Brigham Young University President C. Shane Reese announced today that Richard M. Houseman has been named the new dean of Continuing Education.
Houseman’s tenure is effective August 1. He replaces Lee J. Glines, who has been serving in that position since June 2014 and will be retiring.
"Richard Houseman brings leadership and a keen sense of mission to this position," President Reese said. "His commitment to the programs of Continuing Education is only matched by his commitment to the combined spiritual and academic mission of BYU. He will help Continuing Education further connect with the broader focus and strategy of the university."
Houseman most recently served as the worldwide manager of in-field services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he oversaw day-to-day support for more than 400 mission presidents around the world.
From 2021–2022, he worked as the associate director for enrolled student services for BYU Continuing Education. In that role, he specifically supervised the programs and faculty for BYU Evening Classes and the BYU Salt Lake Center.
Before coming to BYU, Houseman spent many years in academia as a professor of entomology at the University of Missouri, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University and adjunct faculty at both Blinn College and Utah Valley University.
As a student, he earned a Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in zoology from BYU and a bachelor’s degree in biology and secondary education, also from BYU.
Houseman also served as president of the Brazil Recife Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2017–2020.
BYU Continuing Education provides global access to BYU credit-bearing academic and professional education through conferences, workshops and online learning opportunities. As a distance education provider, BYU Continuing Education celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021.
