The Utah Board of Higher Education named Jordan Rushton as interim president of the Dixie Technical College, to take effect in May 2022. He will serve until a permanent president is named. In January 2022, the current college president, Kelle Stephens, who has served in the position since 2012, announced her retirement, effective April 30, 2022.
It is anticipated that a new president will be in place by the fall of 2022, but the Board will take the necessary time to find the most qualified candidate.
“Vice President Rushton was selected to serve as interim president for his industry knowledge, expertise and advocacy around the importance of technical education,” said Harris H. Simmons, Chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education. “He is highly qualified and well-prepared to take on the interim role at Dixie Technical College. The Board is sure he will see Dixie Tech through a successful transition period. We appreciate his dedication to the long-term success of the college.”
Vice President Rushton has extensive experience in technical education and has served at both the college and statewide levels. He is currently serving as the Vice President of Instruction and oversees the college’s academic and training offerings. Rushton has served as the chief instructional officer of Dixie Technical College since 2015. Between 2009 and 2015, he served as the Director of Public Relations and Outreach for the Utah College of Applied Technology system. Rushton holds an undergraduate degree from Utah Valley University and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a higher education emphasis from Southern Utah University. He has a post-graduate certification in management from Harvard University and is currently enrolled at Baylor University to obtain a doctorate in education. A native of Lehi, Utah, Ruston, his wife Lundi, and their four children currently reside in St. George.
“I am excited to serve in this capacity and look forward to continuing the important work being done at Dixie Technical College” said Vice President Rushton. “I appreciate the confidence the Board of Higher Education and the Dixie Tech Trustees have shown in me. We have incredible students, dedicated instructors and staff, and outstanding industry partners. I am committed to moving this important work forward.”
“Vice President Rushton has extensive experience and a great relationship with the Dixie Tech faculty and staff, as well as our educational partners at DSU and the Washington County School District,” said President Kelle Stephens. “Under his leadership, our certificate-seeking programs have almost doubled in membership hours in the last four years, while at the same time our graduation and placement rates have improved to be some of the highest in the state.”
