“Welcome Back to BYU-Idaho:” Clark Gilbert Named New President of University

UPDATE: Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints formally installed Clark Gilbert as the 16th president of Brigham Young University – Idaho. The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. 

“We welcome you into the family of institutions that are known as the Church Educational System,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf told Gilbert. “We are confident that you will follow the trail marked by your distinguished predecessors and move BYU ̶ Idaho forward and upward.”

Clark Gilbert was named BYU-Idaho’s sixteenth president yesterday during the weekly campus devotional by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Gilbert is currently the CEO of Deseret News and Deseret Digital Media and previously served as the associate academic president of academic development at the University. He worked with programs like Pathway, student leadership, and online education as well.

“We are pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Clark G. Gilbert as the 16th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho,” Elder Nelson said. “Welcome back to Brigham Young University-Idaho.”

Gilbert has dedicated his life to furthering his education and to helping others to do the same. He earned a bachelor’s degree from BYU, a master’s degree from Stanford University, and a doctoral degree from Harvard Business School, where he also served as a professor. He has also currently been serving as Bishop of his ward in Bountiful, Utah.

“We appreciate the service Clark Gilbert gives the Deseret media companies,” Keith McMullin, president and CEO of the Deseret Management corporation told the Deseret News. “We are thrilled for Clark and his family, and for the BYU-Idaho students, faculty and administration.”

Gilbert will begin his service as President beginning mid-April.

BYU-Idaho Communications Director Marc Stevens told The Daily Herald,

[pull_quote_center]During Clark Gilbert’s remarks today it was clear that BYU-Idaho was familiar territory for him. He expressed a great deal of affection for this university, its students and the way it is delivering education. It is very much a homecoming for him.[/pull_quote_center]