Dr. Donald C. Bird is the Academic Vice President for Brigham Young University – Idaho in Rexburg. Dr. Bird has been an active and vital participant in the transition and restructuring of BYU-I from a two-year institution known as Ricks College to a baccalaureate university. Don’s affiliation with higher education began in Southeastern Idaho with his associate’s degree earned from Ricks College. After successfully completing a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and a Master’s degree from Brigham Young University – Provo he returned to the Rexburg area to teach at Ricks College. Seeing the need for more advanced education, he accepted an opportunity to earn a doctorate at Texas A&M University.

In 1973, with a newly minted Ph.D., Don was asked to serve as the Director of the Placement Center and as Associate Director of the Cooperative Education Program at Ricks College. With several years’ experience in this capacity, he then moved to Aerojet Nuclear of Idaho at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory and became the Director of Education and Training. His duties included oversight of the undergraduate and graduate programs offered in a joint effort by Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. After five years with the INEL, Don returned to Ricks College as the Chairman of the Division of Engineering and Technology. He also taught courses in engineering graphics. He has been the Academic Vice President since 1995.

Community activities and family life are also important to Don. He and his wife Bonnie have five children and nine (soon to be ten) grandchildren