In his inaugural address, E. Gordon Gee, a Mormon who had received both a law degree and doctorate in education from Columbia University and then returned to his home state to serve as president of the University of Utah, set his purpose as president, “to give this private institution a world view, a world voice, and a public purpose.” However, in February 2000, after serving for only two years, Gee resigned to become chancellor of Vanderbilt University.