University of Utah presidents

The University of Utah presidents include all sixteen men and women who served as president of the University of Utah or its predecessor the University of Deseret, which was founded in 1850 just a few years after the Mormon Pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

List of presidents

According to the university's official count the current president, Taylor Randall, is the 17th president of the University. The university only counts the presidents that have served since the name was officially changed to the University of Utah, starting with John R. Park. The count also only counts the presidents, not the actual terms, because Joseph T. Kingsbury was president two different times.

President Term start Term end NotesChancellors of the University of Deseret (1850–1892)–Orson Spencer 18501852–NONE18521867–David O. Calder 18671869Presidents of the University of Utah (1892–present)1John R. Park18691892actingJoseph T. Kingsbury189218942James E. Talmage189418973Joseph T. Kingsbury189719164John A. Widtsoe191619215George Thomas192119416LeRoy E. Cowles194119467A. Ray Olpin194619648James C. Fletcher196419719Alfred C. Emery1971197310David P. GardnerAugust 1, 1973July 31, 1983 11Chase N. PetersonAugust 1, 1983June 30, 1991 interimJerilyn McIntyreJuly 1, 1991August 31, 199112Arthur K. SmithSeptember 1, 1991January 15, 1997 actingJerilyn McIntyreJanuary 16, 1997March 31, 1997interimApril 1, 1997December 31, 199713Bernie MachenJanuary 1, 1998December 31, 2003 interimLorris BetzJanuary 1, 2004July 31, 200414Michael K. YoungAugust 1, 2004May 15, 2011 interimLorris BetzMay 16, 2011March 11, 201215David W. PershingMarch 12, 2012April 1, 201816Ruth WatkinsApril 2, 2018April 7, 2021 interimMichael L. GoodApril 8, 2021August 8, 202117Taylor R. RandallAugust 9, 2021Present

Table notes:

Timeline of presidential terms

References