In that role, she helped shape legislative strategy, guided organizational development, and expanded strategic partnerships. Her work included monitoring and influencing national education policy, coordinating high-level meetings, and managing cross-functional projects—experience that informs her leadership at the College.

Dr. Smit’s career in education spans more than a decade and includes service as a paraprofessional, classroom teacher, and associate dean. She has led faculty development, school improvement planning, and student support initiatives in districts across Florida. Her work has consistently emphasized equity, mental health advocacy, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

She earned a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Leadership from the American College of Education. She also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from the University of Florida.

Smit is certified in Educational Leadership (K–12) and Elementary Education (K–6) and is a trained facilitator in multiple mental health and school safety programs. She is a member of the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.

In 2019, she helped oversee the publishing process for the recently released "Community Colleges as Incubators of Innovation," edited by Dr. Rebecca Corbin and Dr. Ron Thomas. In the fall of 2016, Dr. Long published a first-of-its-kind book involving higher education’s top researchers, practitioners, and community college leaders to address the educational disparities that exist among students of color. Angela is the author of the Six Factors theory for increasing nontraditional student retention and formerly served as the Innovation Ambassador for the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).

She has participated in three White House summit meetings on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and has shared her findings across the country. In 2023, she was appointed as Commissioner to the AACC Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues, as well as appointed as an advisory board member for the Myers-Briggs Company. In 2023, she completed her training on Artificial Intelligence Leadership for Community College Professionals through the University of Florida.

Dr. Long holds a Doctorate of Education degree in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University; a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling and Consultation from Northwest Christian University (NCU) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from NCU.