WSU ushers in a new era with Elizabeth R. Cantwell as its next president
Thursday, February 6, 2025
PULLMAN, Wash. — Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell has been appointed the 12th president of Washington State University following a nationwide search. Cantwell will begin on April 1. She will succeed Kirk Schulz, who has served as president since 2016 and will remain on as a senior advisor to support the transition through June 2025.
Following a rigorous national search where over 260 potential candidates were identified, the WSU Board of Regents unanimously selected Cantwell as the next president during their recent meeting.
“We are energized by Dr. Cantwell’s ambitious vision for the future of WSU. She is a passionate advocate for student success and a champion of our land-grant mission,” said Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, WSU board chair. “Her experience in leading university systems and national research labs, combined with her tenacity and leadership will be invaluable as we navigate the complexities of the modern higher education landscape. Dr. Cantwell understands the challenges and opportunities facing WSU and is positioned to guide our university to new heights.”
Cantwell expressed her excitement for the journey ahead.
“I am deeply honored by the trust the Board of Regents has placed in me to lead this incredible institution,” Cantwell said. “To be selected to lead this esteemed institution as its 12th president is a profound privilege. I’ve long admired Washington State University, and a couple of years ago my family’s connection to the university deepened when my daughter became a Coug, enrolling in one of WSU’s graduate programs. This opportunity to serve WSU as president is truly a dream come true!”
Cantwell joins WSU from Utah State University (USU), where she currently serves as president of the university system composed of 30 campuses and centers across the state of Utah and online. She has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing the university’s academic mission. During her tenure, sponsored research expenditures reached a record-breaking $495 million, student scholarships were increased by 10%, and significant campus improvements were undertaken, including the construction of the Veterinary Medical Education Building and the Monument Valley Education Building, in partnership with the Navajo Nation, all while demonstrating a strategic approach to fiscal sustainability and data-driven decision making. Cantwell has also successfully navigated the challenges of intercollegiate athletics and played a key role in the revitalization of the Pac-12 conference.
Prior to her time at USU, Cantwell oversaw an $825 million annual research portfolio at the University of Arizona, including the University of Arizona Tech Park and a research enterprise spanning 20 colleges, 12 centers and institutes, and affiliated organizations across Arizona conducting classified and contractual work. She also served at Arizona State University where she was responsible for research and business development, growing the research enterprise from $435 million to $680 million in three years. Cantwell’s career also includes extensive service to U.S. national security. She held leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge and Los Alamos national laboratories, working with various government agencies including the Departments of Energy and Defense, National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and NASA.
“Dr. Cantwell’s combination of academic, research and innovation sector leadership make her uniquely qualified to guide WSU’s next chapter,” said Jenette Ramos, a Board of Regents member and chair of the presidential search committee. “The challenges facing higher education today require more than just academic experience. She brings experience in collaborative problem solving with innovative solutions and a deep understanding of complex systems. Dr. Cantwell’s leadership experience at national labs and NASA has provided her with invaluable insights to address large-scale challenges — all of which will benefit WSU.”
The Board of Regents established its Presidential Search Advisory Committee last spring, composed of faculty, students and community members. This committee conducted a comprehensive national search, guided by input from over 1,000 stakeholders, including focus groups and community listening sessions. The search process was transparent, with regular updates provided to the university community via the presidential search website.
“Dr. Cantwell meets the key criteria we sought in our next leader,” said Eric Shelden, past chair of the WSU Faculty Senate and member of the committee. “It was clear that she prioritizes collaboration and open communication. She listens closely to the voices of those around her.”
Cantwell holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in human behavior from the University of Chicago. She has recently served as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on NASA Critical Workforce, Technology, and Infrastructure; a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Industrial Science and Technology; a board member of the International Space Station National Laboratory; and chair of the Space Telescope Science Institute Council.
“I am confident that Dr. Cantwell is the right leader to guide WSU at this critical time. She possesses the vision and strategic acumen to align talent and resources to achieve WSU’s goal of being a model land-grant university in the modern era,” said Kirk Schulz.
Cantwell’s faculty home will be the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering in the Voiland College of Engineering. She will relocate to Pullman, Washington on April 1, 2025.
