John S. Tanner

John S. Tanner received a BA in English from Brigham Young University in 1974 (magna cum laude and Highest Honors), and a Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley in 1980. He was an assistant professor at Florida State University before coming to BYU, where he is a professor of English. He has also been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Brazil.

A recipient of several teaching awards, President Tanner considers himself first and foremost a teacher. He loves learning and teaching. These loves drew him to the academy and lead him to identify with Chaucer’s clerk: “and gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.”

Dr. Tanner has served in many administrative capacities at BYU. From 1992 to 1998, he was BYU's Associate Academic Vice-President for the undergraduate and international education. During his tenure, he unveiled BYU's Freshman Academy, worked on initiatives to improve time-to-graduation, and drafted the “Aims of a BYU Education.” Prior to serving in central administration, he chaired a committee that wrote BYU's “Statement on Academic Freedom.” From 1998-2003, Dr. Tanner served as chair of BYU's English Department. He was appointed Academic Vice-President on June 1, 2004.

As a scholar, President Tanner specializes in Renaissance literature, with an emphasis on religious writers of the period, particularly John Milton. His book Anxiety in Eden (Oxford University Press) was named best work of the year by the Milton Society of America in 1992. Dr. Tanner has also published scholarly articles on religion and literature that range from theological reflections on the problem of evil in the Book of Job to philosophical analyses of freedom in the works of Kierkegaard and of C. S. Lewis. In addition, Dr. Tanner has written a number of scholarly articles on educational and on LDS topics, as well as devotional essays and poetry. One of his hymns appears in the LDS hymnal. Dr. Tanner is currently writing a book for Oxford University Press on the concept of the pre-existence in Western thought.

John Tanner was raised in Southern California, one of a large and happy family of 13 children. He served an LDS mission to Brazil and subsequently has served in many church callings, including bishop and stake president. He is blissfully married to Susan Winder, Young Women General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the parents of five children, one boy and four girls, and the grandparents of eight, including twin girls born in March 2006. No roles are more fulfilling or important for President Tanner than those of husband and father/grandfather. He loves to be with his family. He also loves hiking, biking, museums, history, theater, and travel.