STATE BOARD OF REGENTS
SNOW COLLEGE, EPHRAIM, UTAH
FOUNDERS HALL, NOYES BUILDING

JANUARY 11, 2019

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MINUTES

Regents Present 
Harris H. Simmons, Chair
Nina R. Barnes, Vice Chair
Jesselie B. Anderson
Dan W. Campbell
Sanchaita Datta
Marlin K. Jensen
Ron Jibson
Patricia Jones
JaKell Larson
Steven Lund
Robert W. Prince
Mark R. Stoddard
Teresa Theurer
Thomas E. Wright

Regents Absent
Wilford W. Clyde
Robert S. Marquardt
Cristina Ortega

Office of the Commissioner
David L. Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education

Snow College Trustees
Rick Robinson
Erma Kaye
Leslie Kiesel
Scott Bushnell

Chair Simmons called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.

It was moved by Regent Stoddard and seconded by Regent Jibson to meet in Executive Session for the sole purpose of discussing the character and professional competence of the applicants for the Snow College Presidential Search. The motion carried.

Chair Simmons called the Committee of the Whole to order again at 5:40 p.m.

Acknowledgements

Chair Simmons began by recognizing President Carlston’s service to Snow College, saying he has led the institution for over five years, focusing on high-quality teaching, student engagement, and affordability. The Board of Regents is grateful for his service, and that of his wife Janet. He recognized the efforts of the search committee, chaired by Regent Mark Stoddard and Trustee Chair Scott Bushnell.

He then turned the time over to Regent Stoddard and Trustee Bushnell. Regent Stoddard thanked the committee for their work. Trustee Bushnell thanked President Carlston for his work at Snow College. He said attending Snow College changed his life and thanked all those involved in making Snow College successful.

Snow College Presidential Appointment

Regent Stoddard moved to appoint Dr. Bradley J Cook as the 17th president of Snow College; it was seconded by Regent Theurer and the motion carried unanimously (Regent Anderson left prior to the evening session of Committee of the Whole).

Chair Simmons introduced President Cook and said he is a dynamic and proven leader who has a commitment to student engagement and high-quality academic opportunities. He currently serves as Provost at Southern Utah University, and is an alum of Snow College. He has worked to establish SUU as a national leader in student-centric, highly applied learning environments, and has advanced an agenda of internationalizing the university. Under his leadership, SUU has achieved record high student success rates, created over 25 new academic programs and centers, and elevated SUU’s academic reputation as one of the premier public regional universities in the western United States. Prior to his current position, he served as President of the Abu Dhabi Women’s College in the United Arab Emirates, and eight years at then-Utah Valley State College as Vice president of College Relations and later as Vice President of Academic Affairs. His accomplishment thought his career show President Cook will ensure Snow College continues on its upward trajectory.

President Cook said he is excited for this opportunity and what we can accomplish together on this campus. He feels honored to be selected for this position, at this amazing institution that gave him his start and believed in him. He said he owes a lot to Snow College and commits to giving back. He thanked the Board of Regents, Chair Harris, and Commissioner Buhler for their confidence in him, and looks forward to working together within the USHE as we advance the well-being of our amazing state. He looks forward to working with the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, and staff. We will work together to build upon Snow’s rich history and the tradition of Snow. He thanked President and Janet Carlston for their service. He is committed to working closely with the communities, maintaining the special bond the college has with the many communities they serve. He said most of all he is proud of the students who elevate the work of the college as they pose questions that challenge our assumptions and push us. We must prepare this generation for a world that is changing, and changing in ways that we do not yet always see clearly ourselves. He went on to say he commits his dedication and energy, and above all his passion for the task ahead and welcomes the opportunity to be a part of the Snow College family and to contribute to the progress of Utah. He closed saying “Let’s be bold, let’s be imaginative, let’s be creative and innovative, let’s be smart, let’s work hard, and most of all let us continue to keep students and their successes at the very heart of our enterprise.”

Commissioner Buhler congratulated President Cook and said we are excited for his leadership at Snow College.

On a motion from Regent Theurer and seconded by Regent Larson, the Committee of the Whole adjourned at 5:58 p.m.