BYU-Hawaii Gets New University President

During yesterday’s weekly devotional at BYU-Hawaii, Elder Russell M. Nelson, a chair of the executive committee of the board, announced that the university will be getting a new president, John Sears Tanner.

Tanner is currently serving as the first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormon Newsroom reports that Tanner will be the 10th president of the University. He has previously served as academic vice president at BYU, where he was first a professor of English. Tanner served a mission for the Church in Brazil and then returned years later, with his wife, as president of the Brazil São Paulo South Mission. Mormon Newsroom quotes Tanner, saying,

[pull_quote_center]I am inspired by the vision that prophets have had for BYU–Hawaii. I intend to build on that wonderful legacy of aloha and learning and service that exists here to bless the international Church.[/pull_quote_center]

Nelson thanks current university president, Steven C. Wheelwright, for his eight years of leadership. Wheelwright came to the University after formerly serving as senior associate dean of the Harvard Business School’s MBA program, a Baker Foundation professor and senior associate dean and director of Harvard Business School’s publication activities.

The change in presidency will go into effect July 27, 2015.