The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Kirt Michaelis as the next president of Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) at its public meeting today. Michaelis will assume the position on December 1, 2026.
“After a rigorous and highly competitive search, we are thrilled to welcome President Michaelis,” said Jeremy Hafen, member of the Utah Board of Higher Education. “He brings the exact combination of expertise, good judgment, and forward-thinking leadership needed for this institution. We are confident in his vision for the future of MTECH students and the vital role of technical education in Utah.”
With more than 26 years of dedicated service to Utah technical education, President Michaelis steps into the presidency after serving 18 years as MTECH’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role he has supported financial operations, development and alumni services, facilities, human resources, student services, institutional research, financial aid and technology services.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected to lead MTECH into its next chapter,” said President Michaelis. “I am committed to the mission of technical education, particularly at MTECH, and care deeply about our students, faculty and community partners. I am excited for the opportunity to help our students prepare for meaningful careers and strengthen Utah’s workforce.”
A relentless advocate for student access, Michaelis spearheaded initiatives to help ensure that 99% of graduating cohorts leave debt-free while serving over 7,000 students annually. He has played an instrumental role in MTECH’s transformation and success, overseeing the development of more than 500,000 square feet of campus facilities and managing growth of the college’s workforce to more than 700 employees across six campuses.
“Having been part of the MTECH community for a number of years, President Michaelis has a deep understanding of its campus culture and values,” said MTECH Trustee Chair Julie King. “His commitment to advancing that mission is evident in his work, and I’m confident he will continue to build on the institution’s momentum and further its impact.”
The Presidential Search Committee and the Board led an extensive national search, reviewing a strong pool of candidates. Each applicant was assessed for a variety of key qualities, including academic credentials, leadership background, technical education experience, commitment to student success, industry partnerships, and community engagement and vision for MTECH.
“Our technical colleges do critical work, and they do their best work when we listen closely to what local businesses actually need,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Geoff Landward. “President Michaelis gets that. He’s a pragmatic leader who knows how to build those partnerships, and I’m looking forward to working with him to create even more pathways for students to step into highly successful careers.”
A Utah native, Michaelis’ higher education career spans more than two decades, including leadership roles at the Utah College of Applied Technology and MTECH. He started his career at Utah Valley University. Michaelis holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Utah Valley State College, now Utah Valley University, and an MBA from Utah State University.
MTECH is one of Utah’s 16 public higher education institutions and had the largest graduating class among Utah technical colleges in 2026. It serves more than 6,700 students across Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties. MTECH’s main campus is located in the Thanksgiving Point area of Lehi, with other campuses in Orem, Provo, Spanish Fork, Payson and Heber City. It has 38 programs across five schools with top enrollment in Electrical Apprenticeship, Medical Assistant and Nursing Assistant programs. Eighty-two percent of students complete their programs. It boasts an 89% job placement rate and a 100% occupational licensure rate.
With affordable education, work-based and experiential learning opportunities and meaningful career placement, MTECH provides value to students and families and guarantees the workforce readiness needed to support Utah’s growing economy.