SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2025 Faculty and Staff Award Recipients, as Col. Jeff Smith and Major Isaac Slone are the two representatives for VMI.

The Keydets will honor Smith and Slone on January 17^th, when VMI Basketball takes on The Citadel.

COL Jeff Smith, VMI (faculty)
Jeff Smith is the General Edwin Cox '20 Institute Professorship in Economics and History and the Department Head for the Department of Economics and Business at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He served for 21 years on Active Duty in the United States Air Force before joining VMI.


 
MAJ Isaac Slone, VMI (staff)
With over 13 years of dedicated service at Virginia Military Institute, Major Isaac Slone has held various key roles, including Echo Company TAC Officer, Head Coach of the Rock Climbing Team, and Director of both indoor and outdoor training facilities. His broad experience at VMI has equipped him with a unique perspective on leadership, team development, and operations management. A proud native of Roanoke, Virginia, Major Slone earned his undergraduate degree from Ferrum College and an M.B.A. from Salem University in West Virginia. His commitment to both the academic and extracurricular development of cadets aligns with his passion for mentorship, physical training, and fostering resilience.



To view the SoCon release, click here.