SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah's Board of Trustees unanimously elected Clark Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes, as chairman of the board.
The move comes after a swift confirmation vote by the Utah Senate on Wednesday in a concerted effort with the governor's office to get Ivory appointed in order for him to participate in the search for a new president at the University of Utah. President Michael Young stepped down in May to be president at the University of Washington.
This will be Ivory's second term on the board of trustees. Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he received the request from the governor's office Wednesday to confirm Ivory. In order to make the vote happen the Senate had to suspend the rules. "We had to get it moving quickly," Waddoups said.
"There was an urgency to place the chair," said Gov. Gary Herbert's spokeswoman Ally Isom, who added the move was motivated to get Ivory seated as chairman, who also serves in a position on the U.'s presidential selection committee. "That was the priority — to have a new president seated to participate in the selection process," Isom said.
"If he builds a university system like he does houses, I'd be thrilled," Waddoups said.
"Clark is the consummate businessman," Herbert said. "He brings a business mindset which is complementary to the other trustees."
Ivory's company is one of the largest home builders in Utah.
The terms of three other members of the board of trustees have also expired. Ivory will be replacing attorney Randy Dryer as chairman. The seats of developer Roger Boyer and former Deseret News publisher Jim Wall must also be filled.
Isom said the governor is in the process of selecting nominees and anticipates that he will forward a list of nominees to the Senate by July for confirmation.
— Geoffrey Fattah