding teacher in 1987 and 1988. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. After many years at Georgia Tech Smith later moved to Purdue University where he served as a professor, the dean of the graduate school, and as fencing coach.