Stephen O. Smoot is a doctoral candidate in Semitic and Egyptian languages and literature at The Catholic University of America. He previously earned a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern civilizations, with a concentration in Egyptology, and bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University in ancient Near Eastern studies, with a concentration in Hebrew Bible, and German studies.

He is currently an adjunct instructor of religious education at Brigham Young University and a research associate with the Ancient America Foundation.