New UVU President announced

After months of searching and interviews of more than 46 applicants, Matthew S. Holland was chosen as the next president of UVU. He will assume his presidential duties on July 1, 2009.

What does this new president mean for students?

“Students can expect great involvement in student activities from him,” said Jed Pitcher, chair of the presidential search committee. “He’s very pro-students.”

Holland explained what he wants to accomplish during his time at UVU.

“I want to develop the resources here by increasing fundraising to have more support for scholarships, professors, and to build up athletics and the faculty,” said Holland.

He also said he was to continue to build up the undergraduate studies by making it rigorous and worthy of study.

He said he saw UVU as an attractive opportunity because of the human dimension it has and how it continues to grow and move forward each year. His wife, Paige, also said the opportunity to serve at UVU is exciting.

“We are really excited about this opportunity,” said Paige Holland. “We want to contribute and serve in any way we can.”

The top three finalists alongside Holland were Jack Christianson and Kim Cameron. Christianson is currently the executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning at UVU. Cameron is currently a professor at the University of Michigan.

Holland stood out from other applicants with his educational and leadership background.

“[Holland] was chosen for his academic credentials, his leadership capabilities and the strategic plan he hopes to implement for this institution,” Pitcher said.

As for academic credentials, Holland holds doctorate and master’s degrees in political science from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from BYU.

From 2005-2006, he served as a Fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, and as the Raoul Wallenberg Scholar at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1991.

He has held several leadership positions in higher education. He currently serves as the chairman of the American Heritage Faculty Group at BYU, and was the associate director of BYU’s London Study Abroad Program in 2008. He has taught a variety of courses including American Heritage, Modern Political Philosophy, and Public Ethics.

Since 1996, Holland worked as a part-time independent management consultant. He also worked as a special assistant to Governor Michael O. Leavitt from 1992 to 1994 and as Chief of Staff to the CEO of the Monitor Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1992 to 1994.

Holland’s work has been published in several articles, books and presentations. He has received several awards and recognitions.

He and his wife are parents of four children Jake, Mitzi, Grace and Daniel.

UVU Review would like to welcome the Holland family to UVU and looks forward to working with them in the near future.