ST. GEORGE — Dixie Tech faculty, industry workers and Utah Board of Higher Education members alike applauded and cheered as Jordan Rushton was officially named president of Dixie Technical College on Thursday evening after previously serving as interim president.
Inching his way to the podium past the crowd giving him a standing ovation, Rushton was emotional as he publicly accepted the position.
“I want to thank my family, especially my incredible wife,” Rushton said, “that takes on so much so that I can take on a lot here. I woke up this morning and there was a big sign in the dining room window that said, ‘You got this dad!’”
“I’m pretty sure I have the most rewarding job in the world, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities that I’ll have to lead this institution into what I believe is going to be a very bright and high-tech future.”
According to Dixie Tech, before being named interim president in April, Rushton spent eight years as the vice president of instruction at Dixie Tech, overseeing the instructors, courses and curriculum across 25 accredited programs. He joined the Dixie Tech team in 2015 as the director of operations. Before coming to Southern Utah, he served as the director of public relations and outreach for the Utah technical college system before it was absorbed by the Utah System of Higher Education.
Rushton holds an undergraduate degree from Utah Valley University and a master’s degree in public administration with a higher education emphasis from Southern Utah University, a Dixie Tech release said. He has a post-graduate certification in management from Harvard University and is currently completing his doctorate in education at Baylor University.
Rushton focused most of his remarks on others who he said have helped him get to where he is today.
“Magic happens at Dixie Tech every single day, but it’s the faculty and staff that make it happen,” Rushton said. “They’re incredible. There’s no one else like them.”
“As excited as I am about this appointment, though, it’s really not about me. It’s about the students that we serve, lives that we’re able to change. I know that everyone in this room is excited about that and ready to work together to make sure we continue to do that without disruption.”
Rushton said he’s wanted to be president of Dixie Tech for a long time, and his interim presidency increased his desire for the position even more.
“I’ve wanted to make sure that we can continue the good work that we’ve started here and preserve the really important stuff that we’re doing,” Rushton told St. George News. “There’s a lot at stake, and I want to make sure that we protect all the good things that are happening (at the college).”
Regarding his main goals he seeks to achieve as president of Dixie Tech, Rushton said he wants to build more meaningful relationships with Dixie Tech’s educational and industry partners, “making sure that we’re looking at opportunities to increase access to potential students and continuing to focus on quality.”
“I don’t care about names,” Rushton said. “I just care about making sure students are getting the quality education that they deserve here.”
Gil Almquist, chairman of the board for Dixie Technical College and also a Washington County Commissioner, was on the board of the presidential search committee with 14 others.
Almquist and his fellow search committee members began their search for a new Dixie Tech president five months ago, when Rushton began his role as interim president for the college.
“We put out a national search, and lots of people applied,” Almquist said. “It was between 50 and 60 applications. We narrowed it down through interviews to about eight, and then three just last week.”
A separate committee from the Utah Board of Higher Education determined the final choice for college president.
“There were many good applicants,” Almquist told St. George News. “Jordan, however, showed that star just a little brighter than others.
“I first met Jordan about eight years ago, and I’ve been impressed ever since. He’s strong. He’s a great collaborator for working together with the school district, the university and the community at large. He hasn’t lost the fact that we really are trying to train students to get jobs here and satisfy the needs of our industries.”
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