David W. Pershing
{{Short description|American educator (born 1948)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David W. Pershing
| image =
| caption =
| order = 15th
| title = President of
University of Utah
| term_start = March 1, 2012
| term_end = April 2, 2018
| predecessor = Michael K. Young
| successor = Ruth V. Watkins
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|10|2}}
| birth_place = Anderson, Indiana
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Purdue University {{small|(B.S.)}}
University of Arizona {{small|(Ph.D.)}}
| residence =
| profession = University Administrator
|spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Lynn Kennard Pershing|1978|2004}}
- {{marriage|Sandra J. Pershing|2009|2022}}}}
| children =
| website =
| footnotes =
| module =
{{Infobox scientist | embed=yes
| fields = Chemical engineering
| workplaces = University of Utah
| thesis_title = Nitrogen oxide formation in pulverized coal flames
| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/302801828/
| thesis_year = 1976
| doctoral_advisor = Jost Wendt
| academic_advisors =
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}}
}}
David W. Pershing is an American educator and former president of the University of Utah.{{cite web|last1=Benson|first1=Lee|title=About Utah: Q and A with U. President David W. Pershing|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865669938/Q-and-A-with-U-of-U-President-David-W-Pershing.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228144948/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865669938/Q-and-A-with-U-of-U-President-David-W-Pershing.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 28, 2016|website=Deseret News|accessdate=23 April 2017}}{{cite news|last=University of Utah|title=David W. Pershing named new President of the University of Utah|url=http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/david-w-pershing-named-new-president-of-the-university-of-utah/|accessdate=January 20, 2012|newspaper=University of Utah Press Release|date=January 20, 2012|archive-date=August 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801232441/http://unews.utah.edu/news_releases/david-w-pershing-named-new-president-of-the-university-of-utah/|url-status=dead}} He received a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in 1970{{cite web|last=Purdue University|title=1999 DEA|url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/People/AwardsOLD/DEA/DEA_1999/pershing|website=Purdue University College of Engineering|accessdate=23 April 2017}} and a PhD from University of Arizona.{{cite thesis |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/302801828/ |title=Nitrogen oxide formation in pulverized coal flames |date=1976 |publisher=The University of Arizona |type=Ph.D. |last=Pershing |first=David Walter|id={{ProQuest| 302801828}}|url-access=subscription |oclc=3833122}}
Career
Pershing joined the faculty of the University of Utah in 1977 as a professor of chemical engineering. He was named [https://president.utah.edu/about/presidents-bio/ a Presidential Young Investigator by the National Science Foundation in 1984] and became dean of the College of Engineering in 1987. He was named a Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1995. In 1998, university President Bernie Machen named Pershing as senior vice president for Academic Affairs. In March 2012, Pershing was named president of the University of Utah,{{cite web|last1=Maffly|first1=Brian|title=David Pershing is new University of Utah president|url=http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/news/53326530-78/pershing-president-university-utah.html.csp|website=sltrib.com|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|accessdate=21 January 2012}}{{cite web|last1=Leonard|first1=Wendy|title='Family man' David Pershing begins job as 15th president of the University of Utah|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765558803/Family-man-David-Pershing-begins-job-as-15th-president-of-the-University-of-Utah.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313233948/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765558803/Family-man-David-Pershing-begins-job-as-15th-president-of-the-University-of-Utah.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2012|website=Deseret News|publisher=Deseret News|access-date=11 March 2012}} where he also holds an appointment as a distinguished professor of chemical engineering.{{cite web|url=https://academic-affairs.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/03/List-of-Distinguished-Professors1.pdf|title=University of Utah Distinguished Professors|website=Academic-affairs.utah.edu|accessdate=16 July 2018}}
Mary Beckerle controversy
In April 2017, he was involved in the controversial firing of Mary Beckerle, CEO and director of the university's Huntsman Cancer Institute.{{cite web|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5189972-155/acclaimed-researcher-out-at-utahs-huntsman|title=Huntsman says University of Utah 'power grab' is behind firing of acclaimed researcher from cancer institute top post|publisher=}} Pershing soon reinstated Beckerle following protests from members of the university community and the Huntsman family. On 28 April, the university's senior vice president for Health Sciences, Vivian Lee, announced her resignation in the wake of the Beckerle incident. During a meeting of the university's Academic Senate on May 1, Pershing announced his own resignation, stating that it was in part "so that the person picking the new VP [of Health Sciences] is the new president."{{cite web|last1=Stuckey|first1=Alex|title=University of Utah president stepping down; successor will pick permanent Health Sciences V.P.|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/5239033-155/university-of-utah-president-stepping-down|website=sltrib.com|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|accessdate=1 May 2017}} Pershing continued serving as president during the search for his successor. Ruth V. Watkins was selected, and succeeded Pershing on 2 April 2018, at which time he rejoined the faculty of engineering.
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{University of Utah presidents}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pershing, David W.}}
Category:University of Utah faculty
Category:American chemical engineers
Category:Purdue University College of Engineering alumni
Category:University of Arizona alumni