President Astrid S. Tuminez is the face of the university. All vice presidents and the chief of staff report directly to the president. As such, the president is involved in all of the major developments of the university, builds relationships with donors, and represents UVU to the legislature and the Utah Board of Higher Education. It is her responsibility to oversee the progress of UVU in achieving its goals and plans.
Chief of Staff Kara Schneck is the connection between all staff and the university president. She sits on multiple governing bodies for the university. Essentially, her job is to make the president as effective as possible by addressing many issues and projects that would otherwise need to be addressed by the president. She is also the presidential internship director. Kara also sits as the VP of Marketing and Communications, dedicated to promoting the unique educational mission and growing the brand and reputation of Utah Valley University.
Provost and Vice President Wayne Vaught is responsible for oversight of the university faculty and the development of curricula. He ensures all academic policies and procedures are being implemented throughout the university's colleges and schools.
The Vice President of Institutional Advancement is primarily responsible for advocating for students and securing funds to support UVU programs and initiatives. This includes meeting with potential and current donors, attending events, overseeing campaign strategies, serving as CEO of the UVU foundation, and representing UVU on a state and national level.
The Vice President of the Finance and Auxiliary Services division includes managing the university's Budget Office, Campus Store, Continuing Education, Dining Services, Finance and Business departments, Internal Audit, Printing Services, Procurement Office, and Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) requests.
Vice President Val Peterson has one of the most diverse departments on campus. He oversees facilities, grounds, campus police, parking services, government relations, and athletics. Val has previous military experience, retiring as a Brigadier General, and currently serves as the Executive Appropriations Chair in the Utah State Legislator, all while being a Vice President at UVU!
Vice President Michelle Kearns advocates for students and their success throughout their student experience by ensuring that services and programs meet the needs of the diverse student population. Michelle oversees four departments in Student Affairs: Student Development and Well-Being, Inclusive Excellence, Enrollment Management, and PK-16 Grants, Outreach & Partnerships. Each department is committed to student success by creating a positive and supportive experience here at UVU.
Vice President Marilyn Meyers oversees and collaborates with university departments to develop, implement, and execute university-wide People and Culture programs and services to advance UVU's dual mission of being a comprehensive college and university that prepares every student for success in work and life. Essentially, Marilyn ensures that UVU continues to be on Forbes' list of best-in-state employers for Utah.
With the landmark growth of the office and certain legislation becoming effective, the Office of Institutional Engagement and Effectiveness (IEE) was born. The IEE Office acquired a new data team and is keen to keep UVU a place for everyone! Dr. Qudisat is the executive sponsor and Chair of the University Planning and Advisory Committee (UPAC); the executive sponsor of the Campus Engagement Committee (CEC) and the UVU Chapter of UWHEN; the chair of the Campus Climate Committee; and serves on the Bias Education Support Team.
The General Counsel provides legal advice and representation to UVU’s constituent units, trustees, officers, and employees while acting on the university's behalf, and to the UVU Foundation. As such, the General Counsel is involved in all of the major developments of the university, and it is their responsibility to advise and mitigate risk through the progress of UVU’s various activities and functions.
The Deputy Provost, Kat Brown, works closely with many areas on campus such as academic policies, faculty hiring and retention, international travel, faculty relations, and the library. The Deputy Provost prioritizes collaboration across her team to provide a variety of opportunities for growth and success for every team member.
Vice President Christina Baum oversees the Digital Transformation division and is the Chief Information Officer at Utah Valley University. This division includes managing the university's digital transformation initiatives, web development, student mobile app, cybersecurity, and Business Intelligence & Research Services (BIRS).
