Chris Corcoran Named USU Provost

Utah State University President Brad L. Mortensen named Chris D. Corcoran as the university’s next provost and executive vice president. He will move into this role on July 1.

“Throughout the search process, Chris stood out for his innovative thinking and clear vision for advancing student success, academic excellence and research in ways that align with Utah State’s statewide and land-grant mission,” Mortensen said. “The feedback I received consistently highlighted his ability to bring people together, think strategically about the future and lead through challenges while remaining student-centered and mission focused. Chris cares deeply about students, faculty and the role this university plays across Utah, and I’m excited to work alongside him as we continue advancing Utah State’s mission as a research and land-grant university.”

Corcoran is the David B. Haight Endowed Professor of Analytics and currently serves as the department head for data analytics and information systems in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. He founded the Analytics Solutions Center to provide paid experiential learning and work experience opportunities to 150-plus students across USU and engage hundreds of others through extracurricular programming.

Corcoran co-chairs the USU Strategic Planning Committee for Student Success and is a member of both the USU Center for Civic Excellence Curriculum Committee and the department head executive committee.

“My life as an undergraduate student was profoundly impacted by this amazing institution,” Corcoran said of Utah State. “The role of higher education is more important than ever in our rapidly changing world, and I am humbled and tremendously excited to take on this position as we lead our incredible faculty and staff in continuing to excel in our teaching, research, and service missions across this great state. I’ve been deeply impressed with President Mortensen’s vision, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity to work more closely with him in advancing our academic enterprise.”

Corcoran previously served as the department head for mathematics and statistics at USU and designed and built the Aggie Math Learning Center to provide critical peer-to-peer support for thousands of students from all USU majors every year. With the Analytics Solution Center, Corcoran also established numerous industry partnerships to raise over $1.5 million to fund student work.

Corcoran received his Ph.D. in biostatistics and genetic epidemiology from Harvard University and a B.S. in statistics and computer science from Utah State. He joined USU as an assistant professor in 1999 and became a full professor in 2011.

Utah State University is a premier land- and space-grant institution committed to excellence, access, and inclusion. Since its founding in 1888, USU has evolved from a small agricultural college tucked away in the Northern Utah mountains to a thriving, R1 research university with locations serving the entire state of Utah and known throughout the world for its intellectual and technological leadership.