Darrell K. White succeeds Gregory Fitch, who left UCAT to become Missouri's commissioner of higher education.
White, 67, will work with directors at the school's nine campuses throughout the state, UCAT's board of trustees and regional boards to continue the technical college's mission of training Utahns to meet the work force needs of business and industry, Regent Chairman Nolan Karras said in a written statement.
White most recently worked as then-Gov. Olene Walker's deputy for education. He will serve in the interim post until the regents pick a new UCAT president, earning the same $122,400 annual salary paid to Fitch.
White was superintendent of the Davis School District from 1996 to 2002 and a former executive director of the Utah School Superintendents Association. He also was superintendent of the Box Elder, North Summit and Sevier school districts.
White was principal of Roy High and a teacher in the Weber School District.
He earned doctoral and master's degrees from Utah State University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah.
Karras said Regent Daryl Barrett will lead a search committee to find a new UCAT president. Former Gov. Norm Bangerter, who heads the UCAT board of trustees, will serve on that panel.
UCAT's board will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Regents Office at The Gateway, 60 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City.
The regents also are searching for new presidents at Salt Lake Community College, Dixie State College and Utah State University. USU President Kermit Hall last week accepted the top job at the State University of New York in Albany.
