Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jason Wood as the new Vice President of Salt Lake Technical College (SL Tech), part of SLCC dedicated to workforce development and technical education.
Wood brings more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, most recently serving as President of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. Under his leadership, Southwest Tech earned national recognition, including the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The college was celebrated for its innovative approach to ensuring students graduate into careers that offer a living wage—reforming or eliminating programs that did not meet that standard.
“Helping students realize they can learn, persist, and succeed—especially those who never imagined themselves in college—is the most gratifying part of my career,” said Wood. “I’ve seen firsthand how education can transform lives, and I’m excited to bring that passion to Salt Lake Community College.”
“Dr. Wood emerged as an exceptional candidate because of his deep commitment to student success and his proven ability to lead transformative initiatives in technical education,” said SLCC President Greg Peterson. “His track record—especially at Southwest Tech, where he helped reshape programs to ensure graduates entered high-wage careers—is exactly the kind of visionary leadership we value at SLCC. We’re excited to welcome him to the College and look forward to his contributions.”
Wood’s career spans several institutions, including Central Wyoming College, Klamath Community College, and Southwestern Oregon Community College. He holds a Ph.D. from Oregon State University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Idaho, and a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.
His decision to join SL Tech was driven by both professional and personal motivations. “Professionally, I’m intrigued by the unique structure of SLTech within SLCC and eager to explore how successful strategies from small, rural colleges can be scaled in a large, urban setting,” said Wood, who is also looking forward to living near family.
Wood is particularly enthusiastic about building relationships with SLTech’s faculty, staff, and industry partners. “I’m hard-wired to help more students enroll, graduate, and secure better jobs—and I look forward to doing that alongside the incredible team at SLCC.”
Outside of work, Wood enjoys spending time with his six daughters and engaging in outdoor activities like camping, fishing, canoeing, and hiking.
Media Contact, Salt Lake Community College:
Peta Owens-Liston, peta.liston@slcc.edu, 801-957-5099
About Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest two-year college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in eight areas of study at eight locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. For more than 75 years, SLCC has been providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the state’s vibrant economy and high quality of life.
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