Message from the president

I have taught, researched, and led at Utah State University for more than 30 years. After all this time, I’m still amazed by our stellar researchers, our amazing alumni, and our dedicated student body.

NOELLE E. COCKETT President

Utah State University

Aggies are contributing to positive outcomes within their communities, their nations, and the world. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone in Utah. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the areas of land, water, and air. We gathered about a year ago to celebrate the founding of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air. Since then, we’ve taken leaps and bounds forward in developing the institute and furthering its impact. We announced Brian Steed as the institute’s inaugural executive director and Anna McEntire as associate director in May. Brian has extensive experience in working in government at federal, state, and local levels. He understands the critical role that researchers play in generating scientific data and evaluating solutions. Anna has nearly two decades of experience working in USU’s Office of Research, communicating USU’s research and researchers. I cannot imagine a better team to lead this institute. And the institute is already making a substantial impact, building bridges between USU’s researchers, community partners, and statewide leaders. The institute team has traveled the state, meeting with policymakers. They are advising on major projects on the Great Salt Lake, the Colorado River, and on land and air issues statewide. Just this month, we chose to highlight the work of the institute as one of four focus areas at USU as part of our new capital campaign kickoff. And, more projects, partnerships, and announcements are on the way in 2023. We are also excited to welcome Dean Linda Nagel as the new dean of the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources. Throughout her career, Linda has worked diligently to find real-world solutions to pressing natural resource problems. She is a renowned expert on forest management and brings decades of experience on how to build a community of researchers and students dedicated to solving the pressing problems we face. Developing and communicating USU’s strength in land, water, and air remains one of my highest presidential priorities. This report is just one way in which Aggies show how we are striving to understand the world in which we live and make it better. Thanks to all those who participated in its creation!