Cecil O. Samuelson
Cecil Osborn Samuelson Jr. (born Aug 1, 1941) is an American retired rheumatologist and professor of medicine who served as the 12th president of Brigham Young University (BYU) from 2003 to 2014. Samuelson is an emeritus general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a former dean of the school of medicine at the University of Utah, and a former senior vice president of Intermountain Health Care (IHC). While he was president at BYU, Samuelson pushed professors and students to raise their expectations and encouraged mentored learning. During his presidency, student enrollment limits stayed constant, new sports coaches were hired, new buildings were built, and a hiring freeze during the Great Recession reduced faculty.
| Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. | |
|---|---|
Samuelson leading the April 2008 commencement exercises at BYU | |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| October 1, 1994 – October 1, 2011 | |
| End reason | Granted general authority emeritus status |
| Presidency of the Seventy | |
| August 15, 2001 – April 5, 2003 | |
| End reason | Honorably released to become president of BYU |
| Emeritus General Authority | |
| October 1, 2011 | |
| 12th President of Brigham Young University | |
| In office | |
| May 1, 2003 – May 1, 2014 | |
| Predecessor | Merrill J. Bateman |
| Successor | Kevin J Worthen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1941 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Alma mater | University of Utah (B.S., M.Ed., M.D.) |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Giauque Samuelson |