Utah's higher education board adds new members amid disruptive period

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Board of Higher Education welcomed a trio of new members to its body Thursday — while a fourth member was reappointed.

Jeremy Hafen, Jodi Hart and student representative Garrett Largent were sworn in at the beginning of the board's September meeting. Joining them for the oaths of office was current board member Danny Ipson, who was reappointed.

Each member was selected by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

The Utah Senate confirmed the appointments of Hafen, Hart and Ipson in August. As the student representative, Largent did not require Senate confirmation.

"These appointments bring a remarkable combination of expertise and perspective to our board," said Amanda Covington, chairwoman of the Utah Board of Higher Education, in a board news release.

"Each member brings valuable experience from industry, public policy and higher education. Their collective knowledge and commitment will be invaluable as we work to improve student success and expand valuable higher education opportunities for students and families," she said.

Hafen is president and CEO of Clyde Companies, Inc.

He brings decades of experience in the construction materials sector and has held multiple leadership roles within Clyde Companies since 2004, according to the release.

Hafen serves as the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce board of directors chairman and previously served as the chairman of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board of trustees for Mountainland Technical College and on the board of trustees for Utah Valley University.

Hart is a government relations professional representing national Fortune 100 firms, local businesses, municipalities and associations.

She is president and founder of Advantage Arts Academy Charter School and serves as president of the Capitol Hill Association, among other community roles.

Hart is a frequent political affairs guest lecturer at schools, colleges and universities throughout the state, according to the board.

Student representative Largent is a nontraditional student at Weber State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on business administration, leadership and international studies.

He has served as vice president of the Presidential Leadership Fellows in the Office of the President at Weber State, worked as a research analyst fellow in the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget and as an intern at Goldman Sachs in Global Banking and Markets, according to the education board.

Ipson was first appointed to the board in August.

He is a business owner and entrepreneur, currently operating an eight-location chain of convenience stores and truck stops under Ernie's Stores Inc. and HF Sinclair.

He previously oversaw the sale of DATS Trucking Inc. and Overland Petroleum LLC, and has served on multiple boards, including the Utah Tech University board of trustees, and as co-chairman of the Utah Tech University Presidential Search Committee, according to the Board of Higher Education. .

Historic disruptions to Utah's higher education institutions

The new board members join the state board at a moment of historic disruption across Utah's eight degree-granting colleges and universities.

Earlier this year, the board was charged with approving the legislative-mandated strategic reinvestment plans at each institution, totalling more than $60 million in state budget funds.

The reinvestment plans are being executed by the schools over the next three years.

Meanwhile, the Utah Board of Higher Education and Commissioner of Higher Education Geoffrey Landward are charged with charting the future of higher education in the state when enrollment numbers are expected to decline in the coming years.

That's happening while research reveals a growing number of Americans are questioning the value of a four-year college degree, despite data reaffirming the broad benefits of higher education.

Utahns, however, appear to be a bit more bullish on higher education.

A recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll suggests almost two-thirds of Utahns approve of the job Utah colleges and universities are doing.

The board is also in the process of selecting the next president of Utah State University following the resignation of former president Elizabeth Cantwell earlier this year.

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