The State Board of Regents chose wisely when it selected Steven D. Bennion as the new president of Southern Utah University. Not only does Bennion have superb professional qualifications, he has a unique historical connection to the school. His grandfather, Milton Bennion, was the school's first president a century ago.
His selection indicates SUU has its eyes focused squarely on the future but that it will neither forget nor neglect its past and its heritage. The Cedar City school, in Bennion's words, will remain a "personalized campus" in which faculty, administration and students all can be first-name acquaintences.That is an important draw for the school, which has experienced tremendous enrollment growth in recent years. It is an important way in which SUU can carve its own niche among the state's colleges and universities.
Bennion is no stranger to Utah. He served as president of Snow College in Ephraim, was commissioner for planning in the Utah System of Higher Education and earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah. Most recently, he served as president of Ricks College in Idaho, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His father, Lowell Bennion, distinguished himself as a writer, educator and community volunteer in Salt Lake City.
He is one of the state's most prominent sons and deserves to lead one of its most promising universities.
As a side note, the board of regents, despite its success, should have been more open in its selection process, making the names of the four finalists for the position public. Contrary to a well-worn notion, an open process does not discourage qualified candidates, as evidenced by several states that have adopted policies of openness (University of Utah President Arthur Smith, for example, was lured to Houston despite his intentions becoming general knowledge). The public needs the ability to scrutinize finalists for such an important post - an important point to remember as regents begin to search for a new U. president.
In this case, however, regents found a suitable and qualified successor to Gerald R. Sherratt at SUU. Bennion is to be congratulated and welcomed back to the state.