After eight years as president of BYU-Hawaii, Alton Wade will leave that position this summer to take over as student life vice president at BYU in Provo, Utah.
The announcement was made by BYU Provost Bruce C. Hafen at a special faculty meeting on the BYU-Hawaii campus.Wade's move is part of a reorganization at BYU following the announced retirement of Vice Pres. Ronald G. Hyde. R.J. Snow, the current student life vice president, will move into Hyde's position as advancement vice president with responsibility for development, university and alumni relations, university communications and athletics.
Wade's responsibilities will be the multicultural and international student offices, the health center, counseling division, student government, and the standards office.
The changes will be effective in mid-summer.
Addressing the BYU-Hawaii faculty and staff, Wade said: "We really had not planned on this happening. So, be prepared, because we have several years worth of work to do in the next four months."
Hafen indicated that Wade's successor has not been chosen, but a search is under way. "The board of directors hopes to name a new president in a few weeks rather than months," he said. "However, you can be assured they will not rush this important process."
Before moving to Hawaii, Wade was the president of Dixie College in St. George, Utah, from 1981-1986. Prior to that, he served for 10 years in the Church Educational System where he was responsible for educational programs in several international and domestic locations worldwide.
An emotional Wade told the faculty: "I accepted the position [at BYUT because I felt I could continue to make a significant contribution for BYU-Hawaii in Provo. I have a real passion for this institution. I will always have a love for this great university."
Wade, who was raised in Fillmore, Utah, attended BYU on a football and track scholarship. While there, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science, and later received a master's degree in the same field from California State College at Long Beach. He earned a doctorate in educational administration at BYU.
Snow has been student life vice president at BYU since 1990. He received an associate degree from Dixie College, bachelor's degree from the University of Utah, and master's and doctoral degrees in political science from Northwestern University. He was vice president for university relations at the University of Utah for nearly a decade. He also had a career in private enterprise and served as president of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
