Eleven new college deans, department chairpeople take over at BYU-Idaho in winter semester

The College of Agriculture and Life Science has received a new dean. Stephen McGary, an instructor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, will replace Kevin Anderson. Anderson had served as dean of the college since 1998.

McGary said he hopes to continue the college’s present growth.

“I would like to build upon the past,” he said. “I am going to continue the growth and help fulfill the campus mission statement. I want to work on creating greater exposure for the college as far as industry and the Church are concerned,” McGary said.

McGary said he would like to see BYU-I’s students positively spotlighted in the work industry.

“I would like to let the industry know we have a quality program and quality students. ... I want to work toward helping the students become more exposed once they leave the college,” he said.

He is also working on helping the faculty and administration.

“We have a great faculty that does an amazing job ... and I’m just here to be a helper, to be an assistant to the faculty, to the student and to the president,” McGary said.

McGary is a graduate of Ricks College who went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU. He received his doctorate degree from Washington State University. McGary has taught at BYU-I since 1994.

He spent the first eight years in the Department of Economics before he moved to the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Business. Before coming to BYU-Idaho, he taught agricultural classes at California Polytechnic State University.

Anderson will return to the Department of Agronomy as an instructor.

Lynn Perkes, who teaches health sciences, will remain as the associate dean.

The College of Physical Sciences and Engineering has welcomed Glenn Embree as the new dean. Embree is replacing Rudy Puzey who had served as dean since 1998. Puzey was the division chair of Engineering and Technology before it became part of the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering.

“I am looking to be an advocate for the faculty and for the students of the college. I want to encourage faculty development ... and the advancement of the four-year program,” Embree said.

Past deans have helped Embree with his plans for the college’s advancement.

“I don’t plan on changing anything. Rudy [and deans before him] have built excellent ties with the industry, so I plan to keep that progressing,” he said.

Embree began teaching at Ricks College in 1969. He completed his master’s degree from BYU and his doctorate degree form the University of Idaho in 1976. He has worked with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Energy, has worked on volcanoes in New Zealand and Hawaii as well as many other geological sites from Alaska to Central America and has worked at the INEEL and done local geological seismic and volcanic studies.

The associate dean is Troy Spratling. He is replacing Roger Hoggan. Spratling has taught in the Automotive Department since 1999. He holds a bachelor’s degree from BYU and a master of education degree from Weber State University.

Michael Groesbeck will replace Louis Burhley as the Department of Biology chair. Burhley had served as chair since 1998.

Groesbeck has been teaching at Ricks College for 11 years. He will only be teaching advanced physiology while serving as department chair. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degree from BYU and his doctorate degree from Utah State University.

In the College of Education, Linda Miller is replacing Carma Sutherland as the Department of Home and Family Education chair.

Miller began teaching at Ricks College in 1978. She has taught sewing, practical homemaking, upholstery, home furnishings, nutrition and money management.

She received a bachelor’s degree from BYU and a master’s degree from Idaho State University.

Sutherland served as chair of the department since 1998.

In the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, the Computer Science Department and the Computer Engineering and Technology Department will be combining to form the new Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Greg Cameron and Rex Fisher chaired the former departments, respectively.

Cameron will chair the new department.

Cameron is a graduate of Ricks College and Utah State University.

The Department of Physics, which is also part of the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, has seen Brian Tonks take the place of Lynn Thomson as the chair.

Tonks has been teaching at BYU-I since 1993. He developed the History and Philosophy of Science course as well as Introduction to Physics and has taught other courses in astronomy and physics.
Tonks graduated from Ricks College in 1979 and subsequently received his bachelor’s degree from BYU and his doctorate degree from the University of Arizona.

Thomson has served as chair of the department since 1992.

Larry Thurgood will replace Robert Marcum as the chair of the Department of Religious Education in the College of Religion and Social Science.

Thurgood has taught at BYU-I since 1998. He has taught Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants and eternal marriage. He has two bachelor’s degrees — one in Spanish and one in sociology — from Weber State University. He also has a master’s degree in educational psychology from BYU.

Marcum has served as department chair since 1998.

Brent Strong is the new chair for the Department of Foreign Language in the College of Language and Letters. He is replacing Mel Sanford.

Strong has taught German at BYU-I since 1989. He received a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a doctorate degree in foreign language education from Ohio State University.

Sanford has served as department chair since 1999.

Adrian Baird will take over as the chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology. He is replacing Victor Forsnes, who has served as chair twice, most recently since 1993.

Baird has taught computer-aided engineering technology at Ricks College for 13 and a half years. He teaches courses in engineering graphics, technical illustration, printed circuit board fabrication and product design customizing. He will be involved in these courses as well as engineering technology courses. He received both his bachelor’s and his master’s degree from BYU.