David W. Pershing

David W. Pershing is the current and 15th President of the University of Utah.^[1][2] He received a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in 1970^[3] and a PhD from University of Arizona.

Pershing joined the faculty of the University of Utah in 1977 as a professor of chemical engineering. He was named a Presidential Young Investigator by the National Science Foundation in 1984 and became dean of the College of Engineering in 1987. He was named a Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1995. In 1998, university President Bernie Machen named Pershing as senior vice president for Academic Affairs.^[4] In March 2012, Pershing was named president of the University of Utah,^[4][5] where he also holds an appointment as a distinguished professor of chemical engineering.^[6]

During his tenure, Pershing has emphasized pursuit of excellence, equity and diversity, creation of a sustainable future and affordable academic and health care programs. Pershing's No. 1 priority is students. He focuses on engaged student experiences at every stage of learning, strong support for research, creative work and scholarship and opportunities for meaningful endeavors that make a positive difference in the state, nation and world.^[7]

Under Pershing, the U has nearly doubled scholarships, added more on-campus jobs, increased resources for academic counselors and advisers and expanded online course and degree offerings. Numerous state-of-the-art facilities have been built or begun during Pershing's tenure, a testament to his exceptional ability to enlist help of private donors and the Utah Legislature in supporting the U's mission. These 31 buildings and structures range from the Lassonde Studios and Spencer F. Eccles Business Building to the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Complex and the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Building, set to open in 2018.

In April 2017, he was involved in the controversial firing of Mary Beckerle, CEO and director of the university's Huntsman Cancer Institute.^[8] Pershing soon reinstated Beckerle following protests from members of the university community and the Huntsman family. On 28 April, the university's senior vice president for Health Sciences, Vivian Lee, announced her resignation in the wake of the Beckerle incident. During a meeting of the university's Academic Senate on May 1, Pershing announced his own resignation, stating that it was in part "so that the person picking the new VP [of Health Sciences] is the new president."^[9] Pershing will continue serving as president during the search for a successor.^[9]

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