Boyd Edwards Named Dean, Executive Director of Uintah Basin Regional Campus

Boyd F. Edwards will soon become the dean and executive director of Utah State University’s Uintah Basin Regional Campus. Following a national search and review of 28 applicants, Edwards was selected because of his excellent qualifications. His appointment, pending approval by the Utah State University Board of Trustees, will be effective Nov. 15, 2010, and includes a tenured position as full professor of physics in the College of Science.

 

“Following his visit in late September, there was great enthusiasm for his appointment among faculty, staff, students and community members,” said Ronda Menlove, vice provost for Regional Campuses and Distance Education.

 

Edwards, a native of Utah and alumnus of USU, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics at USU and his doctorate in applied physics at Stanford University. He comes to Utah State University from West Virginia University where he served on the faculty for 24 years. As a professor of physics, Edwards received several teaching honors, including the endowed Russell and Ruth Bolton WVU professorship. Edwards’ success as a researcher has resulted in 49 refereed publications, 85 professional presentations and 782 citations in scientific literature. While at WVU, a land-grant university with two regional campuses, Edwards taught a tele-course and gained an appreciation for distance education technologies and strategies that promote educational delivery to rural communities.

 

Edwards replaces Steve Hawks, who has served as acting dean since the resignation of the former dean Wes Holly.

 

"My wife, Nadine, and I are impressed by the vision of the community for education and by the dedication of the UBRC faculty and staff,” Edwards said. “We are delighted about this opportunity and can't wait to get started."

 

Because of the region’s energy resources and related opportunities, the Uintah Basin is unique in the regional campus system. It has a special mission to partner with communities and industries to use the resources and train the next generation of workers in the energy industry.

 

As part of his vision for the Uintah Basin Regional Campus, Edwards plans to build on the foundation laid by Special Assistant to the President of USU Robert Behunin, who established the center as a thriving hub for energy research and entrepreneurship.

 

Contact: Boyd Edwards, (304) 276-1931, bedwards@wvu.edu