GEORGE W. SMITH

Charles-Sander Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences

George W. Smith became Charles-Sander Dean of the University of Arizona College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences on August 1, 2026. As dean, he is committed to strengthening the college's impact across Arizona and beyond by fostering innovation, expanding partnerships, and advancing solutions to the complex challenges facing agriculture, natural resources, communities, and public health.

Before joining the University of Arizona faculty, Smith served as senior associate dean for research in Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and director of AgBioResearch, MSU’s statewide agricultural experiment station. In these roles, he provided strategic direction and administrative oversight for a research enterprise supporting more than 300 scientists across seven colleges, an annual budget exceeding $140 million, and extensive infrastructure. Under his leadership, AgBioResearch continued to grow its portfolio, modernize critical research infrastructure, and enhance its statewide engagement.

Smith helped establish the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture together with industry partners and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He also helped secure major state investments supporting agricultural resilience and new research facilities, while cultivating philanthropic partnerships generating more than $13 million in private support for research and innovation.

Nationally, Smith has emerged as a respected leader in agricultural research. As chair of agInnovation, the organization representing the nation's state experiment stations, he led strategic planning efforts focused on climate resilience, water resources, sustainable food systems, and preparing the future workforce. Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen partnerships among universities, government agencies, industry, and producers to ensure that agricultural research addresses both emerging scientific opportunities and the evolving needs of communities.

Prior to becoming director of AgBioResearch, Smith served as associate director beginning in 2015 and associate dean for research beginning in 2016. Smith joined the Michigan State faculty in 1997 as an assistant professor of animal science. An internationally recognized reproductive physiologist, his research has focused on the biological mechanisms controlling ovarian function, oocyte quality, and early embryonic development in cattle. His discoveries have advanced understanding of reproductive biology in livestock while providing important insights applicable to human reproductive medicine.

Over the course of his academic career, Smith authored more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous book chapters. His research program received continuous funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health for more than two decades, and he has served on competitive grant review panels for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and NASA. He has also served on the editorial boards of leading journals in reproductive biology and endocrinology and is an inventor on multiple patents.

Raised on a livestock farm in Idaho, Smith developed an early appreciation for the vital role agriculture plays in strengthening communities and improving lives. That perspective has shaped a career dedicated to advancing the mission of land-grant universities through research, education, and public engagement. He earned his bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Idaho and his master's and doctoral degrees in animal science from the University of Missouri.