Robert Wagner hired as ISU’s new president

Utah State University’s executive vice president and chief operational officer Robert Wagner will begin his presidency at Idaho State University starting on Jan. 29, 2024.

He is succeeding Kevin Satterlee, who is retiring after five years as Idaho State’s president.

In his 16-year career at Utah State, Wagner has worked in various roles. He began working with Utah State’s regional campuses and distance education, now referred to as the statewide campus system.

“It gave me a unique understanding and appreciation for the land grant mission of access all across Utah,” Wagner said. “Utah State University does incredible things across the state in providing access to quality higher education.”

Wagner continued on to work in marketing, faculty development and support, academic programming, enrollment management and student success at Utah State.

“All of the different areas I’ve worked in have given me an in-depth understanding of what it is that a university is and should be responsible for and the ways it serves students and the community,” Wagner said.

Wagner has a deep love and appreciation for his time at Utah State.

“It’s been my great pleasure to have had such an involved role. I will love and will miss Utah State, so I’m grateful that Idaho State has such an amazing culture and set of values,” Wagner said.

Acting president and vice president of campus operations Brian Sagendorf is looking forward to this new chapter at Idaho State.

“We’re excited to see what this new presidential opportunity will bring,” Sagendorf said. “Dr. Wagner was a candidate that clearly demonstrated a great depth and breadth of experience in many aspects of higher education leadership.”

In addition to his broad career experience, Sagendorf feels Wagner exemplifies the qualities important to Idaho State.

“We wanted to continue to build on the leadership values that we feel are very important at ISU: hope, compassion, stability and trust,” Sagendorf said. “We felt that Dr. Wagner demonstrated these values through the entire interview process.”

Wagner’s main focus as he begins his new role as Idaho State president will be on maintaining a quality and impactful higher education experience.

“I want to continue the great work that has been and is being accomplished at Idaho State University,” Wagner said. “President Satterlee did an incredible job with his team in building a really positive and innovative culture. I’m going to continue to prioritize student-centricity.”

The importance of a university’s role within the community at large is another thing Wagner wants to pay special attention to.

“Public higher education can do a lot to serve communities, and I want to increase the university’s positive impact on the community,” Wagner said. “I’ve experienced that at Utah State, and I’m excited to see how I can help Idaho State continue to serve the state of Idaho.”

Being the president of a university is no simple task, but Wagner is eager to take it on.

“It’s a complicated institution. There are a lot of different things that it does and accomplishes, and it’s my great pleasure to be a part of many of those different dimensions,” Wagner said.

Among all these aspirations, students are Wagner’s priority.

“I want to support and uplift students above all else,” Wagner said.

His own experiences working closely with students as well as being a student himself have given him a great level of compassion and care.

“During my career, I’ve been able to witness the successes of and interacted with many students who achieved noble goals while conquering individually unique difficulties. I want to support these students as best I can,” Wagner said.