J. Lawrence Richards

John Lawrence (Larry) Richards was appointed president of LDS Business College on December 9, 2008, and served in that capacity until April 17,2017. He first joined the college in 2002 as a member of the business department faculty. In 2005, Richards was appointed assistant to the president with responsibility for faculty administration, student life, and planning.

Richards was born in 1952 in Salt Lake City. He was elected high school student body president and later served as a student body vice president and student chairman of the Union Building Board at the University of Utah.

Richards earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication at the University of Utah in 1976. He pursued post-graduate studies in human resources management at the University of Utah in 1977. In 2007, he completed a master’s degree in education specializing in professional studies in education with an emphasis in institutional leadership and curriculum from Capella University.

Richards began his career in the banking industry when he became a branch manager at age 26. He has worked as president/CEO and director of four banks, and interim CEO of a California-based life insurance company. He has provided consulting services to more than fifty Fortune 500 and smaller companies interested in establishing state-chartered commercial and industrial banks in Utah.

Richards has a long history of community service. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Utah Banker’s Association and the Utah Association of Financial Services, president of the Board of Salt Lake Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (NeighborWorks), and Chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement of Utah.

He and his wife, Julie, have two children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints. He served on the general curriculum committee of the Church.