Fred E. Woods is a distinguished professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, USA. Between September 26 and October 4, 2025, the Institute of British and American Studies had the privilege of hosting him during his research and lecturing tour.

Professor Woods, a native of Southern California, completed his PhD in Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on Biblical Hebrew at the University of Utah in 1991. He subsequently taught for twelve years in the Church Educational System, followed by a five-year tenure at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho). In 1998, he became a faculty member at BYU, where his contributions to religious scholarship have been widely recognized. In 2005, he was appointed as the Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding, a position that reflects his outstanding expertise in his field.

Throughout his career, Professor Woods has published several notable works, including Fire on Ice: The Story of Icelandic Latter-day Saints at Home and Abroad and its Icelandic counterpart, Eldur á ís; Kalaupapa: The Mormon Experience in an Exiled Community; and Saints of Tonga: A Century of Island Faith. Additionally, he has edited influential volumes such as Prelude to the Restoration: Apostasy to the Restored Church and Go Ye into All the World: The Growth and Development of Mormon Missionary Work.

During his recent visit to the Institute of British and American Studies, as well as at the University of P. J. Šafárik in Košice (UPJS) and the University of Olomouc (UP), Professor Woods delivered insightful lectures on the theme of religious European immigration to America. His lectures provided a rich and invaluable experience for both students and scholars, offering a deeper understanding of the religious and cultural dynamics shaping the United States. These contributions have further enriched both English Studies programs and the broader academic discourse on American religious history.