James R. Kearl

Who is James R. Kearl?

James R. Kearl is the Abraham O. Smoot Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University and a Senior Consultant for Charles River Associates. From 1986-1989, Kearl served as the dean of general education and honors at BYU. In 2007-2008, Kearl was the director of the BYU Jerusalem Center.

Kearl was born in Logan, Utah, and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed a post-doctoral program in Law at Harvard Law School. He received his bachelors degree from Utah State University.

Kearl was a teaching fellow while studying at Harvard Law School. He joined the faculty of BYU in 1975. From 1983-1984 he served as a special assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense. After his time as dean of general education and honors, Kearl served as Associate Academic Vice President of BYU from 1989-1991. From 1991-1994 Kearl served as a member of the United States Census Bureau Advisory Board on Population Statistics. Since 2005, Kearl has served as chair of the Food and Care Coalition's Board.

Kearl is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served as a stake president at BYU.