Henry Smith II

Henry Smith II is a father, volunteer and veteran who centers his life around giving back and constantly learning. As a child, he struggled with a learning disability that made speaking difficult for him and made his thought processes different from other children’s.

When Henry noticed similar behavior in his daughter, he started reading to her, as his own mother did for him. He also volunteered to read to other children at his daughter’s school, also extending his service to the Girl Scouts.

At the age of 30, Henry joined the U.S. Army. He planned to stay for 20 years but was honorably discharged after being injured. He then jumped into the telecommunications field and completed master’s degrees that he was unable to finish during his time in the military due to deployment.

Henry has volunteered with the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans Paid Up For Life Program to help fellow veterans take advantage of opportunities available to them because of their military work. These efforts earned him The President’s Volunteer Service Award. Smith says the heart of his work is helping others and growing as a person from it.  

With his MBA and Master of Science in International Real Estate from FIU, Henry hopes to start a new chapter in his life, switching from telecommunications to real estate. He also hopes to someday earn a doctoral degree that can lead to career opportunities in teaching, research, and consulting.  

By Elise Gregg
Student Editorial Assistant
College of Business