Biography
Robert N. Smead entered this world on October 1, 1954, in Tooele, UT, the oldest of four children born to Robert S. Smead and Norma (Crowther) Smead. He was raised in Concord, CA (through 7th grade), and in Annandale, VA (during 8th and 9th grades), and subsequently in the San Jose area (graduating from Saratoga High in ’72). He then attended BYU for one year prior to accepting a mission call to the Mexico City Mission (’73-’75). Following his mission (in ’76), he enrolled again at BYU. He completed his B.A. in Spanish in ’81 and his M.A.in Spanish Language in ’83. He pursued his Ph.D. in Iberoromance Philology and Linguistics at the University of Texas from ’83 to ’88. Prior to returning to BYU, he taught at the University of Arizona (from ’88-95) at the rank of Assistant Professor. He returned as a visiting professor (when J. Halvor Clegg was called as President of the Milan, Italy Mission) and currently occupies the rank of Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics in the Department. His research interests include: Spanish mood (indicative/subjunctive), language contact and bilingualism, and Spanish in the U.S. He is married to the former Gloria Olga Magadan (born in Aguascalientes and raised in the Mormon Colonies in Mexico) and they have four children: Jessica Ann (1977), Justin Robert (1980), Richard Julian (1986) and Jonathan Peter (1987). He has served in numerous Church positions, including quorum presidencies/group leadership, as Gospel Doctrine teacher, and as Assistant Blazer Leader. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, relaxing with the family, playing basketball, and strumming the guitar, among other pastimes.
Degrees
BA, Brigham Young U., 1981; MA, Brigham Young U., 1983; PhD, U. of Texas, Austin, 1988