Skip to main content

SLCC's Beloved President Deneece Huftalin Announces Retirement

 



Dr. Deneece Huftalin recently announced that she will retire as president of Salt Lake Community College after ten years of service in this role. As of her retirement date, June 2024, she will have been one of the longest serving female presidents in the Utah’s System of Higher Education (USHE) and will have completed a career that expands more than 30 years at Utah’s largest two-year college.  

 

“I am incredibly proud of the journey we’ve undertaken together to strengthen student success, create a more inclusive environment and serve as a model for colleges nationwide in affordability, innovation, equity, and commitment to mission,” said Huftalin, who has overseen the growth of SLCC’s campuses from six to nine campus locations to increase geographic accessibility. 

 

She has helped state leadership understand the pivotal role of community colleges in Utah. For students, she focused on increasing educational opportunities, bolstered college readiness, leveraged open resources (saving students millions of dollars), and raised record-breaking funds to increase access to scholarships and high-impact learning practices.

 

“I’ve witnessed firsthand how Deneece leads with integrity, intelligence, and empathy. Regardless of the types of decisions she is making, the experience and the success of students is always at the center of her thinking,” said Brady Southwick, chair of SLCC’s Board of Trustees. “She has modeled leadership at its best and she has set the bar extremely high as we begin our search for a new president.”

 

Huftalin’s influence at SLCC runs deep and has always been rooted in a student-first approach and is driven by a commitment to make higher education accessible to all. Prior to being named the eighth president of SLCC in 2014, she served in various capacities at SLCC, including director of academic and career advising, dean of students, vice president of student services, and interim president.   

 

“Under President Huftalin’s leadership, strategic planning, and dedication to student access, SLCC has thrived in its mission to support students through transfer pathways and completion leading to meaningful employment,” said Amanda Covington, USHE chair. “On behalf of the entire Utah Board of Higher Education, I sincerely thank Dr. Huftalin for dedicating her career to higher education.”

 

The chair and vice chair of SLCC’s Board of Trustees have begun working with USHE to outline the search process aiming for the next president of SLCC, with hopes for the new president to begin June 2024. 

 

"Watching Deneece lead Salt Lake Community College over the years has been truly remarkable," said Geoffrey Landward, interim commissioner of USHE. "Deneece's thoughtfulness, extraordinary vision, and dedication have made an imprint on each and every one of the college’s students, faculty and staff. Her legacy will last long after she leaves SLCC."


Media Contact, Salt Lake Community College:

Peta Owens-Liston, peta.liston@slcc.edu, 801-957-5099 



Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency.  “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment.  Andrew’s work has alwa...
Post a Comment
Read more

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002).     Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.     "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...
Post a Comment
Read more