University of Utah presidents

The University of Utah presidents include all sixteen men and women who served as president of the University of Utah or its predecessor the University of Deseret, which was founded in 1850[1] just a few years after the Mormon Pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

List of presidents

According to the university's official count the current president, Taylor Randall,[2] is the 17th president of the University.[3] The university only counts the presidents that have served since the name was officially changed to the University of Utah, starting with John R. Park. The count also only counts the presidents, not the actual terms, because Joseph T. Kingsbury was president two different times.[4]

No. President Term start Term end Notes
Chancellors of the University of Deseret (1850–1892)
– Orson Spencer [a] 1850 1852 [1]
– NONE[b] 1852 1867 [5]
– David O. Calder [c] 1867 1869 [5]
Presidents of the University of Utah (1892–present)
1 John R. Park[d] 1869 1892 [6][7]
acting Joseph T. Kingsbury[e] 1892 1894 [5][8]
2 James E. Talmage 1894 1897 [9][10]
3 Joseph T. Kingsbury[f] 1897 1916 [8]
4 John A. Widtsoe[g] 1916 1921 [11]
5 George Thomas 1921 1941 [12]
6 LeRoy E. Cowles[h] 1941 1946 [13]
7 A. Ray Olpin[i] 1946 1964 [14][15]
8 James C. Fletcher[j] 1964 1971 [16]
9 Alfred C. Emery 1971 1973 [17]
10 David P. Gardner August 1, 1973 July 31, 1983 [k] [18][19][20]
11 Chase N. Peterson August 1, 1983 June 30, 1991 [l] [21][22][23][24]
interim Jerilyn McIntyre July 1, 1991 August 31, 1991 [25][26]
12 Arthur K. Smith September 1, 1991 January 15, 1997 [m] [27][28][29][30]
acting Jerilyn McIntyre January 16, 1997 March 31, 1997 [31]
interim April 1, 1997 December 31, 1997
13 Bernie Machen January 1, 1998 December 31, 2003 [n] [32][33][34]
interim Lorris Betz January 1, 2004 July 31, 2004 [35]
14 Michael K. Young August 1, 2004 May 15, 2011 [o] [36][37][38]
interim Lorris Betz May 16, 2011 March 11, 2012 [39]
15 David W. Pershing March 12, 2012 April 1, 2018 [40][41][42]
16 Ruth Watkins April 2, 2018 April 7, 2021 [p] [43][44][45]
interim Michael L. Good April 8, 2021 August 8, 2021 [46]
17 Taylor R. Randall August 9, 2021 Present [47]

Table notes:

  1. ↑ Orson Spencer was named as the first chancellor of the University of Deseret when it was created on February 28, 1850. His tenure only lasted a short time until the university was temporarily closed.
  2. ↑ The University of Deseret was suspended for fifteen years due to the lack of funds and "feeder" schools.
  3. ↑ David O. Calder was a Mormon Pioneer from Scotland who was assigned by Brigham Young to re-open the University after its fifteen-year closure.
  4. ↑ John R. Park is the longest tenured president in the history of the University of Utah, serving for 23 years. At the end of his tenure the name of the university was changed to The University of Utah and planning began to move the campus to the east bench of Salt Lake City. Upon his death in 1900, Dr. John R. Park bequeathed his entire fortune, plus his library, to the University of Utah.
  5. ↑ Joseph T. Kingsbury became the first president of the university to have actually attended the university.
  6. ↑ For the second time Kingsbury was appointed as the president of the University of Utah, this time serving for nearly twenty years.
  7. ↑ John A. Widtsoe was the president of Utah State University from 1907 until 1916 when he became the president of the University of Utah. He continued as president until he was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve in the LDS church. The University of Utah, Utah State, and BYU all have buildings named after him.
  8. ↑ His presidency, 1941–46, spanned the World War II years. Classes were added in military science, economics and philosophy of war and programs began in Army pre-flight, Navy V-1 and R.O.T.C. One of the far-reaching academic achievements of the period was expansion of the medical program into a four-year medical school. In 1980 one of the first three buildings on the campus was renamed in his honor. The LeRoy E. Cowles Building currently houses Mathematics.
  9. ↑ During A. Ray Olpin's presidency the university quadrupled in size and the enrollment tripled from 4,000 to 12,000 students. The current student union building at the university is named in his honor.
  10. ↑ James C. Fletcher was the president at the university from 1964 until he became the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1971.
  11. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of California system.
  12. ↑ Forced to resign/retire as a result over cold fusion research expenditures.
  13. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of Houston.
  14. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of Florida.
  15. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of Washington.
  16. ↑ Resigned to lead Strada Impact.

Timeline of presidential terms

Presidents of the University of Utah
Ruth WatkinsDavid W. PershingMichael K. YoungBernie MachenArthur K. SmithChase N. PetersonDavid P. GardnerAlfred C. EmeryJames C. FletcherA. Ray OlpinLeRoy E. CowlesJohn A. WidtsoeJoseph T. KingsburyJames E. TalmageJoseph T. KingsburyJohn R. ParkDavid O. CalderOrson Spencer

References

  1. 1 2 "University of Utah Sesquicentennial, 1850-2000". J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections. 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  2. ↑ "Taylor R. Randall named as 17th U president | @theU". attheu.utah.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  3. ↑ "President Ruth Watkins, University of Utah". University of Utah. 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  4. ↑ "Past presidents of the University of Utah". University of Utah.
  5. 1 2 3 Whitney, Orson F. (1904). History of Utah. G. Q. Cannon. p. 356. Retrieved March 31, 2009 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "The New U of U, 1892-1914". University of Utah. Archived from the original on 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  7. ↑ "John R. Park". University of Utah.
  8. 1 2 "Joseph T. Kingsbury". University of Utah.
  9. ↑ "University of Utah Alumni Association e-newsletter, U-News & Views, August 2007". Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  10. ↑ "James E. Talmage". University of Utah.
  11. ↑ "John A. Widtsoe". University of Utah.
  12. ↑ "George Thomas". University of Utah.
  13. ↑ "LeRoy E. Cowles". University of Utah.
  14. ↑ "A. Ray Olpin". University of Utah. 2007. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  15. ↑ "A. Ray Olpin". University of Utah.
  16. ↑ "James C. Fletcher". University of Utah.
  17. ↑ "Alfred C. Emery". University of Utah.
  18. ↑ "David P. Gardner". University of Utah.
  19. ↑ "Gardner named president". Daily Utah Chronicle. Vol. 82, no. 120. April 25, 1973. p. 1. Dr. David P. Gardner was named Tuesday as the new President of the University by the State Board of Higher Education effective Aug. 1, 1973. Dr. Gardner is presently the Vice-president for Extended Academic and Public Service programs for the University of California system.
  20. ↑ Adelman, Matt (March 3, 1983). "Gardner accepts UC presidency". Daily Utah Chronicle. Vol. 92, no. 102. p. 1. University President David Gardner will leave the University to take over the presidency of the University of California. The Utah State Board of Regents will convene a search committee next week to find a replacement for Gardner. Gardner will replace David Saxon as UC president. Saxon resigns as of July 1 and Gardner said he will take over some time in August.
  21. ↑ "Chase N. Peterson". University of Utah.
  22. ↑ Cole, Diane (June 15, 1983). "Regents Name Chase Peterson University of Utah President". The Salt Lake Tribune. Vol. 227, no. 62. p. 1. Dr. Chase N. Peterson, 53, was appointed Tuesday to succeed David P. Gardner as president of the University of Utah. On Aug. 1, he will become the university's 11th president at an annual salary of 90,000, plus a housing allowance... Dr. Gardner has accepted an offer to run the University of California system.
  23. ↑ Hutchinson, Angelyn Nelson; Jacobsen-Wells, JoAnn (June 1, 1990). "PETERSON SAYS HE'LL RETIRE IN '91". Deseret News. With controversy swirling around his presidency, University of Utah President Chase N. Peterson announced Monday that he will not resign but he will retire at the end of the 1990-91 academic year.
  24. ↑ "U of U's Peterson to resign". Daily Herald (Utah). June 11, 1990. p. 1. University of Utah President Chase N. Peterson announced today he will retire at the end of the 1990-91 school year after eight years at the helm of Utah's largest university. Peterson has come under intense criticism recently for his handling of a $500,000 transfer of research money to the embattled National Cold Fusion Institute. He made the announcement in a news conference on campus.
  25. ↑ "U f U president to try to heal fusion wounds". Standard-Examiner. June 27, 1991. p. 8D. Smith was named president of the university Wednesday the first non-Mormon to hold the post in the school's 141-year history... Smith replaces Dr. Chase N. Peterson Amid controversy over cold fusion the renaming of the medical school and difficult relations with faculty a year ago. Peterson announced he would step down in June 1991 Smith 53 who was provost executive vice president and acting president at the University of South Carolina will take office at Utah by Sept. 1. Jerilyn McIntyre will serve as acting president during July and August.
  26. ↑ Hutchinson, Angelyn Nelson (August 28, 1991). "INTERIM LEADER READY TO HAND OVER REINS". Deseret News. Jerilyn S. McIntyre's two-month tenure as the first woman president at the University of Utah will be over Thursday.
  27. ↑ "Arthur K. Smith". University of Utah.
  28. ↑ Williams, Susan (June 3, 1991). "U. faculty, staff optimistic about Smith's appointment as president". The Student Chronicle. Vol. 101, no. 1. p. 1. Arthur Smith, who will take office by Sept. 1, said he is looking forward to working with a school which has a "bright future" and "that has accomplished a great deal."
  29. ↑ Hutchinson, Angelyn Nelson. "NEW U. CHIEF MOVES INTO JOB". Deseret News. The University of Utah's 12th president, Arthur K. Smith, will step into his new role full-time Thursday morning.
  30. ↑ Nichols, Matthew; Schoenberger, Robert (November 22, 1996). "UH Regents Approve Smith as New President". The Student Chronicle. Vol. 106, no. 47. p. 1. University of Utah President Arthur K. Smith accepted the unanimous vote of the University of Houston's Board of Regents that confirmed him chancellor of their four-campus system and president of its flagship institution, Thursday... The UH Regents named Smith as their sole candidate for the chancellor/president position Oct. 22 after a six month search. Under the contract, Smith has. to take over the job no later than April 1, 1997. In the mean time, the Utah State Board of Regents will name an interim president an organize a search committee in December to begin the process of selecting Smith's replacement, according to Cecilia Foxley, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education.
  31. ↑ "MINUTES OF MEETING - UTAH STATE BOARD OF REGENTS" (PDF). January 24, 1997. A special Board meeting was held via conference call to appoint Dr. Jerilyn McIntyre Acting President of the University of Utah during President Smith's administrative leave (January 16 through March 31, 1997) and Interim President from April 1, 1997, until a new president can be appointed.
  32. ↑ "Bernie Machen". University of Utah.
  33. ↑ Peterson, Anne Palmer (Winter 1998). "Hats off to President Machen". Continuum. Vol. 7, no. 3. University of Utah. Archived from the original on 2024-12-02. Machen steps in to serve as thirteenth president of the University of Utah January 1, 1998.
  34. ↑ "Bye-bye, Bernie: Machen will leave U. for Florida". Deseret News. October 10, 2003. The University of Florida Board of Trustees Wednesday unanimously chose Machen, 59, to become president of the nation's fourth-largest university. He'll start Jan. 5, 2004.
  35. ↑ "Dr. Lorris Betz Appointed Interim President of University of Utah". University of Utah. December 8, 2003. In a meeting of the University of Utah Board of Trustees Monday, State Board of Regents Chair Nolan E. Karras announced that Dr. Lorris Betz has been appointed as Interim President of the University of Utah, effective January 1, 2004.
  36. ↑ "Michael K. Young". University of Utah.
  37. ↑ "U of U Inauguration Symposia to Feature Former Secretary of State James Baker". University of Utah. March 25, 2011. As part of the celebratory events prior to the installation of Michael K. Young as 14th president of the University of Utah, the University will host a series of symposia... President Michael K. Young began his tenure as president of the University of Utah on Aug. 1, 2004.
  38. ↑ "Michael K. Young Named President University of Washington". University of Utah. April 25, 2011. The University of Washington today announced that Michael K. Young, the 14th president of the University of Utah who has led the university since 2004, has accepted the position as president of the University of Washington. A transition plan for the interim leadership of the University of Utah will be announced shortly.
  39. ↑ "Dr. Lorris Betz appointed Interim President of University of Utah". University of Utah. May 2, 2011. After consulting with members of the University of Utah Board of Trustees, State Board of Regents Chair David Jordan announced Monday that Dr. Lorris Betz has been appointed as Interim President of the University of Utah, effective Monday May 16. This appointment comes after the announcement last week that President Michael Young has been selected as the new President of the University of Washington.
  40. ↑ "David W. Pershing". University of Utah.
  41. ↑ "New U President Takes Office". University of Utah. March 9, 2012. Utah's flagship university officially welcomes a new President this Monday, March 12, 2012. David W. Pershing, distinguished professor of chemical engineering, was selected by the State Board of Regents as the 15th President of the University of Utah and succeeds Michael K. Young.
  42. ↑ Ritchey, Julia (May 1, 2017). "U President David Pershing Stepping Down". KUER-FM. University of Utah President David Pershing announced Monday that he is stepping down from his post.
  43. ↑ "Ruth V. Watkins". University of Utah.
  44. ↑ Adams, Brooke (Summer 2018). "President Watkins...knows what she wants to do". Continuum. University of Utah. Watkins, who officially became the 16th president of the University of Utah on April 2 and will be inaugurated this fall, now has the biggest stage yet in her academic career to act on that lesson.
  45. ↑ "U President Ruth V. Watkins accepts top post at Strada Impact". Utah System of Higher Education. January 12, 2021. University of Utah President Ruth V. Watkins announced Tuesday, January 12, she has accepted a position as president of Strada Impact (opens in new tab), where she will drive Strada Education Network's national research, philanthropy, policy and thought leadership to improve students' access to college, degree completion and career connections. Watkins will step down from her position at the university in April 2021
  46. ↑ "Utah Board of Higher Education appoints Dr. Michael L. Good as interim president of University of Utah, effective April 2021". Utah System of Higher Education. February 20, 2021. The Utah Board of Higher Education named Dr. Michael L. Good as interim president of the University of Utah today, to take effect in April 2021... Ruth V. Watkins, current president of the University of Utah, announced on Jan. 12, 2021, that she planned to step down as president effective in April 2021
  47. ↑ "Taylor R. Randall named as 17th U president". University of Utah. August 5, 2021. The Utah Board of Higher Education selected Taylor R. Randall, Ph.D., as the 17th president of the University of Utah today, following an extensive national search. Randall will assume the role on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. He succeeds Ruth V. Watkins, who served as president from April 2018-April 2021.
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