Joyce Appoints New Interim President & CEO

Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences Appoints Joshua Knotts as Interim President and CEO

SALT LAKE CITY, April 4, 2025 – Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences has appointed Joshua Knotts as Interim President and CEO, effective March 22nd. Dr. John Smith-Coppes, the outgoing President and CEO, will continue to serve in an advisory capacity through mid-April to ensure a seamless transition.

Mr. Knotts, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Experience, brings more than a decade of leadership experience at Joyce University. Since joining the institution in 2012 – then known as Ameritech College of Healthcare – he has held various roles with increasing responsibility. His deep institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and strategic vision have been instrumental in shaping Joyce University’s continued growth and success.

During his tenure, Mr. Knotts played a key role in leading the university’s rebrand to Joyce University, leading institutional strategy, expanding regional program offerings into new states, and developing a dedicated student experience division. His leadership has been pivotal in creating a culture of excellence, innovation, and student-centeredness.

“As someone who has been a part of this institution for more than a decade, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact Joyce University has on its students and the communities they serve,” said Knotts. “I am honored to step into this role and continue working alongside our exceptional faculty and staff to further our mission of shaping the future of nursing education.”

The university’s Board of Directors will reassess the role’s permanence at the end of the year, with no current plans to conduct an external search.

Dr. Smith-Coppes, who has served Joyce University since August 2022, has played a key role in advancing the institution’s academic mission and student success initiatives. “It has been a true honor and privilege to serve the Joyce community as President & CEO. And as proud as I am that our faculty and staff have increased their capacity to serve with care and accountability, I am even more thrilled to endorse and support Josh’s elevation to the role of Interim President & CEO,” said Smith-Coppes. “Josh is the quintessential, student-centric internal executive who will take Joyce to the next level. This institution offers an answer to the rising call for quality nurses across the country, and Mr. Knotts not only sees the future with clarity, but has the capability to support students, faculty, and community members with excellence.”

For more information about Joyce University and its innovative nursing programs, visit Joyce.edu.

• ABOUT JOYCE UNIVERSITY

  Founded in 1979, Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences’ mission is to prepare students to serve as competent professionals, to advance their careers, and to pursue lifelong learning. Located in Draper, Utah, Joyce University is proud to have helped thousands of students across the US graduate and launch lasting healthcare careers. With a recent expansion of its pre-licensure programs to select regional locations, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, Joyce University’s expansion enables aspiring nurses in these regions to access the same high-quality education and opportunities that have defined the institution for decades. Join them as they continue to shape the future of healthcare, one student at a time.

  Joyce University is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for the Associate of Science in Nursing degree program and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degree programs.