USU – Present Day

Elizabeth (Betsy) R. Cantwell became Utah State University’s (USU) 17th president on Aug. 1, 2023 and served in this position until early 2025. During her time as USU president, she oversaw an increase in the university’s research enterprise and scholarships. Cantwell also was involved in both implementing a new university fiscal model and USU’s membership in the Pac-12 athletic conference. Cantwell was the second women in USU history... to serve as university president.

On February 6, 2025, Betsy was selected as Washington State University (WSU) 12th University President. She is the first women to hold this position in WSU history.

Prior to USU

Cantwell earned her Bachelors in Human Behavior in 1976 from the University of Chicago, her Ph. D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 from the University of California, and her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School in 2003.

Before her time at USU, Betsy held several other research leadership positions including Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Arizona, Arizona State University’s (ASU)Vice President for Research Development and CEO of the ASU Research Enterprise.

Cantwell has also held other leadership positions. She served the U.S. national security mission as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s director for economic development and director for engineering mission strategy. Earlier while serving as the deputy associate director for global security at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Cantwell worked with the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and NASA.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on NASA Critical Workforce, Technology & Infrastructure, Cantwell participated in its most recent Academy Strategic Planning Committee. She has served as the co-chair of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and as a member of several National Academies studies in space science, space systems engineering, National Laboratories operations, and advanced manufacturing. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in industrial science and technology.