D. Gordon Smith, '90, Named Dean of BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School

Academic Vice President Brent W. Webb recently announced the appointment of D. Gordon Smith as dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.

The Glen L. Farr Professor of Law at BYU, Smith will begin his five-year term as dean on May 1, 2016. He replaces James R. Rasband who has served as dean of the law school since 2009. Rasband will return to full-time teaching after taking a leave of absence to study in London and Washington, D.C.

Webb said that Smith is well qualified to lead the law school. “I express deep gratitude for Dean Rasband’s administration. He has been strategic in his vision and leadership and energetic in his service. I also welcome Gordon Smith as the new dean. The law school will benefit from his creativity and commitment to high standards.”

Smith served as associate dean for faculty and curriculum for five years during Rasband’s tenure as dean. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from BYU and his JD from the University of Chicago Law School. Prior to joining the faculty at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School in 2007, Smith was a professor of law at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and he has taught as a visiting law professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, Arizona State University College of Law and Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.