LOGAN – Utah State University President Noelle Cockett delivered her State of the University address Tuesday, unveiling her presidential priorities.
Since USU is the state’s only land grant college, she said one priority is to expand outreach to Utah citizens in the areas of health and well-being. In a media gathering before her speech she highlighted the work of the new Sorenson Center for Clinical Excellence.
”It has incredible programs for things that span the life of a human, and not just for an individual, but also the family as well,” Cockett said. “Things like autism, Alzheimers, communication disorders. The second really important thing about that center is that it does all three things that are the mission of the land grant: education, research and this outreach to individuals and their families.”
This was the first state of the university address by Cockett, who was appointed the school’s 16th President in October, 2016.
Speaking to students, faculty and staff she said she wants to strengthen USU’s trajectory of research distinction, communicate and develop the school’s excellence in water, land and air research, while facilitating student and faculty entrepreneurship.
She said it is also important to increase diversity of students, faculty and staff, provide access to post-secondary education, promote inclusiveness and respect across the USU community and promote student success, including experiential learning.
President Cockett also emphasized continuing to compete in the upper echelon of the Mountain West Conference in athletics.