Joe J. Christensen Named President of Ricks College

Joe J. Christensen, assistant commissioner of education in the Church Educational System, was named the twelfth president of Ricks College at a faculty and staff meeting August 13.

Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Council of the Twelve, a member of the Board of Trustees of Ricks College, announced Brother Christensen’s selection as president.

Elder Monson told faculty and staff members at the meeting, “I am certain [Brother Christensen] will win the hearts of the students.”

Brother Christensen succeeds Bruce C. Hafen, who became dean of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University September 1. Brother Hafen had been president of Ricks since 1978.

Ricks College, with a student body of more than 6,000, is the largest privately owned two-year college in the United States. Its students come from all fifty states and more than thirty other countries.

Brother Christensen told the audience he was “overwhelmed at the assignment. I’ve been invited to board a fast-moving train which, for all I know, is going on the right track. I hope I can get on the train without stumbling.”

Elder Monson drew appreciative laughter from the audience when he quoted a comment about the new Ricks president by President Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve, who, like Brother Christensen, hails from one of southeastern Idaho’s prime agricultural areas. “Why,” said President Benson, “he’s a dry farmer. They can accomplish anything.”

Though he still enjoys spending time on his family’s farm in Banida, Idaho, as his schedule permits, Brother Christensen has reached far beyond its horizons in the service he has given. He is a veteran of more than thirty years’ service in the Church Educational System. He has been a seminary teacher and was director of institutes of religion at Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of Utah.

In 1970, he was appointed an associate commissioner of education for the Church, and from 1979 to 1983, he was president of the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.

He has served as a bishop, a high councilor, president of the Mexico City mission, a member of the General Board of the Melchizedek Priesthood MIA, a counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, and a member of the Young Men General Board.

President Christensen is married to the former Barbara Kohler of Midway, Utah.