King named CEU interim president

The newly named interim president at the College of Eastern Utah has been in Price long enough to know the ins and outs of the college — and he vows to maintain the same level of effort and dedication as current president Ryan Thomas.

Mike King, who has been serving as CEU's provost and vice president for academic affairs since 2004, is expected to assume his new responsibilities in May, when Thomas leaves after last month's resignation announcement.

"Dr. King will ensure that CEU continues to be a key component in the economic and workforce development in this region of the state," said Board of Regents Chairman Jed Pitcher. "The college plays an important role in meeting the higher education needs of eastern Utah, and Dr. King is a strong and capable leader."

Pitcher said that King will help further a study, commissioned by the state Legislature, regarding the potential for greater collaboration and cooperation between CEU and Utah State University.

King said he would do his best to continue the efforts of Thomas to "promote the interests of the college and to increase awareness of the value and challenges of higher education in rural Utah."

"We often feel we are the best-kept secret in Utah when it comes to higher education," he said. "CEU is a wonderful place for students to start their college education."

King teaches ecology and environmental science courses at CEU and has been teaching there since 1996, when he came to the college as a biology instructor. He was dean of arts and sciences at CEU from 2000 to 2004 and CEU's biology department chairman from 1997 to 2000.

He also serves on the Utah Concurrent Enrollment Task Force, the Higher Education Advisory Committee for the Utah Education Network, and the Utah E-learning Connection Advisory Committee.

Previously, King taught at the University of Tennessee and has worked for USU's Research Foundation and Hill Air Force Base. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in zoology from Brigham Young University and a doctorate degree in wildlife science from USU.

King and his wife, Jan Christensen King, have five children and seven grandchildren.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity given to me by the regents," he said. "I appreciate their confidence and look forward to working closely with them, the commissioner's office and community leaders to meet the higher education needs in southeastern Utah."

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com