ADAM SMIDI, Ph.D.
I. Academic Degrees
2024 Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, School of Media & Communication.
Focus on organizational and intercultural communication
Dissertation - "Non-Governmental, Civil Society, and Faith-Based Organizations' Roles in Combating Catastrophes in Lebanon"
2009 M.B.A., University of Toledo, College of Business Administration.
Focus on international business
2005 B.B.A., University of Toledo, College of Business Administration
Focus on organizational behavior and management
2024 - present Lecturer, College of Business and Innovation, University of Toledo
2016-2019 Graduate Teaching Instructor, School of Media and Communication, Bowling Green State University.
2018-2019 Board of Trustees, Bowling Green State University, Graduate Student Representative
2010-2016 Visiting Instructor, College of Business Administration, University of Toledo
2009 – present President, Joe’s Autos, Toledo, Ohio
Responsibilities/Achievements:
Oversee day-to-day operations across all functions of a car dealership
Increased volume of sales over 500% from 2009 to 2023
Successfully repositioned the company by formulating a new vision and strategic direction that lead to an increase in bottom line by 10 % in the past 5 years
Utilized many different media vehicles including partnerships with online companies, print/digital advertising, and special event sponsorship
Conducted competitor and market research, developed strategies to convert other dealerships’ customers to Joe’s Autos vehicles
Supervised and trained all staff positions
Built growth strategies based upon CRM programs; tailored customer segmentation, loyalty programs, customer satisfaction, cost-to-serve and service strategies
Utilized CRM programs to provide data on marketing campaigns as well as sales; analyzed the data to determine which areas to shift resources
Exported vehicles to an emerging market in Lebanon
A. Undergraduate courses taught
COMM2030 Small Group Communication (BGSU)
COMM1020 Introduction to Public Speaking (BGSU)
MDIA1030 Media Information and Society (BGSU)
MKTG3850 Buyer Behavior and Relationship Marketing (UT)
BUAD300 Managerial and Behavioral Processes in Organizations (UT)
BUAD2080 Global Environment of Business (UT)
IBUS3600 International Management (UT)
IBUS3150 Understanding Culture in International Business (UT)
EFSB4010 Growing Family and Entrepreneurial Business (UT)
IV. Professional Development
Completed Intercultural Communication Seminar, 2018-2019 academic year
Completed Organizational Communication Seminar, 2017-2018 academic year
Completed Leadership and Organizational Change Seminar, 2017-2018 academic year
V. Research Interests
Organizational communication studies
Intercultural, international, communication studies
Use of social media during and since the citizen uprisings in North Africa
Marketing, consumer behavior, international business, sales, strategic branding, leadership
VI. Refereed Articles
Smidi, A. & Lengel, L. (2017). The Relevence of Interfaith Community-Building and Khutab to Counter Islamaphobia. Refereed paper presented for the National Communication Association, Dallas, 2017. Awarded one of two Top Paper Award by the NCA Spiritual Communication Division
Shahin, S., Smidi, A., & Kim, K. (2018, May). Orientalism meets Californian Ideology: A meta-analysis of research on new and legacy media’s role in the Arab Spring, 2011- 2016. Accepted for presentation at the ICA annual conference (Political Communication Division), Prague.
VIb. Manuscripts accepted for publication:
Smidi, A. & Shahin, S. (2017). Social media and social mobilization in the Middle East: A survey of research on the Arab Spring. India Quarterly, 73(2), 196-209. Special issue: The Middle East
Smidi, A., & Lengel, L. (2017). Freedom for whom? The contested terrain of religious freedom for Muslims in the United States. In E. Miller (Ed.), The rhetoric of religious freedom in the U.S. Lanham, MD: Lexington/Rowman & Littlefield.
Lengel, L., & Smidi, A.(2017). How affect overrides fact: Anti-Muslim politicized rhetoric in the post-truth era. In C. Clark & L. Zang (Ed.), Affect theory and rhetorical persuasion in mass communication. New York, NY: Routledge.
2024 Muslim Student Association of Maumee Valley, Maumee Valley Country Day School
Keynote Speaker, "Gain Knowledge, Spread Truth"
2024 Muslim Student Associaton of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Academy
Keynote Speaker, "Different Faiths, Same Goals"
2022 Muslim Student Association of Ottawa Hills, Ottawa Hills Schools
Keynote Speaker, "Learn About Ramadan"
2019 Women of Toledo, Pinnacle
Keynote Speaker, “Exploring Ramadan”
2018 National Public Radio, The Rough Draft Diaries with Haley Taylor
“Meet a Muslim”
2017 Muslim Student Association Convention, Bowling Green State University
Keynote Speaker, "Islam and Social Justice"
2017 Muslim Student Association Community Engagement, Wood County Public Library
Moderator, "Islamophobia"
2015-present Various Faith Based Organizations, Toledo, OH
United Muslim Association of Toledo, Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, Masjid Saad Foundation,
Toledo Muslim Community Center, Franciscan Center of Lourdes University, Saint George Orthodox Cathedral
Sermons, Interfaith Discussions
VIII. Service
Center for Family and Privately Held Business at the University of Toledo, board member, 2018 to present
Sultan Club, non-profit social club that fosters the connection of nearly 250 families and helps improve and enrich the lives of our members and those around us.
(Elected) President, 2024-Present
(Elected) Board Member, 2012-2016
Alpha Lambda Mu, University of Toledo, advisor to Muslim-Interest fraternity, 2016 to present
Muslim Student Association, Ottawa Hills High School, Advisor, 2022 to present
School Board Member, Ottawa Hills Local School District
(Appointed) Member, 2021-2022
(Elected) Vice President, 2022-2024
Board of Trustees at Bowling Green State University, Graduate Student Representative
Appointment by Ohio Governer Mike Dewine, 2018-2020
NCA Spiritual Communication Division:
(Elected) Secretary, 2017-2021
(Volunteer) Paper reviewer, 2017-2021
Women of Toledo, Founding member of HeForShe
Muslim Student Association, Ottawa Hills High School, Advisor, 2022 to present
Central Academy of Ohio, board member, 2017-2019
Toledo Eid Prayer and Celebration, spearheaded an inter-organizational collaborative effort involving five faith-based organizations and over 5000 Muslims to celebrate a religious holiday at the Seagate Center in Toledo
Truth Seekers, member of interfaith dialogue group with Jewish and Christian faiths
IX. Membership in professional organizations
National Communication Association
International Communication Association
American Marketing Association
Center for Family and Privately Held Business at the University of Toledo
Islamic Center of Greater Toledo
United Muslim Association of Toledo
EPIC Toledo
National Independent Auto Dealers of America
Sultan Club
X. Honors and Awards
Top 20 Under 40 Recipient, 2019, distinguished leaders in the Toledo community under the age of 40
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, School of Media and Communication, BGSU, 2017-2018.
Research Recognition Award, School of Media and Communication, BGSU, 2017-2018.
Top Paper Award, 2017, Spiritual Communication Division, National Communication Association (co author; details in conference section above).
Recognition from State of Ohio Representative Barbara R. Sears of House District 47, 2015, to Joe’s Autos for 25 years of excellent service to the Toledo and surrounding area communities