November 2025
Welcome to another recap.
As we enter the final months of the year and the season of gratitude, I want to focus this recap on the remarkable people and teams who continue to move our university forward…and say thank you.
This month we celebrated Dr. Mary Beckerle for more than two decades of visionary leadership as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute. I am grateful for Mary’s impact as a scientist, champion for patients, and strategist with a motto of “tempo”. Mary helped shape HCI into one of the world’s premier cancer research and treatment centers. As we honor her legacy, we also look forward to Dr. Brad Cairns’ leadership as he advances our shared mission of delivering a cancer-free frontier.
We also celebrated Dr. Bob Carter, CEO of U of U Health and Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, on his induction into the National Academy of Medicine, joining only eight other U researchers in this distinguished group. I am grateful for Bob’s innovative and compassionate leadership. He and his team are expanding the boundaries of health care research, education, and patient care.
Across main campus, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Mitzi Montoya and our Cabinet members continue to strengthen the foundations that support our mission—advancing academic excellence, aligning our work with Impact 2030, and helping ensure that our university is well positioned for the future. I am grateful for their work.
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our Board of Trustees. Their steady leadership and thoughtful guidance continue to strengthen our university.
University Advancement announced a major milestone this month: earning a place among the top public university advancement programs in the nation. Under the leadership of Vice President Heidi Woodbury, our Advancement teams raised 53% more this year than last. Philanthropy touches every corner of our campus, and I am grateful for our Advancement colleagues—and especially for the generosity of donors who believe in the U and invest in our future.
I want to also express my gratitude to every member of our University of Utah Safety teams. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, patients, and health care providers is paramount. In a world filled with uncertainties, your professionalism—from rapid response to clear and timely alerts—reflects a value we don’t take lightly. Thank you for your vigilance and commitment to continuously improve campus safety.
To our Academic Senate and to all faculty, we cannot succeed without you. I am sincerely grateful for your leadership in teaching, research, and shared governance. Your thoughtfulness and dedication to our academic and research enterprises are essential as we navigate changes in the higher-education landscape together.
To our staff across the university, thank you for the expertise, resourcefulness, and care you bring to your work every day. You are the backbone of our operations and the core of our community.
This month, Janet and I hosted a potluck for our extraordinary cohort of Presidential Interns. As University of Utah Impact Scholar Eboo Patel often reminds us, vibrant communities are like potlucks, everyone contributes their own dish, story, and strengths to the table. That evening was a beautiful reminder of how grateful I am for the unique talents, perspectives, and curiosity our students bring to the table. They make our campus a dynamic, “vibrant” home for us all. And dinner was delicious!
And of course, these remarkable students will one day join the ranks of our alumni—a community that continues to elevate the U long after graduation. To our alumni, thank you for your ongoing engagement, your achievements, and the pride you carry for the U. It was great to see so many of you during homecoming and our 175th celebration. Your continued connection strengthens our mission and our momentum.
To everyone across the University of Utah, I hope you enjoy the holidays and take time to offer gratitude to the people and communities who enrich your life.
A quick note: We’ll skip the December Recap and share our annual holiday video instead.
Spoiler alert: Janet and I just wrapped filming—and it’s going to be great. Let’s just say Swoop and Red Betty are in full holiday form.
Thank you—and as always, Go Utah!