WSU Alumni Magazine | SPRING 2023 WILDCAT WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends Vol. 28, No. 1, Spring 2023 EDITOR IN CHIEF Jaime Winston BA ’22 for in-demand careers Robert Walker BS ’79 enrolled in Weber State’s X-ray program as an undergraduate student, and later became a faculty member while earning his master’s degree and doctorate. Over his 40+ years of teaching radiology, MRI and other modalities at WSU, he has served as radiologic sciences department chair since 2002, became the inaugural Dumke Endowed Chair, and helped launch the school’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees. But no career accolade matches the feeling of seeing students improve their lives. Walker’s students come from all backgrounds, including those living in rural communities and in the Navajo Nation, single parents and first-generation students. And, when they graduate, healthcare organizations seek them out. “They would rather come to us for their employees than try to go anywhere else,” Walker said. For a fast-paced career in an in-demand field, join the School of Radiologic Sciences. With three levels of education to climb the career ladder, graduates are always welcome back. “Employers are coming to us looking for our graduates.” — Bob Walker, BS ’79, R.T.(R)(CT)(MR)(QM)(ARRT), FASRT Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences Apply for fall semester by May 1 weber.edu/radsci CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rachel Badali BS ’17, MBA ’22 Anna Burleson Paul Grua BA ’02, MPC ’13 Karin Hurst AS ’79 Jessica Kokesh Shaylee Stevens AS ’20, BS ’21, MPC ’22 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Nancy B. Collinwood BS ’94 Rebecca Gibson AS ’09 John Kowalewski Bryan Magaña BS ’06, MA ’09 Betsy Mennell Amber Robson BS ’05, MPC ’17 Jill Walker BS ’06, MA ’12 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Matthew Zacher BFA ’11 DESIGNERS Chelsea Maki BS ’16 Antonio Moya BFA ’12 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Benjamin Zack CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Casey Demetrio Gallegos AA ’21 Karen Jimenez 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: 801-626-7396 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. WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022–23 Kearston Cutrubus, Chair Karla K. Bergeson, Vice Chair Brent Bishop Amanda K. Covington Louenda H. Downs BS ’78 Karen White Fairbanks Rob Higginson BS ’80 Ashley Potokar BS ’22 Donald J. Salazar Jon Keith Titus BS ’03 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018. weber.edu/wsumagazine | alumni.weber.edu CONTENTS WEBER WATCH Rachel Badali, Anna Burleson, Jessica Kokesh, Bryan Magaña, Jaime Winston MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS PRESUMED GUILTY 10 15 Wildcats remember the World War II Japanese American experience. Weber Watch A new leader for Access & Inclusion, shaping the future of STEM in a new building, Weber State’s first environmental science graduate, supporting ESL education, becoming a hub for internet safety, and increasing inclusive teaching 18 A NEW SPACE TO BE BRILLIANT 32 Remembering the remarkable WSU career of the Big Sky’s all-time leader in football coaching wins 34 Preparing the Nurses of Today and the Future The School of Nursing continues meeting industry needs after 70 years. 24 4 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 WSU Salutes Honoring WSU supporters for their contributions to the campus and community 39 Class Notes Updates on the careers and achievements of Weber State alumni eHSI: A Focus on Service WSU’s plan to streamline services for Utah’s fastest-growing demographic will become a model for serving all students. Coach Hill’s Top 10 Memorable Wins 46 Wildcat Inbox Staying in touch with Weber State alumni and friends College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology students have a new space at Weber State’s Ogden campus that will help them develop skills to shape the future. Funded by the state of Utah and a naming gift from the Ray & Tye Noorda Foundation, the state-of-the-art Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building opened in October 2022. WSU preserved a portion of the Technical Education Building that previously occupied the space and updated it to match the new building’s design. Together, the spaces cover 155,000 square feet. The new building, a stunning addition to the campus, features large waveform designs on the exterior and a dynamic sculpture inside with 119 moving origami elements hung from a floating frame, representing the forces of nature and reminding students that the sky is the limit. WEBER WATCH WSU SEEKS TO IMPROVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER SUCCESS Weber State offers future teachers and education professionals the skills to help students who are not native English speakers thrive in school. Along with offering an ESL (English as a Second Language) endorsement for undergraduate and graduate students, the Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education received a $2.78 million grant from the Department of Education. The grant will help teachers and administrators improve instruction for students who are learning English in a general classroom setting. Professors Melina Alexander, David Byrd and Shernavaz Vakil will lead the professional development in public and charter schools throughout Utah. The five-year grant will support up to 100 teachers and administrators, admitting a cohort of 25 educators annually beginning the summer of 2023. “Utah’s Hispanic population is growing faster than the national average and, as a result, our public and charter schools are seeing more English language learners,” said Byrd, WSU professor of teacher education. “Academic success is increasingly linked with children’s mastery of a wide range of skills, including literacy.” Byrd said a significant achievement gap exists between English language learners and their native-speaking peers, and that gap widens as children change grade levels. Amy Thomas MED ’17, GCT ’18 earned her Utah teaching license for grades one through eight in 2018 and ESL endorsement in 2019 at WSU. As an ESL teacher, she has seen that achievement gap first-hand. Weber’s first environmental science graduate SETS THE BAR FOR DIFFERENCE MAKERS Weber State University taught Kaila Lemons BS ’22 how to change the world. Amy Thomas working with a student in her adult English as a Second Language (ESL) course “Think of how many words your average native-Englishspeaking child knows before kindergarten versus a child coming from another language background,” she said. Thomas currently teaches ESL for adults in Weber School District, and previously taught fifth grade for Ogden School District and in WSU’s Learning English for Academic Purposes (LEAP) program. “ESL is my favorite topic to teach,” she said. “I love working with students from all over the world.” Thomas’s students have come from countries such as China, Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan. Her ESL education has made her mindful, recognizing students may not understand cultural references like “The Three Little Pigs,” and some will be challenged by academic language used to explain math, science and other disciplines. She hopes more teachers are able to access ESL training. “We serve a lot of students who are coming from other language backgrounds, and, in the Ogden area, we’re starting to see more refugees,” she said. WEBER STATE A CENTRAL HUB FOR CYBERSECURITY Weber State University’s Cybersecurity Initiative (WSUCI), housed in the School of Computing, is northern Utah’s central resource for everything related to internet safety. The CAE-CDE designation provides Weber State national cybersecurity expertise recognition and helps provide more grant opportunities to expand WSUCI’s training offerings. In addition to supporting future IT professionals earning degrees in network management technology, WSUCI provides outreach and training to the community at large so individuals and businesses can better protect their information. The designation also strengthens Weber State’s partnerships with the local defense and aerospace community, including Hill Air Force Base, Boeing, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. “It doesn’t matter where you are on your cybersecurity journey,” WSUCI Director and Assistant Professor of Networking/Cybersecurity Matt Paulson said. “Weber State can help out with that.” In September 2022, WSU was formally recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, a program sponsored jointly by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. 6 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 “We teach Weber State students how to protect information on an enterprise level, so when they join the workforce, they can hit the ground running from day one,” Paulson said. “They’ll provide the sort of protection that companies need when managing their information.” As WSU’s first Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science graduate, she realized her power through experience — researching issues impacting the community, developing and refining plans to tackle them, and getting others involved. “Anyone is capable of starting a project. You just have to make sure that you are thoughtful about your planning and you’re staying in scope and on track,” she said. Working with the Energy & Sustainability Office, she became WSU’s first Zero Waste coordinator, helping the university stay on track for 50% of its waste to be diverted from landfills by 2025. In this role, she helped launch Wildcats Go Zero Waste, collecting recyclables at basketball and football games, and educating fans on sustainability. She also led a “free swap,” where Wildcats could either donate or take home lightly used household items. “Experiences like these allowed me to be very comfortable in a leadership position and identifying and solving problems in a way that results in real measurable change.” — Kaila Lemons As president of the office’s Food Recovery Network, she hosted a kitchenware drive for the Weber Cares Pantry, which provides food for any student in need. “An often-overlooked part of food insecurity is not having the means to prepare your food,” she said. “If you don’t have pots and pans, or if you don’t have silverware, you can only do so much.” Lemons also worked on a number of other events and sustainability projects. She estimates that during her last academic year she recruited and coordinated 50 volunteers. “Experiences like these allowed me to be very comfortable in a leadership position and identifying and solving problems in a way that results in real measurable change,” she said. Lemons spent her first two years of college at a larger university before switching to WSU, where she developed close relationships with faculty members, including her microbial ecology instructor Katrina Twing, who guided her in crafting her own research project. The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation selected Lemons as a 2022 Ivory Prize award recipient for her leadership and dedication to the community. Additionally, she was chosen as the student speaker for the university’s commencement ceremony last spring. She received a scholarship for her education through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year competition. Lemons now lives in Vancouver, Washington, and works for The Cannabis Conservancy, which certifies cannabis companies for meeting sustainability standards. “To me, when it comes to sustainability and being responsible, there’s really no topic that’s taboo,” she said. She is still active in the community, and volunteers with the Vancouver Bee Project. For anyone else who wants to make a difference, Lemons wrote a guide to get started. Find a link to her guide at weber.edu/ wsumagazine. For more information about degrees, business training and the other resources WSUCI offers, visit weber.edu/wsuci. Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 7 WEBER WATCH HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN EQUITY ISSUES IN HIGHER ED? “I wanted to eliminate the barriers I experienced when I was looking into college. During my transition from community college to fouryear college, I had a falling out with my family, experienced homelessness and was unable to find funding for college. When speaking to administrators at the university, I saw my options were limited to getting married, having a child, joining the military or hiring a lawyer to help declare independence from my parents. These weren’t viable options for me, and I felt isolated and alone. I want to make sure today’s students don’t face these same issues, and do my part to help make college accessible to everyone.” WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE ON THE HORIZON AT WSU? “With the creation of the EDI division, along with the new cultural centers, I’m hoping to see higher enrollment, retention and graduation rates for students of color. Additionally, the cultural centers will be a space where anyone can come to learn about each affinity group and participate in different events. I’m optimistic that cultural awareness on campus will continue to grow and we become a more inclusive place for everyone.” Weber State enhances INCLUSIVE TEACHING PRACTICES Last year, Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, associate provost, and Nicola Corbin, Teaching & Learning Forum director, launched two courses to enhance inclusive teaching practices at Weber State University. Faculty feedback so far shows that their efforts are paying off. WSU offers the courses, Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning (ITEL) and Effective Teaching Practices (ETP), in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). The courses use evidenceBrenda Marsteller based teaching practices to Kowalewski help faculty promote student success within their classrooms. By the end of the 2022–23 academic year, about 160 faculty members will have completed at least one of the ACUE courses. WHAT DREW YOU TO WEBER STATE? Meet Tammy Nguyen, A NEW ADDITION TO ACCESS & INCLUSION With a passion for working with diverse student populations, Tammy Nguyen has stepped into a new role as Weber State’s executive director for Access & Inclusion. In this role, she oversees newly established cultural centers — the Black Cultural Center, Native American Cultural Center, Pan-Asian Cultural Center and Pacific Islander Cultural Center — along with the GEAR UP and Upward Bound programs. She comes to WSU with a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy, along with years of experience in higher education, most recently as director of academic advising and student success at Utah Valley University. “Weber State is an open-enrollment university and has equity, diversity and inclusion at the heart of its strategic plan, which aligns with my belief that everyone should have a chance to attend college. Whatever your experiences, background or identity, you can find a place at Weber State.” WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE? “When this position became available, I knew I had to apply. I love working with students and having the opportunity to make a positive impact through my work. I also love the connections and collaboration across campus. I couldn’t do my job alone, and I feel like I’m part of a big family at Weber State. I can’t think of a better place I’d rather be.” Nicola Corbin Of the faculty who completed the ITEL course in summer 2022, 58% reported increased confidence in using evidence-based inclusive teaching practices, and 85% reported improved expertise in inclusivity, equity and diversity as educators. “I think our faculty are interested in becoming inclusive teachers, but they need more confidence to do that,” Corbin said. “It’s a fraught world, so doing this work can be scary. But I think we have great teachers, so hopefully this provides them with more confidence to bring this important work into the classroom.” Spring 2023 weber.edu/wsumagazine 9 LEFT: The Shimomura family at their Ogden home after Yukio Shimomura's brother, Kenichi (center), returned from military service BELOW: Yukio Shimomura’s parents, Toshinaga and Taka, before the war 10 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Yukio Shimomura (far left) takes the role of a sunflower in a school play at Raphael Weill Public School in San Francisco, 1941. An American Family The Great Kanto Earthquake shook Japan to its core. The magnitude 7.9 quake struck the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area at lunchtime on a late summer day in 1923, according to Encyclopædia Britannica, bringing more than 140,000 estimated deaths, fires and a tsunami that destroyed 155 homes. The earthquake also shattered Japan’s economy. Shimomura said this convinced his father, Toshinaga, to accept his sister’s offer for immigration sponsorship. Together with Shimomura’s mother, Taka, and grandmother, Natsu, he Topaz War Relocation Center barracks built to house Japanese detainees in the desert near Delta, Utah Photo by Department of the Interior War Relocation Authority (1944–1946), provided by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration settled in San Francisco. Toshinaga and Taka soon welcomed two sons. Their third, The United States forcibly relocated Yukio Shimomura when he was 7 years old. Shimomura, was born in 1935. Life changed for the family after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. While his brothers, Kenichi and Saburo, were also given “Bystanders went with the flow, and the flow was panic Christian names, Jacob and Samuel, Shimomura didn’t against Japanese,” Shimomura said. receive one. “You know, I’ve always wished I had an English Executive Order 9066 resulted in Japanese Americans name, like John,” Shimomura laughed, reflecting on how being placed in temporary detention centers, referred to as difficult “Yukio” was for other Americans to pronounce. assembly centers, and from there, being brought to more- Taka worked as a seamstress, and Toshinaga was a travelling permanent camps. Shimomura calls those second locations salesman. Though living on minimum wage, “the family was “concentration camps,” which he writes as an improper happy,” Shimomura said. “I was riding my scooter up and noun to distinguish them from the Nazi-controlled camps down the streets, and my brothers were in the Boy Scouts.” of Europe. A former Wildcat, Shimomura returned to Weber State last April to speak about the two and a half years of his childhood at Topaz War Relocation Center, near Delta, Utah. He showed family photos taken before the camp — his parents young and in love, him goofing off with his older brothers, the time he was a sunflower in a school play. Andrew Kyed, WSU digital media major and grandson of a Topaz detainee Then he discussed how life changed as the U.S. went to war with Imperial Japan. Wartime paranoia — not evidence — painted all people of Japanese ancestry, including those born in the United States, as possible traitors. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 in February 1942, resulting in the incarceration of West Coast Japanese residents without due process. About two-thirds of those placed in 10 inland relocation centers were natural-born citizens. Digital media major Andrew Kyed listened to Shimomura’s story, thinking of his own family. “My grandmother was interned at Topaz,” he said. “She must have been in her mid 20s, so, she was pretty much in the best years of her life, and it was all taken away.” Saburo, Yukio and Kenichi Shimomura growing up in San Francisco A portrait of the Shimomura family taken at the Topaz War Relocation Center, May 1944 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 13 Topaz detainees were required to apply for clearance to leave. Jane Beckwith, Topaz Museum founder, said this certificate granted Helen Fumi Takahashi permission to go to Salt Lake City to work as a nanny in 1943. After returning to Topaz, Takahashi again received permission to leave for a Japanese language teaching position to help the U.S. prepare for the military occupation of Japan at Stanford University. Photo by Demetrio Gallegos Behind Barbed Wire The Shimomura family was allowed to leave Topaz in The family boarded a train for Utah months later. relocation orders. At Topaz, the living area covered one square mile, They settled in Ogden. Shimomura played football in junior surrounded by barbed wire fencing and guard towers. high and high school and generally felt accepted by peers. Shimomura remembers covering his face as he slept to avoid “The only problem I had was asking a girl on a date,” he breathing in the dirt blowing in through the floorboards of his said. “Parents didn’t like to have their daughter go out family’s barracks. with Japanese.” Barracks were divided to house six families, and noise After graduating from Ogden High School in 1953, Shimomura travelled easily. “If anybody was ill, you heard the moaning joined the U.S. Army. Following his service, he earned his and groaning,” Shimomura said. “The humorous part of the airplane mechanic license at the Northrop Aeronautical whole thing is that over 300 kids were born in the camp, so… Institute. He married his late wife, Chizuko, in 1958, and the procreation process still happened.” began studying part-time at Weber State while working as Shimomura attended Desert View Elementary at Topaz, and still has his third-grade class picture. He remembers playing hide-and-seek and kick the can with friends. He also recalls all of the similar clothing styles at the camp, since most clothes were ordered from the Montgomery Ward or Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogs. Residents could obtain passes to shop in Delta, and a dry goods store and co-op for services and supplies were established, added Jane Beckwith, founder of Topaz Museum. Yukio Shimomura during his U.S. Army service in South Korea In his book, Concentration Camps: North America, historian Roger Daniels wrote applying and waiting for clearance. wrote “The apparent tranquility was due in part to the a cross section of community opinions on the matter. “The overwhelming establishment of the institutions of community life — schools, majority of the witnesses supported, unequivocally, the necessity of getting self-government, a newspaper, public health services, all Japanese, alien and citizen, off the Coast,” he wrote. churches, and an opportunity for work, self-improvement clothes and silverware. They were first brought to live in barracks at Tanforan Assembly Center, the site of a horse racing track in San Bruno, California. Others were housed in converted horse stables. “The tough part was that they just washed out the stables and put linoleum on the floor,” Shimomura said. “You can imagine, the many decades of racing that they had at the stables, the amount of urine and manure that had gone through the floor; all of that was seeping up.” While living conditions alone were a health hazard, Shimomura said he and recreation.” Despite efforts to portray a normal life, residents of the camps were still prisoners. One Topaz resident, James Hatsuaki Wakasa, was killed by a guard after coming too close to the perimeter fence. Shimomura’s cousin, who was incarcerated at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming, suffered from ulcers and died after being diagnosed with “stomach problems.” Another of his cousins, also detained at Heart Mountain, went blind due to eyesight issues Shimomura suspects weren’t properly cared for by the camp. couldn’t imagine what those with chronic illnesses faced without advanced medical services. “Most of the time, people with chronic illnesses passed away early,” he said. 14 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 While acknowledging blemishes in the country’s past, he said he’s proud of the freedom the United States offers and that he was able to serve in the military. If there’s a lesson from his incarceration, he said it’s to advocate for any ethnic groups the country labels “the enemy"; it could happen again. in Morgan Hill, California, about 70 miles south of where his hearings were held in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles to gain and told to bring only what they could carry, including bedding, toiletries, engineering in 1965. coast to sell in Delta and at the site,” she said. In her book Jewel of the Desert, historian Sandra C. Taylor The family was given boards and nails to build boxes for their belongings University, and earned his bachelor’s degree in manufacturing Today, he has three children and five grandchildren. He lives that shortly after the executive order was issued, a series of Congressional This included all six residents of the Shimomura household. a ramjet engine technician. He later attended Utah State “The most unusual service was importing fresh fish from the Beckwith said leaving Topaz for college or a job required Toshinaga Shimomura receiving an award from Anderson Jewelry Company, where he worked after leaving Topaz November 1944. On Jan. 2, 1945, the U.S. revoked its Japanese Yukio Shimomura in 2022, photo by Karen Jimenez family left their home in San Francisco. Fleeing Home Linda Oda BS ’67, Weber State professor emeritus of education, has dedicated her career to improving education in Utah, but her family’s arrival in the state was never a choice. While more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry were placed in relocation camps, others fled You need to make people understand that you are a person, too. — LINDA ODA their homes beforehand to protect their families, including her parents. Oda said her father and uncle were leaders in Los Angeles’ Japanese community, making them potential targets for the FBI following the attack on Pearl Harbor. When word came that authorities were looking for her uncle, the two began searching for a place to move their families. Her father, Kunimatsu, soon returned to Los Angeles to gather their families and all the belongings they could fit in two cars bound for Utah. Kunimatsu abandoned the lucrative five-story apartment building he ran, and with his wife, Norma, and Oda’s two older siblings, moved into the Corinne Buddhist Church with seven other families. He worked at a cannery in Perry, Utah, and, later, opened a grocery store. The family later welcomed Oda, the second youngest of four children. While her parents escaped incarceration, most of Oda’s and high school students. She has been a professor, teacher, administrator, governor’s director of Asian Affairs, and, now, a volunteer with WSU’s Peer Mentor Program, and she has advocated for marginalized groups in each role. Once while supervising for a student teacher, a young boy saw her face and mockingly yelled “Ching chong Chinese!” Oda sat down with the student, told him that her grandparents immigrated from Japan, helped him find Japan on a map, and discussed the culture with him. Children at the Raphael Weill Public School in San Francisco recite the Pledge of Allegiance in April 1942. Soon after, according to The New York Times, Hideno Nakamoto (left), and Yoko Itashiki (center), were sent to the Tanforan Assembly Center before they were detained at Topaz War Relocation Center. Yukio Shimomura also attended the school. Photo by Dorothea Lange, provided by the Library of Congress “You need to make people understand that you are a person, too,” she said. When she returned for another visit, the boy drew a picture for her and wanted to be friends. Why We Remember extended family went to camps, including her aunt, late WSU Today, the land where Topaz was built appears barren. emeritus professor of English, Mildred Miya BA ’66. A closer look, however, reveals rusty nails, utensils and After World War II, the family moved to Ogden, where Oda’s even the remnants of pathways those inside once walked. father opened Kay’s Market, a grocery store on 25th Street. Sadly, prejudice lingered. She recalls hearing people being called “Japs” while in town. “I think our parents and our families suffered, but the community stuck together,” she said. “And that was really, really, really important.” One snowy morning in 1961, tragedy struck when an intruder entered the store, stole $100 and beat her father who died later that day. While completing her education, Oda and her siblings were left to balance caring for her mother, who had suffered a stroke, with minding the store. Like Shimomura, Oda’s history strengthens A Salute to Linda Oda As many who still remember grow older, Kyed explained, Linda Oda received the Emeriti Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2022 WSU Salutes ceremony. Read more about her background and the honor on page 34. Kyed attended Shimomura’s presentation at the Wildcat the World War II Japanese American experience is “something that we need to talk more about.” Theater with his Japanese language instructor, Tomono Adachi, who learned about Topaz on a trip to the site in 2019. “I didn’t research before I went,” she said. “I thought they only brought Japanese nationals to the camp, but they put American citizens in the camp, too. I was shocked.” She has arranged for Japanese language students and Japanese international students to tour the site and her advocacy. nearby Topaz Museum twice, and plans to continue the As administrator of the teacher quality program for Davis School trips annually. District, Adachi’s students often worry it could happen again; she worked with fellow educators to she agrees. write curricula about the Japanese American experience during World War II for elementary, middle school 16 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Barbed wire spells out “Topaz” on a fence at the site of Topaz Relocation Center near Delta, Utah, reminding visitors of the desolate area’s history. Photo by Jaime Winston “We have to educate people not to make the same mistakes,” she said. Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 17 PREPARING NURSES FOR TODAY AND THE FUTURE The School of Nursing still meets industry needs after 70 years. by Shaylee Stevens 18 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 19 As the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing celebrates its 70th anniversary, the faculty, staff and students who make up the hallmark program at Weber State University are building on the school’s legacy of care and service to continue innovating for the future. which makes it great when it’s time for graduation because Beyond the more traditional areas for nursing, WSU also you’re already familiar with everything.” focuses on lesser-known avenues, providing students with To ensure students are prepared to meet industry demands, unique learning opportunities and fulfilling a community need. WSU’s nursing program adapts to student needs, with a key “The great thing about Weber’s program is we don’t just component being stackable credentials. collaborate with hospitals,” Holman said. “We have strong A student could potentially earn an associate’s degree, work affiliations with other facilities too, like county jails, home for several years in a clinic and return later to earn a bachelor’s health agencies and surgical centers. We try to maintain degree, master’s degree and doctorate. This style of program relationships with all kinds of partners.” gives students a variety of paths, whether they are starting with no experience, advancing their credentials from a local technical college or enhancing their career with a doctorate. In addition to offering flexible degree paths, Weber State collaborates with multiple campuses to increase accessibility for students across the region. Courses are offered on WSU’s Ogden and Davis campuses, online and at three regional technical colleges: Bridgerland, Davis and Ogden-Weber. The flexibility, combined with innovative teaching practices, helps students enter the industry efficiently and well-prepared to help patients. “I think the success of our programs really boils down to our faculty and staff,” said Rieneke Holman, School of Nursing chair. “We’re constantly looking at new ways to be innovative and teach our students better, whether that’s new technology Meeting Industry Demand or working with community partners to understand their During the early 1950s, the lingering effects of World War II being a student to being a nurse.” needs. Our focus is always on preparing students to go from and the ongoing conflict in North Korea led to the most severe 20 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 registered nurses, Weber State was selected in 1953 to host one Focus on the Community of seven pilot associate degree nursing (ADN) programs as part Beyond meeting industry needs, the School of Nursing allows of a research project led by Adelphi College in New York. students to serve the off-campus community. Now, 70 years later, the School of Nursing continues to meet the From its inception, the school has invested in relationships demands of the industry. With nine degree programs, including with regional facilities and hosted outreach programs for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the school produces rural areas. Today, engaging in their communities remains a more registered nurses than any other institution in Utah, primary focus for students. Their work outside the classroom training hundreds per year to serve in communities nationwide. helps them gain practical experience under the supervision The school helped Cutter Bergman ADN ’22 transition from of faculty, seasoned medical professionals and, often, alumni. student to medical professional. Thanks to classes that worked “As a student, you get to go out to all these different facilities around his schedule, affordable tuition and networking to learn about different types of nursing and work with opportunities, his education ultimately helped him land a job real patients,” Bergman said. “That experience really helps after graduation. He now works at Intermountain McKay-Dee you understand the career better, and it also gives you an Hospital, where he treats patients recovering from surgeries opportunity to practice what you’re learning in classes and and inpatient visits. hone your skills.” “The way Weber State’s program works, you start learning about While in school, Bergman gained experience working with nursing skills early on, while you’re still new to the program,” patients in emergency room, psychiatric and nursing home Bergman said. “As you move up through your courses, you work settings. His experience is not uncommon, as students work with community partners to practice your skills in facilities, in community facilities throughout the region. “ We’re always looking for ways to innovate and improve because we want to continue helping our students be successful while staying at the frontline of community needs for the years to come. — Rieneke Holman, School of Nursing chair Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine “ shortage of nurses in modern history. To combat the need for 21 Celebrating Seven Decades of History Holman noted that the school’s community engagement is driven by the desire to provide meaningful service to community partners while also giving students practical experience. “As the faculty and staff in the program, we’re nurses too. So we Established in 1953, Weber State’s School of Nursing served as a pioneer for two-year nursing degrees, overcoming initial industry worry about the shortened amount of time students spent in class to become one of the leading schools for nursing in the nation. understand both the benefits and the challenges of working in nursing facilities, which is why we want our students to have those experiences outside the classroom,” Holman said. Faculty and staff engage with partners in the community to ensure collaborations can continue and flourish. Administrators The first class consisted of 36 women, with only two dedicated faculty to serve them. Today, the school has about 950 students, 56 faculty and multiple degree options. and teachers regularly serve on local advisory boards and committees, seek and provide feedback regarding studentprovider relationships, and continually seek new ways to help foster better community health. The community-centered Thousands of alumni have gone on to successful careers. The school has trained graduates who have served overseas, assisted communities during environmental disasters, and, more recently, aided patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. education ensures students have an easy transition into the workforce, giving them a network of peers, mentors and potential job opportunities before they graduate. “By the time I started my capstone project, I felt really prepared and had already made so many connections in the community,” Bergman said. “All my teachers made sure I knew what to expect outside of my classes and they were really upfront about the demands of the job.” Healthcare for the Future While the School of Nursing is excited to celebrate 70 years of rich history, faculty are also looking ahead to continue building on the foundation set by the early educators. “It’s important for our students to have good opportunities and intentional learning experiences,” Holman said. “Our goal is to provide excellent nurses that can then benefit our partners and communities long into the future.” Between teaching and tending to the needs of the school, faculty and staff are planning new programs, updating curriculum and increasing community collaborations. An occupational health nursing certificate is on the way, while a mental health nurse practitioner track is in the planning stages for the doctorate program. The school hopes to add additional specialties as the industry demands, while continuing to improve existing programs. “The needs of the industry and the community are ever-evolving, so our focus is keeping up with the national needs and training our students for that,” Holman said. “We’re always looking for ways to innovate and improve, because we want to continue helping our students be successful while staying at the front line of community needs for the years to come.” 22 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Jill Heiner Garrison Davis (front, center), class of 1955, wrote about her experience as a Weber nursing student. Read her letter on page 46. The school will celebrate its long history with a 70th anniversary party during the fall 2023 semester. More details will be available closer to the start of fall semester. WEBER STATE’S PLAN TO STREAMLINE SERVICES FOR UTAH’S FASTESTGROWING DEMOGRAPHIC WILL BECOME A MODEL FOR SERVING STUDENTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. 24 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 25 Among the many acronyms Weber State faculty and staff use every day, eHSI has become increasingly prevalent in conversations about the university’s future. It connects with the strategic plan, Weber State Amplified, a 5-year plan for growth, which commits to increasing the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic or Latino to 15% BY 2025. Reaching this goal would make WSU an eHSI (emerging HispanicServing Institution). As of fall 2022, Hispanic and Latino students made up 12.5% of full-time equivalent undergraduates. WSU PLANS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN MORE STUDENTS BY INCREASING SERVICES AND SUPPORT. Becoming an eHSI, however, isn’t about placing one group over another. It’s about helping WSU better reflect its surrounding community, CREATING A SERVICE MODEL that can be adapted for all students and improving the local economy. Utah’s K–12 public education system is about 20% Hispanic or Latino, and over 50% of Ogden School District’s students represent the demographic. Making sure more of these STUDENTS FEEL WELCOME at Weber State will mean more youth from local schools go to college, gain in-demand skills employers are looking for and achieve greater economic outcomes. Yudi Lewis, Hispanic-Serving Initiatives executive director, said the most important part of eHSI is the “S,” since it will lead to improved services across the board. “In trying to streamline access and support services for one segment of our student population, we are, in turn, creating streamlined access and support services for all segments of our student population,” she said. “WE ARE INCLUDING EVERYONE.” EXAMINING eHSI To understand eHSI, you must first understand HSI “While other colleges and universities in Utah are now (Hispanic-Serving Institution). working to achieve HSI status, nobody was willing to An HSI designation is outlined by Congress in the be the brave one to make the first public statement; Higher Education Act as a higher-learning institution we were the first,” said Adrienne Andrews, vice president with a full-time equivalent undergraduate student for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity body that is at least 25% Hispanic, according to the officer. “The rest of the institutions in the state have Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. followed our lead.” Once institutions obtain that status, they’re eligible The declaration resulted in a $500,000 grant from for additional federal funding. Ally Financial Inc. In 2020–21, there were 559 HSIs in 29 states, “Our support of Weber State is part of our Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, but none in Utah, organization’s deep commitment to creating pathways where the Hispanic and Latino population is the to economic mobility in diverse communities,” fastest-growing demographic group. said Jan Bergeson, Ally Bank executive director and While there is no federal definition for eHSI, Excelencia YUDI LEWIS Weber State University executive director of Hispanic-Serving Initiatives 26 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Community Reinvestment Act officer. in Education, a nonprofit organization supporting Weber State used the funds to create Lewis’s position, Latino student achievement, identifies an eHSI identify gaps in student recruitment and retention, as an institution with an undergraduate Hispanic and coordinate resources for underserved students. enrollment between 15% and 24%. Lewis said she is now collaborating with university Weber State officially adopted its eHSI goal in departments, other Utah institutions and partners its strategic plan in spring 2021. in the community to help serve students. Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 27 FORECASTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES The following is not an exhaustive list of what Weber State hopes to achieve by reaching eHSI status, but rather a bird’s-eye view of anticipated outcomes from a campus-wide effort the university hopes students and employees will embrace and support. 1. IT WILL ADVANCE WSU’S DUAL MISSION. As assigned by the Utah Legislature and Utah Board of Higher Education, Weber State serves a dual mission, providing every academic amenity associated with a four-year university in addition to the two-year programs and certifications offered at a community college. As an open-enrollment institution, WSU allows all students an opportunity to pursue and complete a college degree or certificate. “Our goal is to be able to meet all our students where they are and give them the challenges and tools they need to be successful,” Andrews said. She maintains that identity impactors, such as to be motivated to make that transition from high ethnicity, gender or income, are emphasized in classes, we’re helping Hispanics and Latinos school to college,” she said. current discussions only because they have proven transition from high school to a certificate or college According to the Utah State Board of Education to be so consequential to student success. degree and then to a career they’re passionate about,” (USBE) and the Utah System of Higher Education, “Once we’re aware that there’s an obstacle to she said. “We are transforming generations, one 83.9% of students in concurrent enrollment courses somebody’s learning, then we can find a way to student at a time.” were Caucasian while only 9.9% were Hispanic and minimize it,” she said. “Our goal is to set up a While enrolling students is part of the plan, Lewis Latino during the 2020–2021 academic year, despite successful proposition for any student who wants to added that supporting students to complete their making up about 18% of 2021 high school graduates take advantage of it, and, if we fail to do that, we fail degrees is equally important. “What we want at based on a USBE report. to fulfill the mission of our legislative charter.” Weber State is for every student who walks through Andrews emphasizes that becoming an eHSI signals 2. IT WILL BOOST ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION. STUDENT SUPPORT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES Weber State’s goal is not without its detractors. Lewis and Andrews acknowledge that public discussions about diversity and inclusion can trigger criticism and pushback leading to misconceptions. “But we need to go beyond the negative comments and be mindful that we’re trying to create a space a desire to anticipate demographic shifts and a willingness to amend a higher educational system to support more students. It is not about taking something from one group and giving it to a different group. At a time when U.S. college enrollments are declining, Weber State’s goal is to enroll 32,000 students by the 2025–26 academic year. However, demographers are predicting fewer our doors to know that they belong in our institution, and we are willing to do everything possible to create a welcoming and supportive space for everybody,” she said. 3. IT WILL ADD TO THE VALUE OF A WSU EDUCATION. high school graduates starting in 2025. They warn Part of what Weber State hopes to achieve by in educational settings for individuals who have not “There are some students who do just fine with that unless colleges and universities bring in and pursuing eHSI status is to ensure a stimulating mix often had that space,” Lewis said. the system as it exists,” she said. “We don’t need to retain more students, they will struggle to remain of intellectual, cultural and educational perspectives change anything for them in terms of how they’re viable. Education analysts say colleges need fresh on its campuses. receiving support; but for the students who were strategies to attract populations they have previously Research shows that students who explore culturally not having success at Weber because the system underserved: high school students taking college diverse views and interact with people from different wasn’t created for them, there must be a structure courses, community college transfers and working backgrounds become more creative thinkers, better and a framework put in place that recognizes an adults. These same experts say new students will problem solvers and more accepting members unintentional bias and closes systemic gaps in show up when they see campuses committed to of society. student support and services.” delivering what they want and need. A low number of Hispanic and Latino students participating in concurrent enrollment programs, which offer high school students classes where they earn college credit, is one reason Lewis said many do not go on to college. “Concurrent enrollment students engage in college courses early on in their life. These students are likely 28 YURITZI ROSAS HERNANDEZ majors in marketing and economics. She serves on the WSUSA Diversity and Unity team and was recently elected 2023–24 vice president of community engagement. As a student leader, she supports WSU’s goal to make college more accessible to Hispanic and Latino students. “We’re not just preparing students to take college weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 29 “We need to stay away from that deficit mentality persist until they graduate — we’ll create a model that students from historically underserved that will benefit other marginalized populations as backgrounds are not college material,” Lewis said. well,” Andrews said. “If we don’t make this shift, we “These students have dreams and aspirations. Weber are holding back the earning potential of our own State offers educational opportunities and support communities and the citizenry of the nation.” services to enable all students to complete a 5. IT WILL INCREASE UTAH’S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. college education.” Higher education constitutes one of the most Andrews adds that the effort is also driven by a significant influences on the state’s economy, desire to prepare a job-market-ready workforce for consistently producing the labor supply that powers a global economy. “Students can learn all that in economic momentum. team-building experiences where they have to work An estimated 439,000 people of Hispanic or Latino on some kind of classroom project with people who descent live in Utah — the actual number could are like them and people who are not like them, be higher. According to the Utah State Board of and that’s important because the ability to work Education, 131,954 Hispanic and Latino students collaboratively and think critically are the kinds of are in Utah’s K–12 public education system. skills that employers seek,” she said. K-12 Hispanic and Latino enrollment growth 4. IT WILL HELP WSU SERVE ITS COMMUNITY. Weber State’s Ogden campus is located in Weber 150,000 County, home to the second highest concentrations of Hispanic and Black populations in Utah. However, the composition of WSU’s student population doesn’t address a degree attainment gap within the USHE 2023 2022 2021 system. “Multi-dimensional strategies will be used 90,000 2020 52.30% 2019 George Washington High School The report notes the need for significant changes to 2017 59.98% 2018 Ben Lomond High School 2016 HISPANIC STUDENT % 2015 SCHOOL 120,000 2014 Ogden School District 2022–23 Hispanic and Latino headcount enrollment 131,954 Student Enrollment reflect the community’s diversity. Ogden High School 47.17% Highland Junior High School 61.92% Mound Fort Junior High School 51.04% Source: Utah State Board of Education Mount Ogden Junior High School 39.74% Informed by forecasts of Utah’s economic and Weber State University 11.8% workforce needs, the Utah System of Higher School Year Education (USHE) calls for the following: Source: Utah State Board of Education and Utah System of Higher Education Ogden High School, which has a nearly 50% Hispanic and Latino student population, boasted 393 graduates in 2022, but only 75 came to Weber State. Of those 75 students, 25 identified as Hispanic or Latino. Lewis finds the statistic alarming. “Where are the rest of those graduates? Why aren’t they at Weber State? Did 1. More Utah high school graduates enrolling and graduating from USHE institutions to increase the system’s positive contribution to workforce development with a specific focus on closing equity gaps that inhibit the full realization of our state’s workforce and economic potential,” the report stated. MOVING FORWARD Weber State President Brad Mortensen recently announced the university’s efforts have been 2. More students completing college degrees in a timely manner working. “We have legitimately made progress 3. More students earning college degrees that align with high-wage, highdemand occupations student enrollment percentage has increased by towards our 15% goal as our Latino and Hispanic about half of a percentage point in fall 2021 and, again, in fall 2022,” he said. “But I think the real A 2021 Economic Report to the Governor, prepared progress has been in the culture of Weber State by the Utah Economic Council, anticipates the faculty, staff and students embracing the goal “As we figure out the pieces that will be meaningful percentage of people of color ages 18–35 in Utah and working collaboratively to achieve such a for this particular Hispanic demographic of students will nearly double by 2065. significant milestone.” they even go to college?” Lewis asked. — to not only enroll at Weber State, but to remain and 30 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 31 FOLLOWING THE 2022 SEASON, when Weber State’s football team again ranked in the top 10 in the FCS, Jay Hill stepped down as head coach. During his nine seasons with the team, Hill transformed the program. He led Weber State to four Big Sky championships and six trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He also coached multiple All-Americans and All-Conference players. He left Weber State as the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leader in football coaching wins with 68. Coach Hill had many memorable WSU victories, and it’s difficult to narrow them down to a list of the best, but we gave it a shot. Here is our list of the top 10 memorable wins in Coach Hill’s career: 10 COACH HILL’S ///////////////////////////////// OCT. 23, 2021 MEMORABLE WINS /////////////////////////////////////// OCT. 22, 2016 Win at #2 Eastern Washington: The Wildcats forced three turnovers and had three successful fake punts when they defeated secondranked Eastern Washington 35-34 in Cheney, Washington. Eastern Washington was the highest-ranked team WSU defeated during the Hill era. Comeback win at Southern Utah: With under eight minutes to play in the game at Southern Utah, the Wildcats trailed the Thunderbirds 36-14. But WSU scored 23 unanswered points as the minutes ticked by to beat Southern Utah 37-36. The victory also gave WSU a 4-0 record in Big Sky play. 9 4 ////////////////////////////////////// NOV. 13, 2021 ///////////////////////////////// MARCH 27, 2021 Shutout win against Southern Utah: WSU dominated Southern Utah in every aspect of the game, beating the Thunderbirds 62-0 in Cedar City. Hail Mary win over Northern Arizona: WSU pulled out a miracle win as Randall Johnson found Justin Malone for a last-ditch 50-yard touchdown pass as time expired to lift the Wildcats to a 28-23 win over the Lumberjacks at Stewart Stadium. 8 3 //////////////////////////////////// APRIL 10, 2021 ///////////////////////////////////////// DEC. 2, 2017 Clinched fourth straight title: WSU won its first outright championship ever and its fourth-straight Big Sky title with a 20-15 win over Idaho State. With this win, the Wildcats earned an undefeated regular season record. Playoff win at Southern Utah: The Wildcats got revenge for a regular season loss as they went to Cedar City and beat Southern Utah 30-13 in the second round of the FCS playoffs. During the first quarter, WSU trailed 10-0 before outscoring SUU 30-3 the rest of the way. The win moved WSU to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time. 7 2 Playoff win over Western Illinois: WSU hosted its first-ever FCS playoff game and defeated Western Illinois 21-19 at Stewart Stadium. Win at Utah State: WSU dominated Utah State 35-7 for the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) win of Hill’s career. It was also the first win for the Wildcats over an FBS team in 29 years and the first win against Utah State since 1978. 6 1 //////////////////////////////////////// NOV. 25, 2017 TOP 10 5 /////////////////////////////////////// OCT. 10, 2015 Win at Montana: Weber State did something it hadn’t done in 28 years, win a game in Missoula. The Wildcats beat the Grizzlies 24-21 in overtime for their first win in Montana since 1987. By Paul Grua ///////////////////////////////////// SEPT. 10, 2022 ////////////////////////////////////// DEC. 13, 2019 Playoff win over Montana: On a cold, snowy night, WSU made history at Stewart Stadium with a 17-10 win over archrival Montana in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcat defense had six sacks and forced five interceptions. The win advanced Weber State to the semifinals of the playoffs for the first time ever. Did we miss a victory? Do you disagree with our list? Let us know at magazine@weber.edu. 32 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 33 WSU Salutes 2022 Honorees Photo by Robert Casey Back row: Cristina P. Ortega BA ’98, Steve Ballard, David G. Thomas BS ’77, Kathleen Thomas BS ’78 Front row: Patricia Child, William H. Child AS ’51 , Todd Rose BS ’00, Jacqueline Thompson MS ’97, Linda Inouye Oda BS ’67 34 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 35 EMERITI HOMECOMING ROYALTY David G. “Dave” BS ’77 and Kathleen “Kathi” Thomas BS ’78 Dave Thomas and his fellow Weber Trumpeteers — a contingent of young Ogden brass instrumentalists — appeared destined for fame as they prepared to take center stage on Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour in 1969. Unfortunately, the TV network canceled the show a week after taping, and the Trumpeteers’ performance was lost to the ages. Undaunted, Dave returned home, attended Weber State and married the woman of his dreams, fellow Wildcat Kathi Alford. After five years of teaching school, Dave started composing jingles for radio and TV commercials. He founded an advertising agency in 1982 and sold it seven years later to Evans Group. He served as president and CEO of the company’s Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Denver operations before Evans Group was sold to Publicis in 1998, and Dave became president of its Salt Lake City office. Following a run for a seat in the U.S. Congress, Dave founded marketing and communications firm ThomasARTS. His professional accomplishments and community service have been recognized by the Utah Advertising Federation, the Arthritis Association’s Utah/Idaho chapter, Salt Lake Community College and the WSU Emeriti Alumni Council. After taking the lead in raising the couple’s three active sons, Kathi Thomas, a gifted early childhood educator, established Mrs. T’s Preschool in Farmington, Utah. Over the years, she has acquired an extensive collection of children’s books that she has ingeniously displayed in the family’s home. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE his wife, Emily, and their four children. They enjoy traveling, skiing and gardening. LEWIS W. SHURTLIFF AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Thompson MS ’97 Jackie Thompson championed groundbreaking policies as Davis School District’s first African American assistant superintendent. These policies provided a foundation on which to build a deeper appreciation for equity, diversity and inclusion. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Jackie is the oldest of nine children. Much of her childhood was spent living in various states and abroad while her father served in the U.S. military. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Idaho State University and taught elementary school in Idaho and California before relocating to Utah to work at Hill Air Force Base. She pursued a master’s degree at Weber State and later received a doctorate in education curriculum and instruction from Utah State. Jackie was hired by Davis School District in 2000 and retired in 2017 as director of educational equity. Four years later, the district persuaded her to come back and oversee equity and diversity issues. Jackie also worked as a gender equity and education specialist for the Utah State Office of Education. Jackie maintains an ambitious agenda of civic engagement and motivational speaking in the wake of her second retirement. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the YCC Spirit of the American Woman Award for Public Education and the Utah Women’s Achievement Award presented by the Governor’s Commission for Women and Families. In 1999, she was chosen to be Mrs. Utah. Jackie and her husband, Eddie, have two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. Steve Ballard A proud, fifth-generation Ogdenite, Steve Ballard owns and operates the Sonora Grill, as well as Ogden Produce Company, an indoor hydroponic farm. In 2013, he partnered with Weber State to create Dining for Dollars at Sonora Grill, an annual fundraiser that benefits the university’s Oportunidad Scholarship Fund. The scholarship promotes educational opportunities for students who do not qualify for federal aid and is intended to remove financial barriers for low-income or undocumented immigrants who dream of becoming the first in their family to earn a college degree. So far, Dining for Dollars has contributed more than $193,000 to the fund, which has provided scholarships to more than 52 students. Steve has served on numerous community boards, including the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, Visit Ogden and the Ogden Downtown Alliance. He lives in downtown Ogden with 36 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA “ The 2022 WSU Salutes recipients exemplify all that’s great at Weber State. This distinguished group of individuals embodies the uniqueness, service, talents and generosity that make up our incredible WSU friends and alumni family. — Nancy Collinwood, Alumni Relations executive director as a Second District Court judge in 2021, Cristina served as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah. In that capacity, she coordinated the Project Safe Childhood program and focused on the federal prosecution of child exploitation offenses. She also served a one-year detail as counsel to the United States Attorney for the District of Utah. Cristina is active in her community with a focus on higher education. She was appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert to serve on the University of Utah Board of Trustees and as a regent for the Utah System of Higher Education. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS Dr. Todd Rose BS ’00 Before coming to Weber State, Todd Rose was a high school dropout and a father-to-be, living in Layton, Utah, making less than $5 an hour and subsisting on government welfare checks. Although schoolteachers and principals had labeled Todd a class clown and troublemaker and encouraged his parents to temper their expectations about what he would be able to achieve in life, Todd felt sure he had something special to offer. At WSU, Todd forged his own path to the American Dream. He traces his academic transformation to three psychology professors who mentored and believed in him, even when he didn’t fully believe in himself. He found out, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2000, that one of them had even taught an extra class and donated his pay to the psychology department so Todd could be hired as his research assistant. In 2007, Todd earned a doctorate from Harvard University and soon became a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he led the laboratory for the science of individuality. He was also the faculty director for the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Currently, Todd is the president of the Boston-based think tank, Populace, and the author of three best-selling books. Judge Cristina P. Ortega BA ’98 Cristina Ortega graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, magna cum laude, with an emphasis in law enforcement and a dual minor in Latin American studies and legal studies. She earned a Juris Doctor degree in 2002 from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. After graduation, she served as a deputy district attorney in the criminal division of the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. She prosecuted narcotics, general felony and special victim offenses. Cristina then worked as a deputy county attorney at the Davis County Attorney’s Office, where she continued in the specialized prosecution of special victim cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. Prior to her appointment “ Weber State University honored nine outstanding individuals for their contributions to the campus and community at the 2022 WSU Salutes ceremony. EMERITI ALUMNI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Dr. Linda Inouye Oda BS ’67 Linda Oda’s Japanese American family made a life in Utah not by choice, but out of necessity after fleeing Los Angeles to escape internment during World War II. Her parents opened a successful market on Ogden’s 25th Street, but one morning in 1961, an unidentified intruder entered the store, stole $100 from the cash register and beat her father so savagely, he died later that day. The family managed to keep their store open as Linda navigated high school and graduated from Weber State with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She balanced what little time she had to study with minding the store and caring for her mother, who had suffered an incapacitating stroke, alongside her siblings. Linda taught school for a few years before working as a reading specialist for several Utah school districts. She earned a doctorate in education at Brigham Young University while serving as principal at C.H. Taylor Elementary in Ogden. She joined the faculty at Weber State, oversaw the Davis School District’s Quality Teaching program, and was asked to develop materials to educate children about World War II internment camps. Linda directed the Office of Asian Affairs during Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.’s tenure. She coordinated the Utah State Board of Education’s English Language Learner program, and spearheaded numerous efforts at Weber State to improve curriculum for children from underrepresented populations. She currently volunteers with the university’s division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Read more about Linda and her family in our feature story on page 10. WSU PRESIDENT’S AWARD William H. “Bill” AS ’51 and Patricia “Pat” Child Bill Child grew up on a small farm in Syracuse, Utah, and attended Davis High School before enrolling at Weber College in 1950. A talented track athlete, Bill joined Phoenix social club and enjoyed his professors so much, he decided to become a teacher. He married Darline Willey in 1951 and continued his education at the University of Utah while working for his father-in-law, Rufus Call “R.C.” Willey, who owned a tiny store next to a cornfield and sold appliances from the back of a pick-up truck. In 1954, Bill was offered a teaching position in his hometown, but the dream evaporated with the unexpected death of his father-in-law. Shortly before passing, R.C. had given Bill the key to his store and asked him to look after it. What Bill didn’t know then was that the IRS was auditing the business and a local bank sought to recall the loan that financed the store’s inventory. An even greater tragedy occurred in 1965 when Darline died from a rare medical condition. She was only 31 and left behind four grieving youngsters and a broken-hearted husband. A blind date with Pat Wright in 1966 proved to be Bill’s salvation. Pat, from Salt Lake City, eventually accepted Bill’s marriage proposal. She moved to Syracuse and helped raise Bill’s children while adding four more to the family. Bill poured his time and energy into growing his late father-in-law’s store into Utah’s largest furniture and appliance chain. In 1995, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway company purchased R.C. Willey, and Bill continued to serve as CEO until his retirement in 2002. The “tiny store” that Bill took over in 1954 now boasts more than $1 billion in annual sales. Now living in Salt Lake City, Bill and Pat support numerous charitable organizations and educational programs in Utah and other states. Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 37 EXECUTIVE MASTER of HEALTH ADMINISTRATION “I have certainly learned a great deal from the program. It has helped to round out areas that I didn’t even understand I had a gap in.” CLASS NOTES A LUMNI UPDAT ES — Darcy Siebenaller, eMHA graduate professional achievement. He health insurance company, the station in 1980, when it has one son, one daughter AlohaCare, where he oversaw was a small Ogden-based William “Bill” Watanabe BS and six grandchildren. He local agencies receiving operation known as KJQ. ’70 was born on the island lives in Seminole, Florida. federal funds to assist people Prior to his career in radio, dealing with substance Bill was an accomplished Manuel “Manny” Cantorna abuse. He has volunteered actor. He acted with the BS ’71 is a retired licensed for the American Red Cross Utah Shakespeare Festival clinical social worker. During since retiring in 2019. Manny while attending Weber State his early career, he provided earned his Master of Social College. After graduating, group and individual therapy Work from the University he studied acting in the for substance abuse patients of Utah in 1973 and his Master of Fine Arts program at St. Francis Hospital in Master of Public Health from at Penn State University. He Honolulu, Hawaii. He went the University of Hawaii in went on to act with the Long on to supervise a unit of 1986. He has one daughter Beach Repertory Theatre counselors who provided and four grandchildren, Company of California, drug and alcohol therapy and lives in Honolulu. before touring with ’70s of Maui, Hawaii, and moved 100% Online Designed for Working Professionals Becoming a healthcare leader shouldn’t require you to put the rest of your life on hold. Our flexible, high-quality, low-cost online eMHA program allows you to earn your degree while continuing to work. NO GRE/GMAT REQUIRED Skip the entrance exam ACCELERATED PROGRAM Complete in just four semesters FLAT-RATE TUITION No out-of-state increase VIRTUAL ORIENTATION Attend one virtual orientation weber.edu/mha EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE Here to provide mentorship APPLY NOW FOR FALL 2023! NATIONALLY RANKED #1 Online MHA Program, 2021* ALUMNI DISCOUNT Weber State alumni who are accepted into the fall 2023 eMHA cohort will be eligible for an additional one-time 5% loyalty discount on the first semester’s tuition. *Recognized among EduMed’s Best Online MHA Programs for 2021 to Tampa Bay, Florida, in the late 1980s to open a new mortgage branch for Barclays American Mortgage Corporation. He recently sold his realty company, Under the Sun Realty, which he owned for 17 years. He is currently working for Century 21 Real Estate Champions in St. Petersburg/ Clearwater, Florida, where he is a consultant and trainer for new real estate agents. Concurrently, he has been a commercial broker for 10 years. He is a member of the Certified Commercial Investment Institute, the commercial real estate industry's global standard for with the Salvation Army Children’s Repertory Theatre Detox Unit. He also worked Bill Allred BA ’72 is a based at Florida State for the State of Hawaii, morning talk show host University in Tallahassee. supporting children with for the Salt Lake City- Before returning to Utah, special health needs. based radio station, X96. he also acted in several He later worked with For the past 30 years, he New York City productions. individuals struggling with has co-hosted the “Radio In 2014, Bill spoke at the substance abuse at American from Hell” show, which TEDxWeberStateUniversity Psych Systems (now APS has produced over 8,000 event. He lives in Salt Healthcare, Inc.). Before episodes and continues to Lake City. retiring, he worked for a air. Bill began his career with Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 39 YOUR GOLF GAME SUPPORTS WSU STUDENTS! June 2, 2023 The Barn Golf Club Join the Alumni Golf Classic, and help raise $100,000 for WSU students. Make a donation of any size (100% of proceeds go to scholarships). SPACE IS LIMITED, SO SIGN UP TODAY! alumni.weber.edu/golf Greg Bell BA ’72 is president of the operating rooms Service. Most recently, and CEO of the Utah Hospital and director of surgical he served as executive Association. He serves as services. Carolyn earned her director of Stakeholder founding chair of Get Healthy bachelor’s degree in nursing Partnerships, Education and Utah, a nonprofit promoting and a master’s degree in Communication. He oversaw healthy eating and active nursing administration the national Volunteer living. He formerly chaired from the University of Utah. Income Tax Assistance Utah Transit Authority, She also taught operating program, which works with USTAR and Envision Utah. room nursing as an adjunct volunteer organizations, Greg served as lieutenant instructor at Weber State. such as the United Way and governor under Utah Gov. Before retiring from McKay- AARP, to prepare income Gary Herbert from 2009 to Dee Hospital in 1993, she tax returns for underserved 2013 and two terms in the worked as the director of populations. Prior to that Utah State Senate. Greg is a education for operating room role, he was the director of past mayor of Farmington, nursing. In this role, she the IRS Service Center in Utah. A graduate of the S.J. ensured that the hospital’s Atlanta, Georgia, where he Quinney College of Law at accreditation standards were oversaw approximately 2,000 the University of Utah, he upheld. She lives in Ogden. employees. He is currently practiced law for 30 years. His wife, JoLynn Bell BS ’72, ’80s a stake president with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His wife, has served in her church and community. She and Greg are Steven R. Harris BA ’82, Nannette Shayne (Slade) inner-city missionaries for is the dean of libraries Nolden BS ’93, went on The Church of Jesus Christ at Northeastern Illinois to complete her master’s of Latter-day Saints. They University on Chicago’s degree in 1995 at Portland reside in Fruit Heights, Utah, North Side. After graduating State University, where she and have six children and from WSU, he earned a studied psychology with an 28 grandchildren. master’s degree in English industrial/organizational from the University of Utah, emphasis. She has held Carolyn Wold AS ’72 has and continued on to earn various positions, including worked in the nursing a master’s degree in library human resources manager field throughout her science from the University and Realtor. She most career. She began in 1954 of Arizona. Since then, he recently served nine years at St. Benedict’s Hospital, has served in many roles at on the Board of Directors serving in the orthopedic university libraries across for View Point Health, a polio and infectious the country, including Texas community service board disease department, and A&M University, Louisiana in Georgia that provides later became head of that State University, University mental health services for department. She then of Tennessee, Utah State underserved communities. transferred to Ogden Clinic, University, University of Additionally, she has served where she worked from New Mexico and University two years on the board of 1959 to 1964. In 1964, she of Nevada, Reno. He lives directors for Behavioral moved over to the original in Chicago. Thomas D. Dee Memorial Hospital, working as a float Frank Nolden BA ’87 nurse. When the Dee hospital recently retired after a moved to a new location in successful 34-year career 1969, Carolyn worked in the with the IRS. From 2008 open heart surgical rooms until his retirement in 2022, and later became head nurse he held various positions Health Georgia. She has also spent time lobbying for mental health legislation in Washington, D.C. Frank and Nannette have seven children and 11 grandchildren with two more on the way. KNOW A STUDENT IN NEED? WSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS Weber State students do not have to be related to an alum in order to submit an interest form for scholarships. Approximately 50 scholarships will be awarded for the 2024–2025 academic year. INTEREST FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING IN JANUARY 2024. alumni.weber.edu/scholarships Andy Veasey BS ’88 laude. When she moved Commerce 2022 Chairperson Trustees. He and his wife, works in the legal and to London, she worked of the Year Award. He has Sherri, have four children and compliance department of as a biochemist for the led the chamber’s Legislative four grandchildren. a U.S. hedge fund within National Poisons Unit before Affairs Committee for the the London-based office of completing her medical past four years. As president Doug Heer BS ’97 has served Davidson Kempner Capital training at King’s College of Ogden-Weber Technical as president of Precision Management, LP. Andy came London in 2001. She was a College since 2017, he has Pools & Spas, a company of to Weber State from London recipient of the Goldman been involved in numerous 35 employees, for the past with a tennis scholarship Sachs Academic Scholarship local, state and national 25 years. The company is and played for the university during her medical organizations. He sits on a member of the Master for four years, helping to win training and specialized the board of directors for Pools Guild and the Pool the Big Sky Championship in neurodevelopmental the Utah Defense Alliance, and Hot Tub Alliance. Doug in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. pediatrics with a Northern Utah Economic has been recognized by After graduating from Weber, special interest in Alliance and Northern Utah Continental Who’s Who for he earned a master’s degree neurorehabilitation. She has Chamber Coalition, as well his professional excellence in in international business worked in various National as the Ogden-Weber the pool and spa industry. He from Pepperdine University Health Service hospitals, Chamber of Commerce volunteers in his community, in California. He then including University College Executive Board, and as a supports his church and lives returned to London, taking a Hospital, The Children’s Trust commissioner for the Council in Eagle Mountain, Utah. position with Goldman Sachs and Great Ormond Street on Occupational Education. for the next 10 years. This led Hospital for Children. She him to a successful career in currently works at the Evelina Russ Porter BS ’94, MED ’05 legal and compliance with London Children’s Hospital, is a health science, current small business specialist with major financial institutions, where she provides support events and driver’s education the Bureau of Reclamation including Credit Suisse; for children and young teacher at Bonneville High headquarters in Denver, Millennium Management, people with neurodisabilities School in South Ogden, Utah. Colorado. Previously, she LLC; HSBC and Morgan and their families. Andy and He is serving in his sixth was a branch chief for an Stanley. His wife, Cynthia Cyndi have two daughters year as the Mayor of South Air Force Nuclear Weapons “Cyndi” Sahleen-Veasey BIS and one granddaughter. Ogden City. He also serves as Center branch at Hill Air the chair of the Weber Area Force Base, Utah, and ’90s Council of Governments, as the director of business well as on the McKay-Dee/ operations at the 460th She was involved in the choir James R. Taggart AS ’91, Layton Hospital Board of Contracting Squadron at and Orchesis Dance Theatre. AS ’92, BS ’00 received the Trustees and the Weber Buckley Air Force Base, She graduated magna cum Ogden-Weber Chamber of Area Dispatch 911 Board of Colorado. In 2001, she ’90, met Andy while studying pre-med at Weber State on a Presidential Scholarship. Melissa Trotter BA ’97 is a procurement analyst and in the IRS Senior Executive Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 41 For all your meaningful events Host your special event at the John A. and Telitha E. Lindquist Alumni Center. The Bill and Patricia Child Garden Room and the Moyes Garden Patio are perfect backdrops for any celebration. Contact Alumni Relations at 801-626-7535 or visit alumni.weber.edu/eventrental to learn more. practiced at Bayview Animal an annual gift drive for long-term care communities. Hospital and Fairfield Animal Operation Christmas Child. Concurrently, she practices Hospital, and is currently medical weight loss with practicing at Antelope Animal Angela Petersen Nelson BS a specialty in bioidentical Hospital. She is a member ’08 is a forensic scientist hormone replacement of both the Utah Veterinary and crime lab supervisor therapy at OptiHealth. Nikki Medical Association and the with the Salt Lake City Police is certified in basic life American Veterinary Medical Department. She teaches support, advanced cardiac Association. Her husband, Fingerprint Processing life support and pediatric and Intro to Forensic advanced life support. While is a freelance commercial Science at Utah Valley attending Weber State, she photographer. He has worked University. Before joining participated in a foreign with clients such as Sundance the SLCPD, she worked as language-based study Catalog, Polaris, Costco, a forensic investigator for abroad in Spain as well as a Amazon, Deseret Book and the West Valley City Police nursing-based study abroad Mrs. Fields. They live in Ogden. Department. Angela served in Ecuador. She has two with the Department of children and lives in West Derrick Glum BS ’04 has Defense, Afghanistan Camp Haven, Utah. recently been named chief Leatherneck, from 2012 to executive officer of Saint 2013, where she used her Mary’s Health Network, a forensic expertise to support member of Prime Healthcare, the U.S. Marines. Prior to her in Reno, Nevada. Prior to time overseas, she served the ’11 is the creative joining Saint Mary’s, Derrick Weber County Metro Crime director for Weber State’s 3,806 served as regional chief Scene Investigation Unit as Department of Marketing UPDATED EMAIL ADDRESSES Jason Judd West BS ’00, ’10s a distinction among 4,000 role, he oversees production operating officer of Steward a crime scene investigator, & Communications. Prior Science in Psychology at Utah employees. Her husband, quality, process monitoring Health Care in Mesa, Arizona. and as a legal secretary and to his role at Weber, Matt State University. Melissa is Casey Cummings BA ’02, is and compliance with There he oversaw Mountain victim witness advocate for worked for the Ogden-based married to Chris Trotter, U.S. an online marketing manager federal regulations. He is Vista Medical Center and the Weber County Attorney’s advertising agency Out of Air Force, retired. They have for Harvest Right, a Salt Lake also responsible for process Florence Hospital for two Office. She is a certified Bounds Creative for 15 years. two daughters. City-based company that improvements to increase years. He has also served in senior crime scene analyst as He started at the agency as sells freeze dryers. Prior to efficiency and quality. Prior various executive positions well as a certified latent print a junior designer, and spent this role, he spent nine years to this role, he was a process for Gila River Health Care examiner and a member of the last eight years as the art as a marketing manager for engineer and senior quality Susan Cummings BS ’02 is in Phoenix, Arizona, as well the International Association director. The agency focused Sky Properties, a commercial manager for 25 years with a medical technologist with as system vice president of for Identification Crime Scene on the outdoor industry and residential real estate Fresenius Medical Care, which the Associated Regional and post-acute care at Renown Certification Board. including clients such as company in Bountiful, Utah. provides kidney dialysis University Pathologists at Health and as CEO of LifeCare After graduating from Weber services. He is a certified the University of Utah, where Hospitals in Reno. State, he became a marketing quality engineer with the she has been part of the manager for RXAmerica, American Society for Quality. Bryan Magaña BS ’06, MA of Nurse Practitioners cellular immunology lab for a prescription benefit John served as a scoutmaster ’09 is the public relations board-certified family nurse the past 20 years. In 2017, she management company. He with the Boy Scouts of director at Weber State practitioner. Nikki earned her earned a second bachelor’s earned a Master of Science America for 12 years. University. Before returning bachelor’s degree in nursing degree in medical laboratory in Communication from the to his alma mater, he served from Weber State in 2018 science from the University University of Utah in 2006. Nancy Summers BS ’02 15 years in the 419th Fighter and her Master of Science is a doctor of veterinary Wing Public Affairs office in Nursing from Maryville of Utah. In June 2020, for her Nikki Reeder AS ’06, BS ’18 is an American Academy 2,801 CONFIRMED HOME PHONE NUMBERS 6,350 UPDATED HOME PHONE NUMBERS 6,511 STORIES Gore and Associates, as well as promoting Ogden’s 25th Street, Ogden Contemporary Arts, Ogden Convention and Visitors Bureau and the GOAL Foundation. Matt and his wife live in Ogden, and they have two children. John Summers BS ’02 is medicine in northern at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. University in 2021. She works Morgan Saxton BS ’13 has testing, she was named the director of quality at Utah. She completed her Bryan is active in his church, for TruHealth, providing care worked in the news industry employee of the month and Nutraceutical Corporation doctorate at Washington State leading a team of musicians for patients with Medicare for nearly a decade. Morgan later employee of the year, in Salt Lake City. In this University in 2006. She has each week and organizing Advantage health plans in graduated from Weber weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2023 4,478 CONFIRMED EMAIL ADDRESSES Atomic, SITKA Gear, and W.L. work with indirect COVID-19 42 9,139 RESPONDENTS Matthew Zacher BFA completed a Master of ’00s That’s why we launched the Alumni Oral History Project. We reached out to thousands of alumni to discover the impact WSU has had on their lives and who they are today. 5,283 UPDATED CELL PHONE NUMBERS 6,824 CONFIRMED HOME ADDRESSES 1,414 UPDATED HOME ADDRESSES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FORSuccess Become a Mentoring Alumni Program and Scholarship (MAPS) mentor! Connect with a student to share career advice, help them build a post-graduate portfolio or help them gain access to an amazing scholarship. is the program director merged with the enrollment with a bachelor’s degree in for the Children’s Miracle team, becoming the communication. Following Network Hospitals. After Department of Admissions. graduation, Morgan worked graduation, Julia served as Natalie also serves on the for the Standard-Examiner an associate development Admissions Task Force newspaper in Ogden, writing director for the College of Committee for the Utah daily breaking news stories. Engineering, Applied Science System of Higher Education. She now co-hosts a lifestyle and Technology at WSU. show, The PLACE!, at FOX 13 As a student, she served as in Salt Lake City. Previously, student body vice president Morgan worked as a morning of service. She was highly Amy Hajdas MPC ’20 is the reporter for over five years involved with the Center marketing strategist for at KUTV, where she won for Community Engaged Weber State University’s her first Emmy Award for Learning (CCEL), raising Department of Marketing & reporting on a wildfire in money for and participating Communications. She earned southern Utah. Morgan also in a service trip to Thailand, a Bachelor of Arts from the years. Matthew is also a study, musical theater, school beginning fall 2023, Tyson Pendleton BFA ’21 where she helped build an College for Creative Studies musical theater performer marketing and military with plans to become an is a program supervisor as a multimedia journalist orphanage and education in Detroit in 1992. After with the CenterPoint Legacy science, in his professional attorney. She is the current at WayPoint Academy in covering a wide variety of center. In 2022, CCEL graduation, she worked for Theater in Centerville, Utah. and personal pursuits. president of the Weber Huntsville, Utah, where stories including the 2016 awarded her the Presidential various advertising agencies He has played a lead role State University Alumni he helps students with Award for Community in Detroit and Chicago in his past three shows, Hannah A. Olsen AA ’21, Association (WSUAA) Student depression, obsessive Engaged Alumni. She is before taking a marketing Newsies, Cinderella and Joseph AS ’21, AS ’21, BS ’22, BS Alumni Council. Hannah is compulsive disorder and ’22 is finishing her Master the Salt Lake City fellow for anxiety. He has volunteered of Education at Weber State. IGNITE, a national political for the past seven years She will be attending law leadership organization for for the nonprofit Ogden spent a year in the Midwest Iowa presidential caucus. alumni.weber.edu/mapsmentor ’20s Support WSU students and show Wildcat pride wherever you drive with your WSU license plate. Proceeds fund student scholarships. alumni.weber.edu/licenseplate Elizabeth Bizzell BA ’14, currently raising a puppy and design position with and the Amazing Technicolor MHA ’19 is the graduate who will serve as a hospital Roosevelt University in Dreamcoat. Matt uses all therapy dog. She credits Chicago. This began her three of his BIS areas of her love of philanthropy career in higher education. young women. She has been Friends of Acoustic Music as Annie Taylor Dee School and community to Amy is actively involved an intern or fellow for the a committee member and a of Nursing. In 2015, she the educational and in the art communities Office of U.S. Senator Mitt campground coordinator. In extracurricular experiences where she lives. She also Romney, the United Nations October of 2022, he presented she had at Weber State. oversaw marketing strategy Office of Human Rights his first solo art exhibition, Education Switzerland, Utah “Personal Space,” at The programs clinical/marketing Lori Belnap Pehrson BS ’87, retired aerospace leader and WSU National Advisory Committee member, with her mentee, 2022 computer science graduate Dallin Welch weberize your ride State University at age 20 coordinator with WSU’s began her work at WSU with the Department of Health Sciences, and her and design for galleries Pass us a note! WE WANT TO FEATURE YOU. responsibility in marketing Natalie Slater BS ’15, MPC she owned and operated Second District Court Judges Monarch in Ogden. The roles has grown over ’17 returned to Weber State with her husband in Ogden, DiReda and Bean, WSU well-attended exhibit was a time. Prior to coming to after a 25-year hiatus, during Philadelphia and Chicago. Admissions and WSU Legal collection of expressionistic oil paintings. Weber, she worked in retail which she raised seven Amy and her husband What have you been Counsel. She is engaged to management. She is a 2022 children. While earning her moved to Utah in 2013. up to since graduation? Dekklan MacKay BS ’22, recipient of the Wildcat master’s degree, she was on Share information on your who is pursuing a career professional and volunteer in banking. He is currently ’22 is a health coach for work, any credentials or working for the First Orriant, a corporate wellness awards you may have received, Community Bank in Layton, provider. She is also an or other accomplishments and Utah. Dekklan also served on office manager for the Utah interests. It’s our opportunity to the WSUAA Student Alumni Army National Guard’s share a bit of your story with the Council. Together, they were Environmental Resources WSU community. involved at WSU. They both Management office. Donette participated in clubs and is an inducted member organizations and took on of the National Society of leadership roles, and they Leadership and Success, an never missed a football or honor society with more hockey game. than 700 college chapters. MicroFund, which helped the dean’s list. She graduated Matthew Taylor BIS ’20 her to found Give Again, a summa cum laude. She is is a sales manager with currently the director of Lifetime Products, where admissions at Ogden-Weber he has worked in various Technical College. She began roles for the past six years. Julia Saxton BS ’15 is a her career at OWTC with an Concurrently, he is a first major gifts officer at Primary internship as a job coach lieutenant medical services local nonprofit dedicated to redefining gift giving. Children’s Hospital in Salt in the career center. She officer in the Army Reserve, Lake City. In this role, she was soon promoted to the where he operates as a oversees fundraising for manager of the career center. platoon leader for a dental various projects including She then concurrently took unit in Salt Lake City. He on the recruiting team for has served in the Army the college, which soon Reserve for the past seven a new location in Lehi, Utah. Concurrently, she alumni.weber.edu/classnote Donette Taggart Huff BS She has two children. Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 45 CORRECTION STAYING IN TOUCH WITH ALUMNI & FRIENDS Alumni Association leaders paid homage to the 1920s in our fall 2022 issue with a ’20s-style photo shoot at Eccles Art Center in Ogden. The location was once the Eccles family home, where David and Bertha Eccles raised their 12 children, and, for a time, a Weber College women’s dormitory. We incorrectly listed the year the home became a dormitory. Along with more information on the family and home, we received the following correction. WSU NURSING PIONEER As the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing celebrates 70 years of nursing education (page 18), an early graduate reminded us of how far we’ve come. Bertha Jensen Eccles, my grandmother, died in the fall of 1935. The house was then occupied by her son, my uncle, Joseph Eccles, until he died in 1945. It was then in 1948 that it became a dormitory for girls at Weber College. — Myrelle Eccles Thomas The Eccles family has had a tremendous influence on Utah and Weber State. Myrelle compiled Our Eccles family: Eccles family information, featuring more on the family’s history. The book is in Stewart Library’s special collections. OK We didn’t hike up to Mount Ogden, but we did hike back and forth to the old campus and to the Dee Hospital the first year. I’ll never forget taking samples out of the swimming pool and finding all the bacteria and bugs in the water under our microscopes. I was also a member of the Otyokwa Social Club. Our professor was Mrs. Stewart. She kept us all in line with white aprons, white shoes and white hose. I remember the clunky white shoes that were supposed to save our feet and especially the price, $25. It was a big deal in those days. I remember I dumped the dirty laundry down the chute at the hospital, but it went to the kitchen because it was the food dumbwaiter, but we all graduated, so we must have done something right. MEMORIES OF TOPAZ This issue features the story of former Wildcat, Yukio Shimomura, who was detained as a child at the Topaz War Relocation Center near Delta, Utah (page 10). Were you or someone close to you held at Topaz? Do you have a personal story related to the camp? Please share your story at magazine@weber.edu. — Jill Heiner Garrison Davis, ADN ’55 Jill was one of five students representing six decades of nursing education at WSU for our fall 2013 cover. She is the student on the far left. NOW PLAYING… To better serve you, our reader, give us feedback on the magazine and what you’d like to see in it. You can also enter for a chance to win WSU gear. Use the QR code or find a link at weber.edu/wsumagazine. The survey closes on May 15, 2023. @WeberStateAlumni @WeberStateU facebook.com/WSUAlumniAssociation Who Let the Cats Out? Bobcat Men SHARE FEEDBACK, WIN WSU GEAR! EMAIL US To: magazine@weber.edu From: WaldoTheWildcat@weber.edu Subject: Email Us! Want to share your thoughts on something you read? Email us at magazine@weber.edu. *Please note that letters may be edited for length or clarity. SEND @WeberStateU Spring 2023 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 47 Non-profit Org. 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