Ernest L. Wilkinson

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Ernest L. Wilkinson (4 May 1899 – 6 April 1978) was president of Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1951 to 1971. Previous to becoming president of BYU, Wilkinson had served as a lawyer in Washington and New York. He was born in Ogden, Utah.

Under Wilkinson's administration, BYU expanded in all ways. The number of students increased several times over. He instituted aggressive recruiting methods where faculty would accompany general authorities on visits to stake conferences and tours of missions. This changed BYU from having a student body mainly from Utah to having a student body from virtually every state in the nation. Under his administration the number of buildings on campus grew tremendously. BYU also for the first time granted Ph.D.s.

Wilkinson was the ninth Commissioner of Church Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his tenure, the position bore the title "Administrator–Chancellor of the Unified Church Schools System".

In 1964, Wilkinson won the Republican Party nomination for the United States Senate, but lost in the general election to incumbent Senator Frank Moss.

Preceded by
Howard S. McDonald		 President of BYU
1951–1971		 Succeeded by
Dallin H. Oaks
v • d • e
Presidents of Brigham Young University
Dusenberry • Maeser • Cluff • Brimhall • Harris • McDonald • Wilkinson • Oaks • Holland • Lee • Bateman • Samuelson
v • d • e
Commissioners of Church Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Maeser (1888–1901) • Tanner (1901–1905) • Cummings (1905–1920) • McKay (1920–1921) • Widtsoe (1921–1924) • Merrill (1928–1933) • Widtsoe (1934–1936) • West (1936–1953) • Wilkinson (1953–1970) • Maxwell (1970–1976) • Holland (1976–1980) • Eyring (1980–1986) • Cameron (1986–1989) • Eyring (1992–2004) • Kerr (2004– )


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