Items
-
-
Ariana Paul
Yá’át’ééh! Hello, introducing myself as your new 2023-2024 Miss Native American SUU. My name is Ariana Paul, I am Diné from Rock Point, AZ, and Bullfrog, UT. My clans are Nóóda’í Dine’é Táchíí’níí (The Ute Division of Red Running into Water clan) and Ta’neesząhníí (The Tangle people clan). I am a senior at SUU and majoring in Human Nutrition. I am so honored and excited to be given this opportunity and to represent the title of the club and SUU. Ahéhee’ -
Christopher Ralphs
Christopher Ralphs has served as the Executive Director of Campus Life and Asst. Dean of Students at Southern Utah University since July 2022. Chris assists in the oversight, leadership, management, and administration of University Housing, Student Involvement and Leadership, and the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics & Public Service. Before this role, he served SUU as the Director of University Housing. Chris also serves as an adjunct faculty member In the Art and Design department. Prior to SUU, he worked at Utah State University where he earned his degrees. -
Emily O'Donnell
My name is Emily O'Donnell and I was one of the original Ace's in 2015. I graduated from SUU in 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in Dance Education and a minor in Health Education. I was very involved on campus at SUU; aside from being an Ace I was also a member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity, CPVA Senator for SUUSA, President of Orchesis Dance Company, and an O-Leader for the Orientation Team. I now currently live in Salt Lake City, UT and work for Western Governors University and the Utah Jazz. -
-
-
-
-
-
Dr. Eric Kirby
Dr. Eric Kirby is an Assistant Professor of Management, Leadership, and Business Law in the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University. Kirby brings over 20 years of leadership and managerial experience from both the private and public sectors. He has developed a wide-array of leadership perspectives and managerial insights while practicing law, working in the construction industry and in the federal court system, managing numerous departments and employees at SUU, and starting two businesses. Early in his career, Kirby successfully passed the bar exams in three states and interned, clerked, and worked in numerous capacities within the legal field ranging from Washington, DC, to Denver, Colorado. While practicing law for nearly a decade, Kirby’s practice primarily focused on business law, civil litigation, and construction law. More recently, Kirby served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at SUU where he managed a myriad of departments and helped create innovative campus-wide programs which increased institutional retention and completion rates to historical highs and garnered national recognition. Kirby is the co-author of a management and leadership book focused on retention and persistence in higher education. He also co-hosts a weekly podcast series discussing innovative management and leadership tools for higher education and interviewing industry leaders from across the nation to discuss their best thinking on the challenges and opportunities within higher education. His research interests include innovative and unique retention and completion practices, leadership development, and the success of marginalized student populations (with a particular focus on Native American students). He is regularly invited to give presentations, workshops, and consult with various organizations across the nation on leadership development, managing generational differences (in particular Gen Z), management/leadership strategies, organizational restructure, employee retention, and shifting business culture. Kirby is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for scholastic excellence, distinguished advising and mentoring, commitment to excellence, Board of Trustees award for excellence, achievement in experiential learning, distinguished integration, distinguished service awards, and for being a campus influencer. He has chaired numerous committees and is currently serving as the co-advisor for the Business Law Society. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University, a Master’s degree in Administration and a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership from the College of Business at Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech). EDUCATION Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership (Ph.D.), College of Business, Indiana Institute of Technology Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), University of Denver Sturm College of Law Master of Science in Legal Administration (M.S.), University of Denver Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (B.A.), Southern Utah University Professional licenses: Passed the bar exam in the states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming Certificates: (1) Universidad de Alcala, Madrid, Spain (administered through the University of Denver) Español de los Negocios (Spanish Diploma in Business) Bilingual: Spanish/English; (2) Saint-Petersburg State University of Economics, Saint-Petersburg, Russia (administered through Indiana Tech). Focus: Russian-American International Research Collaboration; (3) Strong Interest Inventory (SII) Certified. AWARDS SUU Campus Influencer Award (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) SUU’s Distinguished Service Award (2020-21) SUU’s Influencer of the Year (2019-20) Outstanding Staff Member of SUU (2019-20) Gerald R. Sherratt Distinguished Service Award (2018-19) SUU’s Student Voice Award (2017-18) Distinguished Presentation Award - Festival of Excellence (2017) Distinguished Integration Award - Festival of Excellence (2017) Dean’s Award for Achievement in Experiential Learning ( 2017) SUU’s Organization of the Year (2016-2017) Board of Trustee’s Award of Excellence (2015-16) Super Lawyers’ Legal Rising Star Award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) SUU’s Distinguished Mentor of the Year (2014-15) SUU’s Organization of the Year (2013-14) SUUSA’s Professional Development Organization of the Year (2013-14) SUUSA’s Service Organization of the Year (2013-14) SUU Commitment to Excellence Award (2013-14) SUU’s Advisor of the Year Award (2012-13) SUU’s Organization of the Year (2012-13) HOBBIES Spending time with his wife and six children. Hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, backpacking, camping, and ultra endurance sports. -
-
-
-
Neal Cox
Neal dedicated his life to the students he served. He knew that each student had something valuable to give and worked tirelessly to help them understand their true potential. His work was often conducted out and about on campus, face to face, and seldom behind a desk. He'd arrive early to work most mornings to walk the rotunda and study Japanese and he loved utilizing his Japanese with international students whenever he could! He was an advocate for student success! During his time at SUU, he helped students ideas come to fruition like the Challenge Course, the Outdoor Recreation Center, the Convocation Series, Bread and Soup Night, and the Food Pantry that is still utilized on campus. “Cox’s heart belongs with students” by Holly Coombs University Journal - October 25, 2005 SUU students might recognize one member of the faculty as someone who is passionate about life as well as education and knows the importance of each student as an individual. Neal Cox, associate vice president and dean of students has been at SUU seven years, but has served in his current position for four years. Cox was hired as director of marketing and public relations in 1998 and took over as dean of students in 2002. Cox said he took the job as director of marketing and public relations because of the example his dad was when he was in public relations. “He was really good at it,” Cox said. “ I admired my father a great deal.” Cox was born and raised in Manti, and he attended Snow College. While attending Snow, he became vice president of student services. He gained interest and taught at high schools in Idaho, Wyoming and Hawaii. Cox taught at BYU as well as Snow College until 1995, when he served an LDS mission to Chicago. He said the Board of Regents at Snow College had promised him a job when he returned from his mission, but did not give him details. President Steven D. Bennion has known Cox for 20 years. Bennion served as president of Snow College while Cox worked there. While Cox was on his mission he called Bennion and requested a letter of recommendation. He was offered the job at SUU. Bennion said Cox was highly recommended. He had known Cox 20 years and knew he would be good for the job. Cox said he chose the job because he would be working with Bennion, who was “someone (he) admired.” He said he enjoyed working in marketing but missed the students and was glad when Bennion gave him the job as dean of students. “My heart was with the students, so I opted to make the move,” he said. “I’m doing the kind of work I love (and) that I envisioned doing with my life. (I’m) doing it with a great president and most importantly wonderful students (There are) tremendous students here.” Bennion said Cox is closely involved with students. “(Cox) naturally has (a) deep interest in students and can reach out to those who are not given the attention,” he said. He said Cox has been effective in touching lives on campus. Bennion said one important part of the university is the love of students and the chance to find yourself, which is what Cox has done with this job. “If you don’t enjoy students, you shouldn’t be here,” he said. “That dimension is part of the university’s mission.” “There are opportunities to get involved to grow personally,” Bennion added. “It’s a real confidence builder.” Cox said he likes to find what students are passionate about. “If students are talking about a need and an idea, listen carefully because what they are talking about (is important),” he said. “If we will develop that idea, like the Challenge Course or like the Outdoor Recreation Center, it will be far better if we come up with the ideas ourselves.” Cox said extracurricular activities are important. “It’s not about the number of clubs, but about the number of students that have the opportunity to be connected here (that’s) important,” he said. SUUSA President Micah Paul Keith said Cox is a great student advocate. “Neil Cox is one of the most personable kinds of people you could ever meet,” he said. “He listens and understands problems students have.” Cox said he likes to introduce students to others to help them get involved. “I like to invite students to do things, especially students who haven’t had the experience,” he said. He said getting involved does mean taking risks, but “ life is a series of risks if you want to advance in anything.” Cox said when he was a sophomore in college his roommate got him interested in choir. Even though he refused at first, Cox was glad he did it. “That opened doors to a lot of things,” he said. “I learned to love it and by the end of the year we had a barbershop quartet.” He said he enjoys working here because each day is different and education is important. “There is a dead end for people who deny themselves the opportunity for education,” Cox said. Sen. Caytee Cox, College of Science, is Neal Cox’s daughter. “Everyone knows Dean Cox as the man on campus that “works for the students,” she said. “But to me, he is also ‘Dad.’ He was the first man in my life and we have always had a really close relationship. “In high school, it was a tradition for the two of us to go on walks around town and talk about our day, school or anything that was on our minds,” she added. “Now, in college, I stop by his office as often as I can and we’ll have lunch together or just a quick conversation. He has always put his family first, and I love him for that.” Caytee Cox said one thing she will always remember is what her dad taught her about the importance of an individual. “He taught me that everyone has something valuable to contribute if they are just given the opportunity,” she said. “No matter his or her appearance, clique, race, attitude, everybody needs a friend. I know he loves the students here at Southern Utah University. That’s just the way he is.” Cox attended the Bread & Soup Nite on Oct. 3. While there, he told Rachelle Brewer, vice president for Clubs & Student involvement, “There’s not a place on Earth you could find better students doing better things with their lives.” He said it is sad to find people do not mingle like they used to. “People do not make eye contact or acknowledge each other,” Cox said. “Saying hi indicates “Hey, you’re important.” DEI Beatty, student involvement director, met Cox at Snow College when he worked there. He said they work well together because they are both “passionate about students.” -
Jerry Roeder
Jerry Roeder served Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2011-2015 initially as the Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises and later as the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students. Invited to join the SUU family by Dr. Donna Eddleman, VP for Student Services, Dean Roeder relocated his family from sea level in Newport News, Virginia to nearly 6,000 feet in Cedar City. It took him six months to catch his breath from the beauty of Cedar City and SUU not to mention the elevation change. During his tenure, Juniper residence hall closed unexpectedly due to building mechanical system failure requiring immediate relocation of 300 students. The Bookstore expanded to become an authorized reseller of Apple products and SUU and Cedar City hosted the Larry H Miller Tour of Utah road cycling race for the first time. Title IX Response Policies and Procedures were rewritten to conform with the Campus SaVe Act, and online Sexual Assault awareness and prevention training was introduced to the student body. Dean Roeder represented SUU in the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Spirit Run on two occasions. He collaborated with Facilities Management and the campus Fire Marshal to allow Laying of Cedar and Smudging ceremonies in the student center. Some of Dean Roeder’s fondest and fittest memories at SUU were participating in the lunch hour T-Fit program with staff and faculty friends and teaming up for the Red Rock Relay. The chapter of his life at SUU and in Cedar City will forever hold a special place in Dean Roeder’s heart and memories. -
-
Heather Ogden
Heather Ogden is the Assistant Vice President/ Dean of Students at Southern Utah University. Heather has been Dean of Students since October 2019. Heather assists in the leadership, management, and administration of the Student Affairs areas of the University. Before her role as Dean of Students, she served SUU in other capacities for the institution, most recently as Director of Ethics & Compliance in the University's Title IX office. Heather previously served as a faculty member for the College of Education & Human Development and as a Lead Advisor. -
-
-
-
-
Dr. Sterling Church
Sterling R. Church served for 30+ years as the chief student services officer at Southern Utah University. Under the leadership of four different presidents, Church worked closely with student leaders and student services staff members to ensure students were given the help and encouragement necessary to succeed on campus and in life. With a personal mission of continually reminding people that students come first and that they were the reason why the campus existed, Church was an advocate of student involvement in campus decisions. He is known to frequently quote the statement that, “People support that which they help create.” Another prominent element of his philosophy is his belief that students benefit greatly by being involved in service learning opportunities in addition to the classroom. He always reminded staff that “we are educators first, student services personnel, second.” The completion of the Sharwan Smith Student Center was a realization of a dream and the efforts of Dr. Church. Students and co-workers love and respect him for his intelligence and gentleness. -
Georgia Beth Thompson
Student Services - 2002-2007 The Vice President's Office of Student Services focused on putting students first. In that context, the division worked together serving students, helping them negotiate paths through their studies, and growth in experiential and personal learning and extra curricular settings. Two student support areas joined the division - Bookstore and Food Services. Enrollment Management - a new division - was created including admissions, registrar’s, office, financial aid, school relations and recruitment apart from Student Services. Highlights from Student Services between 2002-2007: Resident Life added new facilities with the first phase of the Eccles Learning and Living Center - a needed replacement of older facilities - Juniper and Manzanita Halls. The Bookstore moved locations where campus merchandise, academic books and supplies were more accessible. Food Service coordinated food options for students and numerous campus and community programs. Summer new student advisement and orientation was expanded by the Student Success Center. On-line advisement and pre-orientation services were developed and utilized. The staff created a Parent Services office with parent programming, a website and newsletter. Staff worked with the academic colleges to add academic advisors specific to each college. Coordination of the University Convocation series was managed by staff in the Center. First year experience courses assisted students in achieving success in their University studies, adjusting to campus life and enhancing self understanding. Career Services expanded assistance with student employment, summer jobs, and career placement and enlarged the Career Fair adding new participating companies and organizations. Service Learning grew from campus and community general service projects to partnerships with the academic colleges for service options more closely tied with degree programs and areas of study, including the addition of an academic director. In Student Life and Leadership, the Outdoor Recreation Center offered equipment rental options which enhanced students’ outdoor experiences. Student Life and Leadership created a new Fee Committee where student government officers and students-at-large participated with other campus individuals in evaluating proposed additional, non-academic student fees. T-Bird Awards honored students and members of the campus and wider community with yearly achievement recognitions. The Wellness Center offered students basic medical services including a nurse practitioner and doctors’ appointments and in Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center staff expanded with additional counselors. The TRIO programs - Student Support Services, Talent Search, Upward Bound - were funded to serve college and pre-college students. A TRIO scholarship program was added to help students progress in their studies. The Multicultural Center worked closely with academic departments to celebrate Black History Month, International Week and Native American Week with academic and activity offerings. -
