The Board of Regents have selected Dr. Noelle Cockett as the 16th President of Utah State University. Dr. Cockett will succeed Dr. Stan Albrecht, who is retiring after a long, successful career in higher education.
“Dr. Cockett is well-respected and brings extensive institutional knowledge, experience and proven professionalism that will be an expanded asset to Utah State University in the coming years.,” said Dan Campbell, Chair of the Board of Regents. “I am confident in President Cockett’s ability to effectively lead Utah State University and is the right president to build on the extraordinary accomplishments of President Albrecht over the past decade,” added Dave Buhler, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education.
A 25-member Presidential Search Committee, co-chaired by Regent Teresa Theurer and USU Trustee Chair Ron Jibson, narrowed the list down from an applicant pool of almost 40 to the four 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 USU’s faculty, Board of Trustees, staff, students, and administration, as well as interviews with the Board of Regents.
“I am honored to take the helm at Utah State University, and humbled by the opportunity to build upon the great legacy established by President Albrecht. I am fortunate to have worked under his leadership and look forward to guiding the institution through a new chapter of development and growth,” said President Cockett. “I’m coming on 26 years at Utah State University; Cache Valley is my home and USU is my passion. USU has so much to offer its students and the community because of its land grant mission - through its cutting-edge research, its committed faculty and staff, USU’s regional campus network, and its expanding alumni. I am proud to be a part of this great institution.”
Dr. Cockett has served as Utah State University’s Executive Vice President and Provost since July 2013. Previously, she was Dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and Vice President for Extension and Agriculture at Utah State University. She grew up on a beef cattle ranch in eastern Montana and received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Montana State University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Oregon State University. She then spent five years as a Research Geneticist at the ARS Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Dr. Cockett joined Utah State University as an assistant professor in 1990, was promoted to associate professor in 1993, and to full professor in 1996. She has also served as the Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Interim Provost for USU.
Since its founding in 1888, Utah State University has evolved from a small-town college tucked away in the Northern Utah mountains to a thriving research university respected around the world. USU is the state’s land-grant university with a main campus in Logan, regional campuses and centers throughout the state and Extension offices in 28 of 29 counties in Utah. Students can choose from an array of academic and social opportunities at a university known throughout the world for its intellectual and technological leadership.”
The Utah System of Higher Education includes Utah’s eight public colleges and universities: The University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College, Dixie State University, Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. For more information, visit higheredutah.org.
