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
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