Craig Swenson.

• Author: Christopher, Elisha
• Position: People - Provost of the University of Phoenix - Brief Article - Interview

A+ education

The story begins in fifth grade at West Bountiful Elementary. A teacher, Paul Millet took a student, Craig Swenson, under his wing and gave him the attention the shy, smaller-than-average boy needed. Over the nest few years, Swenson would come to have other inspiring teachers, and he credits much of his current success to their mentoring. "That kind of personal caring has made a huge difference," he says. "That's what inspired me--just good teachers who saw what I could become."

He's become the 50-year-old provost of the University of Phoenix. Swenson holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in organizational communication from the U. of U. and BYU, and a Ph.D. in education with an emphasis in adult and organizational learning from Walden University. But it doesn't stop there. Swenson has 23 published works on management, teaching and higher education, and the future of accelerated learning. After working as vice president and marketing director at First Interstate Bank of Utah from 1978 to 1989, and as an instructor at both the U. of U. and BYU, Swenson accepted a position as a part-time faculty member at the University of Phoenix. Soon after, he was named vice president and campus director. In 1995, he became the senior vice president, and in June 2000, he was named as provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

Not only does Swenson juggle the responsibilities of running a university, including traveling to Phoenix three days a week, but he also enjoys time at home with his wife and two daughters, ages 16 and it. "We decided a long time ago, (my daughters) needed grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins," he cites as his reason for remaining in Salt Lake City. Swenson has recently taken up golf with his 11-year-old daughter, who's "pretty good," he says. He also likes to write and read almost anything. He loves baseball and grew up...