Board establishes presidential transition team
*This release was updated 3/9/26 to reflect search committee changes.
The Utah Board of Higher Education has established a nine-member committee to lead the search for the next president of Utah Valley University. The committee is charged with identifying exceptional candidates who will advance UVU’s mission as an integrated university and community college that educates every student for success in work and life.
“Utah Valley University is well-positioned for continued success,” said Shauna Smith, UVU Board of Trustees member. “The university’s students, faculty and staff have built a strong and resilient community, and that work continues as the institution moves through this transition.”
Utah Board of Higher Education member Aaron Skonnard and Utah Valley University Trustee Shauna Smith will co-chair the UVU Presidential Search Committee. The committee brings together voices from across the Utah Valley community, including representatives of the Board of Higher Education, UVU’s Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, administration and community leaders.
Below is a complete list of the Utah Valley University Presidential Search Committee members:
| Board of Higher Education | |
| Aaron Skonnard | Board member and Search Committee Co-Chair; Co-Founder and Former CEO of Pluralsight, Inc. |
| Jeremy Hafen | Board member; President and CEO of Clyde Companies, Inc. |
| UVU Board of Trustees | |
| Shauna Smith | Trustee and Search Committee Co-Chair; Managing Director and Co-Founder of Savory Fund |
| Blake Modersitzki | Second Vice Chair; Senior Managing Partner, Pelion Venture Partners |
| UVU Administration, Faculty and Staff | |
| Clark Collings | General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees |
| Nikki Scott | Professional Association of Campus Employees (PACE) President; Sr. Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance & Business Operations |
| Evelyn Porter | Faculty Senate President; Professor of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning |
| UVU Student | |
| Kyle Cullimore | Student Body President |
| Community/Alumni Representative | |
| Steven J. Lund | Executive Chairman of the Board, Nu Skin Enterprises |
The Board is conducting a comprehensive search following President Astrid S. Tuminez’s announcement that she will step down, effective May 1, 2026. The committee will work with a search firm and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to conduct the search.
Opportunities for campus and community engagement, updates and announcements will be posted at uvu.edu/presidentialsearch.
Suggestions, comments or nominations regarding the search may be sent to UVU-President@agbsearch.com or submitted anonymously at ushe.edu/uvu-presidential-search-feedback.
In parallel with the search, the Board has established a presidential transition team led by Utah Board of Higher Education member Cydni Tetro, with support from Geoffrey Landward, commissioner of higher education and Utah Board of Higher Education Chair Amanda Covington, to ensure continuity, coordination and institutional readiness during the transition.