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OREM — F. Wayne Vaught, chief academic officer of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has been selected as Utah Valley University's new provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Vaught will succeed Jeffery E. Olson, UVU's senior vice president of academic affairs, who is retiring. Vaught's appointment is effective June 1.
Vaught has worked at University of Missouri-Kansas City for 21 years as a faculty member, dean and college-level administrator. As chief academic officer of the College of Arts and Sciences, he oversees 18 academic departments and 434 full- and part-time faculty and staff members.
Earlier in his career, Vaught taught at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia, which merged with Drexel University, and Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky.
“Dr. Vaught is a gifted academician and champion of higher education,” said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez.
“His accomplishments at UM-KC are impressive. He understands students, faculty, what it takes to run a university, and, most importantly, he is the right person at the right time for UVU.”
Vaught champions student success, shared governance and community engagement, according to a UVU press release. He meets regularly with faculty to promote transparency, faculty engagement and community building. He worked hard to communicate with faculty and staff regarding key issues, and intends to bring the same approach to UVU, the release states.
“I am truly honored to be invited to be part of the UVU success story,” said Vaught. “The university’s focus on inclusion, engaged learning and student success caught my attention immediately, and I look forward to engaging with faculty and offering my skills and abilities toward that success.”
Vaught earned a doctorate in philosophy and bioethics from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, focusing his research in pediatric decision-making. His research and areas of expertise are in bioethics, professional ethics, ethical issues in pediatrics and cross-cultural conflicts in health care.
He holds a joint appointment between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine.
Vaught has published several papers in leading ethics journals including the Hastings Center Report, the Journal of Clinical Ethics and Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics. He is co-author of "Ethics Across the Professions," published by Oxford University Press.
He regularly teaches a popular general education course “Money, Medicine and Morals.”
Vaught has served as an expert consultant and adviser for ethics education for health professionals. He also referees high school basketball in the Kansas City area.
At nearly 40,000 students, Utah Valley University is the largest public university in Utah and one of a few nationally that offers a dual-mission model that combines a teaching university with a community college.
