Chris Younkin is SUU's Scholarly Communication Librarian and Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science. His library work focuses mostly on affordable learning materials, such as Open Educational Resources, and scholarly publishing. He also teaches information literacy and academic research. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Miami University, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State ...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min•Ep. 60
Chris Younkin is SUU's Scholarly Communication Librarian and Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science. His library work focuses mostly on affordable learning materials, such as Open Educational Resources, and scholarly publishing. He also teaches information literacy and academic research. Chris earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Miami University, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State ...
Dec 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 59
General Dr. Richard Saunders is an academic librarian and former Dean of Library Services at Southern Utah University. A graduate of Utah State University, he holds a library degree from Brigham Young University and a PhD from the University of Memphis with an emphasis on the social history of recent America, and is professionally accredited by the Academy of Certified Archivists. His professional work experience includes service at the Utah State Historical Society, Montana State University, in...
Dec 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 58
General Dr. Richard Saunders is an academic librarian and former Dean of Library Services at Southern Utah University. A graduate of Utah State University, he holds a library degree from Brigham Young University and a PhD from the University of Memphis with an emphasis on the social history of recent America, and is professionally accredited by the Academy of Certified Archivists. His professional work experience includes service at the Utah State Historical Society, Montana State University, in...
Nov 25, 2024•21 min•Ep. 57
Aimee Dibrienza is the Director of Adult & Workforce Education in SUU's Community & Workforce Development department. As an experienced Assistant Director, she has demonstrated a history of working in the education management industry. She has demonstrated the following skills: Organization Skills, Communication, Problem Solving, Organizational Commitment, and People Development. Aimee earned her Master of Education - MEd focused in Montessori Administration from Westminster College. The...
Nov 14, 2024•22 min•Ep. 56
Brianne Kramer, Ph.D., is an award-winning Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Southern Utah University where she teaches Social Foundations of Education courses. Additionally, she coordinates the Educational Foundations and Policy major for the Master’s of Education and Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies programs. Her research focuses on teacher workforce issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion, educational policy, and teacher activism. She ...
Nov 04, 2024•32 min•Ep. 55
Heather Callison is the Director of Student Outreach & Support Office; housed within the Dean of Students Office of Student Affairs. Her formal academic education includes Psychology and Sports Conditioning & Performance. She is QPR Trainer trained, Safe Zone trained, and is a member of the NABITA & NASPA Communities. Heather has worked on SUU campus in a professional staff setting for five years and is currently a Student Affairs Representative in the Staff Association Board. In her...
Oct 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 54
Chelsea Gambles, LCSW is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her masters of clinical social work from the University of Utah. Chelsea has owned a clinical mental health private practice for 14 years. She specializes in trauma with intersectionality between spirituality/faith transitions and sexuality and trauma. Chelsea has worked with diverse populations related to gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity...
Sep 05, 2024•19 min•Ep. 53
Chelsea Gambles, LCSW is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her masters of clinical social work from the University of Utah. Chelsea has owned a clinical mental health private practice for 14 years. She specializes in trauma with intersectionality between spirituality/faith transitions and sexuality and trauma. Chelsea has worked with diverse populations related to gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity...
Aug 27, 2024•27 min•Ep. 52
Brianne Kramer, Ph.D., is an award-winning Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Southern Utah University where she teaches Social Foundations of Education courses. Additionally, she coordinates the Educational Foundations and Policy major for the Master’s of Education and Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies programs. Her research focuses on teacher workforce issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion, educational policy, and teacher activism. She ...
Aug 15, 2024•33 min•Ep. 51
As a student, Ashleigh graduated with almost $30,000 of debt and became obsessed with learning as much about our financial system as she possibly could. She firmly believes you have to learn the game to break the rules and she is excited to share the ways the financial system can work for and against you. Her goal is to not only prepare students with the hard skills to budget, save, and invest but also to help them take control of their relationship with money. College is an awesome time, full o...
Aug 01, 2024•26 min•Ep. 50
John Lisonbee serves as Southern Utah University's (SUU) Staff Association President. John is also part of SUU's IT department. In his professional journey, attention to detail is non-negotiable, and his passion for teamwork fuels his drive for excellence. Whether aligning SUU's group efforts towards a common goal or ensuring clients and colleagues nod in satisfaction, his is there to ensure high standards are met and exceeded. As John puts it, "Technology is my arena, and I get a real kick out ...
Mar 29, 2024•21 min•Ep. 49
Former Southern Utah University Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services joins host Tony Pellegrini to discuss the world of education and finances. Marvin Dodge took the opportunity to join the Department of Government Operations as Executive Director in April 2023. In this role, Marvin is responsible for Administrative Rules, Archives, Purchasing, Fleet, Finance, Risk Management, Facilities and Construction Management, Technology Services and Human Resou...
Feb 01, 2024•23 min•Ep. 48
Sylvia Bradshaw, Director, SPARC Office Area of Expertise: Grant Life Cycle Meet Sylvia, the spirited leader of SPARC! Hailing from the breathtaking landscapes of southern Utah, she's the SPARC Director with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master's in Research Administration from Johns Hopkins. Sylvia's true joy comes from learning, but it's multiplied when she's surrounded by mountain air, aspen leaves, pine trees, and her beloved family! Jenn Stewart, Research Administrator Area of Exp...
Jan 16, 2024•28 min•Ep. 47
Southern Utah University's Sponsored Programs, Agreements, Research, & Contracts (SPARC) office provides assistance to faculty, staff, and administrators seeking external funding for their projects and programs. From concept development and planning (pre-award) through implementation and management of funded projects (post-award), we will support you every step of the way. Assistance is provided in identifying potential extramural funding sources, developing proposal narratives and budgets, ...
Jan 01, 2024•29 min•Ep. 46
Mary Pearson is the Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University. Her responsibilities include oversight of the Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hotel Resort and Hospitality Management, Management, Marketing, Professional Sales, Masters of Accountancy, Masters of Business Administration, and Master Science Business Analytics degrees. Over the years, Pearson has received several awards. Most recently, she earned the UACPA Women to Watch Experienced ...
Dec 15, 2023•21 min•Ep. 45
Degrees Held: Ph.D. – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2002 M.A. – University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1998 B.S. – Southern Utah University, 1995 Career Highlights: I published a co-authored text for use in the basic communication course with Kendall Hunt publishing in 2017. In addition, since 2003 I have authored or co-authored 22 articles or book chapters in academic books and national/regional/state journals in the communication field. I have been honored with several major awards at conferences ...
Dec 01, 2023•22 min•Ep. 44
Donna Law is the executive director of development and government relations at Southern Utah University. Previously, she directed the non-partisan Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service on campus. She enjoys the opportunity to teach as an adjunct in the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies and Arts Administration programs at SUU. With a background in communication, public relations and marketing, Law now serves as a liaison between SUU and the Utah State Legislature on issues r...
Oct 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 43
Dr. Julie McCown is an Associate Professor of English at Southern Utah University. She received her Ph.D. in English from University of Texas at Arlington in 2016 and her M.A in English from University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2011. Her teaching and research interests are wide-ranging and include early American literature, women writers, queer literatures, and digital humanities/media theory. She also discovered a previously unknown poem by the 18th-century African American poet Jupiter ...
Oct 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 42
Mindy Benson serves as the President of Southern Utah University where she prioritizes the needs of faculty, staff, and students, mental health resources, and campus culture. Benson also focuses on strengthening community and University partnerships and led one of SUU’s most successful legislative sessions in recent history as interim president in 2021-2022. Prior to her appointment as president, Benson served as Vice President of Alumni and Community Relations at SUU for eight years. In that ro...
Sep 15, 2023•11 min•Ep. 41
Dr. Julie McCown is an assistant professor of English at Southern Utah University. She specializes in early American literature, critical theory, animal studies, ecocriticism, natural history and science studies, and digital humanities and media theory. Her current research focuses on animal materiality in early American natural history texts. Her interests are early American literature, animal and science studies, and digital humanities/media theory. McCown had published several articles about ...
Aug 15, 2023•35 min•Ep. 40
Steven Meredith is the Associate Vice-President of Enrollment Management for Graduate and Online Learning at SUU. Dr. Steven Meredith is the associate vice president of enrollment management for Graduate and Online Programs at Southern Utah University. Dr. Meredith's career in higher education has been remarkably varied and innovative. As an administrator, he has established dozens of new associate, bachelor's and master's degrees in music and technology. He has built and managed a number of tec...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 39
Join summer host, Matt McKenzie, as he talks about grants and the importance of facilities & administration fees with members of SUU's Sponsored Programs, Agreements, Research, and Contracts (SPARC) Office. In this episode, Matt is joined by Sylvia Bradshaw and Carrie Childs. Sylvia was born in Moab, Utah and raised in the red rocks of Southern Utah. As the SPARC Director and having earned her Master's degree in Research Administration from Johns Hopkins University, Sylvia is happiest when l...
Jul 18, 2023•32 min•Ep. 38
In this episode, Tessa Anderson joins host Tony Pelligrini to discuss the importance of staff training, initiatives at SUU, and critical thinking skills. These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
May 01, 2023•17 min•Ep. 37
In this month's episode, Tony Pellegrini sits down with the director of Southern Utah University's STEM Center, Dylan Kirklin. Tony and Dylan explore topics such as: How do you encourage those you work with whether they’re teachers or students to work on critical thinking? Creativity is a huge part of allowing us to innovate. Communication is so important for learning. How technology can be tricky for teachers. The importance of allowing students to work together. These comments made as part of ...
Apr 14, 2023•20 min•Ep. 36
In this episode, host Tony Pellegrini sits down with Danielle Lydia Sheather to discuss teaching & learning through dance and the performing arts. They delve into the mentoring program used at Southern Utah University to guide learners through not only the semester but their careers at SUU. Danielle also expands on the authentic opportunities SUU's dance students are exposed to as part of the program. Other topics include: What are the standards for dance in different states? Connecting as a...
Mar 31, 2023•26 min•Ep. 35
Southern Utah University received an innovation grant in April 2022 to begin researching and integrating augmented/virtual reality into the curriculum. In this episode, host Tony Pellegrini sits down with Aundrea Frahm, Director of AR/VR at SUU to discuss the grant, how AR/VR can be integrated into the curriculum, and what the future holds for XR at SUU. Aundrea Frahm, SUU's AR/VR Director, shares, “Teaching is one of my very favorite things mainly because I love working with college students. T...
Feb 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 34
Dr. Gurung has been an exceptional contributor to the University’s global engagement and education for nearly 15 years, creating programs and opportunities for students to travel abroad and to learn from and serve the people of her home country of Nepal. As an associate professor of sociology and women & gender studies, Shobha integrates innovative pedagogies that span multiculturalism and global engagement and aims to help her students develop empathy with people from a wide range of life e...
Jan 18, 2023•35 min•Ep. 33
Dr. Bryan Koenig is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and chair of SUU’s Institutional Review Board. He holds degrees from St. John’s University, College of William and Mary and New Mexico State University and has taught at SUU for the past five years. Dr. Koenig’s teaching philosophy is centered on the belief that every student is unique, and structures his courses to provide students with opportunities to tailor their work to their interests. He actively engages his studen...
Nov 15, 2022•30 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, host Tony Pelligrini sits down with Brianne Kramer and Daneka Souberbielle to discuss equity & diversity at SUU. In her five years at SUU, Brianne Kramer, assistant professor of teacher education, has worked diligently to make her courses and the community an inclusive place for all. Originally from Napoleon, Ohio, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo. Dr. Kramer helped to institute a Diversity Professional Learning Community (PLC) here, leading book studies wi...
Oct 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 31
