Since arriving at USU, Cantwell said she’s seen a strong dedication to training staff on how to handle sexual misconduct, along with seeing firsthand the university’s commitment to keeping students safe. But as president, she knows the buck stops with her.
For her tenure at Utah State, Cantwell said she wants USU to be the hallmark of what a land grant university —on agriculture, engineering and more working class-minded professions — can be in the 21st century. She said the three main goals of any land grant university are teaching and learning, research and community engagement — and all three aspects are what she wants to expand.
She wants USU to grow based on what is needed, making community engagement a crucial piece of the puzzle. In the decades to come, she wants other land grant institutions to point to USU and say, “this is the way we want to be,” she said. Cantwell said Utah State’s many campuses around the state give it a huge leg up on making the goal of research expansion a reality. She’s planning on touring every one of Utah State’s campuses, “by hook or by crook” she said.
“I’m saying with complete conviction that the Mountain West is strong, acknowledging that it is a real strange world out there,” Cantwell said.Conferences.While It’s clear that Cantwell has her eyes on the future of Utah State, she’s also getting used to the more moderate Utah climate and says she’s looking forward to the first snowfall.