Chuck Wight
Biography
Charles A. “Chuck†Wight took office as the 12th president of Weber State University on Jan. 1, 2013. A distinguished scholar and academic leader, he has more than 28 years of experience in higher education. Prior to his appointment at Weber State, Wight served three years as dean of the Graduate School at the University of Utah, where he was also the associate vice president for Academic Affairs. Wight, who grew up in northern Virginia, received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1977 from the University of Virginia and a doctoral degree in chemistry in 1982 from the California Institute of Technology. After a two-year stint as a postdoctoral research associate in the University of Colorado’s Department of Chemistry, he joined the faculty of the University of Utah. There, he rose through the ranks, becoming a full professor of chemistry in 1993 and going on to serve as associate dean of Undergraduate Studies, assistant vice president of Continuing Education and associate vice president of several areas, including the Graduate School, Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education. While at the U of U, Wight was selected by students to receive the 1985 Outstanding Teaching Award in Chemistry. In 2006, senior faculty honored him with the R.W. Parry Teaching Award in Chemistry. Wight was also named an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow and was designated a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Wight, a physical chemist, researches the chemistry of explosives and propellants and has served as the deputy director of the University of Utah’s Center for the Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions. He has filed three patents and is the co-author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and two books. In the community, Wight has served on the board of trustees for the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science, been an advocate for the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center, and co-presented at the annual Faraday Christmas Lectures, a popular free science lecture series for children of all ages. He also has been the chief mission orientation pilot for the Utah Wing of Angel Flight West, a nonprofit charity providing free non-emergency medical transportation. Wight is married to Victoria Rasmussen, who is an educator for the Utah Education Network. He is the father of three grown children. In his free time, Wight enjoys long-distance running, flying small aircraft, and backpacking and hiking.EDUCAUSE Presentations
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