Two Utah State University Vice Presidents to Step Down

Two vice presidents with combined service of nearly 90 years to Utah State University will step down over the next few months, announced USU President Stan L. Albrecht.

F. Ross Peterson, vice president for University Advancement, will leave his post April 1 to become special assistant to the president.  M.K. Jeppesen, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer, will retire on June 30 after 49 years of a university career served in a number of notable capacities.

Annette Herman Harder will step in as chief operating officer for University Advancement with units in development, public relations and marketing and alumni services. She is currently executive director of the USU Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter in Park City, Utah.

Eric Hawley will become USU’s chief information officer and associate vice president for Information Technology, reporting to the vice president for Business and Finance. He is currently associate vice president for Information Technology.

Albrecht said Harder and Hawley are well prepared and capable to step in and maintain the momentum created by Peterson and Jeppesen. The quick action to fill these top spots was done to provide a more seamless leadership transition.

“The goal in filling these positions was to focus less on title, organizational structure and hierarchy, and more on best utilizing our senior leadership team through a more functional approach,” Albrecht said. “Their skill levels and experience match up well with the demands and functions of these two key university divisions.”

Peterson, who began teaching at USU in 1971, is a fixture in the university’s roster of the past 40 years. He has been at the helm of University Advancement since July 2007. He returned to USU after serving as president of Deep Springs College, near Big Pine, Calif., to head up the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The fundraising effort, which began in 2007, had a goal of raising $200 million in four years. That objective was reached within the first year of the campaign. Subsequently the goal was doubled to $400 million and the campaign extended. The university is now at $318 million with 18 months left in the campaign.

It is that final stretch that partly prompted the decision to shift Peterson from the administrative side of his duties to focus entirely on helping the university complete the campaign, Albrecht said.

“In simple terms, we will unshackle Ross from meetings, budgets and personnel issues to do that which he does best – make friends for our university and help us raise the resources that will allow us to continue and extend the very positive trajectory that we are now on,” Albrecht said.

That trajectory has resulted in tremendous growth of donor-funded buildings, and an extraordinary increase in endowments, chairs and professorship under Peterson’s guidance. USU’s endowments have grown to some $180 million – a 4-percent increase in the past two years while at the same time university endowments nationwide have plummeted. USU’s increase came mostly from new gifts.

Peterson said this phenomenal fundraising success has occurred, in part, as a result of the work and dedication of his advancement team. “I will miss the incredible staff that has worked together to achieve amazing results during some difficult budget reduction times.”

His ultimate praise is for the many donors who have stepped up during tough economic times to support USU. He said giving comes from seeing a need and having the desire to want to help.

“In actuality, it is about people who have cared enough to remember the university that provided them the opportunities as students to enter a time of self-discovery and preparation,” he said. “Utah State is still all about students, past and present, and we do all we can to provide those life-defining experiences.”

Jeppesen, a USU institution in his own right, took the helm of Information Technology in August 2004. Prior to that, he served in several key capacities across the campus.  

“Kay’s longevity in the service of Utah State University reflects a steadfast devotion that is remarkable and inspiring,” Albrecht said. “He has always been willing to step up and do what needs to be done.”

During Jeppesen’s most recent tenure, he guided Information Technology at USU through a major reorganization. He also provided direction for implementation of an administrative services system for USU called Banner. He directed this effort with project teams and consultants to ensure that the major change in software and practices was implemented on time and on budget.

Other responsibilities at USU included his time as director of USU’s Innovation Campus, director of Contracts and Grants, acting director of Technology Commercialization, Controller’s representative for Engineering at USU, member of the USU Board of Trustees, vice president for Finance, treasurer of the USU Research Foundation, director of the Research Support Services and security officer for USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory.

During the past 49 years he has been at USU (including four years earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration), Jeppesen said he has seen many changes and advancements.

“I have experienced the opportunity of having multiple diverse assignments without leaving USU,” he said. “The university has been a way of life for me that has been very gratifying.”

Harder comes to University Advancement with more than 25 years of executive business leadership in the private sector. She has a record of leading organizations through changes and to success. She has served on 10 major boards, including the USU Foundation Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco as director of the Salt Lake City Branch and with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded “30 Women to Watch” by “Utah Business” magazine in 2005 and that magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential People” in 2004.

She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Wichita State University and master’s degree in business administration from USU.

“I truly look forward to working with the USU Advancement team,” she said. “The areas within advancement are key for USU because of their role in portraying our university’s strengths to many audiences. USU is great in so many ways. It will be a thrill to bring my background and experience into play as we shape future successes for Utah State University.”

Hawley has been associate vice president for Information Technology since 2006. During the past five years he has focused on a strategic and comprehensive restructuring of all information systems, services and policies at USU.

He has worked at USU in a number of capacities since 1995, including executive director of University Extension and Delivery Technology. He received three degrees from USU, including a bachelor’s in computer engineering, a master’s in business information systems and a doctorate in education specializing in management information systems.

He received USU’s Taggart-Ballard Award for Excellence, Administration in 2006 and a New Specialist award in 2005 by USU Extension.

“I am excited to be part of Utah State University and to have the opportunity to shape a vision for the application of technology at this historic institution,” he said. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve in a truly creative alliance between technology, research, teaching and outreach.  I cannot think of a better place or time to be involved.”

Writer/Contact: John DeVilbiss, 435-797-1358, john.devilbiss@usu.edu