Elizabeth R. Cantwell

Elizabeth R. Cantwell (born 1955 or 1956)^[1] is an American researcher who is the president of Washington State University. From August 1, 2023 to April 1, 2025, she was president of Utah State University.^[2]

Cantwell has a B.A. in human behavior from the University of Chicago (1976). In 1992, she received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2003, she earned a M.B.A. in finance & entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School.^[3]

Cantwell worked for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she was director for economic development^[4] and focused on developing research programs for the U.S. Department of Defense.^[3] From 2015 to 2019, she was at Arizona State University.^[5]

After leaving ASU, Cantwell was an American professor of aerospace-mechanical engineering and the senior vice president for research and Innovation at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.^[6][3] At the University of Arizona, she oversaw twelve major university research centers and facilities, including Biosphere 2, Bio5 Institute, Arizona State Museum, and the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy.^[3]

Cantwell was named president of Utah State University on May 19, 2023.^[7] Her tenure at USU was short, ending after just a year. She left amid lawsuits filed by employees in the athletic department alleging she oversaw their wrongful termination.^[8] She left amid allegations of her overspending on perks relating to improvements to her office, purchase of vehicles and excessive travel.^[9] Her spending caused the Utah State Auditor to audit the University. The results of the audit alleged USU was not complying with required procurement protocols. The audit called for USU's Board of Trustees to provide more oversight administrative spending.^[10] It was also alleged that she engaged in online secret chat forums with other university executives in order to avoid Utah's open records laws.^[11] She resigned after only 18 months at USU.^[12] The process of appointing Cantwell was called "a failure" by Utah Sen. Chris Wilson.^[13] A later audit conducted by the state of Utah found that, during Cantwell's tenure, USU exhibited a pattern of "severe noncompliance" with spending rules. The audit alleged that Cantwell attempted to use her position to award university contracts to companies controlled by friends, likely violating Utah state law.^[14]. As a result of Cantwell's spending abuses, the Utah Legislature suspended $12,000,000 of Utah State University's budget^[15] The amount was reinstated after Utah State's new president Brad Mortensen presented acceptable reforms to prevent abuses like those of Cantwell.^[16]

Cantwell became president of Washington State University on April 1, 2025.^[17]

She was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2019.^[18][19] In 2020, she was presented with the Transformational Leadership Award at the Arizona Governor's Celebration of Innovation Awards.^[20]