Steven C. Wheelwright

Steven C. Wheelwright, who retired last year from a Harvard University post of Baker Foundation professor and senior associate dean and director of Harvard Business School's publication activities, will meet Thursday with BYU-Hawai'i students and faculty at the La'ie campus.

The university educates 2,400 students each year from 70 countries.

Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and chairman of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young University-Hawai'i announced Wheelwright's selection this morning via satellite from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

"I know President Wheelwright will take BYU-Hawai'i to new heights," Hinckley said. "Through his expertise and many associations, I'm confident he will expand the influence of BYU-Hawai'i and bless the lives of all who come to this illustrious school."

Wheelwright will replace retiring president Eric Shumway, who is set to become president of the Mormon temple in Tonga for three years.

Wheelwright and his wife Margaret this morning spoke to faculty and students at BYU-Hawai'i's Cannon Activities Center on campus through video conference.

"I believe in BYU-Hawai'i and its mission because it combines spiritual with secular learning and focuses on the development of character and understanding in these wonderful young people," Wheelwright said.

Before starting his career in higher education, Wheelwright was a doctoral student at Stanford University working under the direction of then-professor Henry B. Eyring, now of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After graduating from Stanford with an MBA and doctorate, Wheelwright spent a year on the faculty at INSEAD, a business school in Fontainebleau, France, and then spent the remainder of his academic career working between two institutions, Harvard and Stanford.

As a young man, Wheelwright served the Church as a missionary in Scotland. He later served as a mission president in London from 2000 to 2003. He has been a counselor in a stake presidency, a high councilor and a bishop. Since leaving Harvard, he and his wife have been service missionaries at BYU-Idaho.