Hal R. Boyd serves as the chief of staff to the president of Brigham Young University, a role he began in May 2024. Known for his thoughtful leadership and wide-ranging experience, Boyd brings a unique blend of scholarly insight, public engagement, and administrative expertise to the role.
Before his appointment as chief of staff, Boyd was an associate professor and director of public scholarship in BYU’s School of Family Life. He also worked as executive editor of Deseret Magazine and editor of the Deseret News. Earlier in his career, Boyd additionally served as special assistant to the president at Eastern Kentucky University.
Boyd’s commentary on family, religion, law, and higher education have appeared in a wide range of scholarly and national media outlets, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, CNN, NBC News, First Things, and The National Review. He is the co-author of several books, including Psalms of Nauvoo: Early Mormon Poetry, Are Christians Mormon?, and College for the Commonwealth: A Case for Higher Education in American Democracy. Since 2018, he has also been a fellow of BYU’s Wheatley Institute.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Boyd earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from BYU, where he graduated with honors. His exceptional leadership, strong communication skills, and deep commitment to the mission of BYU make him a blessing to the entire university community.
