New CALES dean looks to 'double down' on land-grant mission
By Andy Ober, University Communications
CALES Dean George Smith recently toured the Yuma Agricultural Center. Smith, who began on Aug. 1, has spent his first several weeks on the job meeting students, faculty and staff throughout the college's 10 schools and departments.
Raised on a livestock farm in Idaho, George W. Smith brings his deep agricultural roots to his new job as the Charles-Sander Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences.
Smith, a self-proclaimed "product of the land-grant system," began in the position Aug. 1, and says his experience, from 4-H to leading a research enterprise with a budget exceeding $140 million, has prepared him to lead a college that he says has "tremendous potential" for global impact.
In this Q&A, Smith talks about his agricultural roots, his vision for CALES, and his thoughts about moving to the desert in the middle of the summer.
What drew you to this field, and what was your path to the University of Arizona?
I grew up on a small farm in Idaho, and I was heavily involved in 4-H and raising livestock. I experienced the challenges my father faced making a living and supporting his family in agriculture.
When it was time for me to decide what I wanted to do with my life, I had to ask myself if I could make a living doing what my father did, farming 450 acres. Fortunately, my parents were very supportive and told me to follow my passion.
During a recent visit to the Yuma Agricultural Center, Smith spoke with researchers about producer-focused projects that are ongoing at the center.
I went to the University of Idaho, the land-grant university in the state of Idaho, for my undergraduate degree in animal science. I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then, like happens to a lot of young people in the classroom, a professor lit that spark of curiosity in my mind, and I became interested in research.
I spent the bulk of my career at Michigan State University doing research and teaching and then recognized I get more pleasure helping others be successful, so I moved into research administration.
Fast forward to early 2026, when the opportunity at the University of Arizona opened up and they were searching for the next dean of CALES. I was excited by the tremendous potential to make a difference because of the challenges the state of Arizona is facing and their significance not only to people in Arizona, but across the U.S. and the globe.
The United States relies on Arizona as a source of food. If Arizona agriculture doesn't have the help of the land-grant institution developing new technologies to help producers continue to be productive in the face of reduced water, we're all in trouble.
What has been your early read on CALES, and where do you see opportunities for growth over the next three to five years?
I've had the opportunity in the past several weeks to get out and meet people. There is so much enthusiasm for the work we do as a college and so much potential. The work of CALES across its 10 schools and departments, the Arizona Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension in many ways touches all aspects of life. The way I've been describing this is CALES is going to double down on the land-grant mission. By double down, I mean put an even greater emphasis on impact – communicating the impact of the work that's already done, training the workforce of the future, and communicating the real-life impact of the research that our scientists do and the work of Extension.
Arid water and arid-land agriculture is one of the five pillars in the university's strategic plan. The university is investing in a cluster hire that will provide new positions in CALES and other colleges to bring new talent and expertise to the table to start providing the solutions that farmers, ranchers and growers need to deal with a water-constrained environment.
If we talk again three to five years from now, what do you hope to have achieved, and what would you like CALES to be known for?
Smith took the opportunity to meet CALES students during his visit to the agricultural research site in Yuma.
If you were to talk to graduates of CALES, my hope would be that they feel they had a rewarding experience that clearly has value and will position them for future success in their careers. I also hope their experience has helped them identify their purpose or mission in life and they're excited and enthusiastic about it.
Beyond that, my hope would be that CALES is broadly recognized throughout the state and, more importantly, that the University of Arizona is making a real-life difference in the lives of people.
The same is true for Cooperative Extension – demonstrating the value of Extension in every community, whether we're talking about work in agriculture and natural resources, family, consumer and health sciences, 4-H youth development or the work that's done in partnership with our 22 tribal nations.
What have you enjoyed about Tucson so far, and what do you like to do outside of work?
The most common question I get is, "How are you dealing with the heat?" Or, "Why did you decide to move to Arizona in the middle of the summer?"
The answer is my wife and I absolutely love it. Having spent time in the Midwest, I will take Arizona heat seven days a week over the hot and humid weather that's characteristic of many parts of the Midwest. I'm blown away every single day by the beauty of the mountains and the scenery. It's just breathtaking. The people are tremendous – very friendly and very welcoming, on campus and off.
I'm also a huge sports fan, so I'm really embracing that part of the culture here at the U of A. I also really enjoy sitting on my patio when I get home from work with my wife, Nancy, and our dog, Tucker, just enjoying the beauty and all that Tucson and the university have to offer.