Utah Valley University President To Step Down in May

President Astrid S. Tuminez today announced that after serving for seven and a half years, she will step down as Utah Valley University (UVU) president, effective May 1, 2026, to devote more time to her family and personal pursuits.

“I will be forever grateful to the students, staff, and faculty at Utah Valley University and the friends who support UVU’s noble mission to transform the lives of our students,” said Tuminez. “UVU has been a labor of love for me. The university’s call to ‘come as you are’ recognizes and cultivates human potential in bold ways that traditional institutions may overlook. Education transformed my life from the slums of the Philippines to a global adventure, and I brought that conviction to UVU. My heart will always be green. Given the academic calendar and hiring process, this is the ideal transition point for USHE to identify and onboard a new president who will lead the next chapter of UVU’s inspiring story.” 

Tuminez became the university’s seventh president in the fall of 2018. Her stewardship is marked by her commitment to UVU’s core values of exceptional care, exceptional accountability, and exceptional results and the development of Vision 2030, a 10-year roadmap of UVU’s goals to provide student, community, and workforce support.

“President Tuminez has been a deeply thoughtful leader who has consistently championed student success,” said Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) Commissioner Geoffrey Landward. “We are grateful for her leadership and will work closely with the board and the university to ensure a smooth and well-supported transition.”

Under Tuminez’s leadership, UVU has launched groundbreaking initiatives that reflect her transformative vision and long-lasting impact on higher education in Utah, including:

Accelerating Student Success:

• Student enrollment increased by more than 20%, and the number of graduates more than doubled.
• UVU was recognized as an “Opportunity College and University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education — one of only 16% of universities in the country to receive the designation.
• The student experience was elevated with new buildings and facilities, including The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts, the Scott C. Keller Building, the Brandon D. Fugal Gateway Building, the Young Living Alumni Center, the Museum of Art at Lakemount, the Alan C. and Karen Ashton Center for Leadership and Inspiration, the UCCU Stadium, and the Scott M. Smith Engineering Building.

Building Utah’s Thriving Workforce and Communities:

• UVU educates and graduates the most Utahns, with more than 74% of UVU students living in the state 10 years after graduation.
• UVU’s Class of 2025 includes the state’s highest number of graduates in high-yield, career-ready
• The university developed Utah's first applied artificial intelligence (AI) institute, the Kahlert Applied AI Institute, empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed for the evolving economy.

Creating a Legacy of Impact:

• President Tuminez led the university’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising more than $250 million for student impact.
• The university initiated a comprehensive strategy for UVU’s 225-acre Vineyard Campus.

 

As the largest university in the state, UVU educates more than 48,000 students. During Tuminez’s tenure, academic offerings expanded to 99 certificates, 65 associate degrees, 110 bachelor's degrees, 22 master's degrees, and 11 graduate certificates.

“President Tuminez has guided Utah Valley University through incredible growth, innovating the delivery and impact of higher education for students in our state,” said Amanda Covington, Utah Board of Higher Education chair. “Her commitment to the mission of the university and its faculty, staff, students, and broader community has positioned UVU well for the future. The board is committed to a search process that builds on this foundation.”

The Utah Board of Higher Education is also establishing a presidential transition team that will include representatives from the board, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, and UVU trustees. The team will assess institutional priorities and near-term needs to support continuity and inform the search process over the next several months.

During the first presidential search conducted under the new model, the UVU presidential transition team will remain in place through the first six months of the new president’s tenure, extending support beyond the search process and into the early phase of leadership.