Best wishes, President Albrecht

Stan Albrecht was named Utah State University's 15th president on Tuesday. Albrecht, who was provost of the university under outgoing USU President Kermit Hall, enjoyed overwhelming support for the position, according to the state Board of Regents. He was a finalist in a national search for USU president four years ago when Hall was selected for the top job. Hall was selected recently to head State University of New York in Albany.

Albrecht's selection ensures an atmosphere of continuity at USU, which flourished under Hall's leadership. USU's freshman retention rate improved 14 percent during Hall's term while research grant proposals increased by nearly a third. Hall, in a prepared statement, said he believes that Albrecht will provide "superb leadership."

That leadership will be put to the immediate test as the leaders of Utah's colleges and universities lobby the Utah Legislature for improved funding for higher education and capital construction. Albrecht takes the helm of USU with the university in the midst of a major fund-raising and capital construction campaign. Beginning this fall, Aggie football and basketball will compete in the Western Athletics Conference. That new alignment coincides with a planned renovation of Romney Stadium. USU's new leader has a full plate, indeed. We congratulate him on his new chapter at USU, where the low-key Albrecht is expected to put his own stamp on the venerable institution.

A sociologist by training, Albrecht earned doctoral and master's degrees from Washington State University as well as a bachelor degree from Brigham Young University. Before joining USU as dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and then provost, Albrecht served as an administrator and professor at the University of Florida and BYU.

Albrecht said in a prepared statement that he cares deeply about USU and its mission. "It has the potential to remain one of the outstanding teaching, research and outreach universities in this country."

Although there will be some head-scratching why the Board of Regents didn't conduct a nationwide search to succeed Hall, this may be one of the rare circumstances where it may not have been necessary. Albrecht was a finalist in the previous presidential search when Hall was hired. Given his experience and commitment to USU, it's likely he would have risen to the top again. Moreover, the Regents have picked top-drawer academic leaders for the state's two Research I institutions in recent years. There is good reason to believe that Albrecht will likewise excel.