91¶ÌÊÓƵ

“Please call me Chuck.”

It’s fair to say that, in his five years at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, President Wight repeated that request thousands of times. It was often accompanied by an eye-crinkling smile, a telltale sign of his approachable leadership style and his love for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ. Chuck spoke of that love when, in January, he announced that he would be stepping down in the spring of 2018.

“One of the most difficult decisions any president has to make is choosing the best time to move on,” he said. “I truly love this institution, and our time here has brought much joy for Victoria and me. But I have decided that the time has come for us to seek a new adventure.”

In a message to alumni, Chuck reiterated how special Weber State is. “I realized early on in my presidency that 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is a magical school, one that welcomes students from all different backgrounds and experiences, and helps them to realize their dreams. Just as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ has shaped and influenced you for the better, it has done the same for us. We will never forget that.”

During his tenure at Weber State, Chuck cultivated a strong college-town relationship with Ogden City, expanded the scope of the Dream Weber program to make a college education more accessible, saw the university complete a successful comprehensive campaign that raised more than $164 million, and witnessed the completion of several major campus projects and the start of others.

Chuck said he has many fond memories of Weber State, but commencement will always be his favorite.

“Over the span of my presidency, I’ve watched more than 25,000 students graduate. For many of them, Weber State provided an opportunity for personal growth that they otherwise would not have considered. At commencement, I ask students who are the first in their families to graduate to stand and be recognized. I will have been part of 11 graduations during my time at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, and that moment still gets to me.”

The Utah System of Higher Education has formed a search committee to hire 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s next president. For updates on the presidential search, visit weber.edu/presidentialsearch.