RELATED STORY
MSU candidate ‘Biff' Williams is ‘confident, competent and capable,' says head of faculty senate in Utah
Richard “Biff” Williams, one of three finalists for the presidency of Missouri State University, makes public appearances Feb. 14-15 as part of his interview to succeed Clif Smart.
Here are 10 accomplishments the Hauxeda gleaned from the 33-page curriculum vitae (resume) of Richard “Biff” Williams, former president of Utah Tech University.
- Created new space for Center for Inclusion and Belonging at Utah Tech and hired full-time support staff, including the university’s first chief diversity officer, LGBTQ+ coordinator, Latinx coordinator and women’s resource center coordinator.
- Increased women in leadership positions by 54 percent and moved all employees to 100 percent of market salary benchmark
- Created two faculty cohort groups to participate in inclusive pedagogy training and championed the university name change from “Dixie State University” to “Utah Tech University.”
- Increased enrollment by 42 percent, degrees awarded by 60 percent and retention by 5 percent during his tenure.
- Welcomed the first national rankings (US News & World Report) in school history.
- Reclassified the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics from Division II to Division I and rebranded the athletic identity from Red Storm to Trailblazers.
- Doubled the budget of intercollegiate athletics and solicited $1.3 million from state legislature in support of student athlete academic excellence.
- Built the Burns North addition which includes a home for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as well as a new tennis complex, Trailblazer swimming complex, and Trailblazer sports medicine center.
- Oversaw the funding and construction of Greater Zion Stadium including the east grandstand, track, football field, throwing events area, long jump, west grand stand, directors club, loge seating, suites, stadium sports medicine and new football locker room
- Received $3 million gift to name and create Atwood Innovation Plaza, a 53,000-plus square-foot elementary school renovated into a business resource center and business incubator.
