Committee formed to search for new Utah State University president
The new committee will be responsible for identifying potential candidates who will 'advance the university's unique mission as Utah's land- and space-grant institution, with a strong emphasis on student-centered education, research and community engagement,' according to a statement from the Utah System of Higher Education. They will also review applications and conduct interviews for the position before recommending their top three candidates to the Utah Board of Higher Education, which will select the new university president.
The nine-person committee is co-chaired by Steve Neeleman, Board of Higher Education vice chairman, and David Huntsman, USU trustee. Board of Higher Education member Cydni Tetro and USU trustee Clark Whitworth also represent their boards as members of the search committee. Several members of the university's faculty were also named committee members, including Interim Dean and Faculty Senate President Grant Cardon, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications Bill Plate and Staff Association Vice President Elisa Taylor.
'This search committee brings together a broad cross-section of voices from the Utah State community,' said Neeleman in a statement. 'We're committed to finding a leader whose vision and values align with the spirit of Utah State and can champion its mission of learning, discovery and service for the success of all students who attend.'
Matthew Richey, the 2024-25 USU student body president, joined the committee as a student representative, and Laurel Cannon Alder, former USU trustee and alumni association president, was selected as a voice for community members and university alumni.
New higher education hiring amendments passed in the 2025 legislative session require that the search committee work in closed, confidential meetings to protect candidate privacy and potentially entice a more competitive pool of candidates in the hiring process. After the committee submits its top candidates, the Board of Higher Education will be required to make the final candidate selection in an open and public meeting.
'I am honored to serve the Aggie community in this capacity,' Huntsman said. 'This is a critical time for Utah State, and we are committed to finding the best person to lead USU and position the university to meet both the challenges and opportunities of the future.'
The Presidential Search Committee plans to work with national executive search firm AGB Search to approve a position announcement seeking nominees and applicants in the coming weeks.
Former USU President Elizabeth Cantwell resigned and announced her new position as president of Washington State University in February. Alan L. Smith was named as the university's interim president shortly after and plans to return to his position as dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services when the new president is selected.
Updates on the search and community engagement opportunities will be uploaded to the Presidential Search Committee webpage as they become available. Students and community members can share suggestions or feedback about the search by emailing the committee or submitting an anonymous comment on the Utah System of Higher Education website.
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Multiple faculty positions, for example, are being added to the school's business, STEM, health care, and innovative tech programs. Several new positions are also being created to enhance student support as they prepare for careers. Meanwhile, 25 positions are being eliminated in several fields — including chemistry, biology, history and math. Twenty-four academic programs are being eliminated. Majors slated for elimination include Philosophy, French, French Education and Art History. The Arts Administration (face-to-face) and Athletic Training master's programs are also being cut. Several associate degree programs — including many which were already slated for eventual elimination — are also being dropped. Also, SUU's College of Engineering & Computational Sciences will be combined with the College of Natural Sciences. 'This has been a good thing to get us looking to the future,' said SUU President Mindy Benson. Weber State University, which has experienced record growth in recent years, enrolls approximately 27,000 students. The Ogden institution is required by HB265 to reallocate approximately $6.7 million. Forty-nine positions are being cut: 11 administrative positions, 10 staff positions and 28 salaried faculty — with most of the faculty cuts coming from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. Several administrative slots are also being reduced — including the school's Assistant Vice President for Regional Partnerships and the executive director for Academic Support Centers & Programs. Meanwhile, dozens of majors, certificates and minors are being eliminated — including majors in Applied Physics, Dance Education, Geography, German and Computer Science Teaching. Reallocation highlights at WSU include more than $800,000 going towards academic advising support; $685,000 for high need health profession areas; more than $2.6 million to support, in part, the development of sub-120 hour degree programs; initiatives to enhance students' academic experiences; and development of new credentials aligning with Talent Ready Utah Occupational Priority List. WSU also plans to establish a new associate dean position within the Dumke College of Health Professions, specifically focused on nursing. The state's largest university with an enrollment of almost 47,000 students, UVU is required by the state to reallocate approximately $8.9 million. During their presentation Friday, UVU leaders say they have been implementing efficiency-focused decisions long before HB265 — reducing, in recent years, a number of academic schools/colleges and discontinuing the English Language Learning Program. And last October, the school implemented a campus-wide hiring freeze to manage budgets. Still, this year's Legislative actions are taking a toll at the Orem institution. Forty-five employee positions are being eliminated. Thirteen of those jobs were already vacant. Meanwhile, several specific academic programs are slated for cuts — including a specialized associate's degree in business; certificates in woodworking/cabinetry and administrative information support; and a nursing education Master's degree. Expenditures are also being reduced in UVU's Academic Affairs departments — including the Innovation Academy and Program Assessment budgets. Other highlighted areas of UVU's reinvestment plan include: Expanding resources for emerging occupations such as AI. Increasing engineering-related initiatives in mechanical engineering, computer science and IT. Expanding health and wellness opportunities in occupational therapy and behavioral health. And further investing in General Education to develop critical thinking, communication and durable skills.
