Any Salt Lake Community College students who are ever guilty of procrastinating before finishing a paper or studying for a big test can at least breathe easier knowing their school itself does the same thing.

How else to explain why their no-longer-particularly-“new” school president, Dr. Greg Peterson, was just barely inaugurated late this summer, more than a year after taking the job.

“It has been an amazing year (since becoming SLCC president),” Peterson said. “In my first year, I’ve been able to see increased enrollment, construction begin on a large remodel of our business building and our first-ever JUCO baseball national championship. I am still so excited to be back in Utah, where I have more than 20 extended family members.”

Always wearing his trademark tennis shoes, Dr. Greg Peterson has served as SLCC president for 15 months. (SLCC)

Peterson grew up in the Portland area and both parents still live in Oregon. But as soon as he could return to Utah, he did so as an incoming freshman at BYU. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English there, Peterson went on to a master’s degree at Portland State University, followed by a University of Texas Doctorate in Educational Administration, earned in 2007. 

Prior to being named the ninth-ever SLCC president last year, Peterson was president of Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. Starting there in 2018, he became recognized for launching the first community college Artificial Intelligence program in the nation. He also developed close relationships with industry partners and community leaders to strengthen workforce pipelines for students.

“Our total SLCC enrollment this fall is now back over 50,000 students, which is about where we were before the pandemic hit (in March 2020),” he said. “Some 37,000 of those are credited students working toward their associate’s degree, and many looking ahead to continue on at one of our partner four-year schools.”

The heavy equipment was already on hand last fall, when SLCC President Dr. Greg Peterson participated in a groundbreaking for millions of dollars in structural improvements at their business school building. (SLCC)

Less than a year before Peterson became president, SLCC marked its 75th “diamond jubilee” anniversary as an institution. In September 1948 – barely three years following the end of World War II – what was then called Salt Lake Area Vocational School opened its doors to 246 students. Sixteen different courses were offered by 23 instructors during that first year, mostly to GIs who’d just returned from the war. By the end of year one, enrollment had grown to some 1,400 students.

The school marked the 75th anniversary on Sept. 14, 2023 with an outdoor ceremony and time capsule opening on the lawn at the school’s main campus in Taylorsville (4600 S. Redwood Road). 

Peterson was in place last fall when ground was broken on one of the largest construction projects the SLCC campus has undertaken in years.

“The remodel of our business building remains on budget and on schedule to open next year,” Peterson said. “We are very excited how they are creating more student work space, taking in more natural light and constructing a new, large auditorium. The building is completely closed during this renovation. Our business students are attending classes in several other buildings, even on other campuses. But when the building reopens, I know students will love it.”

A massive remodel of the SLCC business building began last fall, soon after Dr. Greg Peterson became the school’s new president. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Renovations to the business school became possible when the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation donated $10 million to SLCC. It was the largest single cash donation ever received by the school. The renovated building will be named the “Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Business Building.” Also, the school itself is now named the “Gail Miller School of Business.”

Another significant construction change at the school this year was the creation of a large bus hub on the Taylorsville campus to accommodate the new Midvalley Express bus rapid transit line which will soon connect riders from Murray through Taylorsville (and the SLCC campus) and on to West Valley City.

“Our new (SLCC Utah Transit Authority) station came on line this summer and I have already heard positive feedback from students,” Peterson said. “I think the station will be very active and a great resource for our students. I am also very excited about how the station will increase our school’s visibility for non-students. Everyone riding the new bus line will have the opportunity to see our campus.”

President Greg Peterson is excited the new rapid-transit bus line coming to Taylorsville soon has a designated stop on the SLCC campus, just off Redwood Road. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

In addition to new construction at the SLCC Taylorsville campus, Peterson has also welcomed several key new administrators to the school in the 15 months he’s been in place. Dr. Jamie Cooper is the school’s new Provost of Academic Affairs, while Dr. Jason Wood was named Vice President of Salt Lake Technical College. The pair each moved here from outside the Intermountain West. Cooper came in from York Technical College in South Carolina. Wood had been president of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. 

“Both of these administrators have family connections here in Utah,” Peterson said. “They each come to us with skills we are very excited to have.”

A third new administrator, Athletic Director Gary Verón, officially assumed his post on June 2 – just two days after the Salt Lake Community College Bruins baseball team claimed its first-ever national championship. Saturday night, May 31, SLCC upset the JUCO World Series title tournament’s No. 1 seed, Walters State of Tennessee, 9-6 in a game played in Grand Junction, Colorado.

As SLCC president, Dr. Greg Peterson considers one of his top priorities to be approachable for all of his students. During the week of his inauguration, he visited all eight SLCC campuses to talk with students and give them cookies, cut in the shape of his trademark tennis shoes. (SLCC)

 “We have had an exceptionally strong baseball program for several years and it was wonderful to see out students win their first-ever national title,” Peterson said. “In many sports we provide our students with athletic scholarships. But junior colleges are not involved in NIL payments like larger schools. Strong athletic programs reflect back onto our school. It gives our general student body, and our alumni, a more positive identity. The baseball team’s accomplishment was great for all of us.”

Going back to 2008, SLCC has claimed national junior college team championships in: men’s basketball, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country and now baseball.

Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson was among those who attended Peterson’s inauguration.

“It was a lovely evening, not only highlighting Dr. Peterson but also some of the many courses SLCC offers,” she said. “They had student art on display… a mock up of a crime scene investigation site… and a display showing the study of our human anatomy. It was all quite interesting. I’m very pleased Taylorsville City has a strong relationship with SLCC and Dr. Peterson.”