History
Utah Valley University's rich history mirrors that of the community, beginning as a wartime vocational training ground and evolving to serve today's needs as a regional teaching university. In 1941, the Central Utah Vocational School was formed in response to the need for skilled workers to support the nation's efforts in World War II. In the nearly seven decades since that time, UVU evolved into a trades academy, community college, state college and, as of July 1, 2008, Utah's newest university. Today, what began as a tiny vocational school with a few hundred students is a burgeoning center of higher learning serving nearly 30,000 students.
The UVU Foundation operates in support of UVU's current and future needs as a vital cog in the community's economic and academic engines. In the early days, Dr. Dean McDonald was appointed the executive director of the Foundation Board, with Bill J. Anderson serving as the first foundation chair. The Foundation had a vision as a key vehicle to assist the institution in accomplishing growth and development, not only for the students, but also for the benefit of the community. Bill served for almost 10 years, helping to firmly establish the Foundation as a permanent, positive asset to the institution.
Subsequent chairs such as Neal Savage, Marlon Snow, Ron Dallin, Thone Heppler, Craig Carlile, Tom Heal, Jeffrey Kahn and Paul Clyde have served with dedication and made important contributions toward advancing UVU's mission and goals. Today, the UVU Foundation is a forward-thinking philanthropic body supporting the vision of the University by contributing expertise, experience, dedication and financial resources. The UVU Foundation is excited about the future and hopes you will join us in advancing UVU's mission as a vital community resource and laboratory for academic and applied learning.
