USU presidential search down to three candidates
LOGAN — The search for a new Utah State University President has been narrowed down to three candidates. Rodney D. Bennett, Elizabeth “Betsy” R. Cantwell and Kenneth “Ken” L. White will be interviewed for the job by the Utah Board of Higher Education.
In a USU press release, Lisa Michele Church, chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, said the process of selecting a new president has been focused on “engagement, impartiality and diligence.”
Church praised the Utah State University Presidential Search Committee for its work in recommending the candidates.
“The Utah Board of Higher Education is so grateful to the USU Presidential Search Committee for its meticulous and independent examination of candidates and their qualifications to lead this top–tier research university,” Church said. “They considered all feedback received from USU faculty, staff, students and community members. Our Board is looking forward to interviewing the three presidential finalists.”
Among other qualities, applicants are evaluated on their academic and research credentials, leadership experience, community engagement and vision for the institution they hope to lead, per the press release.
Bennett, who holds a doctorate of education, recently served as the University of Southern Mississippi president from April 2013 to July 2022. He was the first African American of a predominantly white higher education institution in Mississippi. Under Bennett’s leadership, USM reached R1 status, met fundraising milestones and invested in new faculty positions and institution initiatives during his tenure. Bennet also showed a strong commitment to collegiate athletics, representing Conference USA as a founding member of the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.
Cantwell, who holds a Ph.D., is currently the senior vice president for research & innovation at the University of Arizona. In Tuscon, Cantwell is responsible for an $825 million annual research portfolio and the 1,268–acre UA Tech Park. The park contributes $1.7 billion annually to the regional economy.
Cantwell came to UA from Arizona State University, where she served as vice president for research and development and as CEO of the ASU Research Enterprise. Before that, she worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as its director for economic development and director for engineering mission strategy.
White, who holds a Ph.D., serves as USU’s vice president of extension, dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. While at USU, White has generated over $17.2 million in extramural funding for research in animal reproduction and embryonic development.
White is a Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology honoree. He has published over 100 peer–reviewed scientific articles, and he led the nuclear transfer team that produced the world’s first cloned equines, three identical mule foals. He also served as the USU Faculty Athletics Representative for 15 years in national NCAA leadership positions focused on student– athlete well–being, education, and rules compliance.
Bennett, Cantwell and White will all participate in public meetings on May 17 in the Eccles Conference Center starting at 2 p.m. The Utah Board of Higher Education will conduct closed interviews with the candidates on Friday, May 19 and may announce the new president that day at 4:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center ballroom if a decision has been made. If not, the meeting will convene at another time.
Featured image courtesy of Utah State Today.