Cecil Osborn Samuelson Jr. (born Aug 1, 1941) is an American retired rheumatologist[1] and professor of medicine who served as the 12th president of Brigham Young University (BYU) from 2003 to 2014.

[2][3] While he was president at BYU, Samuelson pushed professors and students to raise their expectations and encouraged mentored learning.

[7] During the 2008 recession, along with the LDS Church which owns and operates the university, BYU instituted a hiring freeze for almost two years, and 70-80 faculty retired or left.

[8][9] Enrollment limits stayed consistent, and Samuelson pushed for more mentored learning experiences, where professors work together with students on research.

[7] In 2004, students started cheering "Woosh, Cecil" after successful BYU basketball free throws, in an effort to elicit a response from Samuelson, who often attended games.

[11] Samuelson gave a talk in September 2007 to BYU students, quoting statements by J. Reuben Clark that the Constitution of the United States was not "a fully grown document", and that "we believe it must grow and develop to meet the changing needs of an advancing world."

[16] While serving in the presidency of the North America West Area, Samuelson was a signatory to a May 11, 1999 letter to all adult congregants in California which encouraged members to donate time and money to pass Proposition 22.