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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. -
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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. -
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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. -
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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. -
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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. -
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Dr. Jared Tippets
Jared Tippets is the vice president for student affairs at Southern Utah University. In this role he is responsible for student retention and completion. Tippets is committed to supporting all students as they learn to become successful and effective leaders on campus and in the community. Tippets views student services as a partner to academics. He strives to find meaningful ways to connect a student’s experiences in the classroom with their lives outside of the classroom. He oversees a variety of resources and services at SUU such as career services, tutoring, testing, counseling, academic advising, financial aid and student support services. His professional career has been spent focusing on retention, completion, and student success efforts on both the academic affairs and student affairs side of the academy. Prior to SUU, Tippets worked at Purdue University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Utah Valley University. Tippets earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Utah State University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Kentucky where his dissertation topic was about organizational change in higher education. -
Dr. Stephen Allen
As a student at Southern Utah University, Dr. Stephen Allen was inspired by talented educators such as Sterling Church, Mindy Benson, Steve Bennion, Sandra Lord (Thomas), and others. By the time he graduated from SUU, he knew he wanted a career in higher education. His mentor, Vice President Church, introduced him to a graduate program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that specialized in student affairs. At Nebraska, Stephen took his first job in admissions after completing a master's degree. He also obtained his Ph.D. in higher education leadership at UNL. In 2003, Dr. Allen accepted a position at SUU as the Executive Director of Enrollment Management. When the Vice President for Student Services, Donna Eddleman, announced her resignation in 2012, Dr. Allen was asked to serve as the interim Vice President for Student Affairs, which included Enrollment Management. He served as the interim Vice President from 2012 through 2014. It was a transitional time for the University, including the departure of Mike Benson, an interim president (Rich Kendall), and a new president (Scott Wyatt). Dr. Allen played a key role in helping the University develop and implement high-impact experiential learning opportunities for students. During his time as the interim Vice President, student services incorporated meaningful learning outcomes throughout the division. In April 2014, the University’s accrediting body, NWCCU, produced its year seven peer review report. Student Affairs was given a glowing commendation in the report which said in part, “The Division of Student Services is to be commended for the broad scale infusion of articulated student learning outcomes into the portfolio of the services that it offers. The division stands as a model for the measurement of meaningful indicators of achievement that have led to program improvements.” During Dr. Allen’s tenure, SUU experienced the highest average composite ACT (23) score and highest average GPA (3.49) for an incoming class up to that point in the University’s history. Stephen was known as a professional who cultivated relationships and reached out to departments and organizations outside of student services to collaborate and improve the student experience. What he loved most about his time as the interim Vice President were the opportunities to connect with students and work with talented professionals within the division.