BYU–Hawaii bids farewell to its ninth President and First Lady, President Steven C. Wheelwright and Margaret Wheelwright, who reflect on their time leading the University ohana.
First of all, we would like to take you back to the beginning of your assignment at BYU-Hawaii, and ask you to reflect on what you had first envisioned for the University when you arrived here. What were your ambitions for the University? What were the first impressions you felt about what you would affect during your leadership here?
President Wheelwright:
President Hinckley called us on March 5, 2007, but asked us not to tell anyone until it was announced on June 7th. However, between March and June, I had several meetings with Elder Richard G. Scott (Chairman of the Executive Committee), Elder Rolfe Kerr (Commissioner of Education) and Roger Christensen (Assistant Commissioner). The primary focus of those meetings was on the operations of the University and the use of tithing funds to accomplish the University’s prophetic purposes.
We also used those months to read everything we could regarding the University and the messages delivered by prophets and general authorities concerning the students, faculty and staff and the mission of the University…when we arrived, we knew much of the great legacy and the wonderful work that had been done by so many since the University’s founding in 1955.
When President Hinckley first announced our call, he said that he wanted us to take the University to new heights. From the discussions with CES and Elder Scott, I knew that meant finding ways to continually (a) raise the quality of all aspects of the educational experience, (b) lower the costs to both the church and to students, and (c) serve more students. As we met students, faculty, staff and community members we recognized the work that our assignment would entail, but also the blessings as we carried out the Lord’s design for this special University. Those first several months were a time of great learning as we began to recognize, with the help of CES, the Executive Committee and the Board, the wide range of opportunities and challenges that needed to be addressed with a well thought out and thoughtfully developed set of inspired and timely projects and initiatives.
Sister Wheelwright:
President Hinckley was very explicit about what his expectations and desires were, and what he envisioned our responsibilities to be…. He wanted the university to move to a new and higher level of quality in all aspects of the educational experience for BYU Hawaii students. He wanted us to increase the number of students we served and reduce the cost of BYU Hawaii education. This is what our assignment was from the very beginning and we were told that the Lord would help us achieve this goal if we served Him with all our hearts and strength.
Now that you are so close to completing your time here at BYU-Hawaii, as you look back, what can you tell us about the differences between what you thought your roles as President and First Lady would encompass as you first started, compared to what you have experienced those roles to be?
President Wheelwright:
There were three big areas that we did not fully appreciate when we started in this assignment. One was the importance that the political process and broad community support would play in limiting and pacing the University’s progress and that of the PCC, HRI and the Temple. It not only required learning all the unique rules and norms associated with doing business in Hawaii, but also the amount of time and energy we would need to focus on these political processes. For instance, during our initial weeks on campus we attended the first public meeting in the development of the Ko’olauloa Sustainable Community Plan (KSCP) where it was announced that the process would take two years. That KSCP is still not completed – and it’s been eight years - and it probably won’t be completed for another year or more.
Second, was the amount of energy and leadership it would take to get the University moving forward, even with the support of so many who were anxious to do what the Prophet and the Board wanted done. Organizational inertia– even when people see the need for change – is very real. Changing processes, structures and approaches takes lots of patience, time and discussion.
Third was the blessings that would come from working closely with the Executive Committee, the Board and with Area Presidencies in the greater Pacific. These leaders have such wisdom and insight and they are willing and anxious to share it when others are ready to receive it. Many times people ask me about traveling twice a month to Church Headquarters and how hard that must be. Actually, the meetings in Salt Lake with those so willing to help have been both inspiring and essential to learning what the Lord would have done and how best to accomplish it.
Sister Wheelwright:
As First Lady I quickly learned that my biggest role at BYU Hawaii was to love and support my husband with the challenging and vigorous demands on him as BYU Hawaii’s ninth president. He had worked very hard in his other assignments throughout our marriage, but we soon learned that this was going to demand more devotion and faith, time, energy, and mental and physical strength than his previous assignments. The work with students, faculty, staff, community, politics… have been never ending. I have tried to be at his side in all of these activities. A loving wife, a peaceful happy home, a good dinner every night, a constant listening ear and advice and counsel when needed has made his life easier these past eight years.
We have welcomed hundreds of people to our home during our tenure at BYU–H. We have had many overnight visitors from the Church offices, General Authorities serving in our target area, mission presidents stopping in Hawaii to reconnect with their past missionaries, and many groups of students who have come to our lanai for firesides or missionary reunions. I am grateful that I enjoy being a hostess and preparing meals because I have done this continually the past eight years.
How have your initial impressions and ideas of BYU-Hawaii changed throughout your Presidency? (This can be anything from initial impressions of the culture(s), the community, David O.Mckay’s vision of the school etc.)
President Wheelwright:
When we first arrived, we had read enough of the University’s prophetic destiny and great legacy to know that much had been accomplished, but there was much more that needed to be done. Over time, as we have come to know the students and BYU-Hawaii ohana much better, our understanding of the potential of the school and those who come here is orders of magnitude greater than we had imagined at the outset. And that vision of what the Lord has in store for those who commit to assist in building the kingdom, is only limited by the finite range of our own thinking. I like the way that President Spencer W. Kimball stated it:
“Until we have climbed the hill just before us, we are not apt to be given a glimpse of what lies beyond. The hills ahead are higher than we think. This means that accomplishments and further direction must occur in proper order, after we have done our part. We will not be transported from point A to point Z without having to pass through the developmental and demanding experiences of all the points of achievement and all the milestone markers that lie between!” (Kimball, Spencer W., “The Second Century of Brigham Young University,” BYU Devotional, 10 October, 1975.)
Sister Wheelwright:
As First Lady I have had the opportunity to tutor many students in EIL. I have enjoyed getting to know these students and helping them transition to an English speaking environment. I have also been involved with a wide range of students from our university because of new student orientation, weekly devotionals and temple service. Steve and I have loved getting to know many of these students on a very personal basis. This has been a great blessing to our lives. We also have loved living on campus and seeing the students coming and going by our home every day.
I have developed a much greater love and respect for BYU-H’s diverse population than I ever dreamed possible. I love our students and will always have a huge part of my heart filled with memories of these incredible students who have had such an enormous impact on my life. I have watched first hand as our BYU-H students have progressed from new freshmen to graduates, filled with energy, commitment, devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ, love, gentleness, kindness and goodness. I have loved seeing their desire to reach to new and higher levels in all aspects of their lives. They have taught me what it means to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
Sister Wheelwright, which of President Wheelwright’s achievements at BYU-Hawaii are you most proud of, and why?
Sister Wheelwright:
There have been times of contention and strife these past eight years when I have been aware of unkindness and unfairness shown to my husband and the direction he was going, but I have always known that he was directed by the Lord and he was doing what was needed and what was the right thing to do. He depends upon the Lord in all his decisions. He is also very wise and hard-working and he has devoted all of his energies into what he has felt directed to do. Sometimes the right decisions are not the most popular, but they are still the right decisions.
President Wheelwright, could you tell us about which of Sister Wheelwright’s achievements you are most proud of, and why?
Margaret is the best eternal companion that I could ever imagine. She has great faith, talent and ability. She is loving and patient and willing to do whatever the Lord and His prophet ask of her. And she never complains. One of the things that Elder Scott instructed us on was that we should try to be role models of a happy, devoted, faithful couple to all of the students, faculty and staff. To the extent we’ve been successful in doing that, it is because of Margaret. I can’t imagine trying to do this assignment without Margaret as a full and equal partner in all aspects of this endeavor.
What do you hope or perceive will be the legacy of your time as President and First Lady here?
President Wheelwright:
I would hope that when members of the BYU-Hawaii ohana reflect on the past eight years that they will conclude that the University has indeed reached “new heights”. That was the assignment President Hinckley gave eight years ago, and we hope others will recognize multiple dimensions of BYU-Hawaii that represent such accomplishment.
Sister Wheelwright:
I hope that our legacy will be seen as a time of growth, change and innovation that have moved the University to a higher level of competence and achievement. I hope that when all on this campus and in the community look at the higher level of quality and improvement in the University that they will feel like they too had a part in this advancement. I know that we have done our best with Heaven’s help
Is there any advice that you could pass on to the incoming President and First Lady, John S. Tanner and Susan W. Tanner, that you believe is important to know, or perhaps something you wish you had known when you first arrived?
President Wheelwright:
One of the great pieces of advice that a close friend and leader gave me several years ago, was that if you want to make a difference in an organization, you need to focus, be consistent and constantly repeat the message of that desired focus. In my case, I felt drawn to the Mission stated by President McKay and repeated by every prophet since concerning BYU-Hawaii… in every talk I’ve given about the University I’ve always cited that mission – developing learners, leaders and builders. In addition, because Elder Scott and the Board had been so consistent about continuing to raise the quality, lower the costs and serve more students, I would refer to those as our “three imperatives” as we pursued our mission. Hopefully, those themes have been helpful to students, faculty and staff as they have sought to understand the direction we were going and what they could do to align with and support that direction.
Sister Wheelwright:
We will pray for President and Sister Tanner that they will be quickly surrounded by the spirit of aloha and that they will feel of the love, support and commitment of the ohana to moving the university forward. This is not an easy assignment and we know they will need the love and support of the entire community.
We wish you all the best for your new calling as President and Matron of the Boston Massachusetts Temple. As you prepare to serve in this new calling, what will you take from your time here at BYU-Hawaii that you feel will help you with your new calling?
President Wheelwright:
The thing that I think will be most valuable is understanding the ways in which the Lord is willing to bless and guide our lives, if we will seek His help and accept His will. Seeing the way in which the Lord has guided the wide range of individuals on this campus and the opportunities He will provide when we in faith do our part, will be of great help as we serve in the Boston Temple. And I look forward to having even more time – beyond daily scripture study – to learn gospel truths and to serve with Margaret in such a wonderful setting.
Lastly, do you have any final messages that you would like to share with the students of BYU-Hawaii?
President Wheelwright:
My closing message would simply be that the Lord loves each of these students and He has incredible blessings in store for them, as they follow the Savior and accept His atonement. Hopefully their time at BYU-Hawaii will be a time of great spiritual learning as well as academic learning. And it will be if they will put the Kingdom of God first in all they do.
