Utah State University appoints VP of regional campuses

Utah State University (USU) announced on Thursday, July 12, that it has appointed David Woolstenhulme as vice president of regional campuses. Woolstenhulme will start at USU on Aug. 1.

Reporting to USU President Noelle Cockett, Woolstenhulme will be responsible for the non-academic operations of regional campuses including facilities, budget, recruitment and enrollment management. He will help drive innovation and strategic initiatives that promote the regional campuses.

“Dave’s extensive experience with USU’s regional campuses and statewide technical education makes him a perfect choice to lead new efforts in regional campus function and growth,” Cockett said. “His demonstrated commitment and passion to statewide higher education, coupled with his depth of knowledge about our mission, will serve our students well as he leads the 33 regional campuses and centers.”

Woolstenhulme returns to USU following his tenure as commissioner of the Utah System of Technical Colleges, where he led eight regional technical colleges throughout the State of Utah: Bridgerland Technical College, Davis Technical College, Dixie Technical College, Mountainland Technical College, Ogden-Weber Technical College, Tooele Technical College, Southwest Technical College and Uintah Basin Technical College.

“On behalf of the board of trustees, I thank Commissioner Woolstenhulme for his service to technical education and Utah’s technical colleges,” Utah System of Technical Colleges Board chair Jim Evans said. “Dave is a remarkable leader and has worked tirelessly on behalf of Utah’s students and taxpayers. His efforts have strengthened our system, as evidenced through his leadership of major policy overhaul, record funding for programs and coalition building with partners throughout the state. We wish Commissioner Woolstenhulme well in his new role at USU and look forward to furthering our many partnerships with that school.”

Evans said that over the next few weeks, the board will meet to identify an interim commissioner and outline the selection process for a new Commissioner of Technical Education.

Prior to his role at the Utah System of Technical Colleges, Woolstenhulme served as USU’s vice provost of regional campuses from 2014 to 2016. He was also a longtime Jon M. Huntsman School of Business faculty member at the Uintah Basin Regional Campus. From 2012 to 2014, Woolstenhulme was president of the Uintah Basin Applied Technology College.

“I am excited for the opportunity to provide leadership for the USU regional campuses,” Woolstenhulme said. “These campuses have a major impact in many communities throughout the state, and I am thrilled to be a part of this system. It is an honor to be reconnected with USU and be a part of President Cockett’s leadership team.”

Woolstenhulme holds a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree from USU and a doctorate of education degree from the University of Wyoming.

As Utah’s land-grant university and one of only two research universities in the state, USU provides research, public service and education to Utah, the nation and the world. USU builds upon its research capacity with focused areas of expertise in water, aerospace, agriculture, life sciences, business, education and engineering.

David Woolstenhulme joins USU on Aug. 1