Vice Provost pursues planetarium presidency
Shelves lining the walls of Michelle Larson’s office were once filled with files, books and resources. They now lie bare. The desk is clear. The office she used for more than six years in her central administration position as vice provost is empty. Her time at USU is over after accepting a position as president and CEO of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.
Larson leaves USU with mixed emotions – both excitement for the opportunities to come in her new position and a deep appreciation for the people she was able to work with at Utah State.
“That’s probably what I’m most excited about,” she said. “It’s unknown, it’s uncharted.”
Those in the provost’s office have expressed appreciation for Larson and her contributions to the university.
“She is an outstanding individual, a consummate professional,” said Larry Smith, senior executive vice provost. “She was incredible. She is incredible to work with.”
Smith worked with Larson since she was hired and was on the search committee that recommended her for hire in 2006. He said her intelligence, capacity for innovation and creativity as well as her high standard of excellence were factors which led to her hire, and she exhibited those qualities throughout the duration of her time at USU.
“She hit a home run when we interviewed her,” he said. “We were very, very lucky she crossed paths with us. The things that she has done will have a lasting impact for a long, long time to come.”
Larson worked in various positions within the provost’s office. Her responsibilities consisted in dealing with special projects which were unanticipated by the university. Projects ranged from college mergers to developing educational programming for an eco center and even participating actively in USU’s recertification process for collegiate athletics.
“Every ten years, the NCAA re-accredits the university to be able to participate in collegiate athletics,” she said. “My very first project, literally the day I was hired, was to kind of lead the NCAA recertification effort. Having the academic office be over that recertification is to ensure that we’re teaching our students, first and foremost.”
Larson said this initial project was very beneficial in that it introduced her to many of the different aspects and offices of Utah State, and this contact with so many branches of USU’s structure came to be the most rewarding part of her time here.
“In leaving, I’m very fond of the fact that I have been able to interact with people all across campus,” she said. “I enjoy interacting with so many different people and people who are so good and so proud of the role they play on campus. I just love that interaction.”
Larson said prior to working at USU, she associated primarily with people who were similar to her in their skill sets and ways of accomplishing tasks. Since coming to Utah State, she said she has come to appreciate the value of surrounding herself with people who do things differently than she does.
“Interacting with the breadth of individuals that I’ve been able to, I’ve really grown to appreciate new ways of approaching a problem, new ways of communicating,” she said. “I’ve broadened my appreciation of the skill sets that can come to the table since stepping outside my little physicist’s world.”
Larson advised students to take advantage of the opportunities they have and explore classes that are outside what they’re typically interested in.
“I’m not sure all students during the time they’re here recognize the opportunities available to them in terms of stepping outside the box and taking a class that’s about something you never knew you wanted to know about,” she said. “But take it, because it will open your mind.”
Larson grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and received her bachelors degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from Montana State University. She began her undergraduate work in 1989 and finished her Ph.D. in 2001.
“I kept taking all those interesting classes to take,” she said. “I wasn’t in a hurry.”
Larson has a six year old daughter with her husband and enjoys hobbies such as cooking, hiking and geocaching. She said work is a passion for her and she spends much of her time working, but also spending time with her family.
She also has an extensive collection of rubber ducks, which she began collecting in grad school. She said there is a rubber duck for everything and enjoys her collection greatly.
“My daughter and I just recently counted them and I have a 147 rubber duck collection,” she said. “I can’t remember why I started. Everyone has a few rubber ducks around. If you’re aware of it, there’s a rubber duck for everything. It’s a little obnoxious, but it’s pretty fun, and then when you take a bath you can just grab a handful and throw them in and you have fun.”
– calewp@gmail.com