BOISE — For the first time since 2003, Boise State University’s State of University Address was not delivered by Dr. Bob Kustra. Instead, it was delivered by Interim President, Martin Schimpf.
“To say Boise State has come a long way in the past decade would be a vast understatement,” Schimpf said.
The longtime professor of chemistry and the former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs addressed the crowd and outlined plans for a new lab, scholarship campaigns and named some firsts for the university.
“Boise State will soon be offering the nation's first online degree in genetic counseling,” Schimpf said. “A growing discipline that trains healthcare professionals to help patients understand and adapt to the medical and psychological implications to how genetics contributes to disease.”
During his State of University address, Schrimpf also announced plans for the school to host its first "Bronco Giving Day" on Sept. 13.
"You can think of this as an online Bronco Day for donors and community partners aimed at building the same kind of excitement among them that Bronco Day does for our future students,” Schimpf said.
Schimpf later addressed the search for the school’s next president.
“When it comes to finding a person who is going to be our next president, the state board and the leaders in this community have set a high standard, as we hoped they would,” Schimpf said.
Schimpf did not name any potential candidates for the school’s next president, but did go on to say it’s the people at BSU who make the school, not the president.
“It's your commitment and hard work that's created the safest, most beautiful and engaging and exciting urban campuses in the West,” Schimpf said. “You all working together did these things and you all will continue to lead Boise State on the unique trajectory that has captured the attention of high school students and parents in Idaho and beyond.”