UVU president Astrid Tuminez to step down in May

Utah Valley University president Astrid Tuminez announced she’s stepping down from her role on May 1, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Utah Valley University)

Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez announced Wednesday she will step down from her role on May 1 after more than seven years, the last of which was marked by tragedy.

The announcement comes after Tuminez experienced a rough 2025 marked by her husband Jeffrey Tolk’s sudden death in February and the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the university’s campus in September. 

She said Wednesday she’s resigning to devote more time to her family and personal pursuits.

“UVU has been a labor of love for me. The university’s call to ‘come as you are’ recognizes and cultivates human potential in bold ways that traditional institutions may overlook,” Tuminez said in a news release. “Education transformed my life from the slums of the Philippines to a global adventure, and I brought that conviction to UVU. My heart will always be green.”

Tuminez led UVU since the fall of 2018, making history as the first woman to serve as a full-time president at Utah’s largest university. As a student, transferred from the University of the Philippines to Brigham Young University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Russian literature. Tuminez also has a master’s degree in Soviet studies from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“President Tuminez has been a deeply thoughtful leader who has consistently championed student success,” Utah System of Higher Education Commissioner Geoffrey Landward said in a statement. “We are grateful for her leadership and will work closely with the board and the university to ensure a smooth and well-supported transition.” 

A highlight of Tuminez’s tenure is Vision 2030, according to the university, a 10-year plan to better support students, community and workforce. 

The Utah Board of Higher Education is now establishing a presidential transition team with representatives from the board, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, and UVU trustees who will oversee the new leadership search process over the next several months, the university said in the release. 

The presidential transition team will continue working through the first six months of the new president’s tenure, as part of a new presidential search model, the university added. That would extend their support beyond the hiring process.

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