DSU 2013 Commencement

Dixie State University has selected Dr. F. Ann Millner, who recently stepped down as president of Weber State University, to address the institution’s first university graduating class at DSU’s 102nd-Annual Commencement Exercises.  Dr. Millner will also receive an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities as part of the commencement ceremony.

“Ann is an extraordinary example of women in education,” says DSC President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld. “She was someone who was successful in administration and we feel she can relate to our students. She will be a superb Commencement speaker.”

Dr. Millner was named the 11th president and 18th person to lead Weber State University in August of 2002, becoming the first woman to lead a Utah public university. During her decade-long tenure, WSU experienced nearly a 40 percent increase in enrollment growth. The university also emerged as a national leader in undergraduate research and community-based learning, and in 2008, WSU received the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.

Working closely with state and local lawmakers, as well as private donors, Dr. Millner has helped spearhead several infrastructure projects that have improved educational resources for students, faculty and staff, including the first campus building at Weber State University Davis in Layton, Utah, which opened in 2003. Under her leadership, the Ogden campus has renovated and revitalized several facilities in the past decade, including Lampros Hall, Shepherd Union, Stewart Library and the Swenson Building. The campus also celebrated the construction of Elizabeth Hall, the Hurst Center and the first two buildings of the new Wildcat Village residence hall complex.

Dr. Millner, who is a Regents Professor at WSU, arrived at the institution in 1982, and served as director of Outreach Education in the School of Allied Health Science, associate dean of WSU Continuing Education, assistant vice president for community partnerships and vice president of university relations. Prior to her tenure at Weber State, she worked at Vanderbilt University, Thomas Jefferson University, Southwest Texas State University and Gwynedd Mercy College.

Dr. Millner’s record of public service includes previous membership on the Board of Directors of the Utah Campus Compact; the Division I Board, Executive Committee and Chair of the Finance Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the Council of State Representatives of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; the Executive Committee of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities; and the Executive Advisory Council of SunGard SCT. Dr. Millner also served on the boards of directors of the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce also was the board chair in 1993; the Weber Economic Development Corporation; the Wells Fargo Community Board; the Utah Defense Alliance; the Utah Technology Council; the Utah Foundation and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Intermountain Healthcare and the Board of Visitors of the Air University of the U.S. Air Force.

Previous honors received by Dr. Millner have included the Athena Award for Outstanding Professional Woman from the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce (1992); the Distinguished Service Award from the WSU Alumni Association (1996); the Crystal Crest Award from the WSU Student Association (2002); the International Futures Award from the University Continuing Education Association (2003); the “Women to Watch” Citation from Utah Business Magazine (2005); The Renaissance Woman Award (2007), the Transforming Communities Award from the Utah Commission of Service and Volunteers (2012), the Service Above Self Award from the Ogden Rotary (2012);  the “People of Vision” Award from the Utah Chapter of Friends for Sight (2012); and the Wall of Fame Award from the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce (2013).

Dr. Millner is a native of Tennessee and holds degrees from the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Southwest Texas State University and Brigham Young University.