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SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time in its nearly 168-year history, a woman will serve as president of the University of Utah.
Ruth V. Watkins was selected the U.’s 16th president by unanimous vote of the Utah State Board of Regents, which met Thursday in a suite above Rice-Eccles Stadium. Earlier in the day, the regents interviewed each of the three finalists in executive session.
Watkins has served as senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the U. since 2013. She has led the U.'s academic mission, guiding matters related to faculty, staff and students. She worked to set the university’s strategic planning, which aligns resources with academic priorities.
She has worked to enhance student success through degree completion and expand research and creative activity. Watkins came to Utah following 20 years in leadership and faculty roles at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in child language at the University of Kansas.
While women have been finalists to lead the university and one female administrator twice served as interim president of the U., Watkins is the first woman selected as president.
Among the eight colleges and universities that comprise the Utah System of Higher Education, two others are led by women: Noelle E. Cockett, president of Utah State University, and Deneece G. Huftalin, president of Salt Lake Community College.
Watkins was hired by outgoing U. President David Pershing, who served in the same capacity under the U.'s 14th president, Bernie Machen.
The conflict that precipitated Pershing's retirement came to a head last spring with the sudden firing of Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle by Pershing and U. Health CEO Vivian Lee.
Beckerle was reinstated and Lee resigned from her administrative position.
More on the conflict:
Dr. Vivian Lee resigns post at University of Utah
Dr. Vivian Lee, the CEO of University of Utah Health who was at the center of a heated controversy for the firing of the Huntsman Cancer Institute director last week, resigned Friday.Dr. Lorris Betz is serving as interim CEO of U. Health and senior vice president of health sciences until Lee’s successor is selected by the new U. president.
This fall, a new agreement was reached between the U. and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, with respect to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Pershing agreed to serve as president until his replacement was found. He will return to the faculty of the College of Engineering.
