Brian Steed to Serve as Vice President for Government and External Relations

Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen named Brian Steed as vice president for government and external relations, effective June 1. While Steed will continue to provide leadership for the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air, Anna McEntire will assume responsibility as director of the institute.

“Brian’s leadership, statewide relationships, and extensive experience in government and public service make him an excellent fit for this position,” Mortensen said. “He is known for bringing people together to address the most challenging problems, and I'm excited for the university and the state to continue benefitting from his leadership as we advance Utah State’s mission and impact across Utah.”

Steed has served Utahns and Utah State through numerous roles. He became the inaugural executive director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute of Land, Water, and Air in July 2022, and continued to serve in this role after Utah Governor Spencer Cox named him as the Great Salt Lake commissioner in May 2023. In these roles, he also served as the co-chair of the Great Salt Lake Strike Team, which brough together research experts from Utah State, the University of Utah, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.

“I am incredibly honored to step into this new role at Utah State University,” Steed said about his new appointment. “As a powerhouse of research and education, USU plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of leadership and informing decisions through sound science. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation already in place to strengthen our partnerships across the state and nation. As an Aggie, I’m excited to work toward a bright and prosperous future for our students, our university and the entire state.”

During his time at Utah State, Steed has served as a special advisor and cabinet member for university presidents, faculty member in applied economics, and principal investigator and co-PI on research grants.

Previously, Steed has served as executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, deputy director of policy and programs and the official exercising of the director of the Bureau of Land Management, and chief of staff to Congressman Chris Stewart in Washington, D.C.

Steed received a B.A. and M.A. in political science from Utah State, a Ph.D. in public policy from Indiana University Bloomington, and a J.D. from the University of Utah.