According to a news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newsroom, the First Presidency has appointed James R. Rasband as the new Commissioner of the Church Educational System, effective April 1. 

In his new role, Rasband will oversee Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Ensign College and BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

Rasband currently serves as a General Authority Seventy in the Church. Before his full-time Church service, he worked in higher education for many years.

He served as academic vice president at Brigham Young University and as a professor at the BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School.

As commissioner, Rasband will help guide the direction of Church education programs and institutions worldwide. The Church Educational System provides religious and secular education to hundreds of thousands of students through its universities, colleges and online learning programs. 

Rasband will replace Clark G. Gilbert, who was recently called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

The First Presidency made the announcement in a letter to General Authorities and other Church leaders this Wednesday, March 11.

Alvin F. Meredith III, President at BYU-Idaho said in an interview with Scroll staff that the Board of Commissioners has recently emphasized the importance of academic excellence across Church institutions. 

“The messaging that we’re getting, particularly from the First Presidency, is to really focus on academic excellence while we focus on spiritual enrichment here,” Meredith said.