Presidential Search Finalists

Courtney R. White is the Associate Vice President of Executive Affairs/Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Utah Tech University, where he advises the President, plays an integral campus leadership role, and supervises the strategic plan implementation focused on student success and access. Since 2014 he has been adjunct faculty with the Southern Utah University Masters of Public Administration program. He previously served as the lobbyist for the University of Oregon and held a similar external relations position with the Utah Education Association. His prior professional assignments include work at the Nevada, Oregon, and Utah Systems of Higher Education, most recently as an Assistant Commissioner. He earned an associate degree from Snow College, a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, a master’s degree from the University of Utah, and a law degree from the University of Oregon. He is from Ephraim.

Kirk Young serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, New York. Kirk has served in this role since 2014. Prior to joining JCC, Kirk worked for eight years in multiple positions at Utah Valley University. Throughout his years working in higher education, he has worked in a wide array of functional areas, including enrollment, fundraising, student services, and marketing, as well as serving for several years as the director of the Center for the Advancement of Leadership at UVU where he directed programming and taught various courses in leadership.

Kirk holds a BA in psychology from Utah Valley University, an MS in sociology from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Gonzaga University. His master’s studies focused on the social impacts of large-scale mega events, particularly the 2002 Winter Olympics. His doctoral studies focused on the 360-degree assessment as a leadership development tool. His other areas of expertise include transformational leadership, appreciative inquiry, servant-leadership, leadership and creativity, and strengths-based leadership. Kirk is a certified strengths coach with the Gallup organization, and spends some of his time working with students, fellow employees, and teams on strengths-based performance and leadership solutions. Kirk currently lives in Lakewood, NY, with his wife, Katie, and their three children.

Kirk serves on several community boards and is active in serving the communities of Western New York.

Stacee McIff is currently the Interim President of Snow College. As interim president, she has prioritized students and employees, as well as community and USHE partnerships. Before she was appointed as interim president, Stacee led the college’s expanded mission into technical education and served as Vice President of Technical Education and Workforce Engagement for two years after serving for a time as Associate Provost and as Business Department Chair for eight years. She has held a faculty role at the college since 2006 where she has prioritized student engagement and worked with various internal and external task forces, including co-chairing the last strategic planning process tied to accreditation. Stacee has been heavily involved in the community and has served as national board chair of Future Business Leaders of America, Inc., on the SUU National Alumni Council, Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service Board, the Board of Directors of the New Horizons Crisis Center, as president of the Sevier County Republican Women, and more. Born and raised in rural Utah, Stacee holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University and a master’s degree from Utah State University.