Michael Lacourse is a higher education administrator and currently serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah. As an academic entrepreneur, Michael previously led the design and development of two new health sciences colleges at National University in San Diego and at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville, Texas, both designed to expand educational access and opportunity in health professions for nontraditional students and students of color. While at SHSU, he also conceptualized and gained initial approval for a new college of osteopathic medicine to better meet the primary healthcare needs of rural Texans. Michael currently leads an academic enterprise at Utah Tech that uniquely aims to expand access, opportunity and success for underrepresented students to earn degrees in high-demand high-wage technology professions and achieve social mobility.

Michael earned a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College (MA) and a master’s and PhD from Indiana University. He previously served as Chief of the Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Laboratory at the VA Long Beach (CA) Healthcare System, where he led a team of students conducting neuroimaging research to characterize the effects of spinal cord injuries on functional brain organization and related therapeutic interventions.

Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons skiing and traveling all over the US and Europe.