1 / 2

UVU President Astrid Tuminez walks by the portraits of past presidents of the university in the Browning Administration Building on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Orem

Evan Cobb, Daily Herald

2 / 2

Astrid S. Tuminez laughs during the open meeting for the UVU presidential search at the Clarke Building on Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Orem. Tuminez is one of the four finalists for the UVU presidency.

Evan Cobb, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

There’s no doubt Utah Valley University’s new President Astrid Tuminez has an inspirational story from the parts we’ve learned thus far.

UVU welcomed her this week as she officially took the helm of the largest public university in Utah.

The staff at the Daily Herald looks forward to reporting on the developments under Tuminez’s leadership, as we did with Matthew Holland.

It’s the first time UVU will be led by a permanent female president.

In a column printed last week, Fern Caka, UVU’s chemistry department chair, said, “The most important aspect of President Tuminez beginning her UVU presidency is the astounding role model she will be for the women, both old and young, of Utah County. I look forward to her inspiring a generation of young women. She is a wonderful example that women can be and are leaders.”

Like Caka, we hope Tuminez will have success in inspiring women across the county and state as she upholds her duty, not only to run the university, but also as a role model. After all, Utah still has strides to be made in higher education.

According to a progress report published in March by the Utah Women & Leadership Project, based out of UVU (and this report funded by the Utah Legislature through the Women in the Economy Commission) “national organizations consistently rank Utah at or near the bottom in evaluations of women’s educational attainment and economic equality relative to other states.” The report also states that Utah women earn lower-level degrees, pursue lower-level paying jobs and stereotypically-female driven fields of study.

This is not an accolade Gov. Herbert ever likes to mention in his speeches touting the greatness of our state and economy.

As Utah’s universities see increasing leadership from women, there is an opportunity for our community to look at problems from a new perspective, to authentically welcome diversity and the benefits that brings. Tuminez will be a crucial part in whether that takes hold.

The university and surrounding communities are not without issues. Tuminez comes to Utah County in a time when development is divisive, when newcomers and young people are not always welcome, and when funding for education is strapped — a difficult prospect for a university with a growing student body upwards of 36,000 and continuing open enrollment.

Interim President Jeffery Olson has been quoted as saying that Tuminez could have chosen to be the president of a number of other universities, perhaps with more grandiose histories, but that she chose UVU.

UVU and Tuminez are saying, “There’s a place for you at UVU.”

We challenge Tuminez and the university to live up to that statement — to support the marginalized in higher education as well as in our community. This should apply to students as well as faculty — whether they be of different ethnic backgrounds, different religions, or different genders. All should get the same opportunity for success, and yet in today’s world that is not always the case.

Continue to provide resources to parents and mothers who are at UVU working to obtain a degree. According to the same March report on Utah women in higher education, resources like affordable childcare, lactation rooms, baby-friendly study rooms impact a female’s access to education.

While there are some challenging opportunities ahead, we sincerely hope Tuminez and her family (first gentleman Jeffery Tolk) enjoy the wonderful parts of Utah County we love so much — the mountains, service-oriented attitudes and creativity in business — as they will undoubtedly be a part of UVU as well.