Administrative History

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship (2006- ) exists to deepen understanding and nurture discipleship among Latter-day Saints and promote mutual respect and goodwill among people of all faiths through the scholarly study of religious texts and traditions.

In 2006, the Brigham Young University (BYU) Board of Trustees renamed the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Andrew C. Skinner was the executive director until 2008 when M. Gerald Bradford took over the position.

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship is the administering body for the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI), the Research Technology Group (RTG), BYU Studies, and the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies. Each division functions under the direction of a director with the whole Institute functioning under the direction of an executive director. The executive director acts in the same capacity as a Dean of an academic department.

Citation:

BYU Organizational History Project, website viewed Dec. 2, 2010 (Created 2006; Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) renamed Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship; executive directors: Andrew C. Skinner; M. Gerald Bradford; administers the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI), the Research Technology Group (RTG), BYU Studies, and the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies.)