PHOTO CREDIT: The University of Utah
University of Utah President David W. Pershing
At today’s meeting of the University of Utah Academic Senate, I announced that I have asked the State of Utah Board of Regents to begin a search for the University of Utah’s 16th president. In December 2016, I told the regents that my intention was to conclude my service as president at the end of the 2018 academic year. However, given the fact that we are launching a search for a new Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, I thought it important to begin the search for a new president now — to run simultaneously with our SVP search — so that we have a new president in place when we are making the final decision on a Health Sciences SVP, which is a role of great importance to our university.
As to the immediate future, let me assure you that Ruth Watkins, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Lorris Betz, interim Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, and I will work diligently and collaboratively to advance the University of Utah’s plans, provide for a smooth transition in these two key roles, and minimize disruption for our students, faculty, and staff.
Serving as the president of this remarkable institution has been the greatest honor of my life and I look forward to working with all of you during what I know will be a seamless transition in the coming year. In the meantime, we are in for an exciting commencement week, during which a graduating class of 8,500 students and their families will gather to celebrate success and anticipate a bright future.
President David W. Pershing
University of Utah
