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

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the  Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education  for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning.  Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)  allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...
Post a Comment
Read more

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024.   “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.”   As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an  11-member committee  in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...
Post a Comment
Read more