Meet Our New Dean

Following a national search, Dr. David Hyndman has been hired and takes the helm as dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics effective Feb. 1. 

Dr. Hyndman’s research and service are known internationally. His group’s research on hydrogeology evaluates human impacts on the water cycle through changes in climate and land use. Dr. Hyndman and his research team explore the physical and chemical processes that influence groundwater flow, and they’ve developed novel hydrogeophysical methods to image subsurface properties and processes that link climate, plants, soils and water. In addition to approximately 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, Dr. Hyndman has published a textbook, Natural Hazards and Disasters, now in its 5th edition, co-authored with his father, Dr. Donald Hyndman. In 2002, Dr. Hyndman was the Darcy Distinguished Lecturer for the National Ground Water Association, and in 2006 he was elected fellow of the Geological Society of America. He served as associate editor of Water Resources Research from 2000 to 2002 and 2004 to 2005, and of Groundwater from 1997 to 2011. 

Dr. Hyndman comes to UT Dallas from Michigan State University, where he has had significant experience as an educator and researcher, and as an academic administrator. Dr. Hyndman was professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the College of Natural Science at Michigan State, where he began his academic career as an assistant professor in 1995 and rose to the rank of professor in 2008. From 2010 to 2020, Dr. Hyndman served as department chair. During this decade, he successfully led the revitalization of the department through the addition of tenure-system faculty, growth of their research programs, enhanced curriculum with study abroad opportunities, and increased alumni endowments. 

Dr. Hyndman received his undergraduate degree in hydrology from the University of Arizona, and his MS and PhD in hydrogeology from Stanford University.