Interim Southern Utah U. president named, public meetings set

A former state higher education boss will serve as interim president at Southern Utah University during the search to replace Michael Benson, who is leaving to become president of Eastern Kentucky University.

Richard Kendell, who takes over July 8, served as Utah's commissioner of higher education for five years before retiring in 2007. Prior to that, he was deputy of public education under Gov. Michael Leavitt and superintendent of the Davis County school district.

Kendell holds a bachelor's degree in English from Weber State University, and both a master's degree and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah. The Utah Board of Regents appointed him interim SUU president Friday.

College presidential searches typically take six to eight months. The search for a new SUU chief will be led by Regent Mark Stoddard, along with other regents, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The committee will hold three public meetings on May 23.

They'll hear from faculty and staff at 12:15 p.m., students at 1:30 p.m. and alumni at 2:45 p.m., all at the Sterling R. Church Auditorium on the SUU campus.

lwhitehurst@sltrib.com

Twitter: @lwhitehurst