Taking Snow reins — President aims to raise college to new heights
From the day he walked out of high school and into college, Wyatt knew he'd found his niche. He said he's spent every day since then working toward "the ultimate job for me, which would be to be a college president."
He made it, and as far as he's concerned, he's there to stay.
"It's been far more enjoyable and far more engaging than I could have ever expected," Wyatt said. The feelings mimic those of his college years, when as student body president at Utah State University in 1985, the philosophy and economics student said he thrived from the influence of his college leaders.
"It was then that my self-esteem grew the most. It was then that I set goals for my life. And it was then that I made the most progress," he said. He hopes to be that same influence for one, if not all, of the student body — which is 3,000 strong at Snow College.
"As president of a college, I think I need to know everybody," Wyatt said. "It's small enough that I think I can do that."
"He told us, 'If you pick me, you're getting the guy who has passion and love for Snow College and someone who will work harder than anyone else,' and I believe that," Winn said. "Every president brings their own distinct ideas and style. But the one thing they all bring the same is a new enthusiasm, and it's a time for the college to rethink and reinvigorate.
"He's been very well-received so far."
Along with vice presidents of the school, Wyatt spent the Saturday before school started helping the new class move into the dorms. He also welcomed new students at the freshman orientation. He had meetings with administrators, faculty, staff and students "to get to know the school as best he can," Winn said.
Working as a member and chairman of the board of trustees at Snow College, Wyatt had already become acquainted with many at the school. He said they know him quite well, and he hopes they know he's going to be there for a while.
"What they know is that I am extremely devoted to Snow College and that I love the community. If they don't know that, they don't know me," he said. "I hope what they see in me is someone who's genuinely committed to the college, and has been for the past 20 years, has family from here, and we are going to engage in a very open and honest discussion in order to really promote Snow College and the students we serve."
Recent comments
I just started my Ph.D. at the Univ. of Oklahoma, but my education...
Tiff Sanford Jenson, Class of 00 | Sept. 26, 2007 at 10:54 a.m.
I've attended and worked at Snow College. The fact that Snow...
Wesley | Sept. 25, 2007 at 11:16 p.m.
can't get much better than #1 in JC football...do they have a...
Gretzky | Sept. 25, 2007 at 10:56 p.m.
