Dr. W. David Smith is a Philip Morris Professor and Head of the Department of Crop Science at North Carolina State University. In its last external review, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the USDA ranked the department as one of the top five departments of its type in the United States. The department is the largest in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the fourth largest at NC State University. Currently there are 52 faculty, 82 support staff, 60 graduate students, and 239 undergraduates. Total expenditures in the department are $12 million annually and programs are conducted in support of crop and turfgrass industries providing nearly $3 billion in annual income to North Carolina citizens.

Prior to moving into administration in July 2006, Dr. Smith was a faculty member in the department for 25 years, with responsibilities for Extension (82%), Research (8%), and teaching (10%) programs in tobacco. He received over $2 million in financial support for his programs and visited 25 countries. His publication record includes: 27 papers in refereed journals, 134 peer-reviewed extension publications, and 60 abstracts. He was named a Philip Morris Professor in 2000.

He received B.S. and M.S degrees in agronomy from the University of Florida in 1978 and 1980. He received a Ph. D in Crop Science from North Carolina State University in 1984.