Lorenzo M. Smith, Ph.D. - Short Biography

Dr. Lorenzo M. Smith graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1991, earning his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Soon afterwards, he accepted a full-time engineering position at Ford Motor Company where he primarily engaged in research and development in the fasteners engineering section. While a full time employee at Ford Motor Company, he worked on his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State University, graduating in 1993. Following his long-term plan, Dr. Smith left Ford Motor Company to pursue a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics at Michigan State University. After completing all required course work by 1996, Dr. Smith accepted a sheet metal formability analyst position at General Motors Corporation. While at General Motors, Dr. Smith completed his dissertation entitled “Solid Finite Elements for Sheet Metal Forming Simulation” and graduated with his Ph.D. in 1999. Dr. Smith joined Oakland University’s Mechanical Engineering Department as a tenure-track, assistant professor in 2000, and in 2006 was appointed to a tenured associate professor rank. He carried out research and teaching in the Mechanical Engineering Department until early 2011. Dr. Smith is now associate dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Dr. Smith’s main research has been in the field of sheet metal experimental mechanics. Most of his recent work has revolved around the design of laboratory tooling to be used for evaluating forming limits, surface distortion, and draw bead behavior for sheet metal. He is the recipient of two teaching awards, and has a long track record with pre-college student programs. As sole-PI, he has secured over two million dollars from external funding agencies to support his research. He has authored 51 technical articles and 1 book chapter. He graduated 7 Ph.D. students and is the founding director of CLIC-form, a one-of-a-kind metal forming education center at Oakland University. Now as associate dean, he brings to Oakland University great interest in serving with collegiality the students and faculty of the School of Engineering and Computer Science.