Academic Vice President Isaiah Walker announced Dr. Brad Smith as the new dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. He will replace Dr. Benjamin Jordan, who has accepted a new position at BYU-Idaho. The appointment is effective August 16.
“I’d like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Ben Jordan for his dedicated service as dean of the Faculty of Sciences. We wish him the very best as he transitions to his new role at BYU-Idaho,” said Walker. “I’m also pleased Dr. Brad Smith will serve as our new dean of sciences. I have full confidence in his ability to collaborate with faculty and our dean’s council as we continue to advance the mission of BYU–Hawaii.”
Smith joined the BYU–Hawaii faculty in 2013 and was promoted to full professor in 2025. He previously served as the biology program lead for seven years and has taught a wide range of biology and marine science courses. His research focuses on marine ecology, genetics, and conservation. He has mentored more than 40 student researchers who participated in the Undergraduate Research Conference.
“I am humbled and honored to accept the opportunity to serve as dean of the Faculty of Sciences at BYU–Hawaii,” Smith said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated faculty and students to strengthen and empower our psychology, health and human sciences, and biology degrees.”
Prior to joining BYU–Hawaii, Smith taught in the Department of Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he served as a teaching assistant for courses including fisheries techniques, conservation biology, and mariculture. He also taught vertebrate anatomy and physiology in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M in College Station during his graduate studies.
Smith earned a doctorate in wildlife and fisheries sciences in 2012 and a bachelor's degree in zoology in 2003, both from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
His contributions to teaching and scholarship have been recognized through several honors, including the BYU–Hawaii Professorship Award in 2023 and the Faculty Award for Scholarship in 2019. He also received Distinguished Instructor awards from the Faculty of Sciences in 2014 and 2017.
True to his professional interests, Smith enjoys all things ocean, including diving, fishing, and swimming. He met his wife, Karrie, at Texas A&M University, and together they have three sons and one daughter. Their oldest, Milo, is currently serving a mission in Piura, Peru. Smith served a mission in Hamburg, Germany.