Fallon Deatherage
News Editor
New ISU President Kevin Satterlee began his freshman year the way most freshmen start at ISU, with a symbolic walk through Swanson Arch.
June 18 marked President Satterlee’s first official day as ISU’s 13th president. He takes office as President Arthur Vailas’ successor and was named president by the Idaho State Board of Education April 5.
“I could not think of a better way to start my journey at Idaho State University than walking to campus along the same path that thousands before me have taken,” President Satterlee wrote in a letter to the ISU community.
President Satterlee has his work cut out for him as he follows the Vailas administration, which was marked by fractured relationships between the administration and faculty members after Vailas disbanded the faculty senate for a period of time. President Satterlee wants to begin his time at ISU by creating strong relationships with the faculty, community members and alumni.
“These open, transparent and inclusive relationships will be designed to create an environment of trust and mutual accountability,” President Satterlee said. “We can topple our biggest challenges and take on our most ambitious dreams.”
Many at ISU are ready to begin the relationship building process.
“I like his vision and energy,” said head football coach, Rob Phenicie when the state board named Satterlee president. “I’m excited to be able to work with him.”
The general attitude among those at ISU is one of hope for the new administration despite the rocky hiring process to find Vailas’ replacement.
The process began in November 2017 where 72 individuals applied. From there, the pool was narrowed down to 10, and finally, in late February of 2018, the state board announced five finalists that would visit campus. One finalist took another position before he ever made it to campus, one took another position after his campus visit while the board’s decision was pending, and yet another was eliminated from consideration by the board. By the end of March 2018, only two finalists remained, something many in the ISU community considered problematic.
“I was a little disappointed when we went from five candidates down to two because I felt like that didn’t give us a full choice,” said city councilwoman Linda Leeuwrik after the board finally made the decision. “But, I am hopeful that we are going to turn over a new leaf.”
Councilwoman Leeuwrik is a former ISU faculty member. She says she chose to run for city council with a goal to strengthen the connections between ISU and the community.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to is building a much stronger relationship between the university and the community,” Leeuwrik said. “I ran on that and I want to follow through on that. I think that this is not only a fresh start for the university, but also a new start on that relationship.”
President Satterlee feels a deep connection to ISU. He formally served as the Chief Operating Officer, Vice President and Special Counsel at Boise State. But ISU holds a place in his heart because his 88-year-old mother-in-law attended the school before the death of her father prevented her from continuing her studies in zoology. Unlike some of the other candidates considered by the state board, President Satterlee did not applied for any positions at other universities.
“My wife Margaret and I took a few minutes to walk around campus,” President Satterlee said. “Everywhere, you can feel the passion and potential of our university. Margaret and I couldn’t be more proud to join the Bengal family.”
