WILDCAT WSU Alumni Magazine | SPRING 2019 LUCKY NUMBER 13! Meet WSU’s New President Brad Mortensen WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News for Alumni & Friends On Nov. 8, 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made an accidental, but important, discovery in his laboratory. Knowing it was some kind of a ray, but not knowing exactly where it had come from, he called it x, for the unknown. Little did he know that, 123 years later, people all over the world would still be applauding his discovery — the x-ray — for the powerful, lifesaving information it provides. Celebrating World Radiology Day ✄ 25% off WILDCAT Vol. 24, No. 1, Spring 2019 editor in chief Amy Renner Hendricks Creative director Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 Contributing writers Amy Renner Hendricks Allison Barlow Hess Karin Hurst Ross Rosier BS ’18 Jaime Winston designers Emily Caraballo Amy Hajdas Hillary Wallace BFA ’98 contributing editors Nancy B. Collinwood BS ’94 Rebecca Gibson AS ’09 John Kowalewski Amber Robson BS ’05, MPC ’17 p hotographers Rachel Badali BS ’18 Ryan Belnap Robert Casey Matt Gerrish BS ’10, MPC ’15 Jon Lewis Rachel Lindsey Joe Salmond Benjamin Zack 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM at WSU Downtown 25% off 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM at WSU Davis hosted 370+ radiologic sciences professionals from across the country, for a “World Radiology Day” conference. “This event celebrated the importance of global health concerns and international competency,” said Robert Walker, chair of WSU’s School of Radiologic Sciences. “Ultimately, the hope is to learn and provide skills that makes us all better citizens of the world.” Clearance not included. Coupon valid ONLY at WSU Downtown until 12/31/19. ✄ On Nov. 8, 2018, Weber State University including WSU students and alumni, NO CASH VALUE NO CASH VALUE Clearance not included. Coupon valid only at WSU Davis until 12/31/19. Comments and questions may be sent to Wildcat, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4025, Ogden UT 84408-4025. The editor may also be contacted by phone: 801-626-7359 or email: magazine@weber.edu. ✄ Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018, call 801-626-6138 or email giving@weber.edu to update your records. 25% off postmaster: Send address changes to Advancement Services, Weber State University, 1265 Village Drive Dept 4018, Ogden UT 84408-4018. 1 WSU APPAREL ITEM at WSU Ogden From 2014-2018, Weber State’s radiologic NO CASH VALUE Clearance not included. Coupon valid only at WSU Ogden until 12/31/19. sciences program graduated the second ✄ largest group of students at Weber State, and it is consistently ranked among weber state university board of trustees 2018-19 the top radiologic sciences programs in the nation. Nolan Karras BS ’70, Chair Kearston Cutrubus, Vice Chair Karla K. Bergeson Marty Carpenter BA ’01 Danielle Croyle BS ’96 Karen White Fairbanks Scott W. Parson Donald J. Salazar Jordan Slater Jeff M. Stephens BS ’84, MS ’88 For more information, visit FREE TUNE UP DIAGNOSTIC & CLEANING of your Apple Computer at WSU Ogden or WSU Downtown NO CASH VALUE Coupon valid only at WSU Ogden or WSU Downtown until 12/31/19. weber.edu/radsci. weber.edu/wsumagazine | alumni.weber.edu Cover photo by Benjamin Zack Three locations to serve you: Ogden, Davis and WSU Downtown. wildcatstores.com WEBER WATCH CONTENTS WEBER WATCH Allison Barlow Hess and Ross Rosier BS ’18 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 12 Fiercely Determined WSU’s 13th president, Brad Mortensen, resolves to share the Weber State story. 20 Connecting Hear how the transcontinental railroad linked a nation 150 years ago and how supply chains link businesses and consumers today. 26 The Hall that John E. Built Read a fun story about how philanthropist John E. Lindquist and others are to thank for Lindquist Hall’s existence. 32 39 Class Notes Can I Recycle This Magazine? You can now. Weber State is well known for its sustainability efforts. In fiscal and water bills, and reduced its direct carbon footprint by 46% EAST Builds for Tomorrow (when compared to a 2007 baseline). The university Two new buildings, one in Ogden and outdated Technical Education Building, “State-of-the-art facilities mean is consistently named to The Princeton one in Layton, will provide exciting built in 1957, on the Ogden campus. innovative and collaborative learning Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, the Sierra opportunities for students in the College The Noorda Building is expected to spaces for students in computer science, Club’s Cool Schools list and the Arbor Day of Engineering, Applied Science & open in spring 2020 and will house the computer engineering and automotive Foundation’s Tree Campus USA list. Technology (EAST). electrical, mechanical and systems technology, where we see high demand In keeping with Weber State’s strong In addition to private and other funding, commitment to sustainability, Wildcat will now the Utah Legislature approved $39 be printed on uncoated paper that contains 30% million for the 143,000-square-foot recycled content. In addition, the paper is processed Noorda Engineering & Applied Science At WSU Davis, construction on the chlorine free, which is environmentally preferable. Building, which will replace the 50,000-square-foot Computer & year 2018, WSU saved $1.9 million on its electric, natural gas If you would like to stop receiving the print edition of the magazine, please update your delivery preference Dixon Awards at alumni.weber.edu/magazineupdate or contact Advancement Services at 801-626-6138. engineering, engineering technology, from industry,” said David Ferro, EAST computer science and professional sales dean. “WSU leads state institutions in departments. growth of engineering and computer science graduates, and these buildings will help match that growth.” Automotive Engineering Building will The $20 million project will include a new begin in May 2019 and is expected to entrance to campus from State Route take one year. The building will be used 193, which will relieve pressure on the for automotive, computer and software existing entry and allow faster access. engineering courses. Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 5 Notable Speakers Bring in BIG AUDIENCES, BIG IDEAS Black Klansman Author Talks Investigation of a Lifetime Law enforcement veteran Ron Stallworth, author of the autobiographical Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime, spoke twice to packed WSU crowds. Browning Presents! Ronan Farrow Stallworth, the first black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, infiltrated the Colorado Springs chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in 1978. He Ronan Farrow visited Weber State in interacted with Klan members over the phone while his January 2019 as part of the Browning partner, Chuck, who was white, met with Klan members Presents! series in the Telitha E. in person. In doing so, Ron helped sabotage cross Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. burnings, expose white supremacists in the military and Farrow’s groundbreaking article in combat domestic terrorism. The New Yorker on sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood was a catalyst for the #MeToo movement. Farrow encouraged students and the community to “stay in the fight” and stick to their principles even in the motion picture Black KkKlansman, which was written and directed by Spike Lee. The film won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2019 Academy Awards. Civil Rights Icon Shares Important Message: Get Involved ‘Science Guy’ in Ogden Legendary labor leader and community organizer Dolores Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” brought an exciting Huerta encouraged students, faculty and staff to support conclusion to the 2018-19 Engaged Learning Series, equality and defend civil rights. Matter of Fact? In 1962, Huerta and César Chávez founded the United It took less than 60 minutes to sell out all available Farm Workers union. She served as vice president and was tickets in the Val A. Browning Center. The university instrumental in many of the union’s successes, including the quickly moved the program to the Dee Events Center to strikes against California grape growers in the 1960s and ’70s. In allow more people to hear a moderated conversation with 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Huerta the Presidential the popular author, TV personality and scientist. Medal of Freedom. Engaged Learning Series chair Teresa Martinez BS At Weber State, Huerta encouraged students to vote and ’11, MHA ’14 describes Nye as an iconic figure who get involved in public policy. She relayed a message she told connects with multiple generations. “He’s relatable, farmworkers decades ago, a message that remains relevant entertaining, but most importantly, he talks about facts today: “We told [them], ‘You have power.’ But you can’t do it through science,” Martinez said. “WSU and the Center for yourself, you need to come together and organize. One person Community Engaged Learning are excited that a speaker can’t do it all by themselves.” of his caliber would visit the Ogden area to engage the campus and community.” Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 7 Photo by Benjamin Zack Photo courtesy of the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities face of controversy and fear. Stallworth’s book inspired the award-winning major Photo by Benjamin Zack Photo by Jon Lewis, courtesy of Leroy Chatfield Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist WEBER WATCH Wildcats Supporting Wildcats Research shows that students are most likely to turn to peers in times of crisis. That is the basis of the Counseling & Psychological Services Center’s new mental health advocacy program called the Wildcat Support Network. To implement the program, the counseling center Photo by Rachel Badali BS ’18 received $300,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency Running Out of Room in within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. the Designed to meet an increased demand for mental health services on campus, the program creates peer support groups for students experiencing anxiety, 2,000 Served depression and other mental health challenges. Weber State brought home three national titles from Students participate in the Wildcat Support Network the 2019 NCA and NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance by taking Psychology 2810 and a support-group Since its inception in 2006, WSU’s Family Literacy facilitator course. Student-led peer support groups Program has reached 2,000 Weber County families. will be available to students in fall semester 2019. Trophy Case Championships in Florida. The cheer team won the Division I Coed crown for the third consecutive year — its fifth title in the last The focus is to mentor and educate the parents of Head Mascot Championship — his third title in five years. from lower-income backgrounds, and 60% identify as And, WSU cheer partners Mekenzie Grabau and Latino or other ethnic minority. Kollin Cockrell were named Coed Partner champions “Many children in the Ogden area do not possess the at the competition. literacy skills critical to later academic success,” said Paul Schvaneveldt, Family Literacy Program director. “Thus, cycles of lower levels of educational attainment and subsequent poverty may be perpetuated across generations unless children are given opportunities to develop literacy skills at an early age, leading to a trajectory of academic accomplishment.” Read how the Family Literacy Program inspired one mom on page 15. From Associate’s to Doctoral Degrees On March 29, 2019, the Utah State Board of Regents approved WSU’s first doctoral program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, which will be offered in two emphasis areas: Family Nurse Practitioner level of nurse, from the practical nurse to the registered nurse all the way to the doctoral-prepared nurse. Find out more in the fall 2019 edition of Wildcat. 8 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Photo by Rachel Lindsey Photography and Leadership. With this degree, Weber State will now provide education for every Photo courtesy of Wildcat Athletics Photo by Rachel Lindsey Photography eight years. Waldo repeated as winner of the National Start children. The majority of participants, 87%, come WEBER WATCH Running Away With Accolades Running back Josh Davis capped a record-breaking season with two major honors: the Jerry Rice Award as the National Freshman of the Year and the Collegiate Male Athlete honor presented at the 2019 Utah Governor’s State of Sport Awards. Davis was the first Wildcat, and just the third player in Big Sky history, to be named National Freshman of the Year. He was selected by a panel of more than 150 writers, broadcasters, athletic communications directors and others. record with 1,362 rushing yards, adding nine touchdowns. He also had 30 receptions for 193 yards and 224 punt-return yards with one touchdown. Davis was also the first Wildcat named Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Photo courtesy of Wildcat Athletics In 12 games played in the 2018 season, Davis set a Wildcat freshman New Dean for Moyes College of Education Newly appointed Jerry & Vickie Moyes College of Education dean Kristin Hadley is an experienced teacher. She spent 21 years in public education before earning her doctoral degree and accepting a position at Weber State in 2005. Hadley served as chair of teacher education since 2013. She is committed to enhancing the collaborative work of each department in the College of Education. Photo by Benjamin Zack “We have outward-facing, service-oriented professions that help people live better lives,” Hadley said. “That is the overarching college theme. We must work together and help our students be involved in community service.” Black Scholars United 50th Anniversary Weber State University’s Black Scholars United club celebrated Also in 2019, Shaquille Heath BS ’15, a former Black Scholars its 50th anniversary in 2019. United member, published her essay “The Other Talk” in the The organization promotes leadership, higher learning and education for black students, and fosters harmony, equality and unity through community service projects and activities. New York Times in January. She wrote about what she and her peers experience when having “the talk” with their parents — not about the birds and the bees — but about their skin color, the rules of being black in America and the challenges it creates “Black Scholars United is more than a club; it’s a community,” in their lives. Read more about Heath on page 16 and find her said JaLisa Lee, 2018-19 club president. “We promote unity essay online at weber.edu/wsumagazine. among black students through cultural understanding, academic excellence, community involvement, student engagement and leadership.” 10 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Sustainability by Design Sustainable design is not a new idea at Weber State, but Students will design and build net-zero energy homes in Salt the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology is Lake City. They presented plans for the homes at the Design taking it up a notch. Challenge Weekend held at the National Renewable Energy For 18 months, students in the Building Design & Lab in Golden, Colorado, in April 2019. Construction program will participate in the U.S. Department An exhibit of renderings and models of the project of Energy Solar Decathlon. The competition challenges will be presented at the final Build Challenge Event college students to design and construct highly efficient and in Washington, D.C., in July 2020. innovative buildings powered by renewable energy. Weber State was selected as one of 11 teams internationally. “People always say that Weber State University is one of Utah’s best kept secrets. While I’m proud of the ‘best’ part of that sentiment, I want to make sure that Weber State is not a secret anymore. People will know who we are, what we stand for, and how we help students transform their dreams into reality.” —New Weber State University President Brad Mortensen Telling the Weber State Story Amy Renner Hendricks MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine Photo by Benjamin Zack 13 Speaking of stories, here’s one for you ... became fiercely determined to showcase Weber State students wildly successful. I truly believe what we do here is second and faculty.” to none, and, throughout my presidency, I’m going to take Ten years later, as president of WSU, Brad is even more the time to share the Weber State story.” “fiercely determined” to put Weber State in the spotlight, to That’s why the remainder of this article will not be share the Weber State story. But what is that exactly? about Brad, although it’s his introduction to the alumni Oh, the Places She’ll Go community; it will be about others (although we do share Brad (that’s what he prefers to be called) may be Weber a short account of the day Brad became president, on page 18). State University’s new president, but, at home, he’s king “Our alumni and student stories are far more important to … of dad jokes. “You know the kind,” he said, laughing, me,” he said, smiling. In that spirit, Brad, just a few weeks “the quick quips that make your kids give each other that into his presidency, reached out to students, alumni, faculty ‘Oh no, not another one’ glance.” Here’s his recent favorite: and staff to learn more about them through his Louder “My wife said she was getting really annoyed because I and Prouder campaign. Inspired by his enthusiasm and the couldn’t stop singing I’m a Believer. I thought she had to be wonderful responses he received, we have put a compilation joking, but ‘then I saw her face.’” of stories together, a compilation of … He grinned and said, “I think that one’s actually gotten great, Great, GREAT Successes a few eye rolls at this point. I like when my kids’ friends come over because sometimes they laugh at my jokes.” Liked by Weber State Brad brings his good nature and even temperament to work, too. Ask any of his colleagues, and they’ll agree. But, ‘Speak’ing of Success this is a story of a time when Brad was uncharacteristically Jeni Claudio’s first interaction with Weber State had nothing to do with her own education. Instead, it had unhappy. It was spring semester 2008, and as WSU’s vice everything to do with her children’s education. A single president for University Advancement and legislative mother of five young kids, Jeni signed up for Weber liaison, he was spending most of his time at the Utah State’s Family Literacy Program, which provides in-home State Capitol. On this particular day, Brad watched as the literacy and parenting support to families, most of whom Mortensen addresses the Weber State community at the presidential announcement. Capitol Rotunda came alive with undergrads from the participate in Head Start. University of Utah and Utah State University, all eager “Reading to my kids is going to help them in the future,” to display their research for legislators. That wasn’t what said Jeni, who was raised by parents who couldn’t read. bothered him — a champion of higher education, Brad thinks students sharing what they’ve learned is a beautiful thing to We Are Weber. Defined. “Having that family time with a book, or having my son on my lap and teaching him his letters is really nice. Now, behold, even if they are wearing Utah red or Aggie blue. But he On Jan. 3, 2019, on just his third official day as Weber State’s felt there should have been some purple there, too, that Weber president, Brad found himself answering an important State’s undergraduate researchers had important experiences question, “What does the statement ‘We Are Weber’ mean to share, as well. But, he had been told there wasn’t enough to you?” space for students from three universities. He paused for a moment and finally said, “Dang it. I wasn’t And that bothered him. going to get emotional.” But he did. Choking up, he continued. So Brad went to the scheduling office and booked WSU’s “When I say ‘We Are Weber,’ it means we are a community that When Brad Wilson BS ’93 stepped into the House she needed to enroll at the university. Today, Jeni is only own undergraduate research day at the Capitol. Two weeks is willing to go to any length to help our students accomplish Chamber on the opening day of the 2019 legislative a few semesters away from graduating with a degree later, 30+ students assembled in the Rotunda to share things they’ve only dreamed of accomplishing.” He then session — his ninth session since he was elected to in social work. (To hear more from Jeni on the Family their work. Brad watched happily as legislators listened to recounted a quick history of Aaron Tracy and J. Willard Utah’s House of Representatives in 2010 — he did so Literacy Program, visit weber.edu/wsumagazine). students explain their undergraduate research experiences — Marriott: In the early 1920s, Tracy, a Weber College faculty with a new title: speaker of the house. Wilson graduated impressive, meaningful projects that focused on brine shrimp member (who would later become president of Weber College), from Weber State with a bachelor’s degree in business populations, the sleep cycles of shift workers, how to teach helped Marriott, (who had quit high school to work on his administration/marketing. He is president and CEO of math through dance and more. family’s farm), find odd jobs on campus so he could earn Destination Homes. “He was so proud of what our students and faculty were credits and get his college degree. all of my kids are doing great in school.” Because of her experience with the Family Literacy Program, which reached its 2,000th family early in 2019, Jeni decided to begin her own educational journey. She Liked by Weber State visited Weber State’s Community Education Center in Ogden, where she received the help and encouragement Wilson, and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, doing,” said Utah Sen. Ann Millner, who was president of WSU “Look what that relationship launched,” Brad said. “Marriott received WSU’s 2019 Crystal Crest Presidential Award. In at the time. “He wanted to spotlight it. His collaborative side would later become a worldwide leader in the hospitality his acceptance speech, Wilson joked, “When I attended would have loved to share the day with the University of Utah business. Today, thanks to the personalized attention our Weber State, I was nominated for a Crystal Crest four and Utah State University, but when that couldn’t happen, he students still get from faculty, our students go out and become times, but never won.” He added, “It’s really special to finally be taking one of these home with me tonight.” 14 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 15 A Long-Term Investment Published in the New York Times The Realization of a Dream Keeping A Promise Liked by Weber State Liked by Weber State Liked by Weber State Craig Johnson BS ’14 recalls what it was like to grow up poor in the frigid Midwest. “Even though my parents worked tirelessly to provide for me and my siblings, I often had to wear shoes full of holes,” he said. “The winters left me cold, wet, and with stinky feet that caused me no shortage of embarrassment. I promised myself that my children would never have to go through that.” After graduating from high school in central Iowa, Craig moved to Utah, where most of his extended family lived. Shaquille Heath BS ’15, a communications associate for In January 2019, Trisha Nichols BS ’17, MTax ’18 started the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, wrote an essay a new career as a tax associate at a certified public on race for the New York Times, in which she boldly shared accounting office. A single mother of four, she worked a life moment, relaying a conversation her dad initiated hard to earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting and her with her at the mall food court when she was just 13: “ ... he looked at me and said, ‘You’re black.’ He said it so In February 2019, Eladio Bobadilla BIS ’13 accepted a sternly that I thought that this remark may have been the position as assistant professor of history at the University end of the talk. of Kentucky. It was a dream come true for someone who, “I’m sure you’ve already had encounters in life that tell growing up, never even thought he’d go to college. When you what this means,” he said, “but I want to talk to you Eladio was 11, his family moved from a tiny adobe house about it. in Mexico to Central California, where his dad found “No fluctuation in his voice, no change of tone. His demeanor commanded my attention. I sat silently and listened. A friend directed him to WSU, where Craig enrolled “The first thing people see when they look at you is your and majored in manufacturing engineering. Today, skin color. People will look at your skin and all they will he is the director of quality and improvement for All see is black. It doesn’t matter what you accomplish in Metals Fabrication in Ogden, where he helps create and life. If you become a doctor, a lawyer, a movie star — they implement strategies to grow the company. will look at you, and the first thing they will see is your “I spent six years as a part-time student at Weber State, Liked by Weber State blackness. steady work picking grapes. Eladio didn’t speak a word of English and barely finished high school. He heard about enrolling at Weber State, where she was the recipient of a Dream Weber award (which offers free tuition and general fees to students whose household incomes are $40,000 or less), she took on jobs in restaurants and retail stores, but it was never quite enough to support her family. For five years, she had to rely on government assistance, but she knew her future could and would be bright, with an education. Weber State while serving in the U.S. Navy and enrolled “Today, I can comfortably support my family,” Trisha said. after he was honorably discharged. “I am beyond grateful for my phenomenal education, for Eladio graduated from WSU with a Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree in just three years. After declining offers from two Ivy League graduate schools, he accepted a fellowship to Duke University, which he completed in the my professors and my experiences with Beta Alpha Psi (an honor society for accounting students). To everyone who helped me along the way, I would just say, ‘Thank you a million times over.’” spring of 2019. He will begin his new career in Kentucky in the fall of 2019. and I loved every minute of it,” Craig said. “My education “He stared at me intently. I stared back at him. I didn’t gave me the knowledge and skills I needed to have touch my pretzel.” continued success after graduation. And, because I’m Shaquille’s essay, titled The Other Talk, was published in frugal by nature, I never buy expensive shoes, but I have story and supported my dream,” Eladio said. “They didn’t the New York Times on Jan. 19, 2019, the Saturday before been able to keep that promise I made to myself and my just say, ‘We hope you do well.’ They said, ‘You will do Martin Luther King Jr. Day. well, and we will get you to where you want to be.’ They children. I couldn’t have done that without WSU.” Master of Taxation degree just one year later. Prior to “Along the way, people told me I’d never go to college. But at Weber State, everyone encouraged me. They knew my did just that.” Share Your Story! “These stories make me so proud to be president of Weber State University,” Brad said. “But, I can’t be louder and prouder just by myself and make much of a difference. Let’s tell the secret! Let’s let everyone know how great, Great, GREAT Weber State really is!” If you’d like to be part of Brad’s Louder and Prouder campaign, share your Weber State success stories on your social media accounts and include the hashtag #weberstate. We just had to share this story about the day Brad became president because ...… Oh, What a Day It Was! On the afternoon of Dec. 6, 2018, Brad and Camille Mortensen sat in their car behind the LDS Institute on the north side of Weber State University’s Ogden campus. Camille was clutching a framed drawing of a picture her and Brad’s youngest son, Brooks, had drawn as a kindergartener, with a thumbs up by Weber, or “Webr” as he spelled it, and a thumbs down by BYU (read more on that story online at weber.edu/wsumagazine). She wanted to show it during the announcement, if there was even going to be an announcement. Brad was clutching his cell phone, waiting … waiting … waiting. It was 4:50 p.m. Weber State University’s public presidential announcement was scheduled to begin in 55 minutes. A phone call from the Utah Board of Regents was bound to come in at any moment. Brad and Camille had spent most of the day trying to distract themselves from that phone call, going to the gym and relaxing at home — “It wasn’t possible,” Camille said, laughing. Around 3:30, Camille couldn’t stand it any longer and decided to change into her dress clothes. “What are you doing?” Brad asked. “We haven’t gotten a phone call yet.” To which Camille replied, “I’m feeling optimistic, Brad — “I was really more nervous than optimistic,” she noted. At 4, they decided to head to Weber State, just in case — “It was a long, quiet drive that afternoon from our home in Pleasant View to Ogden,” Camille said. Finally, at 4:53 p.m., the phone rang. Brad answered it on speaker. “Brad, we are pleased to offer you the position of president of Weber State University,” said chair of the Utah Board of Regents Harris Simmons, the voice on the other line. With that sentence, Brad and Camille went from heavyhearted — they had almost decided to head home — to elated. After a brief conversation with Simmons, Brad called his parents, Leon and Barbara Mortensen, who he knew would be awaiting his call anxiously on their farm in Idaho. Or, that’s where he thought they would be. He had no idea Camille had orchestrated them being at Weber State. “I called them and said, ‘Brad will never tell you to come, because it’s so uncertain, but I know he’ll want you to be there if he’s named president.’ It was so funny to see his reaction when they said, ‘That’s great news, son! We’re in the football stadium parking lot. We’ll see you in a few minutes.’” Brad then moved his car from the LDS Institute to the pay lot just south of Shepherd Union, where a Board of Regents representative was waiting to sneak him and Camille into the Shepherd Union Ballroom for the public announcement. There, a stillemotional Brad was met with shouts of cheer and encouragement and a standing ovation. He took the stage, thanking Camille, his four kids, his friends, the Board of Regents, Weber State faculty, staff and students, and his parents, for whom he asked the audience to give a round of applause. “Many of you have heard me tell the story of how my dad worked in a potato processing plant, and how he always encouraged his sons to get an education because he wanted something better for us. Tonight, they took a risk and drove here from Idaho,” he said, his voice breaking. 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. — Darcy Siebenaller, eMHA Student EXECUTIVE MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT The need for qualified healthcare management professionals has never been greater. Weber State University’s Executive Master of Health Administration degree is designed for students whose personal and professional demands keep them from attending a traditional campus. NO GRE/GMAT REQUIRED With five years experience But for Leon and Barbara, it wasn’t a risk at all. “We had a good feeling about it,” said Leon. “We certainly had hoped for it, because we knew it was his dream,” interjected Barbara. Both said, “We’re so proud of him.” When asked how they felt being applauded, they humbly said, “Brad has always been there for us, and he’s always been very thankful to us. It’s just another one of Brad’s characteristics — not forgetting those who helped him get here.” ACCELERATED PROGRAM Complete in just 4 semesters FLAT-RATE TUITION No out-of-state increase APPLY NOW ON-SITE ORIENTATION Attend one orientation ONLINE COURSEWORK Online degree NATIONALLY RANKED Top 50 in the nation ALUMNI DISCOUNT Weber State alumni who are accepted into the 2019 eMHA cohort will be eligible for an additional one-time 5 percent loyalty discount on the first semester’s tuition. To learn more about Brad, visit weber.edu/wsumagazine. 18 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 weber.edu/emha The transcontinental railroad is one of the greatest projects in American and Utah history. With its completion — the final spike famously being driven at Promontory Summit on May 10, 1869 — the railroad brought the country together. The May 11, 1869 edition of the New York Times announced: “The long-looked-for moment has arrived. The construction of the Pacific Railroad is ‘un fait accompli’ (an accomplished fact). The inhabitants of the Atlantic seaboard and the dwellers on the Pacific slopes are henceforth emphatically one people.” The transcontinental railroad also made it easier for goods and services to flow across the U.S., in a process that, now, is called the supply chain, said Stanley Fawcett, director of Weber State University’s Jerry & Vickie Moyes Center for Supply Chain Excellence and endowed professor of supply chain management. “The transcontinental railroad connected a nation and brought people together to do things that were impossible before, like getting oranges to Utah from California. Today, the supply chain is a great connector, much like the transcontinental railroad was.” Join us, as Weber State and community historians share a brief history of the transcontinental railroad in honor of its 150th anniversary and as WSU supply chain experts and alumni talk about what supply chain is exactly, how WSU is preparing the next generation of supply chain professionals, and what the future holds for the discipline. Amy Renner Hendricks, Allison Barlow Hess and Jaime Winston MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 20 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 21 y l p p u s in cha the past As mentioned, the transcontinental 1. O railroad connected people, goods and services. Sometimes, it did so in surprising ways. For example, (what e) we mak family, who lived in the marshes of Brigham City, develop quite a (wh s 3. Logistic products) business, according to WSU history (moving professor Kathryn MacKay. the ducks. Then they would pack them in ice to ship to Chinese restaurants in San learning, the discussions, the concepts. It flips the class. to learn has helped me understand those technical aspects.” Students do their readings and assignments before class, so system known as supply chain Taylor is also an adjunct professor in WSU’s supply chain when they are here we can identify any misconceptions and management. A fairly new area of management program, a program that has a reputation for clarify concepts. business — the term supply chain not only being demanding and grueling but also for producing “As they progress in their courses, students are required management came into existence successful professionals who make contributions to their in the early 1980s — it has roots in companies from day one. three sectors. “There’s operations The supply chain program features a unique curriculum (that’s the production, or the that challenges the whole brain, Fawcett says. “It’s art and the students are leading most of the ‘what we make’), supply (that’s the science. It’s right brain, which focuses on creativity and class. That’s ideal because studies show sourcing, or all the buying that goes on) “The family would hunt ducks. Kids and women would pluck approach. The curriculum gets the students involved in the supply chain education taught me how to learn. Knowing how Today, logistics is part of a complex ply 2. Supat is bought) the railroad helped the Knudsen knowledge wasn’t part of my supply chain education, but my the present ns peratio and logistics (that’s the moving of the products),” explained Fawcett. James Taylor BS ’09 is vice president of LSI in Layton. He defines supply chain management as, “The to become more and more involved, through discussions, presentations and projects. By the time they get to their capstone course, that the act of teaching helps you retain collaboration. It’s left brain, which focuses on analytics. 90 to 95% of the information you’re presenting; We introduce new students to the basics, then whereas, if you attend a lecture, you only retain we raise the bar with each course. We take about 5% of what’s conveyed.” students out of their comfort zones. Some don’t like it, until they get a job with a Robinson says getting students out of their comfort zones prepares them for their careers. Francisco and elsewhere,” MacKay explained. “The railroad management of end-to-end relationships, from the creation of starting salary of $60,000 or more,” he connected little Brigham City in this amazing network, the product to the final delivery.” Taylor leads his company’s said, grinning. “If the first time you’re challenged is at your job, that’s a dangerous thing. At that point, you don’t shipping something that was particular to this area to faraway largest supply chain contract — the sourcing, supply, quality Jordan Robinson BS ’08, MBA ’10 is places. Who would have thought?” and delivery of landing gears to the U.S. Air Force and the another adjunct professor in the program. have the chance to fail. Weber State’s supply chain management program ensures that students graduate The transcontinental railroad changed America and northern Defense Logistics Agency (the contract applies to aircraft During the day, he is a program manager Utah, especially Ogden. no longer under the original equipment manufacturer’s for the U.S. Air Force. At night, he teaches Supply as critical thinkers. That way, if a supervisor walks in control). He uses the contract as an example of supply chain Chain Management 3600, Transportation and Logistics. An and says, ‘I need you to do this for me,’ chances are you’ll management: alumnus of the program, he notes key differences in the know how, but even if you don’t, you’ll know how to figure “It starts with geological mineral deposits that are mined curriculum from when he was a student. it out. Those are the students industries are clamoring for city grew in a grid that radiated out from the train station. The money started to flow as enterprising businesses developed and processed into refined materials/metals,” Taylor said, “The concepts, the theories, the applications are much around the needs of the train and its many passengers. explaining that, with respect to this program, LSI is a program the same,” he said. “The biggest difference is the teaching (Historian Val Holley, author of 25th Street Confidential: management organization, not a manufacturing facility. “It’s Drama, Decadence, and Dissipation Along Ogden’s Rowdiest Road, getting that metal to a forging house, and then taking that explains online that some of those businesses gave Ogden its forging and getting it into a machine shop, then machining “notorious reputation.”) that forging into a more usable form, then taking that form Brigham Young donated 200 acres of land to the railroad companies on condition the depot be located in Ogden. The “Within a year, the population of Ogden more than tripled — students they don’t have to spend thousands of dollars training, students who have learned to think.” and getting it to a chrome plater, who then sends it to a 1971 2005 2016 Weber State began offering The John B. Goddard School of The drive to create a nationally a logistics degree — one Business & Economics revised recognized supply chain and everything involved in the rails, but you also had to feed And that’s the simplified version. of the first of its kind in the program, again as a direct management program received a passengers, house them and give them places to shop. Ogden “Supply chain management is really about looking at the the nation — in direct response to the needs of industry, significant boost from the owner bigger picture,” Taylor said. “How do we best manage the response to the needs of and began offering a supply of Swift, a multibillion dollar The trains unified schedules across the country, demanding different players that are involved in the creation of these Hill Air Force Base. chain management (SCM) degree. transportation company, the founder increasingly sophisticated logistics. People and goods had to products? How do we better form relationships? How do we At the time, Weber State was one of which is Weber State alumnus arrive at their destinations on time to meet the next train, look at the process more strategically? How do we create the of two universities in the state to Jerry C. Moyes BS ’66. His $5 million the stagecoach, the boat or the restaurant owner, waiting for greatest value for the organizations we work for?” offer the degree program. gift created the Jerry & Vickie Moyes a shipment of iced duck from Brigham City to feed hungry In addition to managing the chains, Taylor has to understand patrons. Instead of taking six months or more and $1,000 to the technical aspects of the parts his company is supplying. cross the U.S. by stagecoach, all it took was a week and $150. “We are held to extreme measurement tolerances,” he said. and within a decade was a thousand times more. You just had all these people converging,” said Sarah Singh BS ’97, WSU Special Collections curator. “You not only had the rails, just expanded and grew after that.” grinder, who then gets it back to the chrome plater, then back to a computer-automated designer, and then back to a machine shop again, and finally to the government.” “We like to explain it by telling people to imagine taking a hair on their head and splitting it 500 times. That kind of technical 22 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Center for Supply Chain Excellence, which houses the SCM program. a bri ef hi story the future Much like the transcontinental railroad linking New York to the California Coast, WSU’s supply chain management students gain the knowledge to link the present to the future, drawing “I went from homework to global process manager in about 15 months,” Smith said. “The program at Weber takes you probably a decade ahead, if not more, in best practices and emerging practices. It teaches you where the industry is at, and where you need to take it.” connections between industry trends, global events and news, While Smith continually scans the supply chain industry to and new technology to tomorrow’s business landscape. forecast what’s next, she also takes time to remind herself of One of those fortunetellers, Vic Rosen, who just graduated from Weber State in spring 2019, currently works as a supply chain management analyst for Boeing, and has his sights set on climbing the ranks at the aerospace industry giant. Once he lands his dream job, he says he’ll continue scanning the business world, constantly thinking about what’s ahead. “Dr. Stan (that’s what students call Fawcett) preaches scanning,” said Rosen, adding that he’ll examine trade publications, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, and any major events that impact job markets and all types of industries to get a clearer picture of how they will affect supply chains. In addition, professors share their own research into the future of the industry. Fawcett, along with Amydee Fawcett, assistant professor of supply chain management, and scholars from Miami University and West Virginia University, wrote a 2018 research article in the journal Production about emerging technologies. “To begin to explore how supply chain design will evolve, decision-makers need to identify and evaluate the game-changing role of emerging disruptive technologies,” the article states. Possible game changers mentioned include artificial intelligence, automated (self-driving) vehicles and even materials-science innovations, citing General Motors’ plans to Run by supply chain management students, Supply program is sitting at my desk right now,” Smith said. “I reread Chain Cats supports what’s taught in the classroom AWE helps women studying every single one of our textbooks. In fact, I’ve had people in by offering face time with professionals in the field. business develop skills and the organization come and ask me if they can borrow them, Networking opportunities often include representatives qualities to succeed. because they’re like, ‘How do you know this,’ and I’m like, ‘Let from professional organizations including: Amydee Fawcett, assistant me show you.’” • Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals; professor of supply chain Supply chain alumna Melanie Webber BS ’06, planning • Institute for Supply Management; management and faculty supervisor for production control at Autoliv, participates in the university’s supply chain management advisory board. One reason WSU graduates thrive at Autoliv, she says, is • American Society for Quality; and • APICS, the leading provider of supply chain, logistics advisor, initially planned for the club to support women in supply chain, but opened and operations management research, publications, it to all business majors to principles: lean manufacturing (minimizing waste in a and education and certification programs. help them succeed in the manufacturing process). Recently, the club hosted its Supply Chain Skills business world, which is “We try to eliminate as much waste as possible,” Webber said. Challenge, a competition that allowed supply chain male dominated. “Talking with Weber State graduates, they’re some of the ones students from universities around the world to Run by students, the club offers that understand that concept the best.” showcase their knowledge and ability to think critically charitable and educational and present persuasively. opportunities, and is crafting a Like Smith, Webber sees information technology (IT) merging with manufacturing at an increasing rate, specifically when it comes to transportation; communication among mentorship program with local professionals. manufacturers, customers and suppliers; tracking products; and maintaining inventory. “If a supply chain student can get an IT background as well, that would be huge, because technology can do a lot to solve problems,” she said. to prepare to be challenged. “Anybody who’s thinking about artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry. “A lot Supply Chain Cats because they understand one of the company’s foundational stronger than steel and aluminum. the Fortune 500, says she’s already seeing the emergence of support their peers through two student organizations. what she already learned. “Every book I had in Weber State’s However, Webber’s main token of advice to future students is manager for Autoliv, an automotive safety supplier listed in As supply chain management majors prep for the future, they can network with professionals, develop skills and Achieving Women’s Excellence (AWE) build Silverado trucks with carbon fiber, a material lighter and RaeLynn Smith BS ’17, global indirect purchasing process join the club going into it definitely should pursue that opportunity,” she said, “but know that it’s very challenging, not only Weber State’s program, but the industry as a whole, so make sure you’re ready for it.” of people say, ‘Oh, that’s a decade out.’ If I saw it tomorrow, Smith’s advice to future supply chain management graduates: I wouldn’t be surprised,” she said. “We’re going to have fill the gaps. machines able to predict their own failures; they’ll be able to “You’re not supposed to fit in. In fact, if you look at yourself order their own parts.” and think, ‘I’m a good fit for this company,’ you’re not going to Prior to climbing the ranks to her current role at Autoliv, leading climb. The gaps are begging for us,” Smith said. “Find the job a supply chain management team with members in Romania, where you’re like, ‘Holy cow! What did I land myself into? This Poland, Mexico and China, Smith says she had one of the lowest is a big hole,’ because I know these supply chain students have positions in the indirect purchasing sector of the company. the skill set to get out of that hole. And when you do, you will be a hero, and in 15 months, like me, you will be promoted.” 24 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 25 F ollowing 20 months of reconstruction, Weber State University’s Social Science building reopened in January 2019 with a new look — an architectural showstopper at the Ogden campus’ west entrance — and a distinguished new name — Lindquist Hall. The massive renovation project, which included the building being stripped to its reinforced concrete frame and foundation, started with a record-breaking pledge from Ogden businessman and longtime WSU supporter John E. Lindquist, president of Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries. In addition, the Utah Legislature allocated $30 million to complete the project. WELCOME TO Lindquist Hall Amy Renner Hendricks and Jaime Winston MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS On Jan. 7, 2019, eager visitors gathered to tour the new building. In commemoration of Lindquist Hall’s grand opening and Weber State’s 130th anniversary, University Marketing & Communications adapted the Mother Goose nursery rhyme The House that Jack Built to reflect that our new social science building is The Hall that John E. Built. At a pre-ribbon-cutting luncheon, history professor Gene Sessions and political science professor Leah Murray narrated the revamped rhyme while advancement team “thespians” acted it out. Afterward, Sessions and Murray presented Lindquist with an illustrated storybook. The parody was such a hit, we wanted to share it with you. While the words are fun and whimsical, the moral of the tale is powerful and true: It takes a village to make dreams happen at Weber State, and we are ever so grateful for the people who make up that village. Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 27 This is This is the development team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. These are the administrators, their virtue extolled, that direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream This is the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. This is the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. These are state funds with limits controlled that permit the administrators, their virtue extolled, to direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream These are the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. This is the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. These are the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. 28 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 “Dad (former Weber College student body officer John A. Lindquist ’39) used to say that people have an obligation to give back to where they got their start, and I really believe that.” — John E. Lindquist, president of Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries, who gifted $5 million to build Lindquist Hall “It’s the building most easily seen and appreciated from Harrison Boulevard. It’s almost a front porch for the university. Now it is expansive and new and spacious, with broad halls and high ceilings. It gives people a sense of light and space. It’s a terrific new home for social sciences.” — Frank Harrold, dean, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. These are the leaders, their wisdom doled, that distribute state funds with limits controlled that permit the administrators, their virtue extolled, to direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 29 These are the citizens, young and old, that elect the leaders, their wisdom doled, that distribute state funds with limits controlled that permit the administrators, their virtue extolled, to direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. This is the school where students enrolled learn how to be citizens, young and old, that elect the leaders, their wisdom doled, that distribute state funds with limits controlled that permit the administrators, their virtue extolled, to direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. These are the founders whose vision foretold the birth of the school where students enrolled learn how to be citizens, young and old, that elect good leaders, their wisdom doled, that distribute state funds with limits controlled that permit the administrators, their virtue extolled, to direct the team so brave and bold that finds the donors with hearts of gold that support the teaching that drives the professors that engage the student that chases the dream that dwells in the Hall that John E. built. The Hall that John E. Built, written and illustrated by Marketing & Communications’ Karin Hurst and Hillary Wallace 30 34,940,000 $ PRICE TAG ARCHITECT GSBS Architects, Salt Lake City CONTRACTOR Big-D Construction, Salt Lake City Building by the Numbers CLASSROOMS 34 5 LABORATORIES STUDENT STUDY SPACES 6 72 1 4 3 1 1 OFFICES COMPUTER ROOMS TESTING CENTER LEVELS 150-SEAT LECTURE HALL ROOM LACTATION Lindquist Hall was designed and built with the goal of earning a LEED Gold rating for energy efficiency. A massive geothermal field, consisting of 150 wells drilled 425 feet deep into the northwest part of campus, supplements the building’s heating and cooling. weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Photos by Benjamin Zack CLASS NOTES Chevron Oil Corporation) from Latter-day Saints in teaching 1980 to 1999. He also worked a 12-step addiction recovery in Iran from 1972 to 1975. program. She and her Mohammad filed for more husband, MC, live in Martinez, than 20 patents in his career. California. They have four He received his doctoral sons and 10 grandchildren. degree from the University A of Utah. Mohammad has two children, four grandchildren, A L U M N I U P D AT E S the Union Pacific Railroad, and he lives in Morgan Hill, where he was a locomotive California. L design engineer, machinist, Lee Crittenden BS ’69 is foreman and senior claim the owner of Crittenden representative. He also Glass. He has served on the worked for Amtrak for four National Decorating Products years as a master mechanic. Association board and the Charlie is a member of and North Ogden City Planning the grand historian for the Commission, and as president of the Ogden Lions Club ’50s Marilyn enjoyed a lifetime career in education, including on WSU’s Emeriti Alumni Colleen Knowles AS ’53 six years as secretary Council. Marilyn has two and is currently serving Charlie Persinger BS ’69 retired after 42 years with Free and Accepted Masons of A Utah. He and his wife, Donna and WSU’s Emeriti Alumni Rae, serve in the Harrisville Council. His wife, Pamela Utah Cannery for The Church after 25 years as a human Wheelright Crittenden BS ’70, of Jesus Christ of Latter- resources manager at taught school for eight years day Saints. They have two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Roger Ellis BS ’68 retired L retired after teaching third and 13 years as a teacher grandchildren and five great- Campbell Scientific, where he and worked as a medical and fourth grade for 29 at Morgan Elementary grandchildren. was also a finance manager. assistant prior to retiring. He previously served as She has served as president ’60s vice president and director of the Ogden Lady Lions of Minex Resources. Roger Club, and is a member of the Nancy Sivulich BS ’66 received his master’s degree North Ogden Civic League years. Prior to her husband’s School. She also served as passing, Colleen and president of the Morgan Raymond Knowles AS ’53 Education Association lived across the U.S. and the and was a national trainer world while raising their for the Outcomes Driven taught physical education in mining geology from the and WSU’s Emeriti Alumni five children. They took their Developmental Model and coached basketball, University of Texas at El Paso Council. The Crittendens have Carter BS ’70 also worked for L ’70s L manager for ITT, Steven family to Japan for 2.5 years for School Improvement volleyball and softball at and an MBA from Brigham for Raymond’s work, and then program. Marilyn received secondary schools in the Young University. He served are WSU graduates, and 15 Ernst & Young in advisory grandchildren. services. In addition, he her administrative Weber School District and on the Bridgerland Technical one year when he attended endorsement from Utah in Seattle. She married Mike College Board of Directors the U.S. Air Command and State University and became Sivulich Jr. BS ’64, and they and volunteered with the retired after 17 years as the Staff College. Raymond also an instructor specialist had three children. Prior to United Way board. He was a career center coordinator at worked on Hill Air Force Base for the teacher education Mike’s passing in 2012, the Boy Scouts of America leader Clayton Valley High School in as a civilian. Colleen has 17 department at Weber State, couple owned and operated for 35 years. He and his wife, Concord, California. She also grandchildren and lives in where she served as the two businesses, Sivulich Rosario, live in Logan. They taught general education, Ogden. She has served as administrator of the Teacher Brokerage and Sivulich have five children and eight computer literacy, and drug president of her ward’s Relief Assistant Path to Teaching Travel, and volunteered as Society and as a primary (TAPT) program. After retiring, service missionaries at the teacher for many years. Marilyn served an 18-month Joseph Smith Memorial L Marilyn Lofgreen AS ’59, L BS ’81, MS ’91 married John Carr Lofgreen AS ’56. The couple had two children. John passed away in 2012. 32 mission for The Church of Building. Nancy is the L and alcohol prevention Mohammad Ghandehari programs for the Contra Costa BS ’68 worked for the County detention facilities University of Utah Research in California. In addition, Jesus Christ of Latter-day secretary for WSU’s Emeriti Park from 1975 to 1979 and Eldrie has volunteered with Saints in Independence, Alumni Council. She has The Church of Jesus Christ of Missouri. She co-directs the as a research development 10 grandchildren and lives Morgan Community Choir chemist for Union Oil in Ogden. Company of California (now weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 worked for Intel’s domestic Eldrie O’Bryant BS ’69 grandchildren. MEMBERSHIP THAT FITS An operations and project four children, three of whom to Montgomery, Alabama, for PICK THE and Asian operations, and for Ecolab. Steven is on the Ogden Concert Band and Ogden Symphony Ballet Association boards, and he is a past president of WSU’s Emeriti Alumni Council. His wife, L Lynne Draney Carter BS ’70, NEW GRAD One year $20 / Lifetime $295 ANNUAL Single $35 / Couple $55 THREE-YEAR Single $95 / Couple $150 LIFETIME Single $550 / Couple $1,000 was a medical technologist SENIOR LIFETIME (65+) at Dee Memorial Hospital in Single $275 / Couple $550 Ogden and worked in labs in Virginia and Oregon before retiring from McKay-Dee Learn more at alumni.weber.edu/join L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association or call 801-626-7535 Congratulations WSU Class of 2019! Celebrate your success and help other Wildcats achieve their dreams. Visit A Hospital in 2017. Lynne is the University of Utah. Judy Department of Administrative a docent for the Utah State received a number of awards Services. Lynn later became Capitol, president of the Weber at Weber State, including the assistant director of the County Master Gardeners Crystal Crest Alumna of the Division of Finance, where Association, a member of Year, Friend of Family Literacy, he and his team helped Utah WSU’s Emeriti Alumni Council, and two Hemingway faculty become one of the first states and a cellist for the Morgan vitality awards. In recognition to receive the Certificate of Valley Chamber Orchestra. The of her commitment to teacher Achievement for Excellence Carters have two sons and education, Weber State in Financial Reporting in nine grandchildren. awarded Judy an honorary 1984. He left Utah to start doctorate of humanities the first state accounting during its spring 2019 office in Georgia, where he commencement ceremony. served as the accounting Judy serves on WSU’s Emeriti officer. He later became the Alumni Council. She has chief financial officer of the three children and five Georgia Department of Human grandchildren. Services and retired as the Chris Rivera BS ’71 retired as an associate dean at weber.edu/cat2cat and make a Weber State University Davis after being employed by minimum donation of $20.19. the university for almost 40 years. He received his Master of Public Administration Since 2016, WSU grads degree from the University of A have donated $27,000+ Northern Colorado. Chris is BS ’75 retired in 2006 after to provide Cat2Cat a 20-year member of Rotary 30 years of service in the International. He served as U.S. Army. He held four awards chair for the Boy command positions and had Scouts of America Lake assignments in Europe, Asia Bonneville Council and was and numerous locations in a commissioner for the Davis the United States. Ed’s last Community Public Housing assignment was with the Authority. Chris serves on 20th Support Command. WSU’s Emeriti Alumni After his retirement, he Council. He is married to worked as an operations Christine Sperry. Together integrator and senior they have four children, all planner at the national of whom are WSU graduates, training center in Fort Irwin, and nine grandchildren, the California. He volunteers oldest of whom is studying at Hill Air Force Base at the at Weber State. Retiree Activities Office. student scholarships. A Ed received his master’s Judith (Judy) Pugmire Mitchell degree in national strategic BS ’73 was a director of WSU’s Feeling a little dated? Update your profile at weber.edu/updateyourinfo Keep your WSU Alumni Association profile current to: • • • • 34 Receive campus notifications Acquire complimentary Wildcat alumni magazine subscription Learn about regional WSU events Get email invitations to WSUAA “members-only” events alumni.weber.edu | Spring 2019 resource management from Master of Education (M.Ed.) the Industrial College of the program for 13 years and Armed Forces at the National chair of the Department of Defense University Elementary Education for in Washington, D.C. He three years. She also served and his wife, Janet, have as chair and vice chair of the two daughters. Faculty Senate. In addition to her WSU degree, she received A deputy commissioner. His Retired Col. Gene “Ed” King Lynn Vellinga BS ’78 is a a bachelor’s degree from retired licensed certified Stanford University, an M.Ed. public accountant. He spent from Utah State University, 26 years in the Utah state and a doctoral degree from auditor’s office and the L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association A wife, Sandy Vellinga AS ’96, BA ’99, worked at Hill Air Force Base in logistics management and was a stay-at-home mom. They have seven children and 10 grandchildren. ’80s Michelle Barry BA ’80 is the senior account manager for CW Title and Escrow in LIMITED TIME OFFER Buy 1 ERIC DOWDLE Weber State Traditions Puzzle — Get 1 FREE. Seattle. She previously worked as the executive vice president for Windermere Real Estate, as director of communications for KCTS TV (PBS) and as the promotion manager for KIRO TV (CBS). Michelle volunteers for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. She and her husband, Fred Hoyt, have been married 36 years. They have two sons and one grandchild. Mehrdad Samie BS ’83 is the design architect and vice president for Method Studio. He previously worked as a lead design architect for CRSA and owned Modern Minimal in Salt Lake City. VISIT alumni.weber.edu/puzzled and enter promo code: PUZZLED Mehrdad has been involved the Imagine Ballet Theatre Jodi Graham BS ’95 is was a visionary, launching season as a soprano in the a licensed nurse and stay-at- in planning, programming Foundation and a writer for executive director of Utah many online applications for Phoenix Chorale, a Grammy home mom. The Willards have and design projects for the Weber Health Coalition Humanities. She has Utah. Mel and his wife, Kelli, Award-winning ensemble. five children. colleges and universities “Weber Moves” program. been involved with the have five children. She is the director of choral throughout Utah, and has She and her husband, David, organization for more than worked on several projects have two children and three 22 years and most recently for the National Park Service. grandchildren. served as the assistant director and director of He earned his master’s degree in architecture from the University of Utah, and he lives in Salt Lake City. Teresa Puskedra BA ’84 is executive director of the Ogden Surgical-Medical Society. She previously worked as a freelance writer, as an accounting supervisor for Borden/Meadow Gold Dairies, and as a materials planner and cost accountant for Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corporation. She received her master’s degree in professional communications from Westminster College. Teresa is a past president of the Egyptian Theatre Foundation, a grant writer for ’90s Utah Humanities’ Center for Local Initiatives. Her Jimmy DeGraffenried BS ’97 is the owner and CEO of Hyve Homes, formally Lifetime Homes. Prior to becoming a general contractor, Jimmy played professional activities and musical theater at Arizona Christian University. She previously served as an adjunct faculty member for Grand Canyon University and as a faculty associate Linda Pratt BA ’93 is a husband, Dane Graham BA paper artist in Littleton, ’96, is president and CEO Colorado. She previously of EndGame Consulting. He taught at St. Joseph received his master’s degree Elementary School in Ogden in adult and continuing and was a special education education from the teacher at H. Guy Child University of Wyoming. Elementary in Washington Mel Tingey BA ’96 is O.C. 2018. He was later named the Terrace. For the past five Tanner’s vice president of 2018 4A Coach of the Year Amber Malinovsky AA years, she has volunteered software engineering. He by The Daily Herald. Jimmy ’99, BA ’00 is the director at the summer and winter previously worked as the and his wife, Heidi, live in of content strategy and 1940s WWII Era Ball in division director of software Woodland Hills, Utah. They communications at Weave. Boulder, Colorado. She and engineering for The Church have six children. She received a master’s degree her husband, Douglas, live of Jesus Christ of Latter- in Littleton. They have day Saints. In earlier years, two daughters and two Mel worked for the state of grandsons, one of whom is Utah as the manager of web currently attending WSU. application development. He Supporting WSU is convenient and affordable. Small, recurring gifts make a BIG impact over time, and are easy on your budget and schedule. basketball in Taiwan, France, New Zealand and Sweden. He spent 18 years coaching high school basketball, during which time he took the Salem Hills’ boys’ basketball team to the 4A state title in Kira Rugen BA ’98 is the founder and artistic director of the professional choir Solis Camerata. She is in her 15th for Arizona State University. As a composer, her works have been performed around the world. She received her master’s degree in choral education and doctoral degree in choral conducting from Arizona State. geology team lead for Crescent Point Energy in Denver. He previously worked for Halcon Resources Corporation in Denver and Continental Resources in Oklahoma City. Cameron received his master’s degree in earth science from Simon Fraser University in 2008. He and his wife, Jan Thompson BS ’07, live in Conifer, Colorado. John Wolthuis BIS ’06 is the vice president of West Coast in literature from Texas A&M Container. He runs the dayto-day operations for the company. John and his wife, Brittney, have four boys. They live in West Linn, Oregon. University, where she served An award-winning special as an adjunct faculty member effects artist, Russ Adams BS and assistant director of ’07, MS ’10 is the founder of assessment. She also was new pop culture convention, adjunct faculty and director Ogden UnCon. He is also the of the writing center at Blinn founder of Escape Design FX. College. Amber and her Russ appeared on the 2014 husband, Jan, have two sons hit Syfy series, Jim Henson’s and live in Aurora, Colorado. Creature Shop Challenge, and later wrote Surviving Reality: ’00s Shane Willard BS ’05 is cofounder and CEO of Mindfire Technology. He serves on the YCC board in Ogden, volunteers as a coach for local basketball and football teams, and is also a mentor for the Visit weber.edu/give to arrange a monthly gift of $18.89, in honor of the year Weber State University was founded. Cameron Thompson BS ’06 is a WSU Alumni Association’s Leadership to Legacy program This is Not That Show and three books in the A Workshop With Russ Adams series. He is the design chair for the Ogden City Great, Great PLATE! Support WSU students and show Wildcat pride wherever you drive. Arts Advisory Council. Russ also teaches puppet creation, creature design and puppet performance, to the children of the International School of Latvia. An Ogden native, Brady Howe and the Outdoor Weber BS ’08 is currently the head competition. Shane’s wife, Kelli strength and conditioning Jo Murdock Willard AAS ’02, is coach/athletic trainer for L Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association A Annual Member of the Alumni Association Visit alumni.weber.edu/drivewithpride to request a donation waiver. Spring 2019 | weber.edu/wsumagazine 37 the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. also acts as the designated Collections, and served for 10 He previously was the engineer for several cities years as operations manager ’17, BS ’17 is the assistant assistant athletic trainer for and service districts in for Bonneville Collections. manager at Sherwin- the Atlanta Hawks, a head northern Utah. Matt received He lives in Ogden. Williams of Ogden. She is athletic trainer/strength his bachelor’s degree in coach in the NBA G-League, civil engineering from the and an athletic trainer/ University of Utah. He and strength coach for Weber Thais Cavazotti Stewart BA president of WSU’s Young ’10s Alumni Council and is on his wife, Laurel Newman An artist, Alisha Brenchley Board of Directors. Thais and State’s football and basketball Robertson AS ’08, have Johnson BA ’16 recently her husband, John Stewart teams. Brady’s wife, Emily five children and live in began teaching in WSU’s BS ’18, live in Roy with their Standage Howe AS ’06, has South Ogden. Continuing Education four cats. worked as a dental assistant for the past 13 years. The Howes live in Arizona with their daughter. A L Kevin Smith BS ’09 is the operations manager over nutritional engineering at program. She previously taught painting and drawing at T.H. Bell Junior the WSU Alumni Association Ian Wilkinson AS ’17, BS ’17 is an executive account director and consultant Trace Minerals Research in High. Her husband, Jacob for WEX, out of Portland, Matt Robertson A.PE ’08 is West Haven. He previously Johnson AS ’17, is a facilities Maine. He provides financial a civil engineer for Jones worked as a supervisor and Associates, where he for human resources firm designs and manages public Black Turtle Services. infrastructure projects Kevin also owned his own for local communities. He company, Asset Recovery and management professional for Goldenwest Credit Union. The Johnsons have one son and live in Washington Terrace. solutions to companies within the transportation industry. He and his wife, Lacey, have two children and live in Ogden. Finding the right job is a HANDSHAKE away. Weber State has a new way to help students and alumni build meaningful careers. Handshake is a personalized career platform that unites 350+ universities, 180,000 companies and 6 million job seekers. If you want a job, or have a job to offer, visit: weber.joinhandshake.com Steven Nabor Senior Associate Vice President for Financial Services and CFO College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Associate Dean and Professor of Geography Steven Nabor ’81 came to Weber State in 1977 as an overwhelmed, firstgeneration high school graduate. On his first day, he called a professor Dr. Staff because the course catalog listed classes with unassigned instructors as being taught by “staff.” It’s a mistake that still haunts Nabor, who eventually graduated cum laude in accounting, and shortly after, launched what would become an illustrious 35-year professional career at Weber State. No one can accuse the associate dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Julie Rich ’81, of being locked in an “ivory tower of academia.” Nabor was hired as a staff auditor, but his formidable knowledge of finance and innovative approach to problem solving prompted a stream of promotions. At each new level of responsibility, from director of Internal Audit to controller to senior associate vice president for Financial Services to chief financial officer, Nabor was determined to cultivate a financial environment where teaching and learning could flourish. Throughout his career, Nabor looked beyond existing policies to bring about changes that benefitted students. He introduced an every-other-week payroll schedule for student workers. He spearheaded an installment option for students struggling with tuition payments. During government shutdowns, Nabor helped deploy strategies to ease the burden placed on thousands of financial aid recipients. Nabor also assisted in the design, financing and installation of Flaming W Rock, an iconic campus landmark. 38 weber.edu/wsumagazine | Spring 2019 Julie Rich Rich, a geography professor and Weber State alumna who graduated cum laude in 1981, earned a master’s degree from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. from St. John’s College, a constituent college of England’s University of Oxford. Since 1970, the WSU Alumni Association has presented the H. Aldous Dixon Award to outstanding faculty and staff. The award is given in memory of former President Dixon, who served as the school’s chief administrator in 1919-20 and from 1937 to 1953. Her collaborative teaching has garnered prestigious honors, including the Crystal Crest Master Teacher, Hemingway Faculty Excellence and John A. Lindquist awards. Rich consistently earns near-perfect student-evaluation scores. Her research and presentations are internationally acclaimed; her expert opinions on everything from climate change to sustainable construction to green mapping are sought after at home and abroad. Rich’s crusade to enrich a student’s “Weber State experience” through service learning underscores her longtime association with the university. The Global Community Engaged Learning program, which Rich started, has benefitted more than 200 students, alumni and faculty, and countless indigenous people in Rwanda, Mozambique, Thailand, Peru, Uganda, and soon Fiji. Rich promotes undergraduate research. Many of her students assist her fieldwork, conduct lab experiments and present their findings at conferences. Rich helped supervise the recent renovation of the Social Science building, now named Lindquist Hall. Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID 1265 Village Dr. Dept. 4025 Ogden, UT 84408-4025 R A E Y G I B A IT’S OOTBALL! F R FO Permit No. 151 Salt Lake City, UT ing prov n im i s e ntstrid tude reat he our s ade g r o m f t in t e hav r assis lities i e l c l i a w f , w of ou ears that t all emic y t d u 0 c a b 1 e c j da ram last pro bers prog tic an tone mem tball caps athle e o y a h e o t t i f h s f i n t e mu his y th le.” urn o s 100 tes. T t onl s com ossib e ret mark erou athle of no his p rk th n t t o a e s n e l g . m e d a pm the ma son ew Sept s, it who evelo 9 sea hank iday, ldcat of a n d t r s 1 i F e 0 g e t W 2 r n e i pen unity pion rts. W ed fo s the -athl ham edul the o omm dent 6 spo ium. 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