UT Arlington College of Engineering
UT Arlington

Alumni Profile – Jeff Smith
Doing Good by Doing Right


Jeff Smith received a master’s degree in 1988 and a Ph.D. in 2004, both in computer science & engineering. In 1993, he co-founded and served as president and CEO of OnRamp Technologies, a leading Internet service provider that, as the first acquisition of Verio, grew into one of the largest Web-hosting companies in the world.

In 2002, he founded and became chief technical officer of SensorLogic, one of the industry’s first telemetry service providers. Located in Addison, SensorLogic assists companies with the remote monitoring, control and optimization of company assets. It is considered a pioneer in the emerging machine-to-machine communications market.

Dr. Smith left SensorLogic to become founder and CEO of Ublip, which develops tracking devices and software for global positioning systems. Ublip was recently acquired by Numerex and Dr. Smith serves on its board of directors as well as being chief technology officer.

About this time, he also founded EntreCorps.org, an Internet-based initiative to leverage successful entrepreneurs’ mental and material assets on behalf of poor countries. A church mission trip to Honduras in 2002 led him to develop self-help programs for the citizens of Magote, a Honduran mountain village. Because of these endeavors, Dr. Smith received the Kauffman Foundation’s Community Award honoring entrepreneurs who have made a significant difference in their communities and recognizing their valuable philanthropic contributions to society.

Dr. Smith serves on the advisory boards of the College of Engineering and the Computer Science & Engineering Department. He supports CSE scholarships and mentors engineering students. In 2003, the CSE Department named him a distinguished alumnus. On October 17, 2008, Dr. Smith was honored as one of UT Arlington’s Distinguished Alumni.

Dr. Smith gives his thoughts about being an alumnus and remembrances of his time at the College of Engineering:

What does it mean to you to be a Maverick?
A little wild, unpredictable, untamed, and full of spirit.
 
How does this apply to you?
I am very passionate in everything I do. I enjoy adventure. I have always been creative in my ideas and my actions.
 
What do you know about UT Arlington that others do not?
I know where the hidden treasures are. I have met many of them.
 
What is your fondest memory of your time on campus?
Building and flying robots. I also loved teaching.
 
How has the College of Engineering changed since you were a student?
There is a swagger that I have not seen in the past, and a little smirk. A great sign of confidence.
 
What lessons of life have you discovered, before or since then?
Don't take yourself too seriously. Be adventurous. Find true north, and follow it, no matter what.
 
What is most interesting about being an engineer?
Engineers create things from their imagination that help others.
 
What do you want your legacy to be, both professionally and personally?
To create value and instill values. He made me laugh and think, often in that order.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles