Richard A. Gill

Richard A. Gill has been dean of undergraduate education at Brigham Young University since 2022. He teaches conservation biology courses in the general and honors education curriculums. Gill grew up in Washington and pursued a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology at BYU. He then earned a doctorate in ecology from Colorado State University, where he conducted research on plant-soil interactions in dryland ecosystems. Post doctorate, he studied at Duke University, researching plant physiological ecology. 

Gill began his academic career at Washington State University, focusing on global change ecology. His research explored the effects of atmospheric CO2 changes, temperature fluctuations, and drought on ecosystems. In 2008, Gill began teaching biology at BYU as an associate professor. 

Gill’s research investigates how ecosystems and communities respond to climate variability, addressing critical questions about the human impact on global climate. His work spans multiple ecological fields, including physiological, community, ecosystem, and landscape ecology, as well as environmental biophysics. His studies are particularly relevant to resource issues in the American West and small-island states in the South Pacific. 

Gill has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including the John Tanner Lectureship Award from the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, the Alcuin Fellowship in General Education, and the College of Life Sciences Teaching Award. He has also published many academic articles in several journals, such as Ecology, Oecologia, and the Journal of College Science Teaching.