Mortensen Reflects on 1 Year as USU President

Editor's note: This message from USU President Brad L. Mortensen was sent to all university employees on Tuesday morning.

Dear Aggie Family,

One year ago today, I drove on to campus for the first time as president of Utah State University. I have always been proud to be an Aggie, and this past year has given me even more reasons to feel that way.

Over the last year, Camille and I have made Logan our home. I’ve also traveled across Utah, visiting communities served by our 28 Extension offices and making numerous visits to each of our statewide campuses. Everywhere I’ve visited, I’ve met people who care deeply about their students, their communities, and the work they do. Those visits have given me an even greater appreciation for what it means to be Utah’s student-centered statewide, land-grant, research university.

Together, we’ve refined our priorities, updated our mission statement, and brought greater attention to what makes Utah State distinctive. That includes our work in land and water, food, energy, space and national security; the experience we offer our students; and the work that we do to strengthen communities across the state.

We’ve also worked through some tough issues this year from responding to the legislative audit to getting our HB 265 reinvestment funding released. Thank you to everyone who has helped us move forward with transparency and a willingness to make things better.

Some of my favorite moments have been with our students, including shaking hands with graduates, giving rides in the golf cart, attempting to ride a mechanical bull at USU Eastern, and hanging out in the Hurd. Their energy, questions, and determination constantly remind me why our work matters. Welcoming Thistle to the Aggie family and bringing back the tradition of a live mascot has just added to the fun!

I am deeply impressed with the research taking place, which is changing how we understand our world today, innovating across many disciplines, and making discoveries that we won’t fully understand for years to come. Selecting just a few proposals to advance through the HB 373 (Higher Education Innovation) process was a challenge because of the many strong ideas you brought forward.

Even more meaningful has been getting to know the faculty and staff who make everything we do possible, including the visits with so many of you in town halls, in your classrooms and offices, and during "brownies with brad.” Some of the most extraordinary people I’ve met are also the humblest and are always quick to credit a colleague, celebrate a student, or turn the conversation toward the next problem they hope to solve.

This year has brought a lot of change, and I’m grateful for your willingness to work through it with me. We have a history worth celebrating and a future worth getting excited about. We can honor what makes Utah State special while bringing innovation and flexibility to how we address challenges and pursue opportunities.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for the amazing work you do, so much of which I’m still discovering, and all of which makes a difference. Thank you for welcoming my family and me. And thank you for making our state and our world a better place.

Go Aggies!

brad