SALT LAKE CITY – The Board of Regents has selected Dr. Deneece Huftalin as the eighth President of Salt Lake Community College. President Huftalin has served as SLCC interim president since January of this year after former president Dr. Cynthia Bioteau was designated president of Florida State College at Jacksonville.
“With a large and diverse student population spread over multiple locations, the needs of this institution are complex and require a strong leader to be President,” said Dan Campbell, Chair of the Board of Regents. “I believe President Huftalin is that strong leader, and she will continue to positively shape SLCC, and the Salt Lake region as a result, for many years to come.”
“I believe President Huftalin is the right president for Salt Lake Community College, and her significant experience and strong commitment to students will be of great benefit to SLCC and the Utah System of Higher Education,” added Dave Buhler, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education.
A 21-member Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Regent France Davis, narrowed the list down from an applicant pool of 55 to the three finalists announced last week after conducting an extensive nationwide search. The finalists went through an in-depth screening process and two days of interviews with representatives from SLCC’s faculty, trustees, staff, students, and administration, as well as interviews with the Board of Regents.
“I am thrilled and honored to continue leading Salt Lake Community College,” said President Huftalin. “I will do my best to ensure that SLCC remains an inclusive, student-centered institution where individuals from diverse backgrounds can receive a high-quality, affordable education. I am eager to resume working with the trustees, faculty, administration, staff and students, and to continue our efforts to make SLCC a premiere comprehensive community college.”
Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin was the Interim President of Salt Lake Community College and has served the SLCC students, faculty and staff for more than two decades. Prior to her current role, Dr. Huftalin served on the Executive Cabinet as Vice President of Student Services. She has worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to strengthen high impact practices, learning outcomes and inclusivity initiatives, and led college-wide strategic priority and assessment efforts. Dr. Huftalin also served as the Dean of Students and the Director of Academic and Career Advising. Prior to joining SLCC, Dr. Huftalin held positions at William Rainey Harper College, Northwestern University, the University of Utah and the Institute for Shipboard Education. Dr. Huftalin teaches in the Education, Leadership and Policy program at the University of Utah and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and YWCA Utah. She also serves on the Executive Board of EDCUtah and the Salt Lake Chamber’s Board of Governors. Dr. Huftalin earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, a master’s degree from UCLA and a doctorate in Education, Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah.
Salt Lake Community College is one of eight institutions within the Utah System of Higher Education. SLCC is a student-focused, urban college that works to meet the diverse needs of the Salt Lake community. With a fall 2013 headcount of over 35,000 students, SLCC is Utah’s leading provider of workforce development programs and transfer students to Utah’s four-year institutions and a perennial Top 10 college nationally for total associate degrees awarded. The College is the sole provider of applied technology courses in the Salt Lake area, with multiple locations, an eCampus, and nearly 1,000 continuing education sites located throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
