U of I President Scott Green to retire June 30, 2027

MOSCOW, Idaho — During the University of Idaho State of the University address today, President Scott Green announced he will retire June 30, 2027.  

“As a loyal alumnus of the University of Idaho, I am grateful to have served this institution in a way I never could have imagined when I first arrived on campus as a student,” Green said. “To be entrusted with the presidency of my alma mater has been the honor of my professional life.”  

Green will conclude his tenure after eight years at the helm, making him the longest-serving president since Richard Gibb, who was president when Green was a student at U of I.  

“President Green has served the University of Idaho with dedication, steady leadership and a deep commitment to the students and communities it serves,” said Kurt Liebich, president of the Idaho State Board of Education. “Over the past eight years, he has guided the university, helping position it for continued growth and success. We are grateful for his service to the university and to the state of Idaho, and we look forward to working with him through the remainder of his tenure.”  

Green returned to his alma mater in 2019 to face a budget deficit that nearly led to insolvency. He quickly implemented budget cuts and restructured operations to end deficit spending. The university, and the world, endured the COVID-19 pandemic, from which the university emerged stronger, enjoying several years of enrollment growth. Green led with compassion and strength after a capital crime tested the limits of the community.  

During his tenure, the university achieved Carnegie R1 research status, joining just 4% of universities nationally in this top research tier. Facility upgrades from Parma to Rinker Rock Creek Ranch, including the nation's largest research dairy, complemented on-campus upgrades in housing, streets and construction of the ICCU Arena.  

U of I has also been recognized as a national Best Value University by U.S. News & World Report for seven years, acknowledging the incredible benefit a U of I education is to its students.  

“Through our challenges and our successes, we never lost sight of our commitment to students — to provide them with the experience and training to be successful,” he said.  

In his announcement, Green highlighted the university’s strategic plan and clear path ahead. He also assured the community that he is committed to his role.  

“This does not mean I am walking away. Instead, it means I am doubling down,” he said. “Being a Vandal is part of who I am. This university has shaped my life, my career and my family.”  

The Idaho State Board of Education will lead a search in the coming months with the goal of announcing the next president in Spring 2027. 

Media contact

Jodi Walker 
Executive director of communications 
208-885-4295 
jwalker@uidaho.edu