Elder Paul V. Johnson New CES Commissioner

On June 7, 2008, the First Presidency announced the appointment of Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy as Commissioner of the Church Educational System (CES), replacing Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, who was called to serve as president of the Logan Utah Temple. The change took effect in August 2008.

Under the direction of the Church Board of Education, Elder Johnson will oversee operations of all CES entities, including the Church’s institutions of higher education: Brigham Young University, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, and LDS Business College; the Church’s seminary and institute of religion programs; and a number of Church-operated primary and secondary schools.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in zoology/botany from BYU in 1978, Elder Johnson shifted his studies from dentistry to teaching seminary. He received a master of education degree from BYU in 1982 and a doctorate in instructional technology from Utah State University in 1989.

He taught seminary for 12 years in Arizona and Utah before working in administrative positions at CES in the departments of religious education and elementary and secondary education. Elder Johnson has served as a member of the Seventy since 2003.

Elder Paul V. Johnson