As Brigham Young University celebrates 150 years, the Utah Valley Chamber is honoring the leaders who have shaped its remarkable legacy. In the weeks leading up to the April 14th Pillar of the Valley event, we will spotlight one BYU president each week, reflecting on the vision, faith, and stewardship that have guided the university across generations.
We begin with President C. Shane Reese, who assumed leadership in 2023 at a defining moment for Brigham Young University. As BYU approaches its 150th anniversary, his presidency embodies both continuity and forward momentum, honoring a remarkable legacy while guiding the university confidently into its next chapter.
Anchored in Mission
BYU has always stood apart in higher education. Its founding promise, to blend spiritual conviction with rigorous scholarship, remains its defining strength. From his first campus addresses, President Reese has reaffirmed that distinctive mission.
In a time when faith-based institutions often face external pressures to dilute their identity, his leadership has emphasized clarity: BYU’s commitment to discipleship, character, and intellectual excellence is not a tension to resolve, but a calling to uphold.
That conviction matters deeply in a 150th year. Institutions endure because leaders protect what makes them unique.
Preparing Students for a Changing World
With a background in statistics and data science, President Reese understands the forces shaping today’s global economy. Yet his vision for BYU extends beyond workforce readiness. He speaks often about developing students who are not only capable professionals, but principled leaders.
Under his stewardship, the university continues to strengthen programs that prepare students for innovation and global engagement, while remaining grounded in moral and spiritual development.
As BYU looks toward its next century and a half, that balance will define its lasting influence.
A Steward in a Historic Line
The story of BYU is, in many ways, the story of its presidents. Each has guided the university through seasons of growth and challenge. Each has left an imprint on generations of students whose lives were shaped within its classrooms and devotional halls.
President Reese now carries that stewardship forward during one of the university’s most symbolic chapters. The 150th anniversary is more than a celebration of longevity; it is a reminder of the leaders who safeguarded BYU’s mission through changing times.
His role is not only to lead in the present, but to ensure the university remains strong, faithful, and relevant for those who will follow.
Honoring Leadership at Pillar of the Valley
On April 14, 2026, President Reese will be honored alongside six former BYU presidents at the Utah Valley Chamber’s Pillar of the Valley event, a rare generational gathering of leaders whose collective influence spans more than five decades.
Together, they represent a living legacy of faith-driven leadership that has shaped BYU’s academic excellence, spiritual foundation, and global reach.
As we celebrate 150 years of Brigham Young University, we also celebrate the individuals who have carried its mission forward, including the current president guiding it into its next chapter.
We invite you to learn more about the Pillar of the Valley celebration on April 14 as we honor the leadership that continues to define BYU’s enduring impact. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
