Jerilyn S. McIntyre served as interim president of the U twice, for two months in 1991 and all of 1997. I think there has perhaps never been anybody who has made such an impact and accomplished as much in such a short amount of time as President Watkins has at the U and the board was honored to grant her the designation of President Emerita of the University of Utah.. But she wasnt concerned about her image. Asked to comment on Watkins departure, Jill McCluskey said we wish Watkins the best in her future endeavors. She is a collaborative leader who is committed to ensuring exceptional educational and research opportunities for students and faculty. Deneece Huftalin, president of Salt Lake Community, wrote: I am personally grateful for her vision and partnership.. On Tuesday, people from around the state joined in wishing Watkins well as she leaves the University of Utah. Jan 18, 2018 The Utah State Board of Regents has selected Ruth V. Watkins as the 16th president of the University of Utah. Report: University of Utah police understaffed, but student's murder In all measures, Dr. Watkins rose to the top in our national search for the next president to lead the U, said David L. Buhler, commissioner of higher education. Ruth V. Watkins, PhD, was the 16th president of the University of Utah and the first woman to hold the position in the institution's 168-year history. We will greatly miss President Watkins authentic, intelligent and personable leadership. SALT LAKE CITY The first woman selected to lead the University of Utah, Ruth V. Watkins, will step down as president in April after accepting the position of president of Strada Impact. Following the resignation of former University Police Chief Dale Brophy, the university hired Chief Rodney Chatman, although he was placed on administrative leave in December after questions arose about whether he had achieved Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training certification. 201 PRESIDENTS CIRCLE Identifying innovations in safety and security measures adopted by other large public universities, particularly those in urban settings, that could be implemented at the University of Utah. The decline began pre-pandemicandmay bedue to Utahs strong economy and resulting labor needs. Donate to the newsroom now. The Utah State Board of Regents name Dr. Ruth V. Watkins the 16th president of the University of Utah. The measures focus on training and education, staffing and improved communication processes. Her focus on graduation and getting students to cross the degree finish line, as she has put it, is what Watkins and those around her point to as the presidents single biggest accomplishment. University of Utah President Ruth Watkins moving on after 3 years Ruth V. Watkins Named President of Strada Impact Watkins, the U.'s 16th president, is leaving her helm at the research university to lead national research, philanthropy and policy efforts at Strada Impact's Education Network. The nonprofit organizationis based in Indianapolis. On Thursday, March 12, University of Utah President Ruth Watkins joined state leaders in officially announcing changes enacted at the U to slow the spread of coronavirus. Immediate actions aimed at improving campus safety include: Watkins also has asked other campus entities to review their policies, procedures and training related to campus safety. 201 PRESIDENTS CIRCLE if (null !== cumulatedTimeElement) { Its currently the highest for public universities in the state, he acknowledged, at roughly $8,400 a year. Health Sciences has a deep bench of capable administrators who will manage the universitys hospital, clinics and School of Medicine while Dr. Good takes on oversight of the entire campus. University of Utah appoints first vice president for Equity, Diversity The gondolas price tag just went up again. The campus footprint changed dramatically, with the completion of Kahlert Village, Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons, Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House, the Robert H. and Katherine B. Garff Executive Education Building, Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, Spence Eccles Ski Team Building, David S. Layton Golf Academy, and the in-progress addition of the Ken Garff Performance Zone at Rice-Eccles Stadium. For more information, visit higheredutah.org. ", On January 12, 2021, Watkins announced that she would be stepping down as president of the University of Utah as of April 7, 2021 to become president of Strada Impact. See the newly built the Kathryn F. Kirk Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care and Womens Cancers at Huntsman Cancer Institute. I am deeply honored to have this opportunity to lead the University of Utah and offer my thanks to the Board of Regents, the universitys Board of Trustees and the search committee for their confidence in me, Watkins said. After made-for-Hollywood finish, whats next for BYUs Kenneth Rooks? Watkins instructed the group to examine protocols, procedures and actions of all officers involved in the case. President Watkins | Continuum - University of Utah Watkins announced Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021 that she is stepping down and has accepted a post to lead Strada Impact, a national education program focused on getting students to complete college. } if (null !== cumulatedTime && cumulatedTime > 0) { Academic Calendar President Ruth Watkins: Welcome to the U Rising podcast, where you have the opportunity to meet some of the remarkable people who are helping us achieve new heights at the University of Utah.I'm Ruth Watkins, president of the university, and my special guest today is Dr. Mike Good. The undergraduate teacher preparation program at the U has been recognized by the National Council on Teacher Quality for its rigorous preparation of future teachers in how to teach reading. Among other accomplishments, under her leadership the universitys students achieved a dramatic increase in degree completion, total research grants increased significantly and the U. was admitted to the prestigious Association of American Universities. Its particularly meaningful to women, Bradley-Evans said. University of Utah President Ruth V. Watkins announced Tuesday she has accepted a position as president of Strada Impact, 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. It also will select an interim president, in consultation with university trustees, if Watkins successor is not selected before her departure. Watkins came to Utah from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she spent 20 years in leadership and faculty roles, including associate provost for Undergraduate Education, vice provost and chief of staff, and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Directory [/bs_col][bs_col class=col-sm-8]SUE RISELING This selection continues the precedent of having the CEO/senior vice president of University of Utah Health Sciences serve in the interim role. She also wants students heavily involved in the process to interview candidates. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute. Asked if Watkins actively sought the position or was recruited, Dunham said as a matter of course, we dont talk about the recruitment process, but this is a division that we reached out and recruited for.. [1][2] Attendees at her September 21, 2018 inauguration included the chair of the U of U's board of trustees, H. David Burton, and Utah Lieutenant Governor, Spencer Cox. jsTimeInput.setAttribute("value", formTimeDiff.toString()); Jill McCluskey, McCluskeys mom, said Tuesday that she wished Watkins the best in the future. Amy Dunham, Strada Networks senior vice president of marketing communications, said Strada worked with the U. on an alumni outcome survey. Nielsen said he has set up two confidential, anonymous email addresses that anyone with information or feedback can use to communicate with the review team. const FORM_TIME_START = Math.floor((new Date).getTime()/1000); It also will provide staff and student leaders with additional in-depth training on how to respond to and manage routine and emergency situations and resources available to them. For the campus safety review: ansr.me/CampusSafety. let jsTimeInput = document.createElement("input"); And she did it so well., Bradley-Evans said shes pointed to Watkins as an example for her daughters and granddaughters, encouraging them: You can be president of the university. Sue Riseling is the executive director of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). Ruth V. Watkins, senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the U, was named the 16th president of the University of Utah. The successful candidate will succeed Ruth V. Watkins, who stepped down in April. Dr. Good will assume the interim role in April 2021. For Martha Bradley-Evans, the associate vice president for academic affairs and the dean of the undergraduate studies, another important achievement of Watkins was being the first woman to lead the flagship school. The event is free and open to the public. Download Dr. Ruth Watkins Official Headshot. Brooke Adams The Utah Board of Higher Education has designated Ruth V. Watkins as "president emerita" in recognition of her service as the 16th president of the University of Utah. READ FULL BIO Vision & Initiatives We inspire, innovate, and serve as we work toward becoming a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact. In light of the tragic circumstances that led to these reviews, I know that all of us look upon this as a solemn duty, Nielsen said. Last year nearly two years after McCluskeys murder the university confirmed that the officer assigned to investigate her concerns had showed off the explicit pictures she had sent him as part of her extortion case. Prior to joining the University of Utah, Watkins spent 20 years in leadership and faculty roles at the University of Illinois-Champaign. Several presidents at the other institutions in the state also shared their appreciation, including some of the four other women also leading the universities here. It will also hire an outside agency to review. It collected $2 billion for ongoing research, including on the coronavirus pandemic. Watkins has also worked to increase the diversity of those attending the university. McCluskeys parents filed a lawsuit against the university in June 2019. Corporate Partners University of Utah President Ruth Watkins announces the U. has been selected to host the 2020 vice presidential debate during a press conference at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Harris H. Simmons, Order swag now for Employee Appreciation Day, New chair in the Department of Mathematics, New associate dean in the College of Education. Look, Ruth did it.. University of Utah presidents - Wikipedia But, Gardner said, the case definitely had an impact on the president overall. We will do our best to honor Lauren McCluskeys memory by working to provide the safest possible campus for the universitys students, faculty, staff and visitors.. Theyve given the state of Utah a lot the last several years between her three years as president and five years as senior vice president, he said. Thats also when she insisted in a statement that has since become a source of much contention that nothing could have been done to prevent McCluskeys death. Education [ edit] formElement.appendChild(jsTimeInput); We were quite critical of her and her leadership, Barnes added. But on Tuesday, Watkins wrote in her letter that a Utah woman I will always be, a play off of the schools song. The inauguration for Ruth V. Watkins, the 16th president of the University of Utah, will be held Friday, Sept. 21, 3 p.m. in Kingsbury Hall on the U campus, 1395 Presidents Circle. View history Tools Ruth V. Watkins is an American scholar of child language and speech pathology. That led student government leaders at the U. to call out the school and Watkins for statements made by the University of Utah that have been widely interpreted as victim-blaming. More than 100 students walked out of class in protest, as well, shouting into a megaphone outside of Watkins office. Presidents of . University of Utah President Ruth Watkins announced that Lori K. McDonald has been named vice president for student affairs. Over 1,000 graduates from the Us Class of 2023 are first-gen college students. Here is a recap: University of Utah President Ruth Watkins took time this summer to visit three areas of the state to meet with government, business, higher education and community leaders. She was looking at the best way to move forward and improve.. We really hate to lose President Watkins. Brown, dean of the College of Engineering, on the selection of Ruth V. Watkins as the 16th president of the University of Utah: The College of Engineering enthusiastically congratulates Dr. Ruth Watkins on her appointment as president of the University of Utah. Murder of U Student Prompts Investigation into Police Department and Effectiveness of recent actions to enhance safety on campus. In 2003, she was named a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She said she expects this review to last through the Spring 2019 Semester and encouraged those performing the review to pursue any line of inquiry suggested by the facts. [1][2] She stepped down from the role on April 7, 2021, to enter the private sector. Watkins is the first woman to lead the University of Utah the states oldest, largest and only Research 1 higher education institution in its 168-year history. The Lauren McCluskey murder was horrible and tragic, Gardner said. In this podcast, President Watkins, Mike Good, senior vice president of Health Sciences, and Dan Reed, senior vice president for Academic Affairs, share a general overview of . The universitys eight-year graduation rate, as of 2020, was 79%. The Utah Board of Higher Education will begin a national search for a new president. } else if(formElement.attachEvent){ We were excited when Dr. Ruth Watkins made time on her first day as the University of Utah's 16th President to address the leadership team of U of U Health. Watkins faced criticism [12] from the student-ran newspaper, The Daily Utah Chroncile. In a letter to campus, Watkins didnt mention the case that has become tied to her legacy, though she did briefly acknowledge being proud of the ongoing work to enhance safety, including hiring a chief safety officer. SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112. Still, issues have persisted. Brooke Adams Summer 2018 hen Ruth Watkins was a teenager, she worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Elkader city pool. She made the commitment to not ever have that happen again and under her direction she made significant investments in safety and infrastructure and personnel and policies to make the campus safer.. University of Utah President Ruth Watkins announced Tuesday that she is stepping down, capping her three-year tenure focused on improving graduation rates and expanding research at the states flagship school but also dogged by questions about how student-athlete Lauren McCluskeys case was mishandled before and after her murder. Family of slain student Lauren McCluskey gets $13.5M settlement from University of Utah President Ruth Watkins is stepping down Correction: An earlier version of this story, attributed a slight decline in the 2020 graduation rate to the pandemic. INAUGURAL REMARKS, SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 . She kept a great personality and I really think that came from her inner belief in people and empathy, Gardner said. the new police chief was put on leave in December in connection with allegations of criminal offenses. Lori K. McDonald named vice president for student affairs Email: contact@coe.utah.edu (Jerilyn let cumulatedTimeElement = document.getElementById("tfa_dbCumulatedTime"); SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84112, "There has perhaps never been anybody who has made such an impact and accomplished as much in such a short amount of time as President Watkins has at the U." Diversity University of Utah appoints interim president Senior Vice President for Government and Industry Relations It also is evaluating its practices to provide more timely and efficient response services as well as how it prioritizes cases. formElement.addEventListener('submit', appendJsTimerElement, false); Watkins brings both an outside perspective based on years of leadership experience at the University of Illinois as well as significant familiarity with the University of Utah where she has served as senior vice president and provost since 2013, said Daniel W. Campbell, chair of the Board of Regents. Watkins propelled efforts to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, placing the U among the 65 leading research universities in North America. Watkins is the first woman to lead the University of Utah the state's oldest, largest and only Research 1 higher education institution in its 168-year history. The Us Housing and Residential Education program will evaluate its policies and practices. Watkins is the first woman to serve as president of the university in its 168-year history. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News President Watkins said John T. Nielsen has agreed to lead the team for both reviews. Heres why UDOT still says it is moving forward with the controversial plan. Bradley-Evans said the new president succeeded in uniting campus by creating a culture of caring. But about a month after Watkins inauguration, she was faced with a new and bigger tragedy: the Oct. 22, 2018, death of a student-athlete. Laura Seitz, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY The first woman selected to lead the University of Utah, Ruth V. Watkins, will step down as president in April after accepting the position of president of Strada Impact. } Naval Postgraduate School. Watch her message or read the transcript below. She has just been stellar in so many ways not only at the University of Utah but for the system as a whole on several of the things that shes led out on. Both research funding and donor contributions increased significantly under Watkins leadership, allowing the U to achieve a capital campaign goal of $2 billion in December 2020ahead of a 2022 target dateand a record $602 million in sponsored research. jsTimeInput.setAttribute("id", "tfa_dbElapsedJsTime"); While serving as our Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Watkins has demonstrated her remarkable interpersonal and communication skills. Privacy Statement She has earned the trust and affection of the University of Utah community. Watkins' signature initiatives focused on student access, student success and degree completion. }); deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. When Watkins first stepped into the leadership position, the historic moment was partially overshadowed by what had created the vacancy in the first place. Additional opportunities and resources for safety and security training and education for students, faculty and staff. That has long been a big draw for her. The organization also tries to connect graduates with jobs in their field. Office: 801-581-5180 Mobile: 801-953-3843 christopher.nelson@utah.edu, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PUBLIC RELATIONS The Office of Equal Opportunity will provide additional training on reporting guidelines across the campus. Her signature initiatives focused on student access, degree completion, and advancing the success and impact of the U as a top-tier research university. [9][10], On January 18, 2018, Watkins was appointed as the 16th president of the U of U. Gary Herbert beginning in 2007. Evaluating policies that guide how campus entities handle and report issues related to student safety. Commuter services will provide more communication to students about the option to park in A lotswhich are closer to campus buildingsafter 3 p.m. President Ruth Watkins | University Advancement She officially began her tenure as president on April 2, and will be inaugurated on September 21. Ruth V. Watkins named 16th president of the University of Utah Statement from Richard B. She is asking that the U. not hire anyone internally but rather choose a national candidate to help students move forward. Ruth Watkins named 16th and first female president of the University of Utah Watkins, a top U. administrator since 2013, picked unanimously by Board of Regents from a list of three;. The Utah State Board of Regents has selected Ruth V. Watkins as the 16th president of the University of Utah. if (null !== formElement) { (Jerilyn S. McIntyre served as interim president of the U twice, for two months in 1991 and all of 1997.) President Watkins has served as senior vice president for academic affairs at the U since she arrived on campus in August 2013 after 20 years in faculty and leadership roles at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Map She served as a presidential intern last year, working with me and my office. When she first joined the staff as a senior vice president in 2013, 60% of students there were completing a degree, falling far below the schools companion Pac-12 institutions, which average 80%. Ruth V. Watkins Named New U President - University of Utah College of The goal of the trip was to learn more about Utah and how the U can be a good partner throughout the state. The University of Utah plays a vital role in the state, and increasingly the nation, in path-breaking research that solves societal challenges and educational opportunities that transform lives. I believe the work of Strada Impact is more important today than ever before because completing college and securing employment will be especially crucial for millions of young Americans post-pandemic, Watkins stated in her letter. She was committed to her job and committed to making things better regardless of the obstacles in front of her, she was upbeat. "Mary Ann has extensive experience in all of 1997.) For more information, visit Utah.edu. Founded in 1850, it serves more than 32,000 students from across the United States and the world. if(wFORMS.behaviors.prefill) wFORMS.behaviors.prefill.skip = true; Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons Suite 3725260 S Central Campus DrSalt Lake City, UT 84112PH: 801-581-8620Advising: 801-213-1144FAX: 801-585-5081CSBS IntranetCSBS computing, Behavioral Health Innovation and Dissemination Center, Master of Science in International Affairs & Global Enterprise, Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, Barbara & Norman Tanner Center for Human Rights, Interdisciplinary Exchange for Utah Science (NEXUS), Alumni, Emeriti, and Friends Spotlight Submission. Ruth V. Watkins - President Taylor R. Randall Were going to miss Ruth. He had a long career in government, serving as the states Commission of Public Safety, chief of the Criminal Division of the then Salt Lake County Attorneys Office and legal advisor to the Salt Lake Police Department. The Utah System of Higher Education includes eight public colleges and universities in Utah: The University of Utah; Utah State University; Weber State University; Southern Utah University; Snow College; Dixie State University; Utah Valley University; and Salt Lake Community College.