Leadership Positions Filled For UVU’s Two Newest Academic Bodies

Bruce L. Christensen and David P. Yells have been selected as deans for the 2009-2010 academic year.

When UVU attained University status the School of Humanities and the school of Arts and Social Sciences split into two distinct Academic bodies.

Bruce Christensen has accepted a one-year appointment as Interim Dean of the School of the Arts and will bring a wealth of experience as he spent seven years as dean of Brigham Young University’s College of Fine Arts.

He began his career 44 years ago as a reporter for KSL TV. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Utah, Christensen earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Recently retired as President of KSL & Senior Vice President of Bonneville International, Christensen is the former president of PBS. He also currently serves on the Utah Symphony/Opera Executive Committee, the Utah Shakespearean Festival Board of Governors and Envision Utah- Coalition for Utah’s Future Executive Committee.

Kathie Debenham who previously filled this position will be taking over Lori Palmer’s portfolio as Interim Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs while Palmer works on a Fulbright project next year.

David P. Yells has accepted the position as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences where he has already been serving as Interim Dean since July 2008. He has served as Interim Associate Dean since January 2008 in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences before its split in 2008.

Yells has taught at UVU since 1999, and served as chair of the Department of
Behavioral Science from 2001 to 2008. After completing his undergraduate studies at Bellevue University, Yells earned both his master’s degree in physiological psychology and Ph.D. in developmental psychobiology at the University of Nebraska.

With such strength in our academic leadership, we look forward to another exiting year as a university.