Chip Oscarson, dean of the BYU College of Humanities, is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Jackson as a new associate dean as of June 15, 2026. Jackson succeeds Corry Cropper, who has served as associate dean since 2018.
Jackson graduated with an MA from BYU in 2003 and a PhD in rhetoric, composition, and the teaching of English from the University of Arizona in 2007. He specializes in rhetoric and writing studies.Since 2022, he has developed a fascination with large language models and artificial intelligence. He says, “I’m optimistic that we can defend the virtues of the humanities from the incursion of AI into our pedagogical sacred spaces. I’m also curious about how we can harness AI as a new learning and writing technology aligned with our learning goals.”
Having spent much of his career helping colleagues improve the way they teach, Jackson looks forward to continuing to support faculty in his new role by getting to know the College, helping faculty through the review and advancement process, and working with the dean’s office. Oscarson praised Jackson’s capabilities as an administrator and described him as a “wonderful human being,” saying, “Through his service in University Writing, he has developed a broad university perspective that will benefit the entire College. I’m thankful for his willingness to serve. I look forward to working with him and for all I know he will contribute to our collective efforts in the College.”
Both Jackson and Oscarson expressed a deep appreciation for Cropper’s contributions and service. “Corry Cropper has performed invaluable service to the College during his time as associate dean,” Oscarson says. “His mentoring of colleagues and work on rank and status policy has made the whole process more straightforward and transparent. His administrative acumen has left the College in a great position to face the future. We are grateful for his wisdom and many years of hard work.”
The BYU College of Humanities offers 35 diverse programs devoted to culture, creativity, and critical thinking. Currently, nearly 2,000 undergraduate students are majoring within the College, with an additional 2,200+ earning a minor.