Clark Gilbert

Clark Gilbert is the president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide (BYU–PW), an online higher education organization created in 2017.[1][2] He was serving as the 16th president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) when he was appointed inaugural president of BYU–PW. Previously, Gilbert served as president and CEO of both the Deseret News and Deseret Digital Media, having also served as an executive vice president of Deseret Management Corporation, a professor at Harvard Business School (HBS), and as an associate academic vice president at BYU–Idaho.[3][4]

Clark Gilbert
Clark Gilbert in 2019
1st President of BYU–Pathway Worldwide
Incumbent
Assumed office May 1, 2017
16th President of BYU–Idaho
In office April 13, 2015 – April 10, 2017
Preceded by	Kim B. Clark
Succeeded by	Henry J. Eyring
Personal details
Born	California
Spouse(s)	Christine Gilbert
Children	8
Alma mater	Brigham Young University (B.A.) Stanford University (M.A.) Harvard University (D.B.A.)
Profession	Academic administrator, CEO, professor
Website	Office of the President

Career

Gilbert was a professor of entrepreneurial management at HBS. While there he was an adviser to the American Press Institute's Newspaper Next project, which studied ways for newspapers to transition to the digital age. Gilbert also worked closely with Clayton M. Christensen while at HBS.[5]

After his time at HBS, Gilbert joined the faculty of BYU–Idaho and served as Associate Academic Vice President of Academic Development; his responsibilities included student leadership, the BYU–Idaho Learning Model, online learning, and the Pathway program.[4][6][7][8]

Deseret Digital Media and Deseret News

In 2009, Gilbert became the CEO of the newly formed Deseret Digital Media, a subsidiary corporation of Deseret Management Corporation, which administers the websites of the Deseret News, Church News, Mormon Times, KSL radio and Deseret Book.

In May 2010, Gilbert was appointed president of the Deseret News.[9] He did not replace Jim Wall (the publisher) or Joseph A. Cannon (the editor), but filled a new role in the organization.

In August 2010, with Gilbert at the helm, the Deseret News laid off 43 percent of its workforce.[10]

Gilbert unveiled a set of six themes to guide the paper's coverage—previously distinguished by its lack of oversight from its owner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and a strict devotion to impartiality—going forward: 1. The Family, 2. Financial Responsibility, 3. Excellence in Education, 4. Care for the Needy, 5. Values in Media, and 6. Faith in the Community.

Using his theory of "disruption" economics, Gilbert has tried to pinpoint the cost of each story and achieve a more cost-effective story output.[11] In February 2011, Gilbert was the keynote speaker at a conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell named him the "Innovator of the Year."[12] Gilbert has also spoken to regional newspapers and editors about ways to better monetize journalism.

Under Gilbert, the Deseret News has reported a boost in all aspects of its circulation,[13] but some of its numbers have been disproved by The Salt Lake Tribune and Salt Lake City Weekly.[14]

As part of Gilbert's plan to "lead and innovate," the Deseret News and KSL created Deseret Connect, a network of freelance contributors under the direction of Matt Sanders.[15] Much of Deseret Connect's content has been featured prominently on the Deseret News homepage, though the print paper has largely remained the work of full- and part-time staff.

In November 2011, it was revealed that the mayor of Utah's West Valley City, Michael K. Winder, wrote under a pen name as a Deseret Connect contributor about city hall events, and that his stories were featured in the Deseret News. Gilbert said he was "concerned" that somebody would misrepresent himself in such a way.[16]

BYU–Idaho

On April 13, 2015, Gilbert succeeded Kim B. Clark as president of BYU–Idaho, becoming the institution's 16th president. His appointment had been announced on January 27, 2015 by Russell M. Nelson, then chairman of the Executive Committee of the BYU–Idaho Board of Trustees. Gilbert was formally installed during an inauguration ceremony on September 15, 2015.[17][18]

BYU–PW

On February 7, 2017, Dieter F. Uchtdorf announced the creation of BYU–PW, a new online higher education organization. Gilbert was appointed to head this new organization, which grew out of BYU–Idaho's Pathway program, originally started in 2009. He was replaced as president of BYU–Idaho by Henry J. Eyring, with his new position as president of BYU–PW effective on May 1, 2017.[19][1]

Personal life

Gilbert and his wife, Christine, are the parents of eight children. Gilbert served as an LDS Church missionary in Kobe, Japan, from 1989 to 1991.

Gilbert earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, a master's degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and a Doctor of Business Administration from HBS.[8]

Gilbert has served in the LDS Church as a bishop, member of a stake presidency, and in April 2020, he was called as an area seventy.[20]

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by Kim B. Clark	President of Brigham Young University–Idaho April 13, 2015 (2015-04-13) – April 10, 2017 (2017-04-10)	Succeeded by Henry J. Eyring

Preceded by Inaugural

President of BYU-Pathway Worldwide May 1, 2017 (2017-05-01) –

Succeeded by Incumbent

References

1. Furlong, Josh. "LDS Church announces new BYU-I president, new online higher education organization", KSL. Salt Lake City, 7 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
2. "LDS church asks Clark G. Gilbert to lead BYU–Pathway Worldwide | Local News". rexburgstandardjournal.com. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
3. "Meet the DDM Team: Clark Gilbert". Deseret Digital Media. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21.
4. "Clark Gilbert named new president of BYU-Idaho". Deseret News. 2015-01-27. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
5. "Clark Gilbert Demonstrates Disruption at the Deseret News". niemanreports.org. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
6. "New president of BYU-Idaho announced". Byui.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
7. "Clark Gilbert". Bonneville International. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21.
8. Clark G. Gilbert Biography, Brigham Young University-Idaho Office of the President, archived from the original on 2017-02-11, retrieved 2017-02-08
9. "Deseret Digital Media CEO Clark Gilbert Named to Expanded Role as President and CEO of the Deseret News". Desert Media Companies. Archived from the original on 2012-04-12.
10. McCord, Keith (August 31, 2010). "Layoffs, new operating model at Deseret News".
11. Doctor, Ken (April 28, 2011). "The newsonomics of story cost accounting". Nieman Journalism Lab.
12. "Clark Gilbert Named Innovator Of The Year For Local Online Media" (Press release). Borrell Associates. February 23, 2011.
13. Cortez, Marjorie (May 4, 2011). "Deseret News posts circulation gains, bucking national trend of declining print circulation". Deseret News.
14. Piper, Rachel (May 13, 2011). "Fine Print: The Deseret News Spins Its Circulation Numbers". News Blog. Salt Lake City Weekly.
15. "The Deseret News Unveils Bold New Direction for Newspaper" (Press release). Deseret News.
16. Page, Jared (November 10, 2011). "West Valley City mayor admits using false identity to write news stories". Deseret News.
17. "Clark Gilbert announced as new president of BYU-I", KSL January 27, 2015.
18. "Church Leaders Install New BYU-Idaho President Clark Gilbert", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-09-15
19. "Church Announces BYU–Pathway Worldwide, a Global Higher-Education Organization: Clark G. Gilbert will lead new organization", Newsroom, LDS Church, 2017-02-07
20. "New Seventies and Young Men General Presidency Named at April 2020 General Conference". Newsroom. 4 April 2020.