Members of the Utah State Board of Regents announced last week that Snow College President Scott L. Wyatt will be the new president of Southern Utah University.
Wyatt will succeed SUU President Michael Benson who stepped down last spring to accept the top job at Eastern Kentucky University. A 21-member committee conducted a nationwide search and considered nearly 70 candidates for the job.
At Friday’s announcement in Cedar City, State Board of Regents Chair Bonnie Jean Beesley praised Wyatt’s work at Snow College.
“President Wyatt has strengthened enrollment and academic excellence at Snow College,” Beesley says. “His success in growth initiatives, fundraising and enhancing on-campus student life, will be true assets for SUU.”
Prior to his appointment at Snow College, Wyatt was a partner at a law firm in Logan, Utah. He served two terms in the Utah Legislature and he served on the board of trustees for Snow College and Utah State University.
Wyatt says he’ll be actively seeking advice from the SUU community on how to move the institution forward.
“And if you think I’m taking a wrong turn, please know that I want to hear it,” Wyatt says. “I have great respect for those that are strong enough to stand up and say, ‘hey can I tell you to turn the lights on? It’s kind of dark outside and we’re on a journey somewhere and we need to get there safe’.”
Wyatt indicated he will begin his job as president at some point after the New Year.
