Jay Smith

Associate Director of Admission

Recruitment Territory: Freshmen from Alaska and Washington (King and Kitsap counties)

Additional Responsibilities: Supervise the admission counseling staff and admission counseling intern, serve as the housing liaison and coordinate alumni and parent volunteer assistance.

Phone: 503.883.2488

Email: jay.smith@linfield.edu

Hometown: Bend, Oregon

Favorite Linfield Hang: Laying in the Oak Grove on a summer evening. I also try and get to the pool as often as possible.

Favorite Food in Dillin: The hand-carved sandwich bar - no processed lunch meat to be found, it's freshly cooked (usually rotisserie) meat and the home-style bread is excellent!

Best Linfield Memory: First day of my first class at Linfield, "Privilege and Perplexity," which was the Inquiry Seminar, or writing class, that I had selected. The course dealt with issues surrounding freedom of expression and was taught by Dave Gilbert, Professor of Mass Communication. There were about 12 students in the class, and believe it or not I remember just about every one of those classmates. At the start of our first class (at 8:00 a.m. in iconic Melrose Hall), Professor Gilbert asked everyone to arrange their desks in a circle. He then said, "What do you want to talk about?" We were all silent and taken aback. We were thinking, "We are spending all this money to have a professor ask us what we want to 'talk' about?" After what seemed like hours of silence (but was merely a minute or two), a student finally broke the ice by saying, "I like soccer." Rather than actually talking about soccer, Professor Gilbert explained that learning, especially at a small college, isn't about sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture and then taking a test. Learning is about sharing ideas and blurring the line between student and professor. He explained that he expected a reciprocal class dynamic, where everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas and views. This class, my first one, really set the stage for what to expect from a Linfield education - classes that involved real critical thinking, not just listening to a lecture or memorizing facts.

Personal Thing You Like To Do While On College Travel: Discover new running routes

Favorite Mac Restaurant: Just one? No way! Kame (Japanese) has to make the list because they are like a second family to me. My colleague, Janet Sasaki, and I have been eating dinner there pretty much once a week, every week, for a decade. Other favorites include: Thistle, Bistro Maison (you've got to try their white truffle fondue!) and Crescent Cafe (great breakfast and lunch).

Favorite Linfield event: The theatre productions. I'm always incredibly impressed with the innovation of our students and professors - the acting, lighting and sets are always so creative.

Best Concert You Ever Attended: Radiohead (OK Computer Tour) with Spiritualized in 1998