February 2026

Hello and welcome to the Randall Recap.

February was another remarkable month at the University of Utah, and I want to share a few highlights with you.

Let me start with a tremendous point of pride.

As we look ahead to the 2034 Utah Winter Olympics, last month’s Milano-Cortina Games gave us a powerful preview of what’s possible.

We had 31 Olympians competing in Italy, more than any other U.S. university. They earned 27 top ten finishes and brought home nine medals — that’s more medals than Great Britain and Australia.

That is extraordinary.

I could not be prouder of our student-athletes and alumni. Their resilience, discipline, and determination inspire all of us. And as we prepare for 2034 here in Utah, we want to bring that same spirit to everything we do at the U.

February was also about LOVE — quite literally.

If you’ve been near the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, you’ve seen Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture now on campus.

It’s more than public art. It’s a statement about who we are, a university that believes creativity and human connection matter.

Even in times of uncertainty, love endures.

As I said at the unveiling, there are two emotions that often drive our lives — fear and love.

I’m grateful we now have a permanent very visible reminder, of which one deserves our focus.

February also means the Utah legislative session.

I had the opportunity to present to lawmakers on the extraordinary work happening across our university — from life-saving care to the breadth of our research to economic and workforce development. We also welcomed legislators to campus to see firsthand how research at the U strengthens communities across our state.

One especially hopeful development was the announcement of HB 373 — a bold proposal to invest $50 million in university research.

This kind of partnership between the state and Utah’s R1 universities positions us to lead in innovation, commercialization, and job creation for decades to come. It’s about strengthening Utah’s future.

In conjunction with the legislative session, we also launched a new Presidential Initiative on Federalism, Law, and American Governance. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this effort will bring scholars and students together to explore how institutions — especially universities — help strengthen democracy.

February is also Founders Month — and Founders Day remains one of my favorite traditions.

This year, we honored individuals whose professional achievement, public service, and commitment to the U are truly inspiring — Pat Child, Khosrow Semnani, Jeff and Helen Cardon, Mayra Sanchez Gomez, and Curtis Pierce.

Their stories remind us that the impact of this university stretches far beyond our campus. They represent the very best of who we are.

And finally, as I mentioned last month, spring semester means we are in full Commencement mode.

We are thrilled to announce that Arthur Brooks will serve as our 2026 Commencement speaker. His work on building a life of meaning and purpose comes at the perfect moment for our graduates, as they step into a world full of possibility.

There is no better time to reflect on how to build a life of purpose and happiness than at Commencement, and we look forward to his message.

Together, we are building a university that measures itself by the impact it makes — on lives, on communities, and on the future.

Thank you for everything you are doing to advance that work.

And as always…Go Utah!