Stan's
the man: Albrecht named USU president, vows a focus
on students
By the Hard News Cafe
January 18, 2005 | Provost and Executive
Vice President Stan Albrecht was named the next president
of Utah State University at a Tuesday press conference
in the Taggart Student Center. He will replace Kermit
L. Hall on Feb. 1.
Albrecht said
he will never forget that "our students are
the reason we are here," and said his first
meeting as president will be with members of the
USU student body.
The announcement came from state Board of Regents
Chairman Nolan E. Karras, who characterized Albrecht
as highly qualified.
"He is the right man for the right time
at Utah State," Karras said.
"It is reassuring to know that the person
we were looking for is already providing leadership
at Utah State. We feel it is important to continue
the momentum of progress at the university and
therefore wanted an experienced person at the
helm."
USU Board of Trustees Chairman Gayle McKeachnie
lightheartedly confessed to Karras and the audience
of about 400 in the Sunburst Lounge that the trustees
had voted for Albrecht's promotion six months
ago. At that time, Hall was being considered for
the presidency of the University of Tennessee,
and the USU trustees were convinced he would be
offered the job.
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HOW DO YOU LOOK IN BLUE?:
Stan Albrecht
tries on an Aggie
hat and admires an
Aggie shirt at Tuesday's press conference.
/ Photo by Josh Russell
|
"We voted that if this happens, Dr. Albrecht would
be our new president," McKeachnie said.
Hall was passed over for the Tennessee job, but recently
accepted a similar post with the University of Albany.
"Nothing has changed," McKeachnie said.
In a statement read by Karras, Hall expressed his approval
of the choice for USU's 15th president. He called the
regents' selection "wise" and added Albrecht
knows the ambitions, resources and people of USU.
Albrecht donned a USU baseball cap and briefly thanked
USU's governing boards, students, faculty and staff,
as well as his wife, Joyce. He credited his four-year
working relationship with Hall for preparing him for
his new duties and "respectfully acknowledged"
his debt to the departing president.
"If I can see farther, it is by standing on the
shoulders of giants," Albrecht said, quoting Isaac
Newton.
Albrecht emphasized nine points where he will focus
his attention: academic quality, faculty and staff compensation,
availability of financial aid for all academically qualified
students, shared governance with various boards, accountability
with public tax dollars, athletic advancement, accelerated
plans for USU's first comprehensive fundraiser, a growing
collaboration with the University of Utah, and awareness
of the central importance of students to USU's future.
Albrecht was a finalist during a national search for
USU's president four years ago, which ended with the
appointment of Hall. Albrecht previously served as dean
of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
A sociologist, Albrecht is the co-author of the textbooks
Social Psychology and Social Science Research
Methods. He received his bachelor's degree from
Brigham Young University and his master's and doctoral
degrees from Washington State University.
In the audience were his two children, a sister and
a brother, as well as Joyce, who is USU's associate
vice president for university advancement.
BOSS AND SPOUSE: Joyce
Albrecht, wife of the new USU president, gives him words
of encouragement Tuesday. / Photo by Josh Russell
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