George W. Smith Appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences

Dear students and colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of George W. Smith as dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES), effective Aug. 1. 

This appointment concludes a rigorous national search shaped by input from our campus community and partners throughout Arizona.

A professor of animal science at Michigan State University (MSU), Dr. Smith also serves in senior leadership roles as director of AgBioResearch and senior associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. As director, he provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for AgBioResearch, a university-wide program dedicated to innovative solutions for agriculture, food systems and the environment, with impact reaching across Michigan, the nation and beyond. The program supports approximately 300 scientists spanning seven MSU colleges, 15 research centers throughout Michigan, and a broad network of on-campus facilities and critical research infrastructure.

Dr. Smith holds a doctorate and master’s degree in animal science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho. Since joining the MSU faculty in 1997, he has received sustained funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health and authored 143 journal articles and 17 book chapters. As his career evolved toward research administration and college leadership, he has helped grow global research partnerships in more than 50 countries to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security.

With his distinguished record in research leadership and his experience in integrated, community-rooted work, Dr. Smith is exceptionally well-positioned to lead CALES, which sits at the heart of the university’s land-grant mission. I look forward to seeing how he will build on the college’s momentum in shaping research that addresses the state's most pressing challenges and deepening the partnerships that continue to create a more resilient and prosperous future for all Arizonans.

I extend my sincere thanks to Chief International Affairs Officer and Arizona International Dean Jenny Lee and Senior Vice Provost Jenna Rickus for co-chairing the search committee, and to the students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni and community members who contributed their time and perspectives in this work. The search drew an accomplished pool of candidates, which speaks to the standing CALES has earned across the country.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Smith to the Wildcat family and in supporting his work to further strengthen the college’s academic, research and outreach missions in service of the partners, industries and communities statewide that depend on CALES.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Prelock
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

This email was sent to sent to all students, faculty, staff, and DCCs in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences; university senior leaders and Provost Integrated Leadership Team.