WILDCAT WSU Alumni Magazine | FALL 2018 Shedding Light on the Opioid Epidemic WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends WILDCAT Vol. 23, No. 2, Fall 2018 editor in chief Amy Renner Hendricks Contributing writers Rachel Badali BS ’18 Matt Gerrish BS ’10, MPC ’15 Amy Renner Hendricks Allison Barlow Hess Corie Holmes BS ’13 Karin Hurst Jaime Winston contributing editors Nancy B. Collinwood BS ’94 Rebecca Gibson AS ’09 John Kowalewski Brad Mortensen Amber Robson BS ’05, MPC ’17 designers Emily Caraballo Amy Hajdas Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 PHotographers Rachel Badali BS ’18 Ryan Belnap Robert Casey Matt Gerrish BS ’10, MPC ’15 Joe Salmond Zac Williams BS ’01, MPC ’13 Benjamin Zack Check out our new partners at WSU Downtown! SPECIAL THANKS WSU Costume Studio Creative director Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 Whatever It Takes Lexie Green Thompson (left) McKenna Lloyd (right) Comments and questions may be sent to Wildcat, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4025, Ogden UT 84408-4025. The editor may also be contacted by phone: 801-626-7359 or email: magazine@weber.edu. Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018, call 801-626-6138 or email giving@weber.edu to update your records. A member of WSU’s cross country team, senior Lexie Green Thompson wakes up most days at 4:30 a.m. to run for 30 minutes before heading to her clinical rotation at Ogden Regional Medical Center. She works until 2:30 p.m. and has practice at 3 p.m. McKenna Lloyd, a member of the tennis team, sprints to the tennis courts after class, practices for hours, then heads to her clinical rotation at Ogden Clinic. There’s barely time to scarf down a sandwich. It’s hard, but Thompson and Lloyd are up to the challenge of being students and athletes. They say their professors in the radiologic sciences program challenge them and help them succeed. “On the tough days, when everything seems crazy, and it feels like I can’t fit everything in, I step back and remember how cool this experience is. Who else gets to play a college sport with teammates from all over the world and be in one of the most competitive radiologic sciences programs?” says McKenna, who wants to specialize in ultrasound or MRI imaging. Thompson, who wants to specialize in either CT or MRI imaging, agrees, saying, “The hardest part of the day is waking up and running at 4:30 in the morning. I motivate myself by thinking about how grateful I am to have the opportunity to run collegiately while getting a great education in a very competitive program.” WSU’s School of Radiologic Sciences offers over 50 years of educational experience in medical imaging. postmaster: Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018. weber state university board of trustees 2018-19 Nolan Karras BS ’70, Chair Kearston Cutrubus, Vice Chair Karla K. Bergeson Marty Carpenter BA ’01 Danielle Croyle BS ’96 Karen White Fairbanks Scott W. Parson Donald J. Salazar Jordan Slater Jeff M. Stephens BS ’84, MS ’88 For more information, visit weber.edu/radsci. 30% OFF ONE WEBER GEAR ITEM with this coupon Downtown location only [ WSU Not valid on clearance items ] weber.edu/wsumagazine | alumni.weber.edu wildcatstores.com Congratulations CONTENTS 2018 Big Sky Conference Football Champions! For the first time in school history, Weber State football repeated as Big Sky Conference champions, finishing the regular season with a 9-2 record (7-1 in Big Sky play). Led by coach Jay Hill and the league’s top-ranked defense, the Wildcats earned two more program firsts: their third consecutive trip to the FCS playoffs and the No. 2 overall seed. 18 Killer Painkillers Alumni discuss the complexities of the opioid epidemic in Utah and the nation. 14 Please and Thank You 30 WSU encourages civility and kindness. 24 True Story A message from an Internet spam scammer inspires an unlikely friendship. WSU Salutes Outstanding alumni and friends receive recognition. 33 Class Notes Wildcats share their successes and updates. DON’T MISS the spring 2019 issue of Wildcat, where we will be introducing the 13th president of Weber State University. Photo by Robert Casey WEBER WATCH WEBER WATCH Running WEBER WATCH Allison Barlow Hess, Rachel Badali BS ’18 and Amy Renner Hendricks Down a Dream On April 16, 2018, the world found out what Weber State has known for a long time: Sarah Callister Sellers AS ’12, BS ’13 has the heart MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS and talent of a champion. Through driving sleet, Sellers came “out of nowhere” to finish second in the Boston Marathon. She had no sponsor; she paid her own race fees; she trained before and after work as a nurse anesthetist in Arizona. Her former Weber State track coach Paul Pilkington BS ’81 provided her training regimen over the phone. Boston wasn’t just a second-place finish; it was her second marathon — ever. Best LendEDU Value LendEDU honored as the Crystal Crest Female Athlete of the Year in 2012. She also managed to graduate with a perfect GPA in nursing. With individual attention, quality instruction In addition, a CNBC report on high student and low tuition, we know Weber State is a debt found that Utah has the lowest average Sellers now has an agent and sponsors, and plans to keep herself great value. Others agree. rate of student loan debt in the U.S.: $19, 975. healthy and running toward new opportunities. See more on Sellers, The report mentioned that the state’s most WSU’s 2018 Outstanding Young Alumna, on page 32. N AT I O N ’ S for CCRI As a nine-time Big Sky champion at Weber State, Sellers was Weber State ranks second in the country popular colleges are public schools with for the lowest student loan debt for parents, in-state tuition of less than $6,000, which according to LendEDU. Using data from includes Weber State. Fellow Weber State track alumni Taylor Ward BS ’15, MSRS ’16 and Lindsey Anderson BS ’08 also continue to succeed in the racing world. Ward, a former teammate of Sellers, and a bridesmaid over 1,000 higher education institutions, the organization found 500 colleges and Also, WSU graduates enjoy an average universities where parents of undergraduate starting salary of $51,600 — the highest students had the least Parent PLUS Loan among all the public institutions in debt. A Parent PLUS Loan allows parents the state — putting Weber State on to fill the gap when additional funds are Smart Asset’s 2018 “Best Value Colleges needed after scholarships, grants and other in Utah” list. at her wedding, finished sixth in the 2018 Chicago Marathon, while Anderson, a former steeplechase Olympian, took 12th. It was Anderson’s first marathon. All three qualified for the Olympic marathon trials. student loans. And, in 2018, Forbes named Weber State to LendEDU also ranked Weber State among its third annual “Best Value Colleges” list, the nation’s top 100 universities in its 2018 which is based on net price, net debt, alumni College Risk-Reward Indicator (CCRI), which earnings, timely graduation, school quality calculates student loan debt and average and access for low-income students. Bear Researcher Becomes Wildcat Early in her graduate education, the new dean of WSU’s College early career dividends to evaluate the risks of Science spent two seasons leading a bear-trapping team to and rewards of attending a university. research grizzly and black bear in Yellowstone National Park. Andrea Easter-Pilcher said she learned two things through those early experiences: First, ensure a snared bear is fully secured before approaching, and second, it’s important to ask for what you want in life. Easter-Pilcher has asked for and received more than a dozen grants for wildlife conservation research conducted around the world. She spent the previous nine years as a faculty member, chair and dean at St. George’s University in Grenada, where she 6 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Photo by Brian Griffin BA ’86 and her students studied endangered island birds. Easter-Pilcher was awarded a postdoctoral research appointment in wildlife ecology from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Montana State University. Fall 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 7 WEBER WATCH Circle Good Things Come in Threes Full As construction crews continue to build, so does After losing her 20-year-old son, Thomas Reese Dee, in 1894 to a ruptured appendix and her excitement for three new Weber State buildings. husband, Thomas D. Dee, 11 years later to pneumonia, Annie Taylor Dee resolved to build First, the Ezekiel R. Dumke Jr. & Katherine W. a hospital for the Ogden community. In 1910, Annie formally presented the Thomas D. Dee Dumke Center for Interprofessional Education in Memorial Hospital to the people of Ogden. The facility became a training ground for nurses, Healthcare opened in August. The building provides and in 1932, aligned its course work with Weber College. a space for students to learn and collaborate with The renaming of WSU’s School of Nursing symbolically brings to full circle Annie’s faculty in various healthcare fields. The building passionate commitment to nursing education and her family’s time-honored association was made possible by generous support from with the university. Annie Taylor Dee’s legacy of giving is sustained through the Lawrence T. Ezekiel R. Dumke Jr. and the Dr. Ezekiel R. and & Janet T. Dee and Stewart Education foundations. In October 2018, WSU celebrated the naming of the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation. A second new building, located on the corner of Monroe Boulevard and 26th Street, opened in November and offers a place for Ogden’s Dumke Center Lindquist Hall A New Leader on Campus underserved populations to access valuable education resources. The new Community Following a national search, Brett Perozzi was named vice president of Education Center offers English as a second Student Affairs. language and computer literacy courses, as Perozzi has worked in student affairs around the world. He served as chair of well as other programs to help people advance the International Advisory Board for NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators their education. in Higher Education) and was a featured speaker at the National Association After renovations are complete, the aging Social of Student Development Practitioners conference in South Africa. For Science building will become the new Lindquist Hall. his scholarship and leadership, NASPA selected Perozzi as a “Pillar of the A state-of-the-art facility with updated classrooms, Profession” in 2017. laboratories, offices, a testing center, computer lab With a Ph.D. from Indiana University in higher education, Perozzi spent 15 and collaboration spaces, Lindquist Hall will open in years working and teaching at other higher education institutions before January 2019. The name of the renovated building is being hired at Weber State in 2007 as associate vice president. a tribute to the Lindquist family. John E. Lindquist, president of Lindquist Mortuaries, gifted $5 million to the university to help fund the remodel. Community Education Center Newman Fellow Welcome Honored For her work fostering a culture of sustainable practices on campus, political science NUAMES major Aimee Urbina was named a Newman Civic Fellow. She was one of only three students in Utah to be selected for the national fellowship program. Urbina arrived at Weber State as a nervous first-generation college student. She has partnered with WSU to provide a rigorous, supportive, early college education to 750 credits Latinos In Action (LIA), a program that empowers Latino youth, for setting her students on the WSU Davis campus in Layton. In the fall of 2018, the charter school, which educational path. serves students in grades 10-12, expanded to the Ogden campus. “If it weren’t for LIA, I wouldn’t be in college,” Urbina said. “LIA opened the door, and NUAMES North, as the Ogden location is known, makes its home primarily in Lind Lecture environmental ambassadors at Weber State set the tone for what I wanted to be Hall. Eventually, the school will be housed in the new Noorda Engineering & Technology involved with on campus.” building, which will be built to replace the Technical Education Building. NUAMES will Urbina educates students about sustainable programs at WSU and in the contribute $7.5 million toward construction. community and listens to students’ concerns regarding the environment. More than half of NUAMES’ students go on to attend Weber State, and more than half of the Her résumé includes international service trips to Rwanda and Guatemala. seniors earn a WSU associate’s degree upon high school graduation. The Utah Pace Report Card The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports students who has recognized NUAMES as the No. 1 high school in Utah for the past five years. have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. 8 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Photo by Matt Gerrish BS ’10 , MPC ’15 For more than 10 years, the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (NUAMES) Photo by Rachel Badali BS ’18 Cruising Forward This program prepared me for a leadership role Walking doesn’t come easy to 8-year-old Torsten Lambert. He has cerebral palsy, which affects his because the faculty are industry leaders with balance, movement and motor skills. Now, though, there is something he can do to get around and years of real-world experience. There’s only so explore his surroundings — pedal. much you can learn from a textbook. Five Weber State University mechanical engineering technology students spent their senior capstone — Jordan Clemente, MHA class building a custom-made trike for Torsten. Their hard work resulted in a trike he could both power and maneuver. Torsten is now learning to cruise on three wheels, which means he’s in control of what he does and where he goes. Torsten’s mom, Jennifer Lambert, uses one word to describe what the trike offers Torsten — “Freedom.” EXECUTIVE MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT Engineering the Future New degrees will help students fill positions in The need for qualified healthcare management professionals has never been greater. Weber State University’s Executive Master of Health Administration degree is designed for students whose personal and professional demands keep them from attending a traditional campus. engineering and technology fields that are in high demand in Northern Utah and beyond. NO GRE/GMAT REQUIRED Trustees approved master’s degrees in computer With five years experience science and electrical engineering and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and manufacturing ACCELERATED PROGRAM systems engineering. Complete in just 5 semesters “Engineering is one of the largest and most in-demand WSU engineering chair. “The Northern Utah region NATIONALLY RANKED Top 50 in the nation No out-of-state increase, fees and books included is industrially rich with medical-, aerospace- and recreational-related companies. As Weber State begins industries can be more fully served by qualified college Just a day and a half FLAT-RATE TUITION degrees in the United States,” said Kirk Hagen BS ’77, offering additional engineering degrees, these local MEET ONCE PER SEMESTER APPLY NOW ALUMNI DISCOUNT Weber State alumni who are accepted into the 2020 eMHA cohort will be eligible for an additional one-time 5 percent loyalty discount on the first semester’s tuition. graduates produced in their own backyard.” 10 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 weber.edu/emha seasons at the Division I collegiate level, “My expectation for this team is to with six years in the state of Utah. She play hard and play together, laying the is the sixth head coach in Weber State foundation for future teams,” she said. “I women’s basketball history and is the first want our young kids to learn, grow and WSU Welcomes Velaida Harris African-American woman to be named play their hearts out for their teammates a Division I collegiate head coach of any who took great care of them this summer sport in Utah. when they didn’t have a head coach. I “I’m so grateful and thankful for the know our young kids want to play well for opportunity to lead the Weber State them, especially the two seniors, Emily women’s basketball program,” she said. Drake and Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman.” “I’m excited to build on the momentum Harris said the community has been great and continue to grow this program. Right and that she and her team are working now we are focused on putting forth hard for the fans, one of whom she met as maximum effort, increasing individual we were finishing up outside The Dee. “He skill development and fitness, and learning walks here every day,” she said, and then Corie Holmes BS ’13 | women work hard and improve.” before he headed home, introduced herself, and they spoke for Only about half of the 2018-19 team has experience at the a moment. He wished her good luck on the season. collegiate level. Despite the young team, Harris has great “Thank you so very much,” she said. “I really appreciate that. expectations for the Wildcat program. I’m very grateful to be here.” ATHLETICS W eber State University Athletics announced the hiring of Velaida Harris as the new head coach of the women’s basketball team on July 17, 2018. Wildcat magazine caught up with Harris outside the Dee Events Center a little over two months later on Oct. 5, about an hour before practice. “23 to go,” Harris said, smiling, meaning 23 practices left until game day. She wasn’t nervous. She was excited. “We are working to get better every day,” Harris said, “on the court, in the classroom and the community. I love the attitudes each person on the team has, and I know they are hungry, which excites me as a coach.” Harris brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to Weber State, including nine 12 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 the system. I am happy to see these young she jogged over to his car. She stopped him Have you noticed that rudeness is on the rise? A nationwide survey, Civility in America 2018, reports that Americans personally experience more than 10 uncivil encounters a week, on average. The country needs an influx of kindness, and Weber State University is doing its part by … Standing Up for Civility, Helpfulness and Respect Jaime Winston MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 14 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Fall 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 15 W eber State University What exactly were these cards that geosciences professor were inspiring people across campus Carie Frantz smiled, gazing and the community to spread at the note she posted on kindness? the mirror: “Look at you, you They were part of the Civility beautiful, imperfect, strong, rad Quest Challenge, a collaboration human. The world is your oyster!” between WSU, Ogden City and local The message went out to anyone businesses. The weeklong challenge who needed it — on a yellow kicked off on April 6, 2018, with sticky note with Frantz’s sketch events at WSU’s Stewart Bell because it impacts the bees, so you do it — that’s how I’ve of a flower accompanying her Tower and Ogden’s 25th Street, and viewed civility.” elegant cursive. Before leaving the culminated with a celebration on “I felt it was a timely topic,” she said. A WSU Tradition Forrest Crawford BS ’75, professor of teacher education and continue trying to “get it right.” women’s restroom on the third floor April 12, 2018, World Civility Day. The of Tracy Hall Science Center, she idea was to engage people in simple behaviors that remind us taped a second note to the mirror, a small card actually. It had to live and act as a community. instructions: “Leave a kind, positive note for someone to find.” Challenges ranged from creating a sign or chant to present culture, emphasized even, and that’s something we And find they did. An hour later, Frantz rediscovered her card demonstrate an issue you’re passionate about, to showing need to think about as individuals and as a society. with someone else’s uplifting message to the world at the kindness to animals, to picking up garbage. After completing Starbucks downstairs. each quest, participants handed off their cards to somebody Across Ogden, Mike McBride, Ogden City marketing and else — literally passing on the challenge to spread civility and communications manager, was training for a marathon kindness. Participants then shared their experiences on social when he came across a string of papers on the ground. media using hashtags #CivilityIs and #WSUCivilityQuest. “They were probably strung out for at least 30 or 50 yards,” “I really appreciate the idea and the message of spreading he said. McBride thought back to a card he had received that kindness and decency,” Frantz said. “So many of the cards instructed him to: “Pick up 10 pieces of trash within your were just a nice way we should be treating each other. It was a community.” He stopped running and nice reminder to actively think about doing it.” began to collect the papers, only to discover they were tax documents. McBride returned them to a relieved neighbor who mistakenly left them on the roof of her car before driving away. “She just couldn’t thank me enough,” he said. Why Civility? former WSU assistant to the president for diversity, agreed. He said that, unfortunately, incivility is commonplace in our “One of the things that I have viewed about our civility movement is that it’s not an effort to beat people over the head and force them to change,” Crawford said, “but to have people reflect and authentically grapple in their own thinking about how they see the world around them.” Paige Berhow, a former WSU police officer and owner of local gift delivery company Deliberate Kindness, said the topic of civility was important, especially in today’s negative climate. “I’m pushing 60, and I don’t remember a time that people were more antagonistic toward each other,” she said. “There have always been political differences, but it just seems like now Crawford asks the university not to rest on its laurels and to According to Crawford, Weber State’s civility, diversity and engaged learning initiatives are changing how the university sees itself and how it does business. If WSU conveys a trite, narrow scope of this identity, he said, it risks falling short of letting the community know “you belong and are welcomed here.” While the 2017-18 academic year will be remembered as Weber State’s year of civility, the roots of WSU’s friendly, civil nature took hold decades ago: “To a stranger or a new student, perhaps the most striking thing about Weber College is its tradition of friendliness. It is a tradition that I hope will never disappear from our campus . . . I hope that you make a lot of friends. This is the easiest thing in the world to do here at Weber.” — Henry Aldous Dixon, Weber president from 1919-1920 and 1937-1953, WC Handy Book, 1951–1952 there’s no civil discussion. What appealed to me about the The Civility Quest Challenge was one of many civility-based Civility Quest is it really was an effort to get people to connect.” programs featured in the 2017-18 Engaged Learning Series, Berhow’s Civility Quest card instructed her to refrain from organized by WSU’s Center for Community Engaged complaining for a whole day. “I’d be lying if I said I completed Learning (CCEL). it successfully,” she said. “But, during that week, we put Every year, CCEL comes up with a new theme for its Engaged Civility Quest cards in the boxes we delivered and posted Learning Series, looking at issues through six prisms: cultural, cards every day on our social media.” economic, educational, health, political and environmental. During the year of civility, Martinez organized events dealing The 2016-17 theme was privilege, featuring events like Art as a with politics, diversity, the environment and even the Change Agent, a student art gallery exploring themes of privilege Thanksgiving dinner table, with political science professor and how art can be used for social activism and advocacy. Leah Murray encouraging people to share and listen with Teresa Martinez BS ’11, MHA ’14, CCEL program coordinator, humility and to remember that problems are wicked, not said she became involved in the Engaged Learning Series people. Along with Civility Quest, the Engaged Learning Series halfway through the privilege theme. As she began to featured performances, book readings, lectures and more to brainstorm about the next year’s topic, she learned civility was promote diversity and civil discussion, including a lecture by a theme that hadn’t been chosen yet. philosopher and political activist Cornel West. “Civility is the practice of giving of yourself to better the Martinez was sad to see the year of civility end. “But,” she said, community,” Martinez explained. “Someone needs a helping “my hopes are that people will take it upon themselves to act hand, so you help; you notice a flower that needs to be planted with civility regardless.” As a ‘Matter of Fact’ The 2018-19 Engaged Learning Series theme is “Matter of Fact?” It focuses on what is fact and what is opinion, where people get their news and how to tell if information is accurate. For a list of upcoming events, visit weber.edu/ccel/els.html. The statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are staggering: “From 1999 to 2016, more than 350,000 in the United States died from overdoses related to opioids (prescription and illegal). On average, 115 people in the U.S. die every day from an opioid overdose.” Utah is not immune. In fact, the Beehive State has the seventh highest drug overdose rate in the U.S. and is losing six people every week to what the Utah Department of Health (UDH) calls the “opidemic.” Addictions are so prevalent that it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t know someone affected by the opioid crisis. A sister. A mother. A neighbor. A church member. A former Wildcat. CAUTION: Opioid Risk of Overdose, Addiction Amy Renner Hendricks | 18 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS O n Sept. 29, 2007, Weber State University football player Derek Johnson suited up for the fourth game of the year. It was looking to be a promising season for the 290-pound nose guard, who, in three games, already had 10 unassisted tackles — just one fewer than he had in all of 2006. He took the field in Missoula, Montana, with one goal: Beat The Griz. An illegal chop block by a Montana player early in the game dashed Johnson’s hopes, ruined his knees, ended his season and set into motion a series of events that would almost end his life … multiple times. Over the course of eight surgeries, Johnson became hooked on prescription opioids, a class of drugs that includes prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and others (see page 22 for a more extensive list). After the prescriptions ran out, he turned to another opioid, an illegal one — heroin. That’s the nature of the opioid beast. Prescription opioids and heroin are chemically similar. UDH reports that 80 percent of heroin users started with prescription opioids. How Did the U.S. Get Here? It’s hard to say exactly. We now know that prescription opioids are highly addictive, but that’s not how pharmaceutical companies originally marketed the drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website, pharmaceutical companies in the late 1990s “reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates.” The amount of opioids prescribed in the U.S. peaked in 2010, then decreased each year through 2015, according to the CDC. However, the amount of opioids prescribed in 2015 was still three times higher than in 1999 — enough for “every American to be medicated around the clock for three weeks.” While the opioid crisis has been in the making for decades, it wasn’t declared a public health emergency until October 2017. Today, it makes the news on a daily basis. There are billboards about opioids throughout Utah, and just across the street from WSU’s Ogden campus, the McKay-Dee Surgery Center and Orthopedics clinic has big banners in its windows that read, “Opioids: Physical dependency can happen in just seven days.” Johnson’s 11-year struggle with addiction is no secret. In Warning signs are everywhere, which leads to the question: the summer of 2018, he shared his story with local media Should opioids be prescribed at all for pain? during the Ron McBride Foundation’s 2018 Love You Man Golf Tournament. “I probably had three or four rock bottoms,” Johnson told local reporters. “Every time you relapse, it gets a little bit worse.” J.D. Speth BS ’11, a WSU psychology alumnus who earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Pacific University, is a community pharmacist for Intermountain Healthcare. “Yes, opioids have their place,” he said. “If prescribed, monitored very high dose of the drug, I can log on to the database and “This led to leftovers of the Tramadol, which can create check his or her prescriptions. I might see that, in addition to potential for abuse,” said Erickson, who is currently in his oxycodone, this person has gotten Percocet from the dentist first year of medical school at the University of Texas Health and Lortab from a surgeon and morphine from another Science Center in San Antonio. “The surgeons are now much specialist. I can also see that they’ve gotten some early refills. more mindful of the amount of opioids they prescribe.” At that point, I can counsel the patient, or even refuse to fill While it may be difficult to reject opioids after major surgeries, the prescription.” be sure to talk to your doctor about the risks and don’t be Speth said he has noticed the number of opioid prescriptions afraid to ask about alternatives. going down, at least somewhat. He explained that much of the misuse and abuse, sadly, comes from diversion — when ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS prescription drugs are obtained or used illegally. He cites the statewide Use Only As Directed campaign, which reports Courtesy of UDH that friends and family members supply two-thirds of all the opioids misused and abused by Utahns. “My advice is, when prescribed opioids, only take exactly what you need for pain and then safely dispose of the rest. So many times we think, ‘Oh, I’ll save these for a rainy day.’ Then they become a danger. What if your teenage daughter’s friend comes over and takes them? What if your friend is in pain and you offer them some of your pills? At that point, you’re not using the drugs for what they’re prescribed for. The safest thing to do is just get rid of them.” Find out how to safely dispose of your unused or expired prescription opioids at useonlyasdirected.org. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) Medication for Depression or Seizures Physical Therapy Interventional Therapies (Injections) Exercise Massage Therapy ‘ The Need for Needle Exchanges A spike in heroin use, which some believe is directly connected to the opioid crisis, has intensified the need for needle exchange programs — communitybased programs that provide access to sterile needles free of cost. The first needle exchange effort in Ogden was held in September 2017. His mother, Denece, was with him at the event. She tearfully and used properly, they are not evil. In fact, they can help explained that she didn’t know the signs of a heroin problem. many people. However, patients need to be educated about the “I didn’t know finding a silver spoon that was burnt on the risks, not just with opiates, but with every medication. You can bottom meant something (spoons are often used to ‘cook’ Administrative Services class earlier that year. She is not die from an opiate. You can also die from a blood thinner.” one to mince words. heroin),” Denece said, “or that aluminum foil in his bedroom meant something (foil contains the drug while it is smoked).” Johnson’s former Weber State football coach, Ron McBride, was there, too. The Ron McBride Foundation has now joined the fight against opioid addiction. The foundation supports a number of educationalrelated causes, including rebuilding libraries and reading programs, but opioid education is something “we just kind of fell into,” McBride said. “The more you talk to people in education, to principals, to teachers, to parents, you see this is part of our responsibility.” In 2016, the CDC released its Guideline for Prescribing Mindy Vincent organized the program. Vincent, coincidentally, was a guest lecturer for a WSU Health Don’t Become a Statistic “By the second use, a needle looks like barbed wire. By the Opioids for Chronic Pain, which includes the following recommendations for healthcare providers: The CDC suggests there are safer approaches to prescription lecture, coaxing the class to “Google it.” Curiosity got the better • Use opioids only when benefits are likely to outweigh risks; opioids that may be as or more effective in relieving pain of some students, so they pulled out their phones to find, to — a subject that interested Ethan Erickson BS ’17. As their horror, that she was right. • Start with the lowest effective dose and prescribe only the number of days that the pain is expected to be severe. an undergraduate majoring in athletic therapy, Erickson conducted research alongside Layton oral surgeon Todd Liston sixth, it looks like a shark’s mouth,” Vincent said during the It’s shocking to most, but not to Vincent, a licensed clinical social worker and the executive director of the Utah • Reassess benefits and risks if considering dose increases. BA ’86 that tested the ability of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to The CDC also recommends that prescribers use state-based decrease patients’ pain following wisdom tooth extractions. prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to identify The results showed that PRP injections into the extraction site patients at risk of addiction or overdose. interventions to help people reduce health and social harms did not reduce the perception of pain. During the study, Liston associated with substance use.” “Every controlled substance that an individual gets from a and his partners prescribed the opioid Tramadol. Interestingly, retail pharmacy is logged,” Speth explained. “If a person comes patients only took three to four pills total and managed the in with a prescription for a large amount of oxycodone or a rest of their pain with over-the-counter medications like Harm Reduction Coalition. A nonprofit, community-based organization, the coalition provides “evidence-based Vincent can tell you a lot about needles and addicts. For example, most addicts don’t care how many times acetaminophen or ibuprofen. 20 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Fall 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 21 350 Per the Center on Addiction: An opiate is a drug naturally derived from the flowering opium poppy plant. Opioid is a broader term that includes opiates and refers to any substance — natural or synthetic — that binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, which control pain, reward and addictive behaviors. All opiates are opioids; not all opioids are opiates. And, just because opiates are natural does not mean they are less harmful. because she was addicted to intravenous (IV) drugs for 17 Opioid Overdose Deaths in Utah 2000-2016 years, and because her brother was addicted to heroin, and Courtesy of UDH a needle has been used. They don’t even care if they use tourniquets (a long strip of plastic tied around the arm to raise the vein). “And when they don’t use tourniquets, they fish to find the vein,” she said. “That can cause infections, abscesses, endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves or inner lining).” Vincent knows these things from her job, of course, but also 250 200 150 100 because her sister died from an opioid overdose. She worked (Semi-synthetic drugs with opium or morphine-like pharmacalogical action) Oxycodone (e.g., Oxycontin, Roxicondone) Oxycodone/Acetaminophen (e.g., Percocet, Roxicet) Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen (e.g., Lortab, Vicodin, Norco) Tramadol Fentanyl Hydromorphone (e.g., Dilaudid, Exalgo) Meperidine (e.g., Demerol) Methadone COMMON OPIATES (Refers to the alkaloids only found naturally in opium) Heroin Opium Codeine Morphine (downtown Ogden alone had the highest per-capita rate of opioid deaths in Utah in 2014 and 2015, according to the state). Heroin 50 0 with local law enforcement agencies to develop the needle COMMON OPIOIDS Rx Opioid 300 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 exchange program in Ogden The program, which is also present in Salt Lake and Tooele counties, helps remove contaminated syringes from circulation, but it also introduces users to people like Vincent, who can educate them on overdose prevention, refer them to medical, mental health and social services, and offer them information on substance use disorder treatment. Danielle Croyle BS ’86, a former Ogden City Police captain, is a proponent of community-based programs like needle exchanges. “We, as law enforcers, are compassionate, empathetic. The opioid crisis is complex, and, as with any social issue, multifaceted. I believe community-based programs are beneficial and should be there to help those who need help. Addiction is a disease. Unfortunately, at times, it is a disease that comes with a criminal element. The role of police in the opioid crisis is to ensure laws are adhered to, for the safety of all the people in our community. “Police work to prevent opioids from being distributed illegally, to make sure distributors are not able to set up shop in Ogden. At the same time, they also respond to many calls about drug overdoses and, sadly, unattended deaths (when people die alone and are discovered later). As first-responders, we carry naloxone (a drug to reverse overdoses), and police officers are trained in how to administer it.” On the ground level, Croyle has seen the number of opioid offenses increase in recent years. “There are entire task forces to investigate drug abuses,” she said. “Again, police officers, have to enforce the laws on the books. The legislative branch creates those laws. The judicial branch applies the laws. The community-based programs create initiatives to help those who need help. The opioid crisis involves everyone.” Reaching Out Murray said there is still much work to do in that area, but Most recently, the media has focused on states, cities and she believes Utah is making strides. She cited Utah House counties that are suing prescription opioid manufacturers Bill 119 as an example. Passed in 2014, the bill, known as for aggressively marketing the drugs and downplaying the a Good Samaritan law, establishes immunity for the good possibility of addiction. The state of Utah has joined the fight, as faith administration of naloxone. Basically, if you administer has several of its counties, Weber and Davis counties included. naloxone to someone in an effort to save his or her life, and Basically, litigants want Big Pharma to reimburse communities call 911, you cannot get in trouble, even if you have legal for the high costs associated with fighting the crisis. problems. The police will address the person who overdosed, Justine Murray BS ’15 is the program manager for another not the person who administered the naloxone. community-based program that is on the frontlines of the While Murray hasn’t seen many youths addicted to opioids, opioid fight. Youth Futures Ogden is a shelter for vulnerable she has seen families torn apart by drugs. “Most often, the and homeless youth, but the organization also offers street kids who come to our shelter are phenomenal kids,” she said. outreach to both youths and adults. Murray and her team go “They’re great kids who have lost their support systems. Many two times a week to strategic locations in search of youths times they’ve lost their support systems to drugs, and that’s a in need. It’s there where Murray and her team most often whole different trauma.” encounter people — mostly adults — with addictions. Even Murray sees things every day that break her heart, but she though most are over 18, Youth Futures helps them by giving loves her clients. She says the best thing we can do in this them naloxone kits. crisis is stay open minded. “We give them the tools to save their own lives or someone “This is happening everywhere. This isn’t just a Downtown else’s,” Murray said. “The next week, we follow up with them Ogden or Downtown Salt Lake problem. Everyone is being if we can. These people are struggling, and they know they’re impacted. Don’t be closed off to people who are struggling struggling. We simply ask them, ‘What can we do to help you with addiction. Be a listening ear. Hear people’s stories and today?’ Sometimes, they just need a friendly conversation, but struggles. Without support, people with addictions have no oftentimes those little steps, that building of a rapport, is just chance. None.” what they need to eventually get the help they need in their fight against addiction.” Editor’s Note: This story barely touches the multifaceted opioid crisis in the U.S. There are still the stories of the underground networks Murray has a unique perspective. A double major in criminal of drug dealers, the significant and dangerous drug busts, the justice and social work, she focuses on rehabilitation, not demographics involved in the crisis, the controversial solutions punitive measures. “The punitive side of criminal justice is (medical marijuana, for example). It’s far too complicated to valid and needed. If you break a law, there absolutely has to be include in one article, in one magazine even; however, Weber State a consequence,” she said. “However, I feel like we need to do University has trained/is training an army of people — from social better on the rehabilitative side.” workers, to pharmacists, to doctors, to nurses, to law enforcement officers, to judges, to lawmakers — who will contribute their expertise to battle this crisis. 22 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Fall 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 23 Does this sound familiar? While skimming through Facebook messages, you stumble on one that trips an internal alarm — a cryptic plea from someone you’ve never met, in a country you’ve barely heard of: A Leap of Faith, An Unlikely Liaison Karin Hurst | MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Photos courtesy of Ben Taylor BS ’09, MPC ’15 Your eyes narrow. Your indignation flares. With a violent jerk, you click “delete” ... unless you’re WSU alumnus and adjunct instructor of communication Ben Taylor BS ’09, MPC ’15 who writes back, “Hey, Joel. How can I help?” 24 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 T aylor didn’t believe for one second that “Joel had honored that agreement. If Taylor didn’t follow through schools. In one unpredictably heroic act, Joel, the would-be from Liberia” was “legit.” He just wanted to with a paycheck, he’d be the scammer, not Joel. Followers of scammer, went, in his own words, “from zero to hero.” Taylor’s YouTube channel urged him to keep his word. When Taylor’s YouTube viewers started urging him to fly to So, Taylor took 11 of Joel’s best shots, created a booklet titled Liberia to meet Joel face to face, and even sent money for him By D Grace of God (Joel’s catchphrase) and marketed the publi- to do so, the story caught the attention of CBS News corre- cation through Indiegogo, a global crowdfunding platform. spondent Steve Hartman, who called Taylor and asked if he To his astonishment, sales took off. People all over the world and a camera crew could tag along. started buying Joel’s book. The project raised $13,000, but Hartman’s heartwarming tale of a shady solicitation that cleared only $1,000 because Taylor had neglected to factor in morphed into a bona fide business aired March 30, 2018, the exorbitant price of international shipping. on CBS Sunday Morning, an award-winning television news string the diabolical cyber-shyster along for as long as possible to keep him from fleecing other, more naïve, internet users. Taylor had good reason to be frustrated. Every year, clever con artists combine new technology with old tricks to rip people off. A Federal Trade Commission report shows that 2.68 million consumers filed fraud complaints totaling $905 million in program with an estimated 5.89 million weekly viewers. losses in 2017. Scammer Or Saint Hartman concluded the segment with a provocative observa- Joel asked Taylor to send laptops, Next came Joel’s moment of truth. As equal partners, Taylor rich in character. In fact, many are great humanitarians, just computers, printers and other and Joel were to split the profits 50-50, but Taylor decided to waiting on the means.” electronic devices to a contact in put Joel’s integrity to the test. He wired Joel the total amount New Jersey who would pack the with a request that half be donated to a Liberian charity. items into barrels and ship them to He thought he’d never hear from Joel again. But a couple of Liberia. Taylor didn’t take the bait. Instead, days later, Joel sent snapshots of beaming Liberian children he hatched his own scheme. Claiming to sporting new backpacks. He had rented a taxi, driven to work in the photography industry, Taylor the marketplace, bought every backpack and school supply told Joel to send pictures. He promised to he could get his hands on, and delivered them to five local pay for any he found interesting. People all over the world purchased By D Grace of God, a simple, yet inspiring booklet of Joel’s photos. as CBS News was concerned, Taylor’s saga was far from over; in fact, he’s still writing the next chapter. Too Much Too Soon “When we walked in with our news cameras and he was wearing new shoes, a new watch and had a new roof on his house, his neighbors got jealous. It created a lot of animosity, The CBS Sunday Morning piece triggered an avalanche of and he eventually had to move to a new area.” international interest in bydgraceofgod.com. “We made $60,000 Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics John that day,” Taylor told Weber State students, faculty and guests Mukum Mbaku, a Brookings Institution Nonresident Scholar what Joel sent. The bizarre collection of attending a fall 2018 John B. Goddard School of Business & and attorney, maintains that trying to help one person at a blurred images may or may not have been Economics Ralph Nye Lecture. The booming enterprise put time in a developing nation can backfire. “Individual donors Liberian landscapes. Still, Taylor had to give Taylor in an even greater position to provide economic aid and nongovernment agencies can’t help everybody; they can Joel credit for trying. Convinced the source to Liberia. But with time, came perspective. When Taylor only help certain people who will then move into a different of Joel’s questionable photography was an learned that the average Liberian wage earner makes between social class,” Mbaku explains. “Even if you went to a village $456-$1,140 U.S. dollars a year, he began having second and gave everybody $1,000, you still create a jealousy problem. low-end, point-and-shoot Vivitar and put thoughts about giving Joel that lump sum payment of $1,000. If you’re a father and you get $1,000, you have to take care of it in the mail. Miraculously, the camera “I gave Joel way too much money at the start,” Taylor admits. your family, but if you’re a 10-year-old kid and you get $1,000, made it to Joel’s village near Monrovia, it’s all for you.” Mbaku, a former associate editor of the Journal where the eager recipient launched a picture-taking frenzy. Still, the quality of Joel’s photos didn’t improve. So, in marathon email exchanges, during which Taylor’s wife, Jessica, simply shook her head, the two newbie business partners talked shop. They discussed lighting, framing, composition and how to find interesting subjects. Taylor fully expected Joel to give up. To his surprise, Joel kept practicing, until slowly — over several weeks — the photos began to improve. Taylor was genuinely impressed. Now, Taylor faced a conundrum. He had “hired” Joel to take good photographs and Joel 26 And while that may have signaled the end of the story as far Interesting isn’t the right word to describe archaic cell phone lens, Taylor purchased a Joel’s original images were blurry and indistinguishable. After receiving a basic pointand-shoot camera and many photography tips from Taylor, Joel’s photos steadily improved. tion: “Just because a person is poor doesn’t mean they’re not weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 Joel donated half of his profits to provide school supplies to children in Liberia. in unprotected sectors. As a result, Liberia’s nondiversified agreement. In 2014, whatever economic strides had been economy was characterized by large foreign natural resource made were decimated by a deadly Ebola virus epidemic. When interests, nonresident trading houses, and weak, insulated the U.N. mandate expired on March 22, 2018, Liberian presi- Liberian firms. dent George Weah, a retired professional soccer player, toasted the effort at a public celebration. On its website, the U.N. A Nation Unhinged proudly proclaimed that Liberia now has “great potential to achieve lasting stability, democracy and prosperity.” In the 1960s and 1970s, Monrovia was an opulent playground for the local elite and their foreign friends. But smoldering beneath Liberia’s impressive economy were decades of A Challenge to Change tension between Americo-Liberians and native populations. Mbaku’s prognostication is a bit more skeptical. He believes The conflict exploded in 1980 when 28-year-old native soldier Liberia hasn’t gone far enough to change what economists Samuel Doe and his army stormed the executive mansion, call the “institutional structures” that led to the violence. assassinated President William Tolbert, and publicly executed Mbaku says little has been done to tackle Liberia’s cultural eleven members of his cabinet. tradition of bribery, corrupt leadership and customary laws Doe’s leadership was marked by economic devastation and that discriminate against certain groups, especially women. escalating violence. “Samuel Doe promised to establish a “What they should have done when the U.N. was there, was Repeating Racial Repression system of democracy, but then he acted just like the people establish a system of governance that is based on separation he had removed from power,” says Mbaku. “He didn’t come of powers with checks and balances,” Mbaku says. “Most of Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization to power through a democratic process; he forced his way the indigenous groups are still shut out of the system, and so Society as a haven for freed slaves. Its founder believed through to power by killing people.” the frustration among people over there is: ‘The more things of Third World Studies and a consultant to the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa, says before anyone can help Liberia, they must understand its history. that former slaves could never successfully integrate into American society and would only reach their full potential as human beings in Africa, the “land of their fathers.” The organization worked with the United States government over time to transport an estimated 13,000 colonists to a small stretch of West African coastline, later named Monrovia in honor of U.S. President James Monroe. The African-American repatriates called themselves Americo-Liberians. In 1847, the freed slaves proclaimed their independence — a move that Mbaku says had grave repercussions. As settlers built schools and churches and an economy fueled by agricul- In 1989, rebel warlord Charles Taylor mounted a counter-in- change, the more they stay the same.’” surgency that dragged Liberia into 14 blood-soaked years of For Mbaku, a far more accurate gauge of how successful the intermittent, but ferocious, civil war that left 250,000 people U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia was will be Weah’s dead and gave rise to rampant reports of cannibal warlords behavior in Liberia’s next election. “In Africa, every time a with terrifying monikers, child soldiers pumped up on speed, standing president loses an election, he uses the army to and the systematic rape, torture, exploitation and mutilation try to stay in power,” Mbaku says. “Ghana is one of the few of African women. countries in Africa in which a standing president lost an In 2003, the United Nations sent 15,000 troops — its largest ever peacekeeping mission — to Liberia to support a cease-fire CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman (left) accompanied Taylor on his journey to Liberia to meet Joel. The story aired on the popular CBS Sunday Morning news program. election, and just left without stirring up trouble.” Healing with Dignity people and let them run it. Now, sometimes they’ll run it into the ground, but it’s still better than just going over and giving them money. When you go over to Africa and just give people money, you are pressing them into a position in which they’ll just go out and consume.” While Mbaku believes the ultimate key to Liberian peace and prosperity is government reform and educational opportunities, Taylor believes it’s equally important to help individual Liberians find meaningful ways to earn a living. “When Joel first contacted me, it wasn’t because he was starving; he contacted me because felt like his life didn’t have a purpose,” says Taylor. “His kids didn’t look up to him. His wife was not proud of him. He couldn’t market anything of value in return for money.” Taylor’s mantra is: “When you find someone who’s in need, give ’em a job; give ’em something to do.” But these days, instead of doling out dollars to one person at a time, Taylor supports and advises local grassroots organizations that work In the meantime, Taylor continues his efforts to lift Liberian directly with Liberian citizens. citizens out of dire poverty. And while Taylor has since modified the way he offers finan- hinterlands. Instead of creating a society of independence It’s a daunting task. Today, Liberia’s population is estimated cial aid and would never advocate reaching out to the next and opportunity, however, the ex-slaves replicated the cruel at 4.2 million with more than half of those people living in potential scammer, he says he’ll always cherish the important plantation culture under which they had suffered. absolute poverty, meaning they can’t meet their minimum life lesson he learned from Joel: “Poverty is not the saddest needs. Only one in six households has access to electricity. thing in the world,” says Taylor. “The saddest thing in the Indoor pumps or pipes are still rare. Most Liberian dwell- world is the loss of dignity. If we’re going to build these devel- ings are constructed with mud and sticks. Other common oping countries, we’ve also got to rebuild the individuals.” ture, shipbuilding and foreign trade, the Americo-Liberians expanded their property boundaries deeper into the African Dressed in hoop skirts and tailcoats and comfortably housed in lavish mansions reminiscent of antebellum New Orleans, they lorded over the area’s multiple indigenous populations, denying them political and property rights and forcing some into a repressive system of labor tantamount to slavery. For generations, Liberia’s economy both drove and reflected this larger political narrative. The path to prosperity for a well-to-do Liberian was through connections in Monrovian politics, not through business itself. Most unconnected Liberians were subsistence farmers or petty traders. Foreign investors filled in the gaps by establishing market domination 28 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Fall 2018 construction materials include concrete blocks and mud bricks. Sheets of zinc, iron or tin serve as roofs. Selected Sources: Clearly, Liberia needs help, but Taylor and Mbaku insist that Liberia: CIA Fact Book relief and development are two very different things. They Liberianembassyus.org say if Americans really want to help Liberians, they shouldn’t Library of Congress send money; they should go over to Liberia and build struc- microdata.worldbank.org tures, like schools and healthcare clinics, that will allow local PBS Documentary Africans in America: Brotherly Love people to take care of themselves. “Those types of things are PBS Global Connections/Liberia very good,” says Mbaku. “You go build a structure, train local VICE Video Documentary: The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia Fall 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 29 Salutes WSU 30 alumni.weber.edu | Fall 2018 From left to right: Michayla Jackson; Jack Hyer; Sarah Callister Sellers AS ’12, BS ’13; Mark A. Russell BIS ’87; Donna B. Friz; Ralph E. Friz; Bob Harris; Marcia Harris; Amir A.H. Jackson; Richard M. “Dick” Webber AS ’57; C. Kent Russell BS ’68; and Annette Mozley Russell AS ’65 Salutes WSU { DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS } Winter Olympics. As a member of Weber College’s ski squad, Mark A. Russell BIS ’87 recently retired as president and chief Webber helped the Wildcats vanquish the University of Utah operating officer of Worthington Industries. He graduated from team in 1956 — one of his proudest achievements. At age BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and began his career as an 75, Webber skied 74 mph during a super-G race to capture a attorney at Kirkland & Ellis. With encouragement from a mentor, silver medal in the speed category for his age division at the Russell transitioned from law to business. A former standout USSA Masters National Championships. CLASS NOTES A L U M N I U P D AT E S linebacker who signed a free-agent contract with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, Russell continues to support Wildcat Athletics. { LEWIS W. SHURTLIFF AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION } { OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA } A native of Rochester, New York, Amir A.H. Jackson came to On April 16, 2018, Sarah Callister Sellers AS ’12, BS ’13, in Utah in 1999 by way of the U.S. Air Force. Shortly after his only her second marathon race, finished second in the Boston honorable discharge, Amir enrolled in psychology courses at Marathon. At WSU, she was a nine-time Big Sky champion and WSU. As an assignment, he taught poetry to sixth-graders was awarded the NCAA Elite 89 award. Sellers maintained a — an experience that transformed Amir’s career goals. In 4.0 GPA and is the only student-athlete in Weber State history 2007, he founded Nurture the Creative Mind, an organization to earn Academic All-American honors three times. She is that helps young people find value in themselves and others currently a nurse anesthetist in Tucson, Arizona. through creative expression. ’60s optometry organizations and Gary Jackson AS ’61 retired awards. Frank and his wife, received two O.D. of the Year ’70s collection agency. He retired Rollin “Rollie” Moulton Bonnie, at Weber State, and BS ’71 was with the Los they have been married for in 2015. John met his wife, { DISTINGUISHED SERVICE } { EMERITI HOMECOMING ROYALTY } Donna B. and Ralph E. Friz have supported the Ogden At Weber State C. Kent Russell BS ’68 and Annette Mozley from Hill Air Force Base Linda, have four children and community and WSU for nearly six decades. Ralph earned Russell AS ’65 both joined campus social clubs — Kent eight grandchildren. Angeles County Probation over 50 years. They have was an Excelsior, Annette a La Dianeda. Annette studied after 34 years as a civilian his medical degree from Northwestern University. The couple three children and three moved to Utah in 1957 for Ralph’s medical residency at the education and home economics while Kent majored in accounting. Kent retired as executive vice president and grandchildren. University of Utah. In 1959, they moved to Ogden where Ralph practiced anesthesiology at McKay-Dee Hospital for 50 years. CFO of Catholic Health East, a national health system he The Frizes are longtime members of the Wildcat Club. They helped build. Kent currently serves on the WSU Board of also named two rooms in Tracy Hall Science Center, created Trustees’ investment committee. The Russells have funded a scholarship within Academic Affairs and contributed to the scholarships at WSU to assist education and business renovation of the Browning Center. A electrical engineer. He students from Weber County, and recently arranged a generous legacy gift. { WSU PRESIDENT’S AWARD } A Madalyn Livingston Department for 37 years. As received a bachelor’s degree Newswander BS ’66 taught part of his job, Rollie trained in electrical engineering from kindergarten and first grade juvenile fire crews, leading the University of Utah and an in Utah for 20 years. She special trainings and hikes BS ’74 has served as the MBA from the University of was also a kindergarten to prepare youth to serve executive assistant to the Phoenix. Gary and his wife, coordinator for eight years in as forest firefighters for chief operating officer of Roberta, have four children Alberta, Canada, where she Southern California. Rollie DaVita Kidney Care. For and 18 grandchildren. They served for three years as the has been a volunteer for seven years prior, she live in Ogden. director of 13 kindergarten the LDS church, has served taught first through third A retired optometrist, Frank programs. During her career, on the Whittier Stake High grades in Ogden. She has Council, and has worked in volunteered as a seminary teacher for the LDS church A For 19 years, Lynne Ward East Coast transplants and longtime Ogden residents Bob and { STUDENT HOMECOMING ROYALTY } Marcia Harris are actively engaged in the growth of WSU. The Jack Hyer and Michayla Jackson embody the spirit of student Salimeno BS ’65 owned a Madalyn earned district Harrises have supported the university’s teacher excellence scholarship, leadership and service. Hyer is a former WSU private practice for almost Hats off for Teachers and the Los Angeles California program, the Bonneville Chamber Music Festival, scholarships admissions ambassador whose GPA has landed him on the 40 years. He received his Teacher of the Year awards. Temple. He and his wife, Mati, for the past 13 years. Lynne for string and piano students, study abroad programs and dean’s list every semester. He is working toward a bachelor’s Madalyn is a volunteer for live in Pico Rivera, California. has four children and five Wildcat women’s tennis. Bob was Thiokol’s vice president and degree in Spanish teaching with a minor in English as a Doctor of Optometry degree second language. Jackson is an aspiring respiratory therapist John Thompson BS ’74 grandchildren, and lives in general counsel before retiring. As a judge in the Utah state from Pacific University and the LDS church, where she and former Miss Sanpete County. The five-time state is a fellow of the American has been a teacher and enlisted in the Marine Corps Federal Way, Washington. courts, Bob has decided civil cases for more than 20 years. Marcia graduated in sociology from Randolph-Macon College tumbling champion was first runner-up in power tumbling at Academy of Optometry. president for her ward’s and took a commission as in Virginia and completed graduate work at Johns Hopkins the 2014 USA Gymnastics Championships. Jackson recently Frank was a captain in the Primary, Young Women’s and second lieutenant upon Medical Center. traveled to Russia to teach English to young children. U.S. Army Medical Service Relief Society programs. She graduation from Weber State. Corps and served as chief and her husband, Robert, He served for 20 years and { EMERITI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT } In 2018, the university celebrated the 50th anniversary of of the eye clinic at the U.S. have six children and 22 retired in the early 1990s. “Jim” Wold BS ’83 is the WSU Salutes. To see the photo of past recipients, or to view the Army Dugway Proving grandchildren. John then served for 15 years chief operating officer at Iris biographical videos on each of the 2018 recipients, visit Ground hospital. He served in the Office of Recovery Technology in Irvine, alumni.weber.edu/wsusalutes. on the boards of a number of Service, a state child support Richard M. “Dick” Webber AS ’57 is a retired real estate developer, a community activist and an Ogden ski legend. He helped design Snowbasin’s downhill course for the 2002 32 alumni.weber.edu | Fall 2018 L L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association A ’80s A An Ogden native, James Fall 2018 | alumni.weber.edu 33 NEW NEFIT! BE R E B MEM California. He was previously instructor at Ben Lomond from Gonzaga University State University, and his Juris married for over 18 years and Diego. She has taught in vice president of engineering High School. Jim and Denise School of Law and a Master Doctor degree from Gonzaga have seven children. They undergraduate and graduate for RED Digital Cinema live in West Haven. of Laws from the University University School of Law. He live in Poway, California. programs, and maintains a of Washington School of Law. and his wife, Raychelle, have He previously served in the three children and live in Office of Chief Counsel for Deer Park, Washington. and general manager for storage devices for Quantum Corporation. Jim has led have produced over 100 U.S. A patents. He and his wife, Shelby, have five children and for WSU’s community six grandchildren. for Ogden-Weber Technical new things like photography, College for 33 years and she’s held for 31 years. Tina is responsible for assisting with all operations in the of directors and the OgdenWeber Technical College relations secretary and public relations representative. She lives in Ogden. financial officer for Get Air crisis work in emergency Rich K. Nye BS ’01, M.Ed Trampoline Parks and is a departments, and as a ’06 recently completed his She lives in Springville. Taylor Fielding BS ’00 is principal with the company. clinical social worker and first year as superintendent the staff attorney and tribal Alan and his business primary mental health of Ogden City Schools. He prosecutor for the Kalispel partners own, build and clinician at a California received master’s degrees Tribe of Indians of Usk, operate trampoline parks in State Prison for men. from both WSU and Arizona Washington, and is the the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Sandra received her Master State University and a contracted tribal prosecutor Japan. Get Air is the largest of Social Work from the doctorate from Utah State with the Kootenai Tribe of privately held trampoline University of Utah and University. He previously Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Taylor park company in the U.S. her Doctor of Education in taught at the junior high, received his master’s degree Alan and his wife, Dawn counseling psychology from high school and college in anthropology from Idaho McEwan AAS ’02, have been Argosy University in San levels, and served as deputy internship at Intermountain Medical Center and finished Look where we’ve been this year! as chief resident. Adam is a member of the Utah Medical Association Board Heights. Don’t miss out on the fun. ’00s manager at ADP Lightspeed and as a software engineer for CDK Global. Jim’s Peter H. Clark ’00 is a defense Learn more about WSU’s 12 regional alumni networks and events in your area: counsel with the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord wife, Denise Beecroft AS in Washington state. He ’86, BS ’90, received her master’s degree in business information technology in hospitals, including six children. They live in Fruit software development State University. She is an ’02, MAcc ’04 is the chief Society. He and his wife, manager and developer education from Utah as a medical social worker Danielle Taintor BS ’02, have Jim Beecroft BS ’90, information systems and grandchildren and one cat. Alan McEwan Jr. AS ’00, BS of the Utah Dermatology BS ’98 is the project Spring classes will be posted soon! She has nine children, 12 of Directors and is president ’90s A Adam attended medical and live in the Seattle area. Milwaukee, where he served Tina has served as public for more information. interest in contact dermatitis. wife, Katie, have two sons for LDS Family Services, and supervision practice. College of Wisconsin in of Trustees. In addition, weber.edu/communityed dermatology with a special in Los Angeles. Peter and his worked as a social worker private counseling, coaching his residency at the Medical Foundation Board previously worked as a ’01 is a dermatologist at the Internal Revenue Service Sandra Smith BS ’00 has of Utah, completed an assists the college’s board for DatamasterUSA. He Adam Taintor AS ’99, BS school at the University president’s office. She also Visit John lives in Berkeley, general medical and surgical of the college, a position A Huntsville, Utah, monastery. in Ogden. He practices assistant to the president and more! Country Monastery about the Allen-Taintor Dermatology currently is the executive ballroom dancing, fishing Present Time: Journal of a California. Tina Smith BS ’85 has worked education courses and learn film at UCLA and is now completing a film titled engineering teams that Get priority registration John Slattery BA ’94 studied has also served as a legal assistance attorney, an operational law attorney and CA 1 Visit alumni.weber.edu. 2 Click on Get Involved. 3 Scroll down and select Regional Alumni Network. a trial counsel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He has a Juris Doctor Interested in creating a network near you? L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Email us at alumni@weber.edu. superintendent of student Board for WSU’s College of Neil Hwang BA ’03, BS ’14 is history department and Alumni Council. Peter serves support for the district. She achievement for the Utah Engineering, Applied Science an assistant professor for the online courses in library on the Accounting Advisory was a February 2017 recipient State Board of Education. & Technology. His wife, City University of New York. science. She received her Council for WSU’s John B. of the district’s Achieving Rich and his wife, Lara Nye Cammie Lou Titus BS ’98, He previously worked as an master’s degree in library Goddard School of Business & Higher award. Her husband, BS ’99, have three children. is an accomplished pianist associate venture capital science and information Economics. His wife, Rosann Kristopher Phillips BS ’17, They live in Pleasant View. and private piano instructor, investor for AFG LLC, as a services, and a graduate Owen AS ’05, BA ’09, is an is a Daikin technician and is the founder of management consultant for academic certificate in independent sales director for Mechanical Products The Flying Fingers piano McKinsey & Company, and as advanced management for Mary Kay Inc., and Intermountain, where he competition. Keith and chief financial officer of CE in academic libraries and recently retired from 15 years works with large industrial Cammie have six children Capital LLC. Neil has served information agencies, from of teaching piano. Peter and machinery. and live in Pleasant View. on the boards of companies the University of North Rosann have two children committed to renewable and Texas. She earned her and live in Riverton. sustainable energy, including post-master’s certificate of Advanced BioEnergy and E advanced studies in archival Energy Adams, and several administration from the nonprofit organizations, University of Wisconsin- including the Institute of Milwaukee. BS ’05 is a project quality supervisor at Autoliv, where he also has worked as a product reliability engineer and design engineer. He Erica Baiden BS ’03 received received his master’s her medical degree from degree in management the University of Utah, and strategy from Western where she also completed Governors University. Wade’s her residency. She is chair wife, Hilary (Davison) of family medicine and a Christiansen AS ’00, BIS ’02, physician at Granger Medical is a homemaker. The couple Clinic in West Valley City, has four daughters and lives Utah. Erica also serves as an in Ogden. adjunct associate professor Keith Titus BS ’02 is the president and chief operating officer of MarketStar. He is chair of the Dean’s Advisory Management Accountants. L Neil and his wife, Patricia, have two sons and live in Greenwich, Connecticut. ’10s A ’16 is a commercial account executive for Pluralsight, Peter Owen AS ’06, BS ’08, BS working with the United ’12 is the assistant controller for Sorenson Capital Partners. He was previously a senior of medicine at the University Jamie Weeks BS ’03 is the fund accountant for UMB of Utah. She and her family head of Archives and Digital Fund Services and recently live in Salt Lake City. Collections at Weber State. completed a four-year term She also teaches a public of service on WSU’s Young history course for WSU’s Joseph Bruderer AS ’11, BS Kingdom and Sweden. A Morgan Bruderer AS ’12, BS ’14 previously worked as the development director for WSU’s Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions. She currently works from home for Type A Inc. Joseph and Morgan have one daughter and live in Clinton. Kevin Carone AAS ’13, BS ’14 is a prototype technician for Tesla Inc. in Fremont, California. He previously worked as a service support manager and vehicle technician with Tesla and as an assistant service manager in San Rafael, California. Kevin and his wife, Ashleigh, Stay connected to Weber State; help a student build a career. WSUAA’s Leadership to Legacy mentorship program matches alumni and friends from various professions with students interested in similar careers. To learn more, visit alumni.weber.edu/leadershiptolegacy 36 alumni.weber.edu | Fall 2018 recently had their first child and live in the California Bay Area. Lauren Thomas AS ’14, BS ’17 is the elections specialist for the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office. She is in her second year of service on the Young Alumni Council. Her husband, Gage Thomas BS ’18, is a paralegal with McGregor & Oblad PLLC. He recently completed internships with the city manager’s office in Syracuse, Utah, the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office and U.S. Rep. Mia Love’s office in Washington, D.C. Lauren and Gage live in Centerville. After nearly 10 years of research and project management, Avery Anne Pince Hyder BA ’15 is now the project manager for the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC). advocacy programs, policy and systems changes, and editorial review of UDDC content. She is in her second year of service on WSU’s Young Alumni Council and is currently serving as secretary. Avery volunteers as a docent BS ’16 is the communication for the Utah State Capitol specialist for the Ogden Preservation Board. She has School District, where she two children and lives in serves as a resource for South Ogden. public awareness and Funds raised by phonathon student callers support scholarships. Her work supports self- Skyler Jo Pyle AS ’14, BA ’16, stakeholders and builds CALL of the WILDCATS THE Wade Christiansen AS ’02, L Please pick up. Michelle Khodorkovsky Haille Van Patten AS ’15, and he also worked in AS ’15, BS ’17 is a project BS ’17 is the marketing and digitization and web AS ’18, is an LPN for Ogden is a staff cybersecurity facilitator for University of social media specialist for development for Brigham Surgical Center. They live in technologist for Booz Allen Utah Health. She helped WSU’s Shepherd Union. Young University-Idaho Salt Lake City. Hamilton, a management develop and launch the Haille previously served as archives. Philip previously SafeUT app, a text and the digital marketing aide served on the Pleasant View call resource that provides and assistant coordinator City Community Betterments support and crisis counseling, for Weber State’s Global Committee. He is vice suicide prevention and Education Opportunity president of WSU’s Young referral services to Utah program. Haille is in her Alumni Council. students and adults. Students second year of service on can also use the app to WSU’s Young Alumni submit confidential tips to Council. She lives in Roy. school administrators on L bullying, threats or violence. Michelle is completing double master’s degrees in health administration and business administration at WSU. She serves on WSU’s Young Alumni Council. L Kaitlin DeYoung AS ’16, Jeffrey Henry BS ’17 is a specialist for the Utah Department of Workforce Services’ Disabled Veterans Outreach Program. A U.S. Air Force veteran with over Parker DeYoung AS ’17 is an 10 years’ experience, Jeffrey engineering intern at Hill Air develops job and training Force Base. He is pursuing opportunities for veterans, Philip Sauvageau MBA his bachelor’s degree in specifically veterans ’16 is an area support chemical engineering at the with service-connected analyst for the LDS church’s University of Utah. A member disabilities. He received meetinghouse facilities of the American Institution of the Workforce Services’ department. He was Chemical Engineers, Parker Service to Veterans award previously a lab manager also serves on WSU’s Young for 2017-18. Jeffrey lives in and site technician for Alumni Council. His wife, North Ogden. L the Ogden School District, L Garry Kirkland II MBA ’17 and technology consulting firm in Boston. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Garry is a member of the Global Information Assurance Certification Advisory Board for the System Administration, Networking, and has served as an analyst 2018 sponsors and manager in banking, and participants! and Security (SANS) Institute, accounting and information security roles. Garry is a U.S. Army veteran. He lives in Billerica, Massachusetts. Marissa Questereit BS ’17 is the recreation manager for WSU’s Shepherd Union, where she directs operations for Waldo’s Corner Pocket and Wildcat Lanes. Marissa This year’s WSU Alumni Golf Classic raised $37,471 for student scholarships. recently served on WSU’s Young Alumni Council. She The Gift That Keeps Giving lives in South Ogden. Tim Rosenvall BS ’17 teaches 11th-grade math and physics at the American International School of Utah. He previously SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! June 7, 2019 taught in the Ogden School District. He, his wife, Terynn Rosenvall BS ’18, and their Recurring gifts make a big impact, alumni.weber.edu/golfclassic son live in Ogden. Terynn is and they are easy on your budget and a stay-at-home mom who schedule. currently serves on WSU’s Young Alumni Council. Visit weber.edu/give to start your gift of $18.89 a month in honor of the year Weber State University was founded. 38 alumni.weber.edu | Fall 2018 L A Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association Annual Member of the Alumni Association Fall 2018 | alumni.weber.edu 39 rd hephe Unio om ro l l a B S MRS. PEACOCK , BS ’64, MS ’86 AKA Judy Hurst AS ’62 i Council mn President, Emeriti Alu n. It Audrey Hepbur Until Dark with ait W is ie ov m tery . My favorite mys ewing my nails my seat and ch of ge ed e th on kept me m the TV series sica Fletcher fro Jes is be to e uld most lik periences The sleuth I wo ary skills and ex e uses her liter sh e us ca be e Murder, She Wrot rs. to solve murde game y favorite card ng for me, but m lo o to t las lly nera Board games ge ts on steroids. like playing hear s It’ . ng is Skull Ki e Wildcat, Who is Waldo th love to solve is: I’d ry te ys m are e at A Weber St w many Waldos g mascot, and ho in nn wi dwould ar aw g him, but I sure our awesome, r not identifyin fo on as re e o! th tand ay be). Go Wald there? I unders , as the case m em th r (o m hi t ore abou like to know m a restaurant in was octopus at thing I’ve eaten us rio te s rubbery ys m t The mos t the octopus wa was delicious, bu e uc sa e Th a. d was Qingdao, Chin hosts, I ate it, an g to offend our in nt wa t No ing! . up another help and hard to chew me dished me to xt ne on rs pe the horrified when st or a haunted a haunted fore night in either e th d en sp control, and it to If I had e I’d feel more in us ca be n sio an oose the m mansion, I’d ch bad weather. ect me against would also prot Who has your Wildcat pride? Meet the Sus ects AKA WSU Alumni Association Leaders 2018-19 lindquist er RS. PURPL Alumni CeMnt E & WHI AKA Th ais Cav Preside azotti Stewart B nt, Youn g Alum A ’18, BS ’18 ni Coun cil TE The sleuth I would most like to be is Sherl ock Holmes because I’ve always wanted to have an eidetic memory. (Editor’s note: “Eidetic” means extraordinarily accurate. Don’t pretend you already knew that!) R PleLBUSM’96 O S S E F O PR ielle Croy iation My favorite board game is Settlers of Catan because I love watching my husband get so angry at such a silly game . oc an AKA D t, Alumni Ass n e esid A Weber State mystery I’d love to solve is: Who is Waldo and how is he so energetic? Pr t war ste e mbs becaus nce of the La ie is The Sile treme ov ex m on ry s te mys ter who take ac ar My favorite ch e al ng fem ling is a stro Clarice Star inus Holmes — m challenges. is Sherlock be to e lik ke to t capital mista I would mos The sleuth ying: “It is a sa s hi s to ve lo .I to twist fact e, of course ly, one begins ib the drug us ns se In . s data fore one ha theorize be suit facts.” theories to of d ea st in , es play all ri suit theo , but I like to lers of Catan tt Se is e m minoes. board ga My favorite , including do d dice games an rd ca ays d, ing! I’m alw types of boar lve is: Anyth so to ve lo note: I’d ime. (Editor’s ate mystery ystery or cr A Weber St m ed lv so y un vestigate an the FBI.) willing to in lle works for ie an D hy w ly my ab ob That’s pr bering all of about remem ss le ue cl y rl feel utte Right now, I ted words. ss rest or a haun different pa a haunted fo er th ei in t experiences end the nigh I’d enjoy both If I had to sp t bu , on si man pe my choose the unique. I’d ho mansion, I’d known and un e th g ow fun to in e explor r to Belle’s. H because I lik ld be simila ou w e ur a prince! nt sion adve sforms into haunted man ast who tran be a d an ot anted teap meet an ench ary Libr 40 alumni.weber.edu | Fall 2018 My favorite mystery book is Harry Potter . Does that count? Harry Potter is the first book I chose to read without being forced to. It taught me how much I enjoy reading! The most mysterious thing I’ve eaten is sushi ... once. Not my favorite. When I first moved to Utah from Brazil, I felt utterly clueless about the English language. Sometimes, I still feel STARADS ’17 COLOaNstEiaLn LMawUso nA tion AKA Seb If I had to spend the night in either a haun ted forest or a haunted mansion, I’d choose the haunted mansion, hands down , because there are more places to hide. i Associa ent Alumn Stud President, om o R ard i l l i B that way. cause of the Orient Express be is Murder on the ie ov m ry ing. te ys My favorite m ake while watch nclusions you m co nt re ffe di e th e how plot twists and es because I lik is Sherlock Holm be to e lik t os m uld The sleuth I wo the action. gets involved in d an the tty he is wi e ghost living in is: Who was th lve so to e lov mystery I’d A Weber State ce building? e old Social Scien wrapped in basement of th ated cow blood e eaten is coagul I’v g in th aasai us rio h in protein, the M The most myste e cattle blood is hig us ca Be te: no le r’s ito beneficial for peop cow intestine. (Ed nzania consider it Ta ern rth no d ns.) an Kenya uals and celebratio people of southern nsumed during rit co o als It’s . ms mune syste with weakened im unted mansion, ted forest or a ha un ha a r he eit ded and I d the night in If I had to spen d be more seclu because it woul n sio an m d te un ound me. I’d choose the ha ow what is all ar a position to kn in elf ys m t pu could Imagine hearing your second-grade teacher tell your parents, “If you’re going to steer your child in a particular direction academically, that direction should not be math.” One single statement could cause some students to develop math anxiety or give up on the subject altogether. Sheryl Rushton, however, used it to become better at math. Today, she teaches future teachers and new teachers how to encourage students to ... Vice Provost Amy Renner Hendricks MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Rushton, an assistant professor of teacher education at WSU, The teacher also graded the quizzes differently. She graded hands a stack of papers — real math work by elementary school the control group’s quizzes the standard way, marking students — to groups of students in her Content Instruction in incorrect answers and giving students a score. The treatment Elementary School Mathematics course. “Tonight, I’d like you to group, however, did not receive traditional scores. The analyze the errors,” she tasks them. teacher, instead, highlighted their errors and gave students Error analysis helps teachers determine if errors are simple opportunities to explain and then justify the correct solutions. miscalculations or signs of a deeper misunderstanding. Initially, the traditional method and the error analysis method In recent years, error analysis has also become a tool for both proved to be successful on the immediate post-test. students to use, to find and correct errors that have been Interestingly, the delayed post-test, given six weeks later, inserted into problems, and to locate errors in their own work. showed that “the retention of knowledge was significantly Rushton has studied student-conducted error analysis for higher for the group that learned through error analysis.” several years. In 2018, she published her first solo research on “Providing errors for students to find allowed for discussion the subject in the Fields Mathematics Education Journal. and varied solution strategies,” Rushton says. “Teachers who Rushton conducted her research in two seventh-grade engage students in these types of exercises help promote mathematics classes. One class was the control group, one reasoning and problem solving. That leads to better retention was the treatment group. The same teacher taught both of knowledge.” classes using the same instructional strategy; however, she Rushton relays her research to her WSU students, who gave the control group regular homework and the treatment appreciate the real-life examples. They can’t help but enjoy group homework that included problems with errors. her eye-opening, problem-solving lessons; after all, her For example: 54/9 = -9d/9 6=d Their job was to find the error, explain the error, then explain how to correct it. enthusiasm for math is contagious. They chuckle when she ends her just love math?” and “Isn’t math fun?” must divide by -9 (dividing -9 by -9 equals Thanks to her, they 1 — dividing a negative by a negative do, and it is. equals a positive). That leaves d. And, what you do to one side, you must do to the other. 54 divided by -9 equals -6 (a positive divided by a negative equals a negative). Therefore, the answer is -6, not 6. You can support excellent teaching, like the kind Sheryl • Recognizing outstanding teachers with cash awards; Rushton provides her students, through Weber State • Providing teaching innovation grants; and Endowment. Created with a $1 million gift commitment from Ogden philanthropists Bob and Marcia Harris, the fund promotes teaching excellence by: Bruce Davis BS ’79 has been a go-to guy for getting tough jobs done since he joined the Weber State business school full time nearly 30 years ago. When the university needed a steady hand to guide the Division of Online & Continuing Education, Davis was there. When Weber State opened a satellite center in Layton, Davis was there to direct it. When WSU Davis was built four years later, Davis was there to be its chief administrator. And that’s just a sampling of the many contributions Davis has made to his alma mater. 2018 H. Aldous DIXON AWARDS After serving as a Navy corpsman with the Marines during the Vietnam War, Davis attended Weber State on the GI Bill. There’s a special place in his heart for military veterans and nontraditional students. He established an education group consisting of representatives from across campus to address concerns and enhance opportunities for current military students and returning veterans. Davis’ motto is: “The student first and always.” Despite his administrative workload, he teaches one class every semester. Davis was promoted to vice provost in 2008. classes with a joyful, “Don’t you It’s that pesky negative. When solving for d, you University’s new President’s Outstanding Teaching Vause began teaching at Weber State in 1982. In 1985, to give undergraduate students an opportunity to present their writing to university peers throughout the country, Vause and a colleague organized a conference that quickly became a Weber State showcase. Each year, the National Undergraduate Literature Conference attracts hundreds of student writers and brings some of the world’s most important literary figures to WSU. Bruce Davis BS ’79 • Increasing public awareness of WSU’s commitment to its learning-centered environment. To contribute, contact WSU’s Development Office at 801-626-6180. L. Mikel Vause English Professor Former students and colleagues describe Mikel Vause BS ’82 as an author, poet, scholar, environmentalist, adventurer, mentor and friend; they call him a “master of the mountain and classroom.” Vause is the quintessential storyteller. Whether he borrows phrases from Emily Brontë’s poems, Bob Dylan’s lyrics, William Shakespeare’s sonnets or Wallace Stegner’s prose, Vause is able to spin them into allegories that enrich the lives of those around him. Vause also established “The Dead Poets Tour,” a popular study abroad trip to England, Scotland and Wales. His extraordinary teaching has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Crystal Crest Master Teacher Award, the George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Award and three Hemingway Awards. Samuel I. Zeveloff Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Zoology For nearly 33 years, Sam Zeveloff challenged Weber State students to see the bigger picture — to think ecologically as they searched for their place in the world and engaged in hands-on learning. Zeveloff wanted his students to leave WSU able to apply theories and academic abstractions to realworld challenges. To that end, the esteemed conservationist created a thesis program to facilitate extended student research projects. As chair of the zoology department from 1987 to 2012, Zeveloff directed curriculum initiatives and secured private funding to purchase cadavers for WSU’s human anatomy laboratory. Following the publication of his book, Mammals of the Intermountain West, Zeveloff arranged a donation of wildlife illustrations to the university’s Museum of Natural Science. He co-created a study abroad experience to China and Tibet, and helped establish an academic exchange with Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit in Tepic, Mexico. Zeveloff has received numerous recognitions, including the Exemplary Collaboration Award for initiating the university’s annual Holocaust Commemoration. In 2014-15, Zeveloff was a Fulbright Scholar, teaching graduate courses and studying wildlife conservation at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Since 1970, the WSU Alumni Association has presented the Dixon Award to outstanding faculty and staff who have distinguished themselves professionally and taken extra measures to meet student needs. The award is given in memory of former President Dixon who served as the school’s chief administrator in 1919-20 and from 1937 to 1953. Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 151 Salt Lake City, UT 1265 Village Dr. Dept. 4025 Ogden, UT 84408-4025 Little Artists Take Flight Motivated by visiting scientific illustrator Jane Kim Photos courtesy of Ink Dwell and Benjamin Zack Awestruck preschoolers from the Melba S. Lehner Children’s School lie on the floor of the Kimball Visual Arts Center, looking up at Jane Kim’s sweeping mural illustrating the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. One little girl asks, “Can I sing our song?” and teacher Sherrie West BS ’83 says, “Yes! Sing under the painting.” inspired them to create their own sprawling mural in the first-floor hallway of the McKay Education Building. Kim visited Weber State for a month as part of the Dean W. and Carol W. Hurst Artist-in-Residence program. Her migrating murals highlight wildlife along the migration corridors they share with people. To the tune of Oh Tannenbaum, she begins: “Oh, monarch butterfly. Oh, monarch butterfly. Oh, where did you go?” Then another student asks to sing, then another, until the song echoes through the entire first floor, informing onlookers of the plight of monarch butterflies, which have been threatened by the loss of their milkweed food supply. Hands-on projects, like exploring the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, are a staple in the children’s school. “To have a famous artist on campus to help teach and inspire our children has been incredible,” West says. “This is something they’ll remember forever.” The children took field trips across campus every week in October and into November to see Kim paint, which To read more about the serendipitous journey that led to the creation of the children’s mural and to see a time-lapse video of Kim’s installation, visit weber.edu/wsumagazine.