WSU Keynote Address

Cantwell came to Washington State University from Utah State University, where she successfully led a $1.3 billion annual operating budget spanning across the state of Utah in a 30-campus system. As president, she had significant achievements, including a record-breaking $495 million in sponsored research expenditures, a 10% increase in student scholarship funding, and the expansion of physical infrastructure with the groundbreaking of new education buildings and facilities, not to mention strengthened academic partnerships with industry leaders and a reorganization of the Academic Enterprise. Beyond her academic accomplishments, Cantwell demonstrated strong leadership in intercollegiate athletics, successfully navigating the complex landscape of modern college sports and engaging in the revitalization of the Pac-12 Conference.

Cantwell holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School; a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley; and a bachelor’s degree in human behavior from the University of Chicago.