New Student Welcome 2023

Dr. Taylor Randall
President of the University of Utah

"I want to be the first to welcome you as new students to the University of Utah.  We are so excited you have chosen the U, and even more to have you back on campus. It is you that brings so much energy and vitality of what we do here as a university.  Our number one goal as leaders is your success as students, both academically and in your health and wellness. This is going to be an eventful year for me too, as your university president. I am excited to begin this journey with you, and continue to chart an upward path for the U, as one for America's leading research universities.  I have big aspirations for the University. It begins right now with each of us. Have a great year and go Utah."

 

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Mitzi M. Montoya
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Montoya is the new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for the University of Utah. She brings with her strong leadership skills and years of service in dean and provost positions at several universities in the U.S., including the University of New Mexico, Oregon State and Arizona State University. 

Throughout her career, Montoya has supported student and faculty success and led collaborative initiatives to find solutions for social, technical and political challenges. As provost, Montoya seeks to inspire students, faculty and staff; lead innovation efforts; and help the U become a top 10 public university.

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Dr. P. Brandon Johnson
Senior Associate Dean for Student Success and Transformative Experiences
Faculty Speaker 

Dr. P. Brandon Johnson is a senior associate dean for student success and transformative experiences in the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah. In this role, he provides strategic leadership of student success, engagement, and completion programs for Undergraduate Studies and other university-wide initiatives. Units within Dr. Johnson’s portfolio include the university learning center, a first-year academic learning community, student success coaching, the Center for First-Generation Success including TRIO Student Support Services and Upward Bound programs, First-year programs, and immerging rural student success initiatives.

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Danna Paulina Benitez
Student Speaker

Danna is originally from El Paso, Texas. She is currently going in to her third year as a nursing major. She one day hopes to work as a labor and delivery nurse. Danna served as an Orientation Leader for the summer of 2022 and as an Orientation Team Leader for the summer of 2023. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going on walks and listening to Lana Del Rey. Her favorite quote is "everything will be okay in the end. If it is not okay, it is not the end."

 

 

 

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Eliana Moreno
Student Speaker

Eliana Moreno was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Sandy. She is entering her third year at the University of Utah. Eliana is pursuing a honors pre-med degree in Biomedical Engineering while working towards a minor in physics. During her time at the University of Utah, Eliana has participated in several different aspects of campus life, including working for the Office of Orientation and Transition as a Swoop Leader and Orientation Team Leader, playing on the club lacrosse team, and being a part of the Biomedical Engineering Society.

 

 

 

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Keira Underwood
Student Speaker

Keira is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Utah and is majoring in Health and Kinesiology. In the future, she hopes to get accepted into PA school and become a physician’s assistant. She grew up in Parker, Colorado which is a small town about 30 minutes South of Denver. She was born here in Salt Lake City and moved to Colorado when she was three. She lived there until she moved back to Utah to pursue her education . Keira loves photography, volleyball and making new friends. Throughout her years here at the U, Keira has been involved with the Office of Orientation and Transition for two years. First, as an Orientation Leader during the summer of 2022, and then as an Orientation Team Leader in the summer of 2023. Keira has also gotten involved in an internship through the university at a physical therapy clinic. She is super excited about continuing her education at the U and getting to welcome new students to this school.  

 

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Victor Hollenbach
Student Speaker

Victor is a junior studying computer science. He was born in Draper Utah and attended Corner Canyon high school . Growing up Victor participated in many extracurriculars which included soccer. Now Victor gets involved at the U by participating in intramural soccer, working at the U career center, and working as an orientation team leader. His favorite part of being a U student are the limitless opportunities of getting involved on campus.