Elizabeth Cantwell selected as new president at Utah State University

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Board of Higher Education announced Friday it has selected Elizabeth “Betsy” R. Cantwell as the 17th president of Utah State University. The announcement comes following an extensive national search.

Cantwell is currently serving as vice president for research and innovation at the University of Arizona. She is responsible for an $825 million annual research portfolio. 

She will replace Noelle E. Cockett, who will step down next month. Cockett had served as president since January 2017.

Cantwell will begin her responsibilities at Utah State later this summer.

“I’m enormously grateful for the Utah Board of Higher Education for the faith they’ve put in me to become the next president of an amazing institution like Utah State University,” Cantwell said in a news release. “I’m very thankful for President Cockett for setting Utah State up as well as she has to be on the upward trajectory that it is today.”

Additionally, Cantwell says she’s excited about serving the students, faculty and staff “who have been welcoming, charming” and made her “certain that this is the place to be.”

Prior to her time at the University of Arizona, Cantwell served as vice president for research and development at Arizona State University. 

Read more:

• Leadership change announced at Utah State University

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