Utah Valley University's (Orem, UT) Board of Higher Education has unanimously appointed Jon Anderson, Ph.D., as the university's eighth president, succeeding Astrid Tuminez and effective August 10, 2026, rooted in family legacy.
Orem, Utah — July 17, 2026
The room was loud, full of conversation and anticipation. Then the board members walked in, and the noise dropped to a hush.
Minutes later, the Utah Board of Higher Education voted unanimously to appoint Jon Anderson, Ph.D., as the eighth president of Utah Valley University (UVU) (Orem, UT), Utah's largest public university.
“Chair Covington, I move that we appoint Jon Anderson as the next president of Utah Valley University,” a board member said, calling for the motion. The board's approval followed immediately: “Aye.” No dissent followed.
Anderson will assume the role on August 10, 2026.
A Deliberate, Nationwide Search
Aaron Skonnard, co-chair of the UVU Presidential Search Committee, said the goal from the outset was finding someone who understood UVU's particular identity.
"When we initiated the search for a new leader of UVU, our objective was clear: to find a leader who genuinely understands the unique fabric of this institution," Skonnard said. "We spent time listening to faculty, staff, students, and community partners to determine exactly what UVU needs for its next chapter. We cast a wide net nationally and vetted an incredibly talented pool of candidates."
He added that UVU's dual mission model, blending open access with academic rigor, makes the institution unusual nationally. "UVU serves as a master class in modern education that proves we can combine accessibility with competitive excellence without sacrificing quality or value," he said.
Amanda Covington, chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, called the decision significant. "Choosing a university president is a monumental decision that affects the lives and future of countless students," Covington said in a statement. "Jon's commitment to student outcomes and success, experience working at one of Utah's regional universities, and vision for the empowering effect of higher education ensure that he is the right leader for UVU and the communities it serves."
Shauna Smith, a UVU trustee and search committee member, echoed that confidence. "The board's unanimous selection of Jon Anderson reflects its absolute confidence in his ability to lead this university," Smith said. "He is a proven leader whose strategic foresight and deep understanding of higher education governance align perfectly with UVU's needs."
Geoff Landward, Utah's Commissioner of Higher Education, framed the pick around operations and student outcomes. "Jon Anderson possesses the exact combination of operational acumen and collaborative leadership required for this role," Landward said. "He understands the complexities of navigating a system model while maintaining a fierce dedication to student success and workforce alignment."
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox also weighed in, calling Anderson's background in higher education and the private sector an asset for the university's continued growth.
Closing a Difficult Chapter
Anderson succeeds Astrid Tuminez, who stepped down in May after nearly eight years leading UVU since 2018.
Wayne Vaught, who has served as interim president in the months since, reflected on a demanding stretch for the university. "It's been an exciting and challenging time, and we're looking forward to a new chapter at UVU," Vaught said. "I've done everything I could do to help prepare for a new president to come in and lead us forward."
Vaught said he's confident in the choice. "He's a proven leader in higher education. He's held a variety of academic leadership posts: provost, president. I think he is a solid choice for UVU and an excellent person to lead the university forward," he said, adding that UVU needs "a strong leader with a proven track record" for "a bit of a challenging potential path forward."
That path has included real hardship. UVU has spent months healing after the Charlie Kirk shooting on campus on September 10, 2025. Anderson has a personal stake in that healing: members of his own family were present that day. "I remember the calls. I remember the pain," he said, adding that the university must learn from the tragedy without letting it define its future, according to the Deseret News.
Who Is Jon Anderson?
A Utah native, Anderson attended Bingham High School (South Jordan, UT) and Utah State University (Logan, UT), where he earned a B.S. in sociology. He went on to earn an M.Ed. in business education from the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) and a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY), along with an associate degree from Ricks College, now BYU-Idaho.
His career spans more than a decade at the University of West Georgia, followed by provost roles at Middle Georgia State University (Macon, GA) and Southern Utah University (SUU) (Cedar City, UT), where he chaired the school's COVID-19 task force, helped establish two new colleges, and managed an $85 million budget. He currently serves as president of Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) (California, PA) and will become UVU's president officially on August 10, 2026.
Notably, each of those roles came with a unanimous endorsement: a 13-person search committee at SUU, PASSHE's Board of Governors at PennWest, and now the Utah Board of Higher Education. Mindy Benson, SUU's current president, described Anderson as a strategic, decisive leader who works well across a multi-campus system, according to the Deseret News.
Anderson was also named one of Pennsylvania's most influential leaders in City & State's 2024 PA Fifty Over 50.
A Family Rooted at UVU
For Anderson, the appointment is also a homecoming, spanning generations.
"My love for higher education, the work we do, was first cultivated on the UVU campus," Anderson said. "My father worked at the Institute of Religion on campus for more than two decades... I remember as a child attending athletic events, walking through the Hall of Flags, and learning about the scope and reach of UVU's mission."
His siblings each carved their own path through the university. His older sister, Jana, left before finishing a degree, then returned as a nontraditional student and graduated within the last two years. His younger sister, Angie, served as first-chair violinist in UVU's orchestra and graduated as valedictorian of her college. His brothers, Spencer and Nate, each passed through UVU on their way to degrees elsewhere, with Nate going on to a prestigious jazz composition program. Nate Anderson's jazz compositions are currently being used in UVU's dance program.
"UVU's impact on our family is now in its third generation," Anderson said, noting his own children, nieces and nephews attending or soon to enroll. "We look forward to carrying on the UVU legacy into the fourth generation in our family."
Christy Anderson, Jon Anderson's wife, thanked both the Utah and Pennsylvania communities for the transition. "To our UVU community, my family and I look forward to calling Utah home again," she said.
A Vision for What's Next
Anderson outlined a future built around scale without losing individual focus.
"UVU will prepare students to thrive in an AI and technology-driven world of work, while gaining compassion and a human perspective," he said. "UVU will continue to grow, large enough to fulfill its mission, but never become larger than a single student's experience."
He pointed to shared governance as a core value going forward. "Shared governance will be our hallmark. We'll be known for the healthy way that we work together," Anderson said, adding a call to the broader UVU community: "UVU needs you. The best days at UVU are ahead, and we will create them together."
The reaction from campus was warm. Herby Fullmer, UVU student body president, said he's "excited to work alongside our new university president." Evelyn Porter, Faculty Senate president, said faculty are "committed to working with President Anderson to foster a strong partnership grounded in shared governance, academic excellence, and a shared commitment to student success." Derek Kent, president of the Professional Association of Campus Employees, said staff "look forward to partnering closely with President Anderson."
Kathren Brown, UVU's deputy provost, said Anderson's reputation preceded him. "I know him from his work at USHE, and he always spoke with great respect for students, faculty, and staff," Brown said.
New Branches on Old Roots
Before Anderson left the podium, the board presented him with a gift tied to one of UVU's most recognized landmarks: Roots of Knowledge, the 154-foot stained glass mural in UVU's Fulton Library, ahead of its 10th anniversary this November.
The gift was a small, hand-blown glass branch, a companion piece to the mural created by Holdman Studios (Lehi, UT). Gayle Holdman, who helped conceive the piece alongside her husband Tom, explained the symbolism behind it.
"The whole concept of roots of knowledge is that we've had this beautiful foundation laid for us as people, and especially in the world of education, and then we get to do the branches," Gayle Holdman said. "President Anderson now gets to be a new branch... he is ready to be another branch of the beautiful roots of UVU, and that his leaf will be the new leaf to add to all the others."
Jon Anderson officially begins his role as UVU's eighth president on August 10, 2026. Roots of Knowledge will mark its 10th anniversary this November with events planned at UVU's Fulton Library.
