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

June 1, 2026
To: University Employees
From: Office of the Provost
Subject: George Smith Appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences
Date: Jun 01, 2026

On June 1, Provost Patricia Prelock sent a message to faculty, staff and students in CALES announcing the appointment of the new dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences. The beginning of the message is below and the full message is posted on the Office of the Provost website.

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.

Read more about this announcement on the Office of the Provost website.