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Michael A. Smyer, is Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and Associate Vice President for Research at Boston College, a post he has held since 1994. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Yale University and his doctorate in psychology from Duke University. Before joining BC, Dr. Smyer was a faculty member and administrator for 17 years at Penn State University.

Dr. Smyer's research and teaching focus is on geriatric mental health, in particular the policy aspects of this area. He is a past President of the American Psychological Association's Division on Adult Development and Aging, and APA's Section on Clinical Gerontology. Dr. Smyer is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the Gerontological Society of America. He is currently on the editorial boards of The Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and The Journal of Mental Health and Aging. He is also the editor of the John Wiley Series on Adult Development and Aging.

Dr. Smyer is the author or co-author of more than 70 articles and chapters. In addition, he has co-authored or edited six books, including an edited volume Older Adults' Decision-Making and the Law (with K.W. Schaie & M.B. Kapp) (1996, Springer) and Aging and Mental Health (with Sara Qualls) (1999, Blackwell Publishers).