The University of Arizona has named Dr. George W. Smith as the next Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES).

Dr. Smith currently serves as a Professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU), where he also holds 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. 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.

His appointment takes effect August 1.