USU chose Shawn Whiteman, associate dean for research and innovation at CEHS and professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, to be the interim dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services on Feb. 26, 2025. This announcement comes nearly a week after Dean Al Smith took the helm as interim president of USU on Feb. 20, replacing former President Elizabeth Cantwell after her unexpected departure in the middle of the academic year and 1 1/2 years on the job.