Mike Smith held the position of dean of the School of Government from its creation in 2001 until 2023. He joined the faculty of the School (then the Institute of Government) in 1978 and served as director from 1992 to 2001. When he stepped down as dean, he was the longest-serving dean in modern Carolina history.

As a faculty member, Smith wrote, taught, and consulted extensively in two fields: civil liability of public officials and legal aspects of corrections. As dean, he expanded the School's capacity to assist public officials in the areas of management and leadership, finance, and administration, but without reducing the traditional strengths in public law. Smith also improved faculty diversity and broadened the School's financial base through fundraising. This included successfully securing a legislative appropriation to expand and renovate the Knapp Building, which was re-dedicated as the Knapp-Sanders Building in 2004. Smith also negotiated the successful transition of the Master of Public Administration program to the School of Government in 1997. He serves on a wide range of boards, commissions, and committees inside and outside the University.

Smith earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.