The Utah Board of Higher Education invites nominations and applications for the position of President of Utah State University, one of 16 institutions within the Utah System of Higher Education.
Utah State University was founded in 1888 and is Utah’s land-grant university with a statewide reach across more than 30 locations, including three residential campuses. The university’s main campus is located in Logan, Utah.
Utah State University’s campuses and online programs serve more than 27,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world. The university is uniquely situated as one of the only institutions in the country to provide such a broad range of educational opportunities, from Extension and technical education to graduate-level academic education. The Carnegie Foundation classifies Utah State University as an R1: Doctoral University-Very High Research Institution, and the university is a cohort of the National Science Foundation’s Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive and Diverse STEM Faculty.
Utah State University takes seriously its academic mission as Utah’s land-grant institution to educate the people across Utah. The university provides a leading-edge and holistic academic experience utilizing experiential learning, revolutionary classroom techniques, and innovative instructional design. In 2022, Washington Monthly ranked the university as the 8th best public university and 22nd among all universities in the United States. Utah State University is a leader across many disciplines, from local agriculture to satellites in space.
Successful candidates must identify ways in which they will recognize and support students (including graduate students), staff, and faculty as essential members of the university community and how they will engage in shared governance.
The successful candidate must demonstrate how they will preserve the university’s student-focused culture and work to promote student success and well-being. They must also demonstrate how they will foster campus safety and address sexual misconduct. They must display the ability to foster and support an inclusive campus community and a culture of respect.
The successful candidate must be committed to preserving, fostering, and expanding Utah State University’s land-grant role, presence in the state of Utah, and its distinguished legacy of research, scholarship, service, and Extension. The successful candidate will also understand and embrace the university’s statewide responsibility and will be committed to developing and strengthening the university’s statewide campuses. Accordingly, ideal candidates will have demonstrated success in a leadership role at a land-grant, R-1 university, and leadership qualities essential for leading a large, culturally diverse, and complex academic and research institution.
The next president must excel at building and fostering relationships, including developing strong public-private partnerships; establishing critical relationships with government, community leaders, and donors; and providing collaborative leadership alongside colleagues within the Utah System of Higher Education. The next president will also work to establish meaningful relationships with Utah’s Indigenous tribes.
The next president will be expected to expand the reputation, visibility, and influence of Utah State University — locally, nationally, and internationally. The next president must hold a terminal degree or equivalent.
The president is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Utah Board of Higher Education and — with oversight from the university’s Board of Trustees — is responsible for the overall administration of the university. The president, as executive officer, has a responsibility first to the Utah System of Higher Education and then to the university as part of that system.
Application materials should include a current curriculum vitae and a letter addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements. WittKieffer is assisting Utah State University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 29, 2023. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D., and Amy Crutchfield at: UtahStatePresident@wittkieffer.com.
The Presidential Search Committee will begin reviewing candidate nominations and applications in April 2023. This process will offer full confidentiality for all candidates, until the point where finalists are selected and publicly identified. For more information about the university, visit usu.edu. More information about the search is available at usu.edu/president-search.
To learn more about the Utah System of Higher Education, visit ushe.edu. Utah State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
