Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell became the twelfth president of Washington State University on April 1. She succeeds Kirk Schulz, who will remain as a senior advisor to support the transition through June 2025.
Following a rigorous national search, the WSU Board of Regents unanimously selected Cantwell as the next president in February.
Washington State University President Elizabeth Cantwell (Photo Robert Hubner)
“We are energized by Dr. Cantwell’s ambitious vision for the future of WSU. She is a passionate advocate for student success and a champion of our land-grant mission,” said WSU board chair Lisa Keohokalole Schauer when Cantwell was announced. “Her experience in leading university systems and national research labs, combined with her tenacity and leadership will be invaluable as we navigate the complexities of the modern higher education landscape,” Schauer said.
Cantwell expressed her excitement for the journey ahead.
“I am deeply honored by the trust the Board of Regents has placed in me to lead this incredible institution,” Cantwell says. “I’ve long admired Washington State University, and a couple of years ago my family’s connection to the university deepened when my daughter became a Coug, enrolling in one of WSU’s graduate programs. This opportunity to serve WSU as president is truly a dream come true!”
Cantwell joins WSU from Utah State University, where she served as president of that university system with 30 campuses and centers across the state of Utah and online. During her tenure, sponsored research expenditures reached a record-breaking $495 million, student scholarships were increased by 10 percent, and significant campus improvements were undertaken. Cantwell also played a key role in the revitalization of the Pac-12 conference.
Previously, Cantwell oversaw an $825 million annual research portfolio at the University of Arizona and served at Arizona State University, where she was responsible for growth in research and business development. Her career also includes leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore, Oak Ridge, and Los Alamos National Laboratories, working with government agencies including the Departments of Energy and Defense, National Nuclear Security Administration, and NASA.
Cantwell holds a master’s of business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in human behavior from the University of Chicago.
Cantwell’s faculty home will be the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering in the Voiland College of Engineering.
Read more about President Cantwell in the Fall 2025 issue.