One U student might soon be replaced by another on the State Board of Regents, the governing body for the Utah system of higher education.
Pace Johnson, a junior in economics, has been selected as one of three finalists to replace U student Basim Motiwala as the student regent—the only student voting member of the Board of Regents. The student regent is responsible for representing every student attending a public university in the state, according to Motiwala.
“I really want to make sure that students are represented on issues such as budget cuts and financial aid,” Johnson said. “I think that every institution has unique needs and I will do my best to make sure that those individual needs are being met.”
Johnson was selected from a group of eight candidates, said Motiwala, who explained that each institution is allowed to submit two candidates for nomination, and from that group the list is limited to three finalists. The finalists are chosen by the incoming and outgoing student body presidents from each institution throughout the state, as well as the current student regent, said Motiwala.
Each of the finalists’ names are then forwarded to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who will interview each of them during the next few weeks and make the final decision of who fills the seat on the board.
Johnson was named as a finalist along with Joseph Watkins from Utah Valley University and Jeffrey Kinsel from Southern Utah University. Ben Dailey, a junior in international studies, was also nominated from the U.
Motiwala said that Johnson was chosen as a finalist because he went beyond the required effort to show he was serious about the position.
“Pace had contacted each of the incoming and outgoing student body presidents,” Motiwala said. “He really set himself apart because he was so proactive. He really tried to get a better idea of what issues he would be dealing with, and what the job entails.”
Johnson ran for student body president this year with the GO Party, but was defeated by
Associated Students of the University of Utah President-elect Tayler Clough.
If chosen, Johnson said he hopes to help each institution in any way he can.
“Every institution is facing different concerns,” Johnson said. “Some, like Utah Valley University, are expanding, while others, like Southern Utah University, are looking to merge with other institutions. I hope to provide a consistent personal, direct approach to these problems and give each situation the extra attention that it needs to provide the best result for the institutions involved.”
j.thompson@chronicle.utah.edu
