USU Presidents : Presidential Summaries

  Biography

Jeremiah Wilson Sanborn was born 1847 in New Hampshire to George Wilson and Mary Ann Brown Sanborn. Sanborn served in various agricultural positions at the New Hampshire college and he was the Dean of agricultural faculty at the University of Missouri.

In 1889 he was appointed as the first director the Utah Agricultural College (UAC, now know as Utah State University) Experiment Station. One year later in 1890 he became the first President of the UAC and served in the position until 1894.

After resigning, Sanborn returned to New Hampshire and became involved in politics. He died in April 1933 at his home in New Hampshire.

 Biography 

Throughout most of Joshua Hughes Paul life he was involved in Utah Education. He served predominately as a professor at the University of Utah (formerly known at University of Deseret) from 1881-1938. However, Paul took leave for the University of Utah to also served as the fourth principle of the Brigham Young College in Logan from 1892-1894, the second president of Utah State University (formerly known as the Agricultural College of Utah) from 1894-1896, and was the head of the Latter-day Saints University from 1899-1906. Paul was also a democratic congress nominee. Paul died March 7th 1939 in Salt Lake City, Utah from health complications.

 Biography

Joseph Marion Tanner was born around 1859 to Myron and Mary Jane Mount Tanner. He attended Brigham Young University and Harvard University. Tanner was a member of what is now known as the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-day Saints and served religious missions to Germany and Turkey. As a polygamist, Tanner had four wives, Annie Clark, Josephine Snow, Carrie Peterson, and Lydia Holmgren and 19 children.

Tanner was involved in much of early Utah education and held various positions. Notably he served as President of the Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah and was the third President of Utah State University (formerly known as the Agricultural College of Utah). He was also the first supreme court reporter from Utah.

Later in his life, Tanner was involved in a Farming project in Alberta, Canada. He died August 1927.

 Biography

William Jasper Kerr was born in Richmond, Utah on November 17, 1863 to Robert Marion and Nancy Rawling Kerr. He was married to Leonora Hamilton in 1885. He attended University of Utah (U of U) and Cornell University. 

After receiving his education, he worked at various Utah schools, including the Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah, and U of U. Kerr was the president of Brigham Young College from 1894-1900 before he became the fourth President of Utah State University (USU, formerly known as the Agricultural College of Utah). During his time at USU, Kerr expanded its academic offerings and also sought out a merge between USU and U of U that was ultimately stopped by the Utah legislator limiting what subjects could be taught at USU.

In 1907 he left USU to become the sixth president of Oregon State University and served until 1932. Kerr was also the first chancellor of the Oregon State System of Higher Education from 1932-1935 and until 1939 he served as the director of research in production and marketing for the Oregon State System of Higher Education.

Kerr passed in Portland, Oregon on April 15, 1947. 

 Biography 

 A native of Daloe, Norway, John Andreas Widtsoe immigrated to the United States with his mother and younger brother Osbourne after converting to Mormonism. They arrived in Logan, Utah in November 1883. In 1889, Widtsoe entered the Brigham Young College, under the tutelage of BYC President Joseph M. Tanner. Tanner later served as President of the UAC from 1894 to 1899. Tanner helped effectuate Widstoe's attendance at Harvard University, where he graduated in 1894. After graduation, Widtsoe returned to Logan to head Chemistry work for Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1898, he enrolled at the University of Goettingen, Germany, and was awarded a Ph.D in 1899. Also in 1898, Widtsoe married Leah Eudora Dunford, whom he had first met while in Cambridge, England five years earlier. In 1900, the couple returned to Logan, where Widtsoe became Director of the Experiment Station.

Following the resignation of his mentor Joseph M. Tanner from the UAC presidency, a minority of the college's Board of Trustees championed Widtsoe as his successor. The board divided over Widtsoe's candidacy, with the majority supporting William J. Kerr. Widstoe continued directing the Experiment Station through 1905, when a disagreement with Kerr resulted in his dismissal. For the next two years, Widtsoe directed his energy to establishing an agricultural program at Brigham Young University in Provo. In 1907, he returned to Logan as the newly elected President of the UAC.

Widtsoe assumed the presidency amidst controversy, as the Board of Trustees again divided on his candidacy. This time, however, the Board supported his candidacy, and rather elected to dismiss President Kerr. Widtsoe also began his tenure as president following a legislative mandate that had restricted the College's curriculum. After 1907, the College was mandated to concentrate on agriculture, mechanical arts and domestic science, and was prohibited from offering courses in engineering, law, medicine or pedagogy, a curriculum that the State Legislature viewed as more appropriately being offered at the University of Utah.

Widtsoe served as College President through 1915, when he was selected to become the President of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

 Biography

Peterson was born on August 26, 1882 in Plain City, Utah to Augustus Peter Hansen Peterson and Agnes Steward Geddes Peterson. He married Phebe Almira Nebeker from Laketown, Utah sometime around 1910.

Peterson studied at the University of Chicago and Cornell. After graduating from Cornell in 1910, he was offered a position in bacteriology by Cornell president at the time William J. Kerr. Two years later Peterson joined the Agricultural College of Utah (ACU) which is now known as USU, as the Director of Extensions.

After four years as Director of Extension, Peterson was elected University president in a landmark decision becoming first graduate of the college to become president, and at age 34, the youngest chief executive at a land grant college in the U.S.

Soon after being appointed President, the U.S. entered the First World War and Peterson immediately volunteered the services of the college as a military training center. This led Peterson to proposed that brick buildings be built instead of the customary wooden structures to house military trainees to the State Legislature and to Governor Simon Bamberger. After the war, the buildings would later be used by Peterson to double the size of the campus.

By 1925 the enrollment at the college had soared to 2,149, a 50% increase over the pre-war figures. With more than adequate facilities to accommodate additional students, Peterson set about to recapture some of the curricular ground lost during the 1905 consolidation controversy. In 1921 he successfully petitioned the legislature to restore pedagogy and the 1927 Peters Bill, reinstated all course work except law and medicine. At the close of World War II, he resigned his post, and became President Emeritus.

Peterson remained unwaveringly loyal to the college, even returning as interim president from 1953 and 1954. In 1958, at the age of 76, E.G. passed away, after giving over 50 years of service to the State of Utah and to the College he helped establish. He is buried in the Logan cemetery next to USU.

 Biography 

Franklin Stewart Harris was born on August 29, 1884 in Benjamin, Utah. He spent his childhood years in Colonia Juarez, Mexico but later moved back to states to complete degrees from Brigham Young University, where he later served as University President from 1921-1945, and Cornell University.

Harris became the seventh President of Utah Agricultural College, now known as Utah State University (USU), in 1945 and immediately increased the college foreign involvement. Harris was able to build many relationships abroad through his international travel with several foreign countries including Greece, Syria, and Iran.

In 1950, Harris resigned to accept an appointment from President Harry S. Truman as a Technical Advisor to the Ambassador on Point IV activities in Iran. You can learn more about USU's relationship with Iran at USU and Point Four in Iran Online Exhibit . Harris stayed active in foreign affairs, where he acted as a " good will" ambassador for USU. Many international students received training at USU as a result of his efforts.

Harris died in April 1960. 

 Biography 

Louis Linden. Madsen was born in Salt Lake City in 1907. He received degrees from Utah State University and Cornell University in the early 1930's. Madsen took part in research projects at Cornell, Columbia and Michigan State and was associated with the United States Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry at Beltsville, Maryland.

Madsen was the eight president of Utah State University (USU), known at the time as Utah State Agricultural college (USAC) between 1950-1953. He was known for expanding the university though building projects like the new Union building, and agricultural science building and revitalization of the university's athletic program. Additionally, during his first year as president, an international program with Iran was established.

In 1953 Madsen was fired as USU president after disagreements with the governor and board of trustees. Well loved by the student body, his dismissal lead to mass outcry from students which resulted in over 700 students protesting at the Utah State Capitol. Madsen later accepted the position of Dean of the School of Agriculture at Washington State University. In 1979 USU granted Louis L. Madsen recognition for his service by awarding him an honorary degree in 1979.

Louis L. Madsen died in May 1986.

 Biography 

Henry Aldous Dixon, known mostly as Aldous Dixon, was born in Provo, Utah in 1890 and married his wife Lucile Knowlden in 1915. He received degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California. Dixon served as the president and teacher at the Weber Academy, an institution operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at various times throughout 1914-1937, and was the superintendent of Provo City schools around 1920-1932. However, after his father's death in 1924, he took over his family's banking business until 1932.

Dixon was the ninth President of the Utah Agricultural State College, now known as Utah State University (USU), between 1953-1954. In 1954 Dixon was drafted by the Utah Republican Party to run for the congressional seat vacated by Douglas Stringfellow. Dixon resigned the presidency in October of 1954 to campaign and ultimately win the congressional seat where he was one of the only congressmen to support the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960.

Although he only served for one year, Dixon is known for his commitment to community and teamwork and designating USU as a partner of the common welfare in his inaugural address.

 Biography 

Early Life/Career

Daryl Chase was born January 15, 1909 in Nephi, Utah to his parents James Dale and Emma Dale Draper Chase. He married to Alice Koford in 1935. Chase received his education from the University of Utah and the University of Chicago and began his teaching career in Preston, Idaho. Later, he became the Director of the Institute of Religion at Idaho State, University of Wyoming, University of Arizona and finally at Utah State University (USU). Chase also served as a USU Dean of Students 1945-1951 and the President of the Branch Agricultural College (BAC) and was involved in changing BAC's name to Southern Utah State College, now known as Southern Utah University.

USU President

Chase became president of USU in 1954. In 1957 the Utah Legislature changed college's status from Utah State Agricultural College to Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and later shortened to just Utah State University. Chase was known for increasing USU's campus building projects, student enrollment by 250%, international student population by 800%, degrees awarded, and faculty. Chase encouraged USU's faculty to pursue additional education opportunities and he fought for increased salaries. In 1960 his influence prompted the Board of Trustees to create regional extension centers. Notably, Chase received many awarded over his lifetime including the Order of the Crown by the Shah of Iran and Outstanding Civilian Service.

Death

After being ill for some time, Chase passed on January 26, 1984 at the age 83.

   Biography 

Glen Laird Taggart was born on January 16, 1914 in Lewiston Utah, a small town north of Logan Utah, to James and Valeria Ann Laird Taggart. He received his education from USU and the University of Wisconsin. He was married in 1940, to Phyllis Paulsen.

Before becoming USU's eleventh president, Taggart served in various positions involved in international education and agricultural development. He was the Chief of the Technical Collaboration Division of the Department of Foreign Agricultural Service, then in 1956 he became the first Dean of International Studies Program at Michigan State University (MSU), and in 1964-1966 when he served as the President of the University of Nigeria.

Taggart was inaugurated as the eleventh president in 1968 and served in this position until 1979. Under Taggart's administration, USU implemented a decentralized budget that allowed departments to manage their own finances and seek external funding. Additionally, the faculty code, tenure, promotions, student protests, and the Extension Service all received attention from Taggart during his presidency.

After his time at USU, Taggart was involved with the Department of State in International Development until about 1982. Then until 1992 he was a senior program consultant for W.K. Kellogg foundation and helped establish the Agricultural College of the Humid Tropics (Escuela de Agricultural de la Region Tropical Humeda or EARTH) that opened in Costa Rica in the fall of 1990. Taggart also served as a Member of the Utah Board of Regents of Higher Ed.

Taggart passed on August 10, 1997 in Logan Utah.

 Biography 

Stanford Orson Cazier, also known as Stan, was born in Nephi, Utah to Gerald and Edna Jeanette Cazier on June 11, 1930. Cazier attended Juab High School, the University of Utah (U of U) between 1952-1956, where he completed his undergraduate and later his master's degree examining the life of the statesman William Henry Hooper, and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin (UW). While at U of U, Stan met and married his wife Shirley Anderson and later had their four children, David, John, Paul, and Thomas.

Before becoming President of Utah State University (USU), Stan worked a variety of higher education intuitions throughout his career including, the Bronx Community College in New York in 1959, as an instructor, professor, and eventually department head at the USU History Department from about 1953-1964, vice provost, and assistant to USU's eleventh President Glen L. Taggart, and as the president of California State University Chico from 1971-1979.

In 1979, Stan became USU's twelfth President and served in this capacity until 1991, where he oversaw many significant financial and developmental changes to the university. Some changes included a significant increase in student enrollment, annual budget, grants and contracts, gifts and endowments, academic programs, involvement with the campus alumni publication Outlook, and an interest in the USU student experience. A result of the increased funding, USU added several new facilities and buildings, including the Eccles Conference Center, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Caine Dairy Center, Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, David B. Haight Alumni Center, the University Inn, and the S.J. Quinney Natural Resources. After his presidency ended in 1991, Stan continued as a professor emeritus in the USU History Department until 1997. Stan is honored at USU in many ways including USU's Main Library being named after him as the Merrill-Cazier Library,

Stan was known for his support of humanitarian and non-profit organizations like CARE and the LDS Humanitarian Fund. He was also an active community member and driver for Meals on Wheels, a non-profit located in Cache Valley, Utah. Stan passed on March 14, 2013, in Logan, Utah.

 Biography 

Early Life

George H. Emert was born on December 15, 1938, to his parents Victor K. Emert and Hazel Emert Ridley in Sevier County, Tennessee. Emert developed a love for teaching while attending both elementary and high school in a one-room schoolhouse and later he attended Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) from 1956 to 1958. He intended to take his passion for teaching to New Orleans, but boarded the wrong train and ended up in Denver, Colorado, where he stayed for 20 years.

Education and Military Service

While in Denver, Emert earned a bachelor's degree in Zoology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, a master's degree in Zoology, and completed his post-doctoral fellowship all from the University of Colorado (CU) between 1962 and 1974. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 1973.

From 1963 to 1966, Emert served two tours in Vietnam as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces and was awarded the Air Medal and a Bronze Star. After completing his Ph.D., he served as a biological warfare expert and later on in life became a member of the Navy ROTC. While on furlough in Okinawa, Japan, between Vietnam tours, Emert met Billie Bush on a blind date. Following Billie's graduation from the University of Wyoming, they were married on June 10, 1967. The two later went on to have four daughters.

Professional Life

Before beginning his teaching career, Emert's doctoral research led him to be the director of biochemical technology for the Gulf Oil Corporation in the early to mid-1970s. He returned to teaching first as adjunct assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Kansas, and later in 1979, he joined the University of Arkansas (UARK) faculty as a Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the Biomass Research Center. In 1984, when his mentor, UARK President Jim E. Martin, accepted the position as President of Auburn University (AU), Emert followed and served as Martin's executive vice president until 1992.

President of Utah State University

On July 1, 1992, Emert became Utah State University's (USU) 13th president and oversaw increases in enrollment, scholarships, endowments, contracts, grants, and campus development. During Emert's presidency, USU saw the completion of the Old Main building renovation and Stan Laub Indoor Training Center construction, the creation of American West Heritage Center, helped begin renovations to Romney Stadium, and other campus improvements like pedestrian tunnels. He also procured additional resources for USU's intercollegiate athletics through lobbying the Utah State Legislature. Additionally, he established Alumni Association in all 29 Utah counties, five additional western states, and four foreign countries.

Emert resigned in January 2001, but returned around 2002 as a professor and advisor for the College of Science. He left Cache Valley about a year later in 2003.

Later Life and Death

Emert and Billie eventually moved to Skagit County, Washington, where he spent the end of his life enjoying time with his grandchildren, friends, church, and playing music. Emert passed on March 21, 2018.

 Biography 

Kermit Lance Hall was born on August 31, 1944 to his parents Kermit and Katherine Lois Galbraith Hall in Akron Ohio. Hall, a first generation student, received degrees from the University of Akron, the University of Minnesota, and the Yale Law School between about 1966-1980. While in college, Kermit served in the Vietnam war as a military intelligence officer. During his time at the University of Akron, Hall met Phyllis Anne Moke on a blind date and the two later married in 1969.

Hall started his career teaching history at Vanderbilt University, Wayne State University, and the University of Florida until about 1992. Hall transitioned his career and held administrative positions at the University of Tulsa, Ohio State University, North Carolina State University from 1992-2000.

In addition to his roles in Higher Education, Kermit Hall was also a prominent United States legal and political historian and scholar. He authored over two dozen books during his life. However, Kermit is also known for being appointed by United States President Bill Clinton as a member of the Assassination Records Review Board in 1992 as part of the declassification files related to the assignation of John F. Kennedy.

Hall was Utah State Universities (USU) 14th president from 2001-2004. While President, he continued teaching history and political science classes, as well as engaging in his own publishing and research projects. President Hall was known for his focus on academics and recruitment that resulted in higher freshmen enrollment and is credited with a variety of improvements and contributions to USU research facilities and programs. Hall also established the Student Inaugural Scholarship Program. 

Following his time at USU, Kermit was named president of State University of New York (SUNY) in Albany in 2005. Shortly after he started his tenure at SUNY on August 13, 2006, Hall died in a tragic swimming accident, while on vacation at Hilton Head, North Carolina.

 Biography 

Stan LeRoy Albrecht was born July 13, 1942 in Wayne County, Utah. He received a bachelor's degree in Sociology at Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1966, and his masters and doctorate degrees from Washington State University in 1968 and 1970.

In 1970 Stan began his career as an assistant professor of sociology at Utah State University but later went on to hold admirative positions at BYU from 1974-1992, and at the University of Florida from 1993-1998. Albrecht returned to USU first as the Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences from 1998-2001. Later, he was selected as the executive vice president and provost for USU's 14th President Kermit Hall and held this position through 2004.

Stan L. Albrecht was appointed USU's 15th president on February 1, 2005. During his tenure, President Albrecht oversaw many major university infrastructure and finical development projects including the creation of USU Eastern, raising over $500 million dollars through the first university-wide fundraising campaign, the creation of the Caine College of the Arts, and is many contributions to the development the USU athletic department, program, and facilities. Additionally, he is credited with securing USU's invitation into the Mountain West Conference. Albrecht stepped down as president in February 2016.

Through out his career, Dr. Albrecht has also served on a variety of boards, an associations across the country, authored at least four books and over 100 research articles. As of August 2025, Albrecht is a current board member of the Rocky Vista University Board of Trustees.

 Biography 

After receiving her bachelor's degree in animal science from Montana State University and master's degree and doctorate degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Oregon State University, Noelle Cockett spent five years as a research geneticist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. She joined Utah State University in 1990 and served in several administrative positions, including the dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, the vice president for Extension, the director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, and the executive vice president and provost. Cockett began her official tenure as USU's 16th university president in January 2017. Cockett was the first women to hold this position. She served in that position until July 2023 when she announced her retirement as President and returned to USU as a professor for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences.

   Biography 

USU – Present Day

Elizabeth (Betsy) R. Cantwell became Utah State University's (USU) 17th president on Aug. 1, 2023 and served in this position until early 2025. During her time as USU president, she oversaw an increase in the university's research enterprise and scholarships. Cantwell also was involved in both implementing a new university fiscal model and USU's membership in the Pac-12 athletic conference. Cantwell was the second women in USU history to serve as university president.

On February 6, 2025, Betsy was selected as Washington State University (WSU) 12th University President. She is the first women to hold this position in WSU history.

Prior to USU

Cantwell earned her Bachelors in Human Behavior in 1976 from the University of Chicago, her Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 from the University of California, and her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School in 2003.

Before her time at USU, Betsy held several other research leadership positions including Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University's (ASU)Vice President for Research Development and CEO of the ASU Research Enterprise.

Cantwell has also held other leadership positions. She served the U.S. national security mission as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's director for economic development and director for engineering mission strategy. Earlier while serving as the deputy associate director for global security at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Cantwell worked with the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and NASA.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicine's Committee on NASA Critical Workforce, Technology & Infrastructure, Cantwell participated in its most recent Academy Strategic Planning Committee. She has served as the co-chair of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and as a member of several National Academies studies in space science, space systems engineering, National Laboratories operations, and advanced manufacturing. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in industrial science and technology.