Utah Board of Higher Education

Utah State University

Friday, May 19, 2023

 

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Minutes

 

Board Members Present                                                      Board Members Absent

Lisa-Michele Church, Chair                                                 Sanchaita Datta

Jesselie Anderson, Vice Chair

Grace Acosta

Stan Albrecht

Julie Beck

Stacey Bettridge

Rich Christiansen

Hope Eccles

Korianne Gibson

Patricia Jones

Arthur Newell

Shawn Newell (absent for Committee of the Whole at 4:30 p.m.)

Steve Starks

Scott Theurer

Xitlalli Villanueva

Rick Wheeler

 

Office of the Commissioner

Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Commissioner of Higher Education

Geoffrey Landward, Deputy Commissioner

Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO

Taylor Adams, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives

Alison Adams-Perlac, General Counsel

Brynn Fronk, Executive Assistant to the Utah Board of Higher Education

Julie Hartley, Associate Commissioner of Academic Education

Katie Mazzie, Director of Student-Centered Initiatives

Hilary Renshaw, Associate General Council

 

Utah State University Board of Trustees

Kent Alder, Chair

Gina Gagon

David Huntsman

David Petersen

Public USU Presidential Candidates

 

Chair Church called the meeting to order at 7:40 a.m.

 

 

Chair Church reviewed the closed session motions from the Board meetings on May 18, 2023, at Utah State University and Bridgerland Technical College.

 

Board member Shawn moved to go into closed session for the purposes of discussing the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual. Board member Acosta seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Closed Session

 

Board member Acosta made a motion to end closed session. Board member Eccles seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Committee of the Whole

 

Chair Church welcomed those in attendance and provided brief comments. She addressed the presidential search process and thanked the presidential search committee members for their efforts. Board member Wheeler moved to appoint Elizabeth “Beth”[1] Cantwell to be the next president of Utah State University. Board member Acosta seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed. Utah State University Board of Trustees Chair Kent Alder provided some brief remarks. Chair Church introduced Dr. Cantwell, and Dr. Cantwell addressed the group and expressed her appreciation and excitement.

 

Board member Acosta moved to adjourn. Board member Starks seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

_____________________

Geoffrey Landward, Secretary

 

Date Approved: June 30, 2023

 

[1] In the June 30, 2023, Executive Committee Meeting, the Committee approved the minutes with a clarification that the USU presidential choice is Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell.