John David Bell new dean of Undergraduate Education at BYU

Academic Vice President John S. Tanner has announced the appointment of John David Bell as the new dean of Undergraduate Education at Brigham Young University.

The appointment is effective July 1. He replaces Gary L. Hatch, who has been serving as interim dean.

“Dr. Bell brings to this position not only a strong record as a teacher and scholar but significant administrative experience as a long-time associate dean in the College of Life Sciences,” said Tanner. “In addition, he brings special passion for and nationally recognized expertise in improving student learning. He has piloted ways to engage students in active learning, even in large general education classes.”

As dean of Undergraduate Education, Bell and his associates will supervise and foster essential university-wide elements of the baccalaureate: First-Year Experience, Freshman Academy, General Education, Honors Program and University Writing.

These interrelated programs together promote teaching and learning within an integrated university education, and aim to enrich the educational experience and to benefit the life of each undergraduate student.

A professor in the Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Bell received his undergraduate degree from BYU in 1986 and a doctorate in physiology and pharmacology from the University of California, La Jolla, in 1987.

He was a postdoctoral fellow in pharmacology at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, from 1987 to 1990, when he joined the BYU faculty.

While at BYU, he received the Young Scholar Award and a Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award, and was voted Teacher of the Year in zoology several times.

He is the author or co-author of many papers and scholarly articles in national publications, particularly on the biochemistry of Phospholipase A, an enzyme that converts phospholipids into fatty acids and other substances.

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