Students react to new BYUI president

Students are reacting positively to the announcement of a new BYU-Idaho president.

The announcement came at the weekly devotional Tuesday. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was the speaker. At the end of his remarks he made the surprise announcement.

“We are pleased to announced the selection of Clark G. Gilbert as the 16th president of Brigham Young University Idaho,” Nelson said.

Gilbert was there and spoke briefly to the students. He’s currently CEO of church-owned Deseret News and Deseret Digital Media. Before that he served as academic vice-president at BYU-Idaho. He has degrees from Harvard, Stanford and BYU.

“To the students, know that we already have a deep love for you,” Gilbert said. “BYU-Idaho is uniquely student centered.”

Students were surprised at the announcement. They say they will miss outgoing President Kim Clark.

“I like how he brought a sense of unity to the campus,” Katie Broadhead said. “He always wanted to bring people closer, and to bring a Zion feel to the campus and to the community.”

“He’s kind of like our dad and we love him,” Sarah Duffy said. “He’s a really, really good guy.”

Students are excited about the new president.

“All around he had a really good aura about him,” Alaina Burck said. “He was very inviting so I like that — he was cool,”

The change in leadership officially takes place in April at the end of the semester. Gilbert will move to Rexburg with his wife Christine and their eight children.