U of U president seeks mutually beneficial relationship with Top of Utah businesses

University of Utah president David W. Pershing ventured northward Monday to visit officials at aerospace companies Janicki and ATK, along with Amer Sports, a sporting equipment company. “I wanted to talk to them and listen,” Pershing said of the business leaders. “I wanted to know what they need the University of Utah to do for them. We want to serve the whole state.”

Pershing in January was appointed the U of U’s 15th president. He has been on the job since March, although an official inaugural celebration is set for fall.

Pershing is touring the state, taking inventory of what businesses and communities need from University of Utah faculty members and graduates.

Pershing hopes to help Utah’s economy by encouraging more research and business collaborations between industry and the U, he said.

As for graduates, Pershing said that the Ogden businesses he visited, particularly in the aerospace fields, “want even more graduates from us.” He is also hopeful he can set up internships. Standard Examiner