President Betsy Cantwell
Dr. Betsy Cantwell is the 12th president of Washington State University. Beginning her presidency April 1, 2025, she brings extensive experience in higher education, scientific research, national security, and public service. As president and professor, Cantwell is leading WSU as a modern, future-focused land-grant institution committed to expanding student opportunity, advancing impactful research, embracing technological innovation, and serving communities across Washington and beyond.
Cantwell joined WSU from Utah State University, where as president she led a statewide, 30-location system with a $1.3 billion annual operating budget. During her tenure, Utah State achieved record sponsored research expenditures of $495 million, increased scholarship funding, expanded academic infrastructure, strengthened industry partnerships, and reorganized its academic enterprise. She also played a key role in navigating the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics, including efforts to revitalize the Pac-12 Conference.
Previously, Cantwell held senior leadership positions at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, overseeing major research enterprises and driving significant growth in sponsored research. At the University of Arizona, she oversaw an annual research portfolio exceeding $825 million. At Arizona State, she led a period of extraordinary expansion that increased annual research expenditures from $435 million to $680 million in just three years.
Before entering higher education administration, she spent more than two decades in leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and at Oak Ridge and Los Alamos national laboratories, advancing national priorities in energy, defense, and space exploration in collaboration with federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Cantwell holds a bachelor’s degree in human behavior from the University of Chicago, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Guided by a belief in the transformative power of higher education, she is committed to ensuring WSU remains a leader in discovery, innovation, and public service for generations to come.
Short Biography
Dr. Betsy Cantwell is the 12th president of Washington State University. Since taking office April 1, 2025, she has guided WSU as a future-focused land-grant institution committed to student opportunity, impactful research, technological innovation, and public service. Cantwell previously served as president of Utah State University and held senior leadership positions at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. She also spent more than two decades in leadership roles at Lawrence Livermore, Oak Ridge, and Los Alamos national laboratories in service of national security. Cantwell holds a bachelor’s in human behavior from the University of Chicago, a doctorate in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from Wharton.