President | Utah Valley University

“Astrid S. Tuminez, Ph.D., is the quintessential torchbearer for human potential,” wrote Bryant Larsen in the Utah Valley University president’s Women of the Year nomination. Born and raised in the Philippine province of Iloilo, Tuminez’s life was forever changed after Catholic nuns invited her and her sisters to attend their private school for free.

“That changed the trajectory of my life,” Tuminez says. “I got one of the best educations possible on the island. That was really the beginning.” 

From there, education became a constant. At 15, her first exposure to higher education came when she received a scholarship to attend the University of the Philippines. At 18, she moved to Utah and attended Brigham Young University, graduating summa cum laude with one bachelor’s degree in international relations and a second in Russian literature. She continued her studies at Harvard University, achieving a master’s in Soviet studies before earning a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science.

“There is obviously a theme of education in my life,” Tuminez says, describing the pursuit of it as the “single most important thing I’ve ever done.” 

Tuminez’s career allowed her to live and work in five different countries. When she was an executive for Microsoft in Singapore, a friend and UVU professor encouraged her to apply for the school’s open presidential position. Despite her nontraditional path, Tuminez was the clear choice.

Five years later, she has helped UVU, Utah’s largest university, continue to evolve and better support the needs of the Utah community. During her time so far, Tuminez has led the effort to create Vision 2030, a strategic initiative based on UVU’s mission; established the Innovation Academy, a group that creates engaged learning opportunities for all students; facilitated the increase of graduates hired into 4- and 5-star jobs; focused on maintaining UVU’s affordability and concurrent enrollment program; championed the university’s philanthropic efforts; launched EverGREEN, a comprehensive fundraising campaign; established a digital transformation on campus; developed numerous resources for underrepresented groups, including the Latino Scientists of Tomorrow Summer Bridge Program, a Veteran Success Center and a Women’s Success Center; and so much more.

Her advice is simple and encouraging. “You can’t correct all the injustices of the past, but you can ask yourself today: What resources do we have as a community to empower people who’ve had a harder time historically? I think the way good inclusion works is to not feel sorry for people but to ask what they need and see if you have it.”

Tuminez does just that. She spreads her resources throughout the greater Utah community by participating on several boards and councils, including Silicon Slopes, the Carnegie Postsecondary Commission, the K-16 Alliance, Cambia Health Solutions board and Zions Bank advisory board. 

“If you’re curious enough, if you put in the work, you can have a very interesting career,” Tuminez says. “It’s been a good life.”

Connect with Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez on LinkedIn.