USU Promotes Kandice Jeppsen to Director of Statewide Student Success & Strategic Initiatives

Utah State University has named Kandice Jeppsen as the director of Statewide Student Success & Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Jeppsen will oversee a variety of student success efforts for Statewide Campuses in coordination with the Utah State University systems of student services, technology and communication.

“Statewide and USU will greatly benefit from Kandice’s promotion,” said Larry Smith, vice president for Statewide Campuses. “It will leverage her talent, experience and education in management, technology and communication to address critical issues related to student success and the student life cycle. We’re very pleased to have her in this new role.”

Jeppsen will work closely with associate vice presidents, directors of students, and region-specific academic advisers, success coordinators, tutors and other student-facing roles at the various Statewide Campuses. She will also work as a bridge between the administrators at statewide campuses and centers and various student-serving offices, colleges and departments to implement student services initiatives.

Jeppsen transitions to this new role after serving as a senior staff assistant for Statewide Campuses for more than three years, joining USU in 2018. During her time in this position, Jeppsen worked closely with university vice presidents, the vice provost for Statewide Campuses, associate vice presidents and others to aid in important decisions that affect staff, faculty and students at USU’s multiple statewide campuses and centers.

She was also instrumental in developing and managing the communication calendar that provides effective communication to students and piloted the new texting platform used university wide. Through all her efforts, Jeppsen has been committed to student success and student-centered initiatives to increase recruitment, retention and completion.

"Kandice demonstrates excellence in all that she does,” said Andrea Olding, assistant vice president for Statewide Campuses. She’s passionate about student success and has been leading out on important campus partnerships and Statewide initiatives for some time now. Every area that Kandice has been involved in has benefitted, and we’re fortunate to have her as part of our Statewide leadership team.”

Jeppsen is also an Aggie graduate, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from USU. Jeppsen earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Movement Science with a minor in Psychology in 2016. After joining USU’s staff, Jeppsen began work on a master’s degree, graduating in 2021 with a Master of Business Administration.

Jeppsen lives with her husband, Christian, in Providence.