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Betsy Cantwell named President
- NowhereLandAggie
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Betsy Cantwell named President
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- flying_scotsman2.0
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
She had a great interview in the forum. Seemed very personable, should be able to help continue to grow research opportunities. I really loved that she emphasized tech and wants to make USU strong in that area.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
She seems very well-qualified with the millions of research dollars she oversaw at the University of Arizona. Very nice hire! Let's level up our academics and athletics in the years ahead! JFW and JFRST (research, serve, and teach). 

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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
The right hire for an engineering school like USU. Any of the finalists would have been quality hires, but her strong engineering and tech background is the right hire.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
This, seems like the right hire at the right time. Having just got R1 status, she has the experience to push research even higher. With tech and engineering so important in the world now its great to have a president that understands the space. Also, I think one of USUs biggest opportunities going forward to really make a name for itself is through the Space Dynamics Lab, you could not ask for a better university president for the Space dynamics lab. I also love that she has a MBA from Wharton, hopefully that benefits the Business School.
I also like that he has some connections out west, coming from Arizona.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I'm hearing she doesn't dig athletics.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
We'll see.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I just spent some time stocking her LinkedIn page. Over the past year or so she did have about 5 posts or likes that were Arizona athletics related (as well as 1 or 2 that were USU SDL related). So not a ton, but it is something. If she is a good administrator, it should not matter. Not every president is going to be interested in every department on campus. Hopefully they just hire the best person to run the departments they are not as interested in, and let them do their job. As long as she is not actively getting in the way of athletics I think that is Okay.
This may be an unpopular opinion here but as with everything, there is a balance. I have seen schools where the administration cares too little about athletics and some schools where they care too much. Washington state has hamstrung academics by going into debt for athletics. I know of a FCS school in the Midwest where the president would actively reallocate large donations earmarked for academics, into athletics donations.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I think it's fine if she doesn't dig athletics. It will probably elevate the importance of the Athletic Director.LarryTheAggie wrote: ↑May 20th, 2023, 7:54 amI just spent some time stocking her LinkedIn page. Over the past year or so she did have about 5 posts or likes that were Arizona athletics related (as well as 1 or 2 that were USU SDL related). So not a ton, but it is something. If she is a good administrator, it should not matter. Not every president is going to be interested in every department on campus. Hopefully they just hire the best person to run the departments they are not as interested in, and let them do their job. As long as she is not actively getting in the way of athletics I think that is Okay.
This may be an unpopular opinion here but As with everything, there is a balance. I have seen schools where the administration cares too little about athletics and some schools where they care too much. Washington state has hamstrung academics by going into debt foe athletics. I know of a FCS school in the Midwest where the president would actively reallocate large donations earmarked for academics, into athletics donations.
I guess a negative could be budget allocation? How important is a university president to athletics? I'm not bothered if they show up to games or not.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Here is part of Cantwell's response when asked by a guy named Binns about NIL and the student athletes on Wed:
Cantwell said USU “cannot afford to have student–athletes who don’t understand it.” She
mentioned a program she helps with at Arizona that facilitates opportunities for student–athletes
to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in NIL. However, Cantwell added that there is a “little bit
of craziness in the possibility of turning student–athletes into professionals.” She wants to focus
on making Aggie players effective students, athletes and entrepreneurs.
Cantwell also said athletics are “a huge piece of our front door” and help people who don’t
attend USU “become a part of our community through athletics.”
Binns liked what Cantwell said about athletics being “a door, a window to the community of the
university.”
Cantwell said USU “cannot afford to have student–athletes who don’t understand it.” She
mentioned a program she helps with at Arizona that facilitates opportunities for student–athletes
to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in NIL. However, Cantwell added that there is a “little bit
of craziness in the possibility of turning student–athletes into professionals.” She wants to focus
on making Aggie players effective students, athletes and entrepreneurs.
Cantwell also said athletics are “a huge piece of our front door” and help people who don’t
attend USU “become a part of our community through athletics.”
Binns liked what Cantwell said about athletics being “a door, a window to the community of the
university.”
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I agree with Larry. As long as she isn't hostile to athletics and hires a good AD (I still think Bovee is that guy), we should be fine.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Bovee was there yesterday at the event and I'm assuming has had some discussions with her. I don't think Noelle was necessarily an avid fan of sports either. I'd argue most university presidents aren't die-hard sports fans.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
The only one we've had recently that LOVED athletics and was vocal about it was Albrecht. His presidency coincided with a lot of very good things happening to USU athletics. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don't think so.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Wait… is he remembered for the good things or the apology?
Gets confusing sometimes
Gets confusing sometimes
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I assume she will. Those who were on this board when Noelle Cockett was named president might remember that someone who claimed to have first-hand knowledge posted a dire warning about how Noelle was anti-athletics and would dismantle all progress that had been made during the previous decade in the athletics department. The post essentially said that she didn’t understand athletics, would micro-manage it and would be willing to see it fail.
Of course, none of that happened. I have spent a fair amount of time with Noelle at several USU games and some non-USU games. She is at best only a very casual sports fan, but she seemed genuinely interested and supportive of the program. She also understood that her support of athletics would be part of her legacy at the university. I was quite impressed at how she approached her involvement with Aggie athletics as someone who was probably not naturally drawn to it, but wanted it to succeed and wanted it to be a source of pride for alumni and donors.
If that’s what Cantwell can do, we will be in pretty good shape.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
For me it’s the fist pumping he did in front of the mirror when he got USU into the MWC.cval wrote:Wait… is he remembered for the good things or the apology?
Gets confusing sometimes
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
The word used was "average" when I was told about her enthusiasm for athletics. Not well connected in the sports world. Likely wants her own AD and unlikely to be Bovee FWIW.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Not doubting you, but curious why she might want her own AD rather than Bovee if she isn't well-connected in the sports world. I think Bovee has a great resume, and I've really enjoyed listening to his interviews. Either way, I would imagine it's not just the university president who makes the AD decision, although I don't doubt she has a strong pull in the process.Intermeddler wrote: ↑May 21st, 2023, 7:43 pmThe word used was "average" when I was told about her enthusiasm for athletics. Not well connected in the sports world. Likely wants her own AD and unlikely to be Bovee FWIW.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
I think it was more in a sense she doesn't know a ton of people but knows a few who she trusts who she would lean on to either take the job or help in the hire. I wasn't told Bovee has no chance but that his chances are diminished.flying_scotsman2.0 wrote: ↑May 21st, 2023, 9:41 pmNot doubting you, but curious why she might want her own AD rather than Bovee if she isn't well-connected in the sports world. I think Bovee has a great resume, and I've really enjoyed listening to his interviews. Either way, I would imagine it's not just the university president who makes the AD decision, although I don't doubt she has a strong pull in the process.Intermeddler wrote: ↑May 21st, 2023, 7:43 pmThe word used was "average" when I was told about her enthusiasm for athletics. Not well connected in the sports world. Likely wants her own AD and unlikely to be Bovee FWIW.
I imagine Bovee has some influential people in his corner so it could certainly end up that she does not see it as a priority and allows others to sort of drive that process and he ends up with the gig.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Exempt and professional level employees have a committee interview them, and then give recommendations to the department heads and deans. At least when I was employed the decision for the hire was ultimately theirs, though it often coincided with the search committee's findings.flying_scotsman2.0 wrote: ↑May 21st, 2023, 9:41 pmNot doubting you, but curious why she might want her own AD rather than Bovee if she isn't well-connected in the sports world. I think Bovee has a great resume, and I've really enjoyed listening to his interviews. Either way, I would imagine it's not just the university president who makes the AD decision, although I don't doubt she has a strong pull in the process.Intermeddler wrote: ↑May 21st, 2023, 7:43 pmThe word used was "average" when I was told about her enthusiasm for athletics. Not well connected in the sports world. Likely wants her own AD and unlikely to be Bovee FWIW.
An athletic director or even someone high up in administration like the Provost has less job security, at least in that capacity, than a professor. Whether Noelle Cockett was forced out or not, she couldn’t really lose her job. (I am of the opinion she was not, and just wanted to move back to her original field after more than 20 years in administration.)
There will be a search committee, but my understanding is the University President is not bound by its recommendations. This link has a good explanation of the procedures.
https://www.usu.edu/policies/390/
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
Rich, snotty effetes are irritating. It's just how it is.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
It looks like Bennett pulled his name out because he’s gonna get the Nebraska job.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
The biggest mistake Bovee has made is going public saying he would stay here in his current role if a new AD would have him. Sounds great to a new CEO, I keep him and being in a big gun for AD. Two for the price of one.
Some of you may disagree but I don’t think you want a USU AD who is happy with that role for life. That’s how you get someone of Rod Tueller quality.
Some of you may disagree but I don’t think you want a USU AD who is happy with that role for life. That’s how you get someone of Rod Tueller quality.
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Re: Betsy Cantwell named President
This link probably contains most or all of the same info in OPs KSL link, but it was just emailed from USU alumni association: https://www.usu.edu/today/story/elizabe ... -president
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