The hunt for a new leader at Utah State University has officially kicked off with the formation of a nine-member search committee, as tasked by the Utah Board of Higher Education. This team is on the lookout for a president who will uphold the university's commitment to student-focused education, research, and community engagement, in line with its status as both a land- and space-grant institution, USU Today reports.
A key ambition for the university is to identify someone who can meet the needs of its diverse student body while also keeping pace with the school's evolving roles and challenges. The committee is co-chaired by Steve Neeleman, vice chair of the Board of Higher Education, and David Huntsman, a member of the USU Board of Trustees. Neeleman expressed the group's dedication to finding a candidate that embodies the university's ethos of "learning, discovery, and service," and Huntsman echoed this sentiment, noting the importance of this moment for Utah State's future. The search is said to begin in earnest with a position announcement and the call for nominations and applications, which is being managed with the support of AGB Search.
Members of the search committee represent a diverse cross-section of the Utah State community, ranging from faculty and administration to students, alumni, and community members. Alongside Neeleman and Huntsman, the committee includes USU Administration, Faculty, and Staff such as Grant Cardon, Bill Plate, and Elisa Taylor. Matthew Richey, the 2024-25 Student Body President, and Laurel Cannon Alder, a former USU Trustee and Alumni Association president, represent the student and alumni perspective respectively.
Following the guidelines set by SB 282, Higher Education Hiring Amendments, passed during the 2025 General Legislative Session, the search process will maintain a level of confidentiality. This approach aims to attract a wider pool of applicants and is believed to be conducive to bringing in high-quality candidates. According to USU Today, the committee will be put through the paces of reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and ultimately submitting three prioritized finalists to the Utah Board of Higher Education. The board will select the final candidate in an open, public meeting.
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