WILDCAT WSU Alumni Magazine | SPRING 2018 BALANCING WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends Family| Military| Civilian | Student Life 1st Lt. Robert Ferguson had his first echocardiogram when he was just a kid, a Boy Scout in fact. Luckily, it was just to see how the machine worked. His scoutmaster was an echocardiogram technologist, and he wanted to show his Scouts how he could produce images of the heart. WILDCAT editor in chief Amy Renner Hendricks Creative director Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 It was then Ferguson fell in love with radiology. He received his bachelor’s degree in radiologic sciences from WSU in 2011 and attended physician assistant (PA) school for a few semesters when he decided to join the Army National Guard. His goal was to finish his PA course work at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, but that’s when life took him in a different direction. Contributing writers Matt Gerrish BS ’10, MPC ’15 Amy Renner Hendricks Allison Barlow Hess John Kowalewski Karin Hurst Jaime Winston designers Emily Caraballo Amy Hajdas Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 “I married a wonderful woman with four children,” Ferguson said, smiling, “and I needed to stay in Utah.” Today, Ferguson is a company commander for the 19th SFG (Special Forces Group) Group Support Battalion HHC (headquarters). He is also the radiology coordinator for Ogden Regional Medical Center and a clinical instructor for WSU radiologic sciences students. All the while, Ferguson is working toward his master’s degree in radiologic sciences at WSU. “It’s difficult to juggle,” he said. “You have to be able to fulfill your responsibilities in every role you have … husband, father, my work at Ogden Regional, my obligation as a company commander for headquarters, and as a student.” Ferguson said he’s always felt support, from his family, coworkers and WSU professors. Vol. 23, No. 1, Spring 2018 contributing editors Nancy B. Collinwood BS ’94 Rebecca Gibson AS ’09 John Kowalewski Brad Mortensen Amber Robson BS ’05, MPC ’17 photographers Ryan Belnap Robert Casey Matt Gerrish BS ’10, MPC ’15 Joe Salmond Becky Thompson Zac Williams BS ’01, MPC ’13 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. postmaster: Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018. I DON’T ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AMAZING, BUT WHEN I DO, I WEAR PURPLE. n Stay wild my friends, stay wild Get 25% off His ultimate goal is to teach. “I’ve seen the impact teachers have on individuals, in shaping and directing their lives, and it would make me very happy to one day be in that role.” weber state university board of trustees 2017-18 For more information about WSU’s School of Radiologic Sciences, visit weber.edu/radsci. Nolan Karras BS ’70, Chair Kearston A. Cutrubus, Vice Chair Karla K. Bergeson Marty Carpenter BS ’01 Danielle Croyle BS ’96 Karen White Fairbanks one apparel item - with this coupon PR5000000004801 Aulola P. Moli Scott W. Parson Donald J. Salazar Jeff M. Stephens BS ’84, MS ’88 weber.edu/wsumagazine | alumni.weber.edu Three locations to serve you: Ogden, Davis and WSU Downtown. wildcatstores.com n WEBER WATCH CONTENTS The program provided me with the tools I need to run a healthcare business. I had access to mentors and faculty who are industry leaders. I received personalized advice about how to be a successful leader. — Nallely Ruiz, MHA Health Professions Program Director 26 EXECUTIVE MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT 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. NATIONALLY RANKED PROGRAM MEET JUST ONCE PER SEMESTER The program is ranked as one of the TOP 50 PROGRAMS in the country and leads the nation in AFFORDABILITY and INNOVATION. Each semester students spend a day and a half on campus, conveniently located 20 minutes from the airport. The rest of the coursework is conducted online. FLAT-RATE TUITION NO GRE/GMAT REQUIRED The flat-rate tuition fee includes tuition, fees, books, even lunch during on-campus instruction. Tuition is not higher for out-ofstate students. For applicants with five years of healthcare or supervisory experience. APPLY NOW ACCELERATED PROGRAM The entire program can be completed in just five semesters. Girls Go Digital Program ignites girls’ interest in technology. 14 Hold the Phone 32 Explore the ups and downs of America’s relationship with new technology. 20 Breaking the Hollywood Stereotype WSU Salutes Outstanding alumni and friends receive recognition. 38 Class Notes Wildcats share their successes and updates. Diverse group of computer scientists make a difference in their industries. ALUMNI DISCOUNT Weber State alumni who are accepted into the 2018 eMHA cohort will be eligible for an additional onetime 5 percent loyalty discount on the first semester’s tuition. Alumni of Weber’s MHA/Executive MHA Program are eligible for our incentive program if they refer another student who is successfully accepted into the Executive MHA Program. weber.edu/emha Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 5 WEBER WATCH “Please call me Chuck.” WEBER WATCH Allison Barlow Hess MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS It’s fair to say that, in his five years at Weber State University, President Wight repeated that request thousands of times. It was often accompanied by an eye-crinkling smile, a telltale sign of his approachable leadership style and his love for WSU. Chuck spoke of that love when, in January, he announced that he would be stepping down in the spring of 2018. “One of the most difficult decisions any president has to make is choosing the best time to move on,” he said. “I truly love this institution, and our time here has brought much joy for Victoria and me. But I have decided that the time has come for us to seek a new adventure.” In a message to alumni, Chuck reiterated how special Weber State is. “I realized early on in my presidency that WSU is a magical school, one that welcomes students from all different backgrounds and experiences, and helps them to realize their dreams. Just as WSU has shaped and influenced you for the better, it has done the same for us. We will never forget that.” During his tenure at Weber State, Chuck cultivated a strong college-town relationship with Ogden City, expanded the scope of the Dream Weber program to make a college education more accessible, saw the university complete a successful comprehensive campaign that raised more than $164 million, and witnessed the completion of several major campus projects and the start of others. Chuck said he has many fond memories of Weber State, but commencement will always be his favorite. “Over the span of my presidency, I’ve watched more than 25,000 students graduate. For many of them, Weber State provided an opportunity for personal growth that they Good Works Documented otherwise would not have considered. At commencement, I ask students who are the first in their families to graduate What started as a video project for WSU’s electronic media documentary has opened my eyes to the value of serving to stand and be recognized. I will have been part of 11 advisor ended up changing his life. Drew Tyler BA ’01 and his others and the joy that can come from it. It has restored my graduations during my time at WSU, and that moment still wife, communication instructor Stacey Cragun Tyler BS ’01, faith in humanity.” gets to me.” MPC ’16, documented a group of Weber State volunteers who The documentary, Windows of Change, premiered to an added two classrooms and a library to the Eduardo Mondlane audience of 500 in the Val A. Browning Center Austad Secondary School in Mozambique. Auditorium. It has been nominated for a Utah Film Festival The Utah System of Higher Education has formed a search committee to hire WSU’s next president. For updates on the presidential search, visit weber.edu/presidentialsearch. “It’s not very often you get to work on a project that has such award. Visit weber.edu/wsumagazine to watch the powerful a profound effect on your outlook on life,” Tyler said. “This bonds formed between volunteers and Mozambique students. Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 7 BEST. FOOTBALL SEASON. EVER. The 2017 highlights at a glance 11 2 17 The number of games WSU won, which set a school record The number of FCS playoff wins — the most WSU has ever won in a year — including a 30-13 blowout of rival Southern Utah, who shared the Big Sky title with the Wildcats The number of Wildcats who earned All-Conference honors, including Big Sky Defensive MVP Taron Johnson 6 The number of Wildcats who earned All-American honors, including Taron Johnson, Trey Tuttle, Andrew Vollert, Xequille Harry, Iosua Opeta, Brady May, Rashid Shaheed and LeGrand Toia 7 The number of Big Sky Conference games Weber State won, which led to the Wildcats earning a share of the Big Sky Conference championship 7 The number of games in a winning streak that started Oct. 21 and led the Wildcats to the FCS quarterfinals, where they lost a heartbreaker to top-ranked James Madison on the final play of the game The number of road victories, which set yet another school record and led to WSU being tied for the most road wins in the nation in 2017 8 2018 Schedule Aug. 30 at Utah Sept. 8 at Cal Poly Sept. 15 South Dakota Sept. 22 Northern Colorado Oct. 6 at Northern Arizona Oct. 13 Eastern Washington (Homecoming) 5 Oct. 20 Montana State Oct. 27 at North Dakota Weber State’s final ranking in the FCS poll, its highest finish in school history Nov. 3 Sacramento State Nov. 10 at Southern Utah Nov. 17 at Idaho State Photo by Robert Casey WEBER WATCH Strength in Straw Sixteen students spent fall break helping build sustainable straw-bale homes in Moab, Utah. WSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning partnered with the group Community Rebuilds to construct sustainable, lowcost, straw-bale housing. Community Rebuilds has constructed 22 homes in Utah, Colorado and on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona for low- and very low-income families. Thick straw walls, covered in heavy layers of plaster, are energy efficient, safe and do particularly well in an arid climate. For stability and durability, the bales are reinforced with steel rods. Kyia Hill, president of WSU’s Environmental Ambassadors, helped organize the volunteer effort. She said, “Weber State has many sustainable initiatives because we want a better future.” A Home of His Own When a homeless Gulf War veteran entered Weber State as a student, he knew it would change his life. What Travis Parsons didn’t know was that fellow Wildcats would also help build him a home. Welcome Back To Weber … After a national search, Robert Hunter BS ’68 was selected as the director of the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service. Hunter stepped into the role after 17 years as president and CEO of United Way of Northern Utah. Among many responsibilities, he formerly served as Wasatch Front Regional Council of Governments chair, Weber County Commission chair and Ogden City manager. Hunter is well-known in the Wildcat community. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Art/Visual Communication-Design from Weber State. He also has taught as an adjunct professor for 24 years in the departments of political science and communication. Hunter has spent many years in public service, promoting collaboration among government, nonprofit and business leadership. 10 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Weber State’s design engineering technology students designed two homes at 141 30th Street in Ogden. Various groups of WSU volunteers helped turn a dream into reality for Parsons, who moved into his new home in February. “I just cannot believe that this is true,” Parsons said. “I am getting a new house. Seems too good to be true. Sometimes dreams happen.” See a news clip of Parsons taking ownership of his new home at weber.edu/wsumagazine. Weber Wins Water Wars When it comes to saving water, Weber State Wildcats are willing. The H2Oath competition, sponsored by the Utah Division of Water Resources, pitted Utah’s colleges and universities against each other to see which school could acquire the most pledges from students, faculty, alumni and fans to take a water-wise pledge. Weber won $5,000 with commitments from 578 people to follow commonsense guidelines for water conservation, such as avoiding watering following a rainstorm or End Times Examined during the hottest part of the day. The pledge can be taken year-round at World-ending fears — real and imagined — focused Honors Program students on the modern fascination of a post-apocalyptic world. “The Apocalypse and After,” taught by Scott Rogers, English associate professor, investigated the nature of zombies and how they have changed over time. “The zombies are a stand-in for any catastrophe,” Rogers said. “That’s the genius of zombies; they’re just a vessel you can make whatever you want. If you’ve got a culture with an anxiety, throw it in there.” Zombies have been used to illustrate racial issues, consumerism and global annihilation through technology. water.utah.gov/h2oath. A Master of Business Administration degree usually focuses on how to earn money, but students in Weber State’s leadership course learned how to give money away — effectively and for impact. Michael Vaughan, an economics professor in the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics, personally donated funds for three teams of MBA students to identify, select and contribute $1,000 each to nonprofit organizations. Groups gave money to The Inn Between, which provides end-of-life hospice care to Salt Lake’s homeless men and women. They also selected But one antidote to fear, said botany assistant professor Bridget Hilbig, is to find answers to critical concerns. In her course “Food and Water for a Hungry World,” Honors students discussed ways to combat world hunger. Seager Memorial Clinic in the Ogden Rescue “The current issues of population growth, urbanization and climate change threaten that access and create a fear of an apocalypse-like environment, but also a strong desire to find a solution,” Hilbig said. responsibility of philanthropic leadership. Honors courses allow creative minds the space to contemplate creative solutions. money is going to have the greatest impact. That’s 12 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Mission and Ogden’s YCC Family Crisis Center. As former WSU provost and now director of Weber State’s Center for the Study of Poverty & Inequality, Vaughan wants students to learn about the “One of the things people engaged in philanthropy say is, ‘It’s hard to give away money,’” Vaughan explained. “What they mean is it’s hard to make decisions about where your what leaders must learn to do.” Left to Our Own Devices How new technology has changed the way we think, and what we can do about it Jaime Winston | Marketing & Communications Luke Fernandez recalls sliding the large piece of sound insulation paneling in front of his dorm room door to keep out the racket from the hallway. “Back in those days, hi-fi stereos were quite popular. When I was trying to study, they caused me a great deal of distress and annoyance,” said Fernandez, Weber State computer science professor, who was writing his thesis on Friedrich Nietzsche and the politics of nihilism as a senior at Amherst Americans are much less tolerant of being alone and experiencing solitude than they once were, much less tolerant of boredom, kind of demanding constant stimulation. College at the time. Susan Matt, history professor ruckus right outside their doors, they have His spouse, Weber State history professor Susan Matt, refers to Fernandez’s Billboard top 40-proof dorm room as his “chamber of solitude.” Unfortunately for today’s students, creating their “chambers” is a bit trickier. No matter how well they block out the smartphones, laptops, tablets and other devices that keep them connected to family, friends and the rest of the world at all times. Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 15 “These devices are Matt, adding that solitude was often seen during the 2016–17 fiscal year. The university has processed a incredibly alluring, as virtuous to people in the 19th century. total of 3,359 online donations over that period of time. As we look down at our phones to avoid “People in all locales can make a donation online. Donations and the technology companies behind boredom, they become tools for airing frustrations. “The can be made via smartphones. There are so many online internet gives us this way to express anger, and we don’t giving platforms that can be used by nonprofits and one- We can’t just leave it up to Silicon Valley to create these things. We have to participate as consumers in how they’re designed. feel the consequences of it,” Matt said. “You don’t need to be time grassroots fundraising,” said Kelly Stackaruk, senior ashamed because no one can actually see you; you can hide development director for Weber State’s College of Engineering, behind a screen name. In some ways people have been given Applied Science & Technology (EAST). “We are able to create more license to feel anger.” custom URLs that, with one click, will take our donors to the Luke Fernandez, computer science professor The couple’s research also reveals more Americans are them have every business incentive to try to distract you,” Fernandez said. “They make money off of harvesting your attention.” Along with distracting students from homework, the devices present a challenge in Weber State classrooms as well. “These concerned with narcissism in the digital age than they were Additionally, if we really don’t like how our devices make 100 years ago. It’s not surprising, given the instant gratification us feel, Fernandez reminds us that we have a say in the that comes with more likes and friends on social media. technologies that help form American culture. “These devices can sometimes work at However, not all of the findings show negative feelings odds with the goals we’re trying to get through in surrounding technology. “One thing that came out in a lot of the classroom,” Fernandez said. “We’re also trying interviews is people have some real disconnects with their to channel the attention of the students.” technologies, but they’re also talking about ways it enhances social life and the acts of generosity that people do,” Matt said. As students begin using more technology in exact account they want to support.” the classroom, the faculty is split over whether During the 2013–14 fiscal year, 3.05 percent of donations to devices are degrading or enriching learning. “Just the other Weber State were processed online. The percentage of online day, I was telling my students to pull out their phones and donations has gone up each year since, reaching 8.24 percent technologies are not just tools that we use. They’re also reshaping fundamentally what we are as human beings because they can lead us in good or bad directions,” he said. “We can’t just leave it up to Silicon Valley to create these things. We have to participate as consumers in how they’re designed.” Students studying technology in EAST have a more direct say in how technology shapes America’s culture. The national Women Tech Council recently recognized WSU computer science major Tammy Platero at the Women Tech Awards for Google something if they didn’t know it,” said Scott Rogers, Along with researching the past, Matt and Fernandez met Weber State associate professor of English. “They said, ‘We’ve with 50 people from 11 states and Washington, D.C., to get been taught our whole lives not to use our phones in the their thoughts on today’s technology. Interviewees ranged classroom,’ and I’m like, ‘But I’m telling you, you have the in age from 18 to 80 and included people from all walks of whole internet in your hand. Don’t ignore that.’” life — truckers, nurse’s aides, lawyers, software engineers, The debate over technology’s usefulness or invasiveness goes entrepreneurs and Weber State students. back much further than the iPhone’s debut in 2007 — or even They found that Americans today feel differently about taking Fernandez’s blocked-off room during the 1986–87 academic in information than their ancestors, relating more to black “This statement is false.” year. Matt and Fernandez researched 19th and early 20th holes than Mr. Creosote. “We think that we can take it all in, century diaries, letters and memoires regarding technology that our brains will infinitely expand,” Matt said. That’s a little hard to wrap your brain around, isn’t it? for a book they are writing about technology’s influence on American emotions throughout history. “We also read the personal papers of everyday people to see how they were thinking about the telegraph, how they were thinking about The research also uncovers new insights on emotions surrounding new technology, revealing what Matt and Fernandez call “the new American self.” the radio,” Matt said. A lot like Mr. Creosote, a Monty Python character who ate so much food that he exploded after adding one wafer-thin mint to his meal, Matt and Fernandez found that 19th century New America Americans were concerned about overloading on information. “A lot of American doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists believed the human mind was limited and could only absorb so much,” Matt said. “Nineteenth century Americans thought, ‘The telegraph, the telephone, the radio — it’s just Along with wanting as much information as possible, Matt and Fernandez say that Americans are more concerned about loneliness, boredom, anger and narcissism. overwhelming us. Our brains aren’t equipped to handle “Americans are much less tolerant of being alone and everything that they’re bringing in.’” experiencing solitude than they once were, much less tolerant Emotional vs. Artificial Intelligence If the statement is true, then it’s false. If the statement is false, then it’s true. Called the “Liar’s Paradox,” it’s one of the greatest brainteasers in history and could be your best defense in the future, should robots rise up against humanity. “Human beings have emotional intelligence. We can ponder and even appreciate the paradox. Artificial beings lack emotions. They would attempt to solve the paradox until their systems crashed,” said John S. Hinckley Fellow Brian Rague during the 18th Annual Hinckley Lecture, where he shared his observations on our relationships with technology. As we rely more on technology, Rague, who also chairs the School of Computing, urges us to remember humanity, to connect emotionally with other humans. “Intelligence,” he said, “is wrapped up in our emotions. Appreciate your intelligence in all its messiness.” of boredom, kind of demanding constant stimulation,” said 16 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 17 her work in the community. Platero, who is also a program Another student confessed that, while working on a writing coordinator for WSU’s Center for Technology Outreach, has assignment, “I’ve sent five texts to my girlfriend and received helped introduce young girls and underrepresented students five replies in kind, and I consider myself fairly conservative to STEM fields, organize the FIRST® LEGO® League for over in my plugged-in-ness.” 3,000 children across Utah and lead an all-girls welding camp Your Walden Zone last summer. immediate feedback, opportunity for education and the phones give it to now have that through us,” Rogers said. “There’s Henry David Thoreau left mentioning programs like woods to write his book While Platero later, William Powers, author of worries over loneliness society for his retreat in the WebEx and Coursera. Walden. A century and a half acknowledges potential creating our own “Walden zones” in the modern age likes feedback. We want “People who didn’t have an the internet,” said Platero, Hamlet’s Blackerry, proposed The responses weren’t surprising. “We’re a species that and narcissism, she says People who didn’t have an opportunity for education now have that through the internet. Tammy Platero, WSU computer science student a reason you love the notifications on your phone — that you don’t just turn them all off. There’s a reason you want to read a breaking news alert or a text message or email or whatever has come through on your you’ll also find something phone.” else in the digital age: empathy. “Not only do I Thirty-one percent of the for quiet contemplation — or get to see news articles class had families, and 60 percent literary masterpiece — without to someone’s personal experience about what’s going on maybe even busting out a the digital distractions. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR GETTING IN THE ZONE: § § § § Delete your most-distracting phone apps at the start of a new semester or before you start a major project. Don’t fear boredom; during these times, you just might have a creative idea. If you won’t need your phone, leave it behind. Go for a hike, camping trip or vacation that is out of cellphone range. (But let others know where you will be if you go alone.) from around the world, I can really listen worked more than 20 hours per week, making disconnecting from their in their country, and it’s all through the internet.” devices impractical. As the class started, 60 percent agreed that modern technology After she graduates in 2019, Platero says she’s not sure what was disruptive for them. However, after she will do as a career, but it will involve both technology and the professors assigned reading assignments community service. on how the internet affects the way people think, students said they started to learn where the dangers lurked and could better avoid being Phones Away, Eyes Up distracted by technology. “I recognize more how my life has been shaped by technology,” wrote one student, whose response is also in the In 2012, Fernandez, Matt and Rogers co-taught the course “Are Machines Making Us Stupid?” focusing on the ways digital technology alters students’ lives. Students were asked to analyze their technology use while completing assignments. EDUCAUSE article. “I like recognizing that I am being shaped by it but that I have the power to change it if I want.” It’s this sense of mindfulness Matt and Fernandez want students to have regarding their technology. “We all think of our emotions as hardwired into us, and we have no choice about the emotional patterns we display, but emotions are “I have been distracted by everything else I’m capable of partially cultural, and we have a role in shaping that culture,” doing on a ‘screen’ while writing an essay,” wrote one student, Matt said. describing her experience while writing an essay for the class (her account appears in her professors’ summary of the class “In the end, we’re not completely pessimistic.” in EDUCAUSE Review). “I routinely stop writing and check my Fernandez and Matt have taught classes based on their email, or I am at the disposal of any other wandering thought findings from the 2012 course for Weber State’s Honors I get while writing essays. I think I even started to shop online Program and the University of Tübingen in Germany. They plan while I was in the middle of this essay …” to publish their book, tentatively titled Bored, Lonely and Stupid: How Americans Have Felt About Technology from the Telegraph to Twitter, from Harvard University Press in the fall of 2018. Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 19 Amy Renner Hendricks, Allison Hess, Karin Hurst and John Kowalewski | MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS PHOTOS BY ZAC WILLIAMS BS ’01, MPC ’13 Dispelling the myths of computer scientists A few years ago, Google’s Computer Science in Media Team commissioned a study examining depictions of computer scientists in TV and films. The research focused on 10 TV series and TV movies that had tapped into Google as an advisor on computer science-related storylines. It also examined characters portraying computer scientists across the top 20 movies of 2015, 20 TV series popular with 18- to 49-year- Meet... Karen Woodbury BS ’94 President and CEO, Woodbury Technologies olds from 2015 to 2016 and 20 popular TV series among 2- to 12-year-olds from the same time. You might be able to guess what the researchers found. According to the study, conducted by the Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative at the University of Southern California Annenberg, characters portraying computer scientists tended to be white and male across all media studied, although the series that sought Google’s input were slightly more diverse. In addition, the characters studied tended to wear “hacker-type” clothing and rarely mentioned how computer science could help others. Brian Rague, chair of Weber State University’s School of Computing, says that’s an unfortunate, and untrue, representation. “Computer science influences an increasing number of our daily activities, and the design of effective computing devices and interfaces requires input and perspectives from a diverse group of computer science developers,” he said. “We are at a unique point in time in which how well our society functions in some part depends on the creative and visionary spirit of computer scientists drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and collaborating for the common good.” 20 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Although Karen Woodbury was enjoying a successful career as a database administrator and program manager — she had worked for several large companies, including Computer Data Systems Inc., Affiliated Computer Services and Lockheed Martin — she was “obsessed” with owning her own business. As efforts are being made in Hollywood to break the computer “For three years in a row, I started a company. While the scientist stereotype, we set out to learn more about computer timing wasn’t right for the first two, the timing converged with scientists. We interviewed five alumni from WSU’s School a great opportunity for the third,” said Karen, who minored in of Computing and found that each one has an incredibly business at WSU. “I was working for a large company at Hill different background, personality and job, and that each one Air Force Base, and a client I had worked with for many years plays a crucial role in his or her industry and community. said, ‘I need to go small business on my next contract, and Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 21 I’m not sure what to do.’ I made sure I was ready “I love the problem-solving aspect of computer science,” his vision to life. “I was jealous that other people were able to when the opportunity came.” Andrey said. “You can solve basically any problem with do that more directly.” Karen opened Woodbury Technologies in 2003. computer science. Sometimes I’ve had to do something The solution was simple — Chandler needed to become “I had run out of names at that point, so I went manually that can be done on a computer and am reminded a software engineer. At 19, Chandler picked up a GED and with my own,” she said, laughing. The company how computers make things super simple.” enrolled at Weber State. In just three years, he graduated with specializes in information technology, including Today, Andrey works at Hill Air Force Base making flying F-16s a perfect 4.0. cyber security, systems administration software simpler for pilots in Belgium and Portugal. His group creates engineering and medical IT services, all for the After graduation, Chandler maneuvered through a mind- training simulators, which they will supply to European Department of Defense. numbing maze of jobs within the volatile gaming industry. Participating Air Forces and the Training System Support After failing his first interview with Microsoft (he admits he Karen admits she’s never been naturally Center in 2019. When asked if he thinks he could fly the F-16, was under-prepared) he got hired the second time around. interested in computers. “That’s probably a little he laughed and said, “Well, in simulation, I’ve successfully surprising, but I honestly use computers and the flown and landed the aircraft two out of three times. So, no.” internet just like everyone else,” she said. “When The practical experience Andrey gained at Weber State gave I was getting my degree, the personal computer his career, Chandler recounts one of his proudest moments. him the confidence to take a leadership role early in his was a relatively new concept, and the computer It happened the night Microsoft launched Xbox One in career. He and an electrical engineer are the only two team science field was just bursting. I saw opportunity. November of 2013. He slipped away from a company party members on the project developing the interface software. and walked back to the operation center. “I could see all those “It’s been cool to design software from scratch and see it game consoles start to come online,” he recalls. I had the faith and the confidence that I could do computer science.” actually working,” Andrey said. “Computer science is cool no She was right. matter what you design. You can do so many things with it; Today, Karen owns 100 percent of the stock in there are so many computer languages you can learn and so Woodbury Technologies, making it a registered many ways you can approach things.” woman-owned business through the Small For Andrey, computer science is especially “cool,” because it Business Administration. She says computer helped fulfill his parents’ American dream. Today, Chandler works in an office on the corporation’s 500-acre campus in Redmond, Washington. Reflecting on “It went so well. I just sat there, alone, and thought, ‘Wow, we did it.’” science opportunities are there for women, just like they were for her, if not more so now. “I think it’s important to make girls aware of computer Chandler Holbrook BS ’00 science early because they’ll eventually gravitate to what interests them. We have to give them that Partner Software Engineering Program Manager, Microsoft chance to get interested in computer science.” If there’s one video game title that summarizes Chandler Holbrook’s unconventional journey from high school dropout Andrey Akhmedov AS ’12, BS ’16 to partner software engineering manager at Microsoft, it’s Super Lucky’s Tale. The analogy is obvious. Lucky, an optimistic Computer Scientist, Hill Air Force Base cyberfox, encounters nerve-wracking obstacles on his quest to Andrey Akhmedov’s parents immigrated to Ogden from Russia find inner strength and save his family. Chandler, a computer in 1993 because they dreamed of a better life. The transition whiz kid and teenage dad from North Salt Lake, endures a was difficult, but they made sure their three sons took gauntlet of personal challenges and professional setbacks en Andrey, the oldest, grew up in Utah and eventually enrolled at the Northern Utah Academy of Math, Engineering & Science (NUAMES), a charter school located at WSU Davis in Layton. By the time he completed high school, he had earned an associate’s degree from Weber State and a Presidential Scholarship to finish his education. He found his professional passion while taking a computer science course through concurrent enrollment (a program that allows high school students to explore college classes and earn college credit). 22 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Photo courtesy of Microsoft advantage of every educational opportunity. route to the job of his dreams. Computer science is cool no matter what you design. At 16, Chandler was living with his parents and siblings in Massachusetts. While chatting with friends from Utah on a pre-internet, dial-up bulletin board system, he met 15-yearold Kimberly Banta. Determined to spend more time with her, Chandler left home and moved back to Utah. A year later, he quit high school to test video games full time. At 18, Chandler and Kimberly welcomed the first of their five children. Initially delighted with his $21,000 salary, Chandler loved being a project manager, but always had to ask someone else to bring Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 23 When you see a line of code that does a whole lot of things in one little piece — that’s beauty. Mariela Tinajero BS ’10, MBA ’12 Full Stack Developer and Lead Front-End Developer, Northrop Grumman Like many kids her age, Mariela Tinajero didn’t have an exact plan for her future when she was attending Weber High School. One thing was clear, however. She enjoyed math … English, not so much. “I didn’t like to write; my punctuation was terrible,” she said, laughing. So she took some Advanced Placement classes, some emergency medical training classes and some forensics classes. Nothing clicked. When she enrolled at Weber State, she took an introductory computer science course. “I didn’t have much experience with computers — I could use your basic programs, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint — but I thought, ‘It doesn’t hurt to try.’ I’m not sure what I company in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. was expecting, but it really surprised me that I loved it.” His current role combines 20 years as an IT Now in her third year at Northrup Grumman, Mariela professional with his teacher education training creates the user interface for a website that helps Hill from Weber State. Jared collaborates with Air Force Base maintain its Air Program Information developers located in Salt Lake City, St. George, Management System (APIMS), an electronic emissions and the Ukraine. management system. As the lead front-end developer, Dispelling Hollywood stereotypes of computer she helps enhance how users see and interact with the programmers being loners who work in their site, and she facilitates workflow, as well. parents’ basements, Jared says successful IT Mariela leads a team of six, and interacts with many professionals benefit from open workspaces and more people daily. plenty of interaction with peers. “The great thing about computer science is, if you want to work alone, you can find a job where you can do that,” she said. “If you want to work on a team, you can find a job where you can do that. There are different positions for different types of personalities.” “Water cooler conversations breed really great ideas,” Jared said. “Getting to watch a group of people build something really cool and useful, that’s really fun.” His current team is working with blockchain, the technology behind the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, to Jared Willden BA ’00 solve technical problems. Blockchain is essentially a digitally Principal Engineer, RizePoint creating a unique record at every point in a process. shared spreadsheet or ledger that fosters transparency by Jared Willden loves books. So naturally, he dreamed about “What blockchain really does, and its true power is, that it Today, Mariela is glad she had her chance encounter becoming an English teacher when he enrolled at Weber State reduces market friction,” Jared said. “It allows you to do things with computer science at WSU. “I really just fell into it in 1993. Around that same time, Jared purchased his first that were previously hard, in easy ways.” by accident at a time when I didn’t know what I was computer — and discovered another passion. “It would be 3 going to do with my life, but I love it now. It’s great Jared recently introduced a book club at RizePoint. He and his a.m. and I was like, I’ve got to go to bed, but I was still there when your programming works. But when it doesn’t, developers read work-related books, then discuss them. “I’m hacking away at 5 a.m.,” he recalled. a huge fan of helping other developers write better code and After landing a technical support job at Iomega to help pay his become better individual contributors,” he said. way through college, Jared realized he loved “messing around A true bibliophile, Jared sees similarities between great prose in with computers,” so he switched majors, from teaching to literature and great coding. “That elegance of simplicity carries computer science. through to computer science. When you see a line of code that Today, Jared is a principal engineer at RizePoint, a software does a whole lot of things in one little piece — that’s beauty.” then it really becomes problem solving. Some people will throw their keyboards — no, I’m just kidding!” Mariela said, laughing. “It really has been fun for me.” 24 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 25 Mentor Jasmine M acKyah Tuck wriggles excitedly in her chair in a third-floor office in Weber State University’s Elizabeth Hall. Four items are displayed in front of her: a felt bracelet, a light- Friend up owl magnet, a piece of pixel art and a pair of lime-green glasses. The bracelet is her favorite. MacKyah picks it up, pushes a button on the back, and LED lights Planting Digital Roots flash on, illuminating the colorful jewels and “fuzz balls” she used to make it sparkle. She sits up on her knees and scoots closer to the edge of her chair Program grows girls’ interest in technology, computer science Amy Renner Hendricks MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS to demonstrate how it works. “See this gray thread? It’s electronic. We had to do the order of the thread just right and make sure it wasn’t showing in the front, or only a little bit in the front. Then we had to make sure the thread would connect to the right hole to make it light up,” she says, flipping the bracelet over to show off the circuitry and stitchery. MacKyah goes on to demonstrate the magnet — “We used a soldering tool and made these little Hershey kiss shapes with the solder (to join the metals on the back),” she explains — the pixel art, which is patterned after Iron Man — “He isn’t my favorite superhero, though; The Flash is,” she exclaims — and the glasses — “They help me see to code,” she reveals. She also talks about motherboards, HTML, web design, stop-motion video and robots. Incredibly, MacKyah is just 9 years old and in the fourth grade. She has big gray eyes, a spattering of freckles across her nose and is wearing kneehigh sneakers with bright purple laces (purple for Weber State, of course) and her 2017 Girls 26 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 MacKyah Friends Go Digital shirt. Girls Go Digital is where she learned to be so Boosting Computer Science Learning “No matter what you go into, computer science gives you University hosted the first Girls Go Digital camp in 2013, with There is an EdTekTalk in which Hadi Partovi, founder and great managers, lawyers, doctors and more. They’re logical, six girls in attendance. By 2016, the program had expanded to CEO of Code.org (a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to creative problem solvers who can work well in teams.” Ok, that’s a lot of reasons, but it’s a can’t-miss program for six universities across Utah, with 450 participants total. The computer science, especially to women and underrepresented MacKyah and for a number of other local girls, ages 8 to 18. projects teach four main skills — “HACK,” “CODE,” “DESIGN” populations), makes a plea for computer science to be taught and “MAKE” — and are selected and designed by girls for girls. in every elementary, junior high and high school. In Demand The workshops are presented by women who support girls’ Partovi says, “When I went to school, every student learned how EAST offers programs like Girls Go Digital because the college engagement in computer science and technology. to dissect a frog, how electricity works, how to prove a basic wants to benefit the community, but Ferro says it’s also 2017 was the second year WSU hosted a Girls Go Digital theorem. This wasn’t just because they wanted us to become self-serving. “Let me explain,” he says. “We want to increase camp. MacKyah attended both years. Her dad, Garth Tuck, an biologists or electricians or mathematicians — not every kid enrollment in STEM (science, technology, engineering and assistant professor of computer science at Weber State (whose goes into those careers — but it was so we could learn how math) fields because we have industry absolutely clamoring office MacKyah had taken over to demonstrate her projects), the world around us works. Today, it’s just as important for for people. That means we need to take the long view. Junior says parents should take advantage of the opportunity for kids to know how an algorithm works, how the internet works. high is a critical time in kids’ lives, especially girls. Even if their daughters. Technology is changing they’re math- and engineering-oriented, everything in our world.” something discouraging often happens, technologically minded. It’s her favorite summertime activity Girl Power for a couple of reasons: “It helps me learn a lot of stuff about Girls Go Digital provides opportunities for girls to learn about technology. It’s really fun. You get to make stuff to show your computers, programming, technology and design. Dixie State parents. It gets me out of the house during the summer. You get to meet new friends from other schools,” she says. “I’m involved in a lot of technology,” Garth says. “I’m a computer science professor. I’m the Northern Utah director for FIRST® LEGO® League (see page 31 for more on that program). I should know how to connect my daughters — and I have Engineering, Applied five of them — to technology, but Girls Go Digital really helped me make the connection for how to get them (EAST), which hosts interested. It’s very tactile. They create these projects Girls Go Digital, making friends and having fun.” “Tell why the bracelet is special to you,” he prompts MacKyah. agrees. He says it’s critical to open up the world, especially our children, to the possibilities of what “Oh! I made a new friend from Salt Lake City during I think that computer science and engineering degrees are great even if you never go into those fields. Our majors make No matter what you go into, computer science gives you powerful tools for your mental toolkit. David Ferro, dean of EAST software can do. “It’s Girls Go Digital. We made the same bracelet, so we just critical,” he repeats. “I look around my office and think of can remember each other,” she says. how software was involved in most everything that’s here — It helps me learn a lot of stuff about technology. It’s really fun. You get to make stuff to show your parents. It gets me out of the house during the summer. You get to meet new friends from other schools. MacKyah, age 9 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 of WSU’s College of Science & Technology in such a way to help girls learn while being creative, 28 David Ferro, dean powerful tools for your mental toolkit,” says Ferro. “Personally, the manufacturing processes that made these shelves, that collated these books, that formulated the coating of this desk. and they find themselves moving away from STEM and never returning. “So, if we want to take our role seriously, if we want to serve our community, satisfy local industry needs, and allow for great opportunities and jobs that pay well, we need to get involved not only in junior high schools, but even earlier, in elementary schools.” Locally, Hill Air Force Base has a robust K-12 outreach program and works to encourage participation in all STEM fields. In fact, Hill provides a grant for the university to host Girls “That’s why, when we do camps with girls and with all youth, I Go Digital. Part of the like asking them not what they want to be, but what problems grant allows EAST to do they want to solve? Then we can explain how they can give financial assistance solve those problems through technology.” to girls who want to Take MacKyah, for example. She loves animals. The website attend but can’t afford it. The she created during Girls Go Digital was about the pangolin, an Ogden School District also offers endangered mammal that looks like a “scaly anteater.” financial assistance for students in its “They’re really cool,” she says. “They roll up in a ball when schools to attend Girls Go Digital. they’re scared, and their scales are made of keratin, which is “Reducing the financial barriers for these like our fingernails.” girls is so incredibly important to us,” says MacKyah wants to take care of animals like the pangolin one day, perhaps even own a zoo. She and her dad talk about how Dana Dellinger, director of WSU’s Center for Technology Outreach, which is housed technology can help her in her role as animal caretaker, from maintaining feeding schedules to habitat temperatures. Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 29 in EAST. “We want to ensure every girl who wants to, has the opportunity to participate.” According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women earn only 18 percent of all undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees in the U.S. The center says that “the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that by 2020 there will be more than 1.4 million computing-related job openings. At current rates, we can only fill about 30 percent of those openings with U.S. computing bachelor’s degree grads. Girls represent a valuable, mostly untapped talent pool.” Dellinger says to increase girls’ participation in STEM, “We need to get them interested early, we need to give them strong female role models so they can see themselves as leaders in the field, and we need to strengthen their confidence and enjoyment in STEM.” MacKyah is asked about role models, and, in her charming 9-year-old way, says this: FROM ROBOTS TO RUBE GOLDBERG Programs get kids involved in STEM Add hydrodynamics to the list of complex subjects 9-year-old MacKyah Tuck can discuss, thanks to her involvement in Utah’s FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL). (Read about MacKyah’s knowledge of technology in the Girls Go Digital story starting on page 26.) FLL gives fourth- through eighth-graders opportunities to solve real-world problems. FIRST LEGO League teams are formed by neighborhood groups, community organizations, and local elementary and junior high schools. Volunteer coaches advise the teams. The 2017-18 FLL challenge: Improve the way people find, transport, use or dispose of water. The challenge, which lasts at least eight weeks, has two parts: the project and the robot game. For the project, teams must identify a specific problem and design a solution. For “One of my favorite people at Girls Go Digital was named the robot game, teams must build, test and program autonomous robots (robots that use Janna. We nicknamed her Janna Banana because she was programming rather than remote controls) using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® technology to really funny. She helped us do the Ozobots (coding robots for solve a set of water-related missions. Teams then compete in optional tournaments, where kids). The very first year, she was the very first teacher I had. She they can move on to state, national and world championships. helped us make our own websites. She helped me learn a lot.” Janna Banana is actually Janna Gifford, a teacher at Lava Ridge Intermediate in Santa Clara, Utah. Her love for technology goes back to the Commodore 64 computer of the 1980s. “My older brother had one, and I’d sneak in and try to program Weber State hosts the FLL North State Championship, where Utah’s top teams compete for awards and a chance to go to the FLL World Festival. In addition to FIRST LEGO League, WSU’s College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology (EAST) sponsors, hosts and/or partners with other organizations to bring the following STEM programs to Weber State and local communities: it,” she said. “I had familiarity with interfaces and computer terminology at a very young age. Feeling like I had a place early on made all the difference to me in later years. If we can involve our girls in technology during their formative years, they’ll not feel intimidated when they enter a room full FIRST® LEGO® League Jr., for grades K-4 The Art & Science of Welding: Camp for Girls, for grades 10-12 FIRST® Tech Challenge, for grades 7-12 The Art & Science of Technology Camp, for grades 9-12 of boys at a robotics competition or code camp.” MacKyah is already looking forward to Girls Go Digital 2018. Her advice to other girls: “Don’t miss it! Don’t be scared. You can do it. There are nice people who will help you, and you’ll learn all kinds of new things!” WSU Prep, for grades 6-8 Project Lead the Way, for grades 7-12 Girls Go Digital, for girls in grades 3-12 (Read more about this program on page 26.) The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, for middle schoolers to college students Parent-Daughter Engineering Day, for grades 6-9 “In each of these activities we see this idea that, through STEM, you can make a difference in the world,” says David Ferro, dean of EAST. “Yes, these activities are fun, but at the same time, they get kids thinking, proposing ideas, and testing and retesting those ideas. All the while we’re helping create the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers.” For more information about WSU’s STEM Outreach programs, visit weber.edu/wsumagazine. 30 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 31 Salutes WSU 32 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 WSU Salutes 2017 honorees: Front row, left to right: Deborah Belnap, Thomas Grimm, Barbara Chrisman, LeAnn Wheeler and Francis R. Wheeler Back row, left to right: Jessica Schreifels Miller, Colt Jarvis, Kevin J. Sullivan, Lynnda Wangsgard and Kerry W. Gibson See next page for biographies. Photo by Robert Casey Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 33 Salutes WSU { DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA } Barbara Chrisman BS ’76 learned to bowl at a young age and joined leagues at 11. Following an abusive first marriage, Chrisman enrolled in Weber State’s medical technology program. Challenges associated with raising two young sons by herself didn’t diminish her passion for bowling. In 1985, she and her second husband started selling bowling products they made. Today, their company, Storm Products Inc., is a leading manufacturer of high-performance bowling balls and accessories. { OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA } As a member of a tenacious team of journalists at The Salt Lake Tribune, Jessica Schreifels Miller’s BS ’09, MPC ’13 groundbreaking investigation of sexual assaults at Utah colleges landed the paper its second Pulitzer Prize. The coverage led to reforms at Brigham Young University and Utah State University. Miller and her colleagues also received the Frank A. Blethen Award for Local Accountability Reporting from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. { DISTINGUISHED SERVICE } Retired Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan, a former WSU trustee, has dedicated his life to serving his country and community. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, Sullivan became a commissioned officer through the U.S. Air Force ROTC program. During his celebrated military career, Sullivan held numerous leadership roles, including directorate of Logistics and Engineering at U.S. Air Force Headquarters and commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base. { WSU PRESIDENT’S AWARD } As co-owner and operator of a fifth-generation dairy farm, Kerry W. Gibson knows good yields require hard work. As an Agriculture Eisenhower Fellow, his visits to Washington, D.C., sparked his political interests. In 2004, Gibson was elected to the Utah House of Representatives, and in 2010, he won a Weber County Commission seat. Gibson has supported WSU’s efforts to secure funding for building projects, expand course offerings and obtain operating budget appropriations. { EMERITI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT } Retaining an entrepreneurial spirit within the confines of large business is a challenge, but certainly not an insurmountable one for Thomas Grimm BS ’69, who is a partner with RST Brands, a leading merchandise fulfillment company. Grimm previously was the executive vice president of Walmart, during which time he was recognized as a top business leader. Grimm is also a former CEO of Sam’s Club, and founder and former CEO of Price Savers. s n r { LEWIS W. SHURTLIFF AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION } n o i it Thanks in large part to the vision of Weber County Library System (WCLS) Director Lynnda Wangsgard BS ’70, Weber County libraries are no longer just warehouses for reading materials; they’re community-gathering hubs that promote literacy in all its forms. WCLS sponsors many events and hosts a variety of offerings, including the annual Weber Reads program, which, in conjunction with WSU and the Standard-Examiner, makes classic titles available and appealing to readers of all ages. d e r tu d a tr u s a { EMERITI HOMECOMING ROYALTY } Francis R. Wheeler BS ’73 and LeAnn Wheeler BA ’70 may live in Colorado, but their loyalty to the Wildcats never wavers. Fran served as Weber State’s student body president and graduated magna cum laude in chemistry. He received a Juris Doctor degree and MBA from Harvard University. Currently, he practices law as a partner at Cooley LLP. ! 0 5 A tre LeAnn was active in Student Affairs and was named Woman of the Year. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Weber State, a master’s degree from George Washington University, a Juris Doctor degree at Rutgers University, and was a clerk for the Colorado Supreme Court. The Wheelers have endowed a lecture series that brings WSU alumni and law school graduates together with pre-law students for advice and mentoring. { STUDENT HOMECOMING ROYALTY } As a freshman, Deborah Belnap participated in the Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program, joined the Student Alumni Association and competed with the women’s track and field team. She currently serves as the Student Alumni Association’s vice president of philanthropy. Despite her extensive volunteer work with nonprofits, Belnap maintains a 3.99 GPA. After she graduates, she plans to attend physician assistant school. YEARS Colt Jarvis has been a member of the Student Alumni Association for four years. He is a former president of the Student Ambassadors and director of WSU’s American Democracy Project. Through the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service, Jarvis served internships with the U.S. House of Representatives and the Democratic National Committee. Those experiences complement his current study of business and political science. To view biographical videos on each of the honorees, or nominate outstanding individuals for the 2018 WSU Salutes awards, visit alumni.weber.edu/wsusalutes. Come celebrate with us October 12-13, 2018 34 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2018 Spring 2018 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 35 Alumna Wins U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Wearing purple to represent her alma mater, Kelsey her Weber State coaches, especially Jeff Smith BS Chugg BS ’13 won the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur ’81, who passed away while still the Weber State championship in November, making her the third women’s head golf coach in 2016. Utahn to win a USGA national golf title in this century. “During the tournament, I thought a lot about Jeff The victory gives her an exemption to the 2018 U.S. Smith. He was such an influential person, and I Women’s Open as well as the U.S. Women’s Amateur. wished he could share in this victory,” Chugg said. Chugg, who now works for the Utah Golf “Weber State is still my favorite place, and I’m proud Association, said the victory has opened many to represent the golf program.” opportunities to play at an international level. But To hear more from Chugg, visit she’ll always be appreciative of her Ogden ties and weber.edu/wsumagazine. Bicentennial Art Story Gets New Telling Thanks to Storytelling Festival and WSU Alumni Great stories stand the test of time, and Weber State’s Storytelling Festival has given life to a great story — one that began in 1976. While the nation was celebrating its bicentennial, local lawyer and philanthropist William “Bill” Critchlow AS ’50 had an idea to combine Utah artists and local history to tell little-remembered stories of the past. He commissioned 24 of Utah’s best artists to capture 64 scenes of Northern Utah history. The art was displayed for the bicentennial and then donated to Weber State. It hung in the Stewart Library for many years before going into the art archives. WSU’s Storytelling Festival Board decided it was time to reintroduce audiences to the stories told on those canvases. In 2017, with support from the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education and the Department of Visual Art & Design, 20 paintings were selected and restored. In addition, Department of History faculty wrote short essays explaining events in the paintings. WSU history alumnus and award-winning producer Issac Goeckeritz BA ’12 combined the narration and historical images to create a visual documentary for each. The process continued this year with the restoration of the next set of 20 paintings. You can check out the happy ending by visiting the McKay Education Building, where the paintings are on public display, and see the documentaries at weber.edu/wsumagazine. 36 alumni.weber.edu | Spring 2018 Health. Diane volunteers Michele Kersey-Smith BS ’85, held prominent positions at president for university in education, medicine, M.Ed. ’02 recently retired Flowserve Corporation, the management planning and marriage, and family and from a career in the Weber Pentagon and Walt Disney a professor of economics community service. School District, where she World, and serves on Weber and education at Hiroshima taught for 32 years. Michele State’s College of Social & University in Japan. He serves on the Quest Academy Behavioral Sciences advisory and his wife, Nicole, live in ’80s CLASS NOTES A A L U M N I U P D AT E S A school board in West Haven, council. An animal activist, Hiroshima with their two Brent C. Rose BA ’83 has Utah. She also tutors online Kirk also volunteers with children. been the president of Rose students from Northridge SPCA of Texas and cares Electric Inc. for 25 years. He Learning Center/Dorius for critically endangered Kristine (Moyes) Barker pursued a degree in electrical Academy, an online private tortoises. BS ’91 is in her 27th year engineering at BYU. Brent’s school in Utah. Michele and wife, Elizabeth Dunford her husband, James, live in Rose AS ’79, BS ’81, taught Clinton, Utah. third grade at Whitesides Elementary and recently served on the Relief Society General Board for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. They have four children, two grandchildren ’60s A Ronald Axton BS ’66 retired from Hill Air Force Base after serving as a program where she recently retired from an LDS mission. They as superintendent. After commissioner. He is a WSU have five children and live in teaching first and third grades Distinguished Alumnus, South Jordan, Utah. in the Weber School District, Wall of Fame. He and his wife, in Vietnam working as a Rula, have three children and civilian for the U.S. Army. seven grandchildren. Ron and his wife, Nora, also ’70s for eight years in Ogden. A Max Neves BS ’70 retired in 2014 after working in medical-related fields, where he was responsible Robert Hunter BS ’68 is the for human resources and director of WSU’s Olene S. the corporate functions of Walker Institute of Politics real estate, training, security, & Public Service and is past safety, and public and president and CEO of United community relations. He Way of Northern Utah. has served on a government He has been an adjunct compensation committee faculty member in Weber and the Utah governor’s State’s political science and committee on employment communication departments of people with disabilities. He 38 alumni.weber.edu | Spring 2018 and live in Kaysville, Utah. vice president and chief human resources officer for Integer Holdings Corporation in Plano, Texas, and works with a firm that psychologically analyzes players for NFL teams. He has ’90s School District, where she has taught both fifth and After receiving his Ph.D. from Columbia University, Satoshi Watanabe BA ’90 worked for the University of California, sixth grades. Her husband, Casey Barker BA ’92, has been teaching seminary for the LDS church for 26 years and is currently the principal Berkeley; University of of the LDS seminary at Ben Tsukuba-Tokyo; American Lomond High School. They Institutes for Research; The have three daughters and live World Bank; and the city of in North Ogden, Utah. New York. He is now vice Sandy began teaching special Jim Beebee BS ’73 graduated needs students in Ogden. She from the Colorado State received a master’s degree in University School of psychology from Utah State Veterinary Medicine in University and worked as a 1978. He practiced in Napa, How Do You Spell Opportunity? teacher, counselor, family California, before moving to owned a photography studio in St. George, Utah. BS ’72, recently returned manager and a Weber County Weber Chamber of Commerce U.S. Navy and spent a year grandchildren, and they live served as Ogden City award, and is on the Ogden- He previously served in the grandchildren, 11 great- the Ogden School District, recipient of the Purple Paw manager for special projects. They have two children, five and his wife, Cheryl Neves for 25 years. Robert previously A Kirk Thor BS ’88 is executive as a teacher in the Weber center coordinator and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where principal. Her son graduated he and a classmate built a from, and her grandson small-animal practice. After currently attends, WSU. six years, Jim moved back to the Bay Area to work A Diane Wilson BS ’78 is for Diablo View Veterinary a licensed clinical social Hospital in Pleasant Hill, worker who recently retired California. He became the after 28 years in the industry. sole owner of the clinic in She worked for Weber 1999. He and his wife, Carol, Human Services, as well as have been married since 1974 in the neonatal intensive and have three sons and care unit, Women’s Center three grandchildren. and pediatrics departments of McKay-Dee Hospital and Of the 33 years that Sandy Ogden Regional Medical Coroles BS ’75 spent in Center. She also worked for education, 28 were spent in Salt Lake County Mental WSU Alumni Association Scholarships Alumni Legacy Nonresident Scholarship Benefits deserving students through multiple Allows out-of-state children and grandchildren of avenues, including the WSUAA Scholarship and the Weber State alumni to pay in-state tuition (a savings Cat2Cat Scholarship of $4,000 per semester!) To request email notification of when to apply, visit alumni.weber.edu/scholarships L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Spring 2018 | alumni.weber.edu 39 A Mike Layton BS ’91 is the International Lyme and have five children and live in Shawna Sugimoto AS ’95, an associate broker and Associated Diseases Society. Syracuse, Utah. BS ’14 is an Americorps Terresa Slade BS ’92, BS ’02 Jeffrey Lentfer BA ’95 is student advocate at Roy High and operates Mike Layton is a stay-at-home mother the president of Bilikin School. She volunteers with Real Estate. He is currently of six children. Terresa has Investment Group, a the Boys & Girls Clubs of serving in his fourth year as been volunteering in the corporation that operates Weber-Davis, the National a South Ogden City planning Davis School District since eight Midas automotive Alliance on Mental Illness, commissioner and has 1995, giving about 100 hours repair shops, as well as a car the American Foundation served on several committees every year, particularly to the wash, throughout Alaska. He for Suicide Prevention and for the Weber/North Davis gifted and talented programs. and his wife, Stephanie, have NUHOPE of Utah, a Northern Association of Realtors, She also volunteers with the three children and live in Utah suicide prevention will be etched into a brick at the entrance. All proceeds go including the education, Clytie Adams School of Ballet Anchorage, Alaska. task force. Shawna has two into the WSU Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. technology and government Nutcracker performance held affairs committees. Mike at WSU each year. She and and his wife, Olive, live in her husband, Doug, live in family medicine physician South Ogden, Utah, and Kaysville, Utah. at Tanner Clinic. He Matthew Porter BS ’96 previously served six years is a district manager for realtor for Keller Williams Realty Inc. and also owns have six children and seven “Read. Graduate. Succeed.” A A Donate $500 or more to leave a lasting impression on Weber State University students as well as the Lindquist Alumni Center. Your name children, one granddaughter Mark Lenthe BS ’95 is a alumni.weber.edu · 801-626-7535 and lives in Roy, Utah. Carter Haacke BS ’95 is an as a physician in the U.S. Fastenal, a company that academic counselor at Sunset Air Force. Mark received his provides industrial supplies, Rajan Patel BS ’91 is a Junior High in Utah’s Davis Doctor of Osteopathy degree OEM fasteners and safety doctor at Medical Options School District. He earned in osteopathic medicine from products worldwide. He for Wellness in Foster City, his master’s degree from the Touro University. His wife, oversees stores throughout California. He received his University of Phoenix. His master’s degree in physiology wife, Cindy Haacke AS ’79, and his medical degree is a nurse practitioner for at St. Mark’s Gardens in from Robert Wood Johnson Intermountain Healthcare Kaysville, Utah, and then an Medical School. He is board at WorkMed, which provides certified in family medicine. clinic support to communities Rajan is trained in, and has across Northern Utah. She Pleasant Hill, California. Mark recognized internationally is pursuing his Master of extensive experience with, obtained her master’s degree and Shannon have three for developing a science, Education degree. David’s various natural therapies. He in nursing from the University children and live in Mountain technology, engineering and daughter is a current student is an active supporter of the of Utah. Carter and Cindy grandchildren. A A Shannon Cragun Lenthe Utah, western Colorado and BS ’97, was a case manager ’00s A David Pettijohn BS ’01 is a southwestern Wyoming. He health care administrator for lives in Morgan, Utah. Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, Hawaii. He As a teacher, Lori (Moore) assistant administrator at Barker AS ’99, BS ’00 has been Chateau III assisted living in Green, Utah. math (STEM) program for received his MBA from the University of Phoenix and at WSU. elementary educators on Autism Research Institute and the CALL of the WILDCATS A Utah, which provides disaster Vickie Moyes College of and solutions to clients restoration services to all of Education and also works who seek help with wealth Northern Utah for residential, as a Weber State adjunct management. He recently commercial, industrial and faculty member. She taught earned a Certified Wealth remodeling needs. He and his elementary school in New Strategist designation, which wife, Karley Radmall BS ’08, Mexico, Nevada and Idaho is provided to financial have four children and live in before moving to Utah. professionals who have Kaysville, Utah. Jean served on the Utah demonstrated an advanced Professional Practice Advisory understanding of wealth Kellie Broucke AS ’08 Commission for six years. management. He and his spent 10 years working She retired from the Davis wife, Melodie Starr Gunnell in education and most School District in 2015 after Holbrook BA ’08, live in Logan, recently served as a training Utah, with their two sons. coordinator for Frontline Brandy A. Lee AA ’02, teaching second through is currently pursuing her BA ’06 is a communications fourth grades for 25 years. Master of Education degree. specialist at Intermountain Her husband, Leland Barker Healthcare and the chief BA ’16, is a sales associate creative officer for Infinity for Link Interactive, providing Fitness & Nutrition. She also home security systems owns her own business, nationwide. They have six Brandy Lee PhotoDesign. children, four grandchildren Brandy received her master’s and live in North Ogden, Utah. degree in communication University. She lives in Midvale, Utah. Jean Tonioli M.Ed. ’05 is Please pick up. where he provides advice the topic of blue whales. She and leadership from Gonzaga Funds raised by Weber State student callers support scholarships. teachers in WSU’s Jerry & a supervisor for student Education, which provides Jason S. Nelson BA ’06 is training and administrative Jon Boyer BS ’06 is an WSU’s new assistant director tools to K-12 schools analysis engineer in the of Alumni Relations. He was nationwide. She received oil and energy industry previously a manager for her bachelor’s degree and currently works as an Weber State’s Wildcat Store. in psychology from the automation technician for Jason works with WSU’s University of Utah. Kellie and the University of Dayton Emeriti Alumni Council, Golf her husband, Jeremy, recently Research Institute. He Classic, and is helping to had their first child. They live and his wife, Rachel, have build WSU’s Regional Alumni in Salt Lake City. three children and live in Networks. He is a member of Centerville, Utah. the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Eric Holbrook AA ’06, Brandon Radmall AS ’07, BS WSU Alumni Relations. She BA ’07 is a financial advisor ’09 is president and owner advises the WSU Student with D.A. Davidson & Co., of Paul Davis Restoration of Alumni Association Council A A A Becca Gibson AS ’08 is the engagement coordinator for L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Spring 2018 | alumni.weber.edu 41 and Young Alumni Council M. Scott Moore AAS ’09, BA to provide engagement ’09 is an assistant professor opportunities for current of clinical chemistry in students and recent WSU’s Department of graduates. She received Medical Laboratory Sciences bachelor’s degrees in English and a senior editor for and psychology from the ScholarRx, a digital learning University of Utah. platform for physicians ’10s L is the operations director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis. He implements and oversees administrative and operational processes and medical students. Brady Jeppsen AS ’08, BS : T N E G R U HELP SPREAD WILDCAT FEVER Join your Regional Alumni Network WARNING: Wildcat Fever is highly contagious and can lead to fits of nostalgia, school pride and an uncontrollable urge to connect with other WSU Wildcats in your area. Symptoms include bleeding purple, visions of Shepherd Union, and a faint ringing of the Victory Bell in your ear. ACT FAST: Learn more about WSU’s 11 regional Osteopathy from Midwestern Albion Financial Group, a University. Scott’s wife, Utah wealth management Ashley Moore BIS ’09 worked provider, and is the owner of as a child-life specialist Invex Financial, which offers at McKay-Dee Hospital, home, financial planning and Tucson Medical Center and investment planning advice to Banner Thunderbird Medical millennials. Brady is currently Center, but is now a full- pursuing his MBA. He and his three children and live in and live in Ogden. Riverdale, Utah. for youths ages 6-18. He is currently pursuing a second master’s degree, an MBA, at WSU and is serving as One year $225 (savings of $250) Fall, spring or summer $75 (savings of $75) New graduate Available up to six months after graduation $60 (savings of $177) For more information and to learn about other membership benefits, visit alumni.weber.edu/join. University. Standley is a doctoral student and graduate research assistant in ecological-community psychology at Michigan State University. His research focuses on equitable community change and suicide prevention. He lives in Lansing, Michigan. recycling and environmental analyst for Habitat for Westminster College and is currently serving on the WSU Young Alumni Council. He A Alumnus for Weber State Council. in Community Leadership at discounted memberships to the Stromberg Complex: for Community Engaged Joshua Redhair BA ’16 is a received his Master of Arts WSU Alumni Association dues-paying members can purchase Compact Presidential Award for the WSU Young Alumni David Robles BS ’14 is Healthy Wildcats = Happy Wildcats the 2017 Utah Campus vice president of marketing Human Rights. David recently 2 Click on GET INVOLVED. alumni.weber.edu | Spring 2018 implementation of programs manager for Utah Health and One semester 42 focusing on the creation and the community outreach 1 Visit alumni.weber.edu. Interested in crea ting a network nea r you? Email us at alum ni@weber.edu. Davis counties, while also time illustrator. They have wife, Emily, have two children alumni networks and events in your area: 3 Scroll down and select Regional Alumni Network. throughout Weber and He received his Doctor of ’10 is a financial planner at Cash Knight BS ’14, MPC ’16 Corbin Standley BS ’15 was recently awarded Humanity, an organization devoted to addressing the issues of poverty housing all over the world. He recently received his Master of Arts in International Development with Human Rights Law at the University of Kent in Etterbeek, Belgium. and his wife, Destiny, live in Nick Drysdale BS ’17 is South Salt Lake, Utah, with studying for his medical their two dogs. degree at Duke University. Scott Lang BA ’15, MA ’17 works for Strong & Hanni as a file clerk. For the past two years, he has been a moderator for WSU’s National Undergraduate Literature Conference. Scott also has served as a He currently does clinical research for complex spinal surgeries with the neurosurgery department at Duke. Nick is a member Great, Great PLATE! Support WSU students and show Wildcat pride wherever you drive of the American Association of Neurosurgery. He and his wife, McKenna, have one son. judge in a creative writing contest hosted by the Utah Humanities Council. He is To learn more, call 801-626-7535 currently on WSU’s Young or visit alumni.weber.edu/lp Alumni Council. Scott and his wife, Meagan, live in Farmington, Utah. L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 151 Salt Lake City, UT 1265 Village Dr. Dept. 4025 Ogden, UT 84408-4025 Coming Soon to Stewart Stadium Upgrades to Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart they never graduated from Weber State, across the street from campus a few Stadium will get underway in 2018, have been Wildcats for years. years after arriving in Ogden.” Rory and Barbara Youngberg moved Although they have since relocated to Ogden in 1963 and eventually met to another area of the city, Rory and Rodney Brady, who served as Weber Barbara remain steadfast fans of the State’s president from 1978 to 1985. university and a driving force for making the fan experience at Weber State football games greater, Greater, GREATER. The renovation project includes the construction of a new north gateway entrance, plaza and fan convenience progress in the community. facility. It also will address needs for “Rodney Brady got us involved with ticketing, concessions, souvenirs, team the school, and we’ve been coming to The upgrades are expected to be ready meeting spaces and restrooms. athletics games and theater productions for the 2019 football season, when ever since,” Rory said. “You could WSU will celebrate its 100th year of say we’ve been Wildcats since then.” collegiate football. Funding for the project comes, in part, from a number of generous donors, including alumni and community members, and a couple who, although Barbara added: “We’ve had a chance to see Weber State grow. We moved right To read more about WSU’s historic 2017 football season, flip to page 8. Rory and Barbara Youngberg visit with Roger Trinchero BS ’69 (middle). Trinchero, a former Weber State football player under Coach Sarkis “Sark” Arslanian, is also a contributor to the stadium project.