Stan Albrecht announces retirement from university presidency

University President Stan L. Albrecht announced Wednesday morning that he is stepping down from his position at Utah State University.

He will remain in the position until the Utah System of Higher Education Commissioner Dave Buhler and the governing boards find a successor. Albrecht sent an email to USU faculty and staff explaining his decision and what has been accomplished during his time as university president.

Albrecht shared that he is the son of parents who did not have the opportunity to receive a college education, but — through their sacrifice — he and his five siblings did.

“Higher education opened doors to worlds I never otherwise would have imagined,” Albrecht said in the email. “This is one of the reasons I have been so passionate about our regional campus and distance education programs, and about the overall mission of a land-grant university like ours.”

Albrecht acknowledged the support of his wife, Joyce Albrecht, who has also been actively involved at Utah State as the development officer for the Caine College of the Arts.

“The two of us have often discussed, and occasionally even lamented, the loss of privacy in our personal lives,” he said in the email. “And while such loss clearly goes with the job, I must admit that a period of increased anonymity for us both has a certain appeal.”

This week marks Albrecht’s 11th anniversary of appointment to university president.

“The journey has been a truly remarkable one,” he said in the email. “While I will miss the opportunity that has been mine to lead this very special place, I will also look forward to the satisfaction that will come in watching its successes under new leadership.”

— brennakelly818@gmail.com
@bckelly8

Updates will be added to this story as they are received.