Serving 1 year as President Elect, 1 year as President, and 1 year as Past President. The President will direct the Executive Board and conduct the meetings, act as chief SA spokesperson to the President of Utah Tech University, serve as a voting member of the University Council, and represent the Association before the public. Vote for one.
I am excited to be nominated for the Staff Association President-Elect Position. I am a St. George native, just had my first baby (I know I’m biased, but she’s the cutest!) and love to play outside in my free time – hiking, camping, rappelling, river rafting… some of my faves! I am also a proud member of the winning Staff Softball team from our inaugural game back on April 11th!
I have worked at the University for seven years and was a student here before that. I served as a Staff Association Board member from 2018-2020, where I thoroughly enjoyed chairing the Health & Wellness Committee. I would love the opportunity to have a more involved role on campus through this position because I believe that every day is a great day to be a Trailblazer!
Matt Devore is an experienced and dedicated higher education professional serving as the Director of Student Outreach Services. With a combined twelve years of experience as a student and staff member at Utah Tech, he has a demonstrative history of leadership and service, uniquely positioning him to lead the Staff Association to new heights by advancing the interests and needs of all staff members.
As a former student leader, Matt held numerous leadership positions within the Student Association, including being elected as the Student Body President his senior year. He demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people and a commitment to advocating for his peers.
After graduating in 2016, Matt continued his work at Utah Tech in various full-time administrative, academic, and student affairs roles. In addition, he chairs numerous university committees, serves as a voting board member for the Staff Association, and participates in the Trailblazer Leadership Development Program.
Matt will bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and leadership to the role if selected as the next President-Elect of the Staff Association. He understands staff members’ challenges and is committed to serving them by creating a more enhanced and holistic working experience at Utah Tech.
Tamron grew up in Washington, Utah, and graduated from Utah Tech University (then DSU) with a bachelor’s degree before going on to earn an MBA, and then a DBA with a marketing emphasis. Tamron is a former President of the Utah ACT Council and current Co-Chair of the Intermountain-Region Testing Association. In addition to managing the Testing Services Department, Tamron teaches marketing for the UT School of Business as an adjunct and is the advisor for the DECA (Marketing) Club.
On the weekends, you can find Tamron doing some random DIY project or hiking/camping/mountain biking with his four kids (3 girls, Phoebe, Suzy, and Hattie; 1 boy, Nathan). Tuesday evenings he’s probably at the movies with his wife, Chrissy. He is a big fan of short meetings, sarcasm, and helping students succeed.
The Secretary shall serve a two-year term. The Secretary will be elected on odd years. The Secretary shall: (1) keep a record of minutes for the Executive Board and other SA meetings, (2) conduct SA secretarial duties, and (3) serve as a member of the Executive Board. Approved minutes shall be made available on the SA Website.
I started working at Utah Tech University a long, long time ago as a Financial Aid Counselor. How many of you sang the lyrics to either American Pie or Weird Al Yankovic’s The Saga Begins when you read that. My 18-year anniversary at Utah Tech is in a few months, but I will be celebrating a total of 28 years serving in the financial aid arena.
I enjoy assisting students and parents in completing the FAFSA process to pay for college as debt-free as possible and wise borrowing when they have to resort to student loans. I also taught Cooperative Education classes for several years until the program changed and taught first year student success class for two semesters until my financial aid responsibilities interfered too much.
I previously served 3 years as Staff Association Treasurer and enjoyed being involved in advocating for staff issues. My goal is to assist in every single staff member’s voice being heard, and their issues being acknowledged and addressed.
Hi, I’m Laralee Davenport … I would love the opportunity to be the Staff Association Secretary and represent this great campus community.
I have been working in higher education for over 20 years. I started working for Utah Tech in 2006. I have worked my way from Logan to St. George by way of several different schools, large and small. My roles have included Admissions, Advising, Orientation, Recruitment, and Adult & Online Programs. Higher education has been an extremely fulfilling career, I love working with students!
As the Staff Association Secretary, I will support the Staff Association Leadership in all initiatives and be a liaison for staff.
In August of 2020, Alicia became the Administrative Assistant for the Utah Tech University Nursing Department. She has 6 years of professional secretarial experience. Prior to her work in the Nursing Department, she had 5 years of secretarial experience for a variety of community organizations such as the PTA and religious institutions.
Throughout her career at Utah Tech, she shows dedication in completing tasks with the highest quality of work, taking initiative to ensure that the department runs smoothly and efficiently, and providing problem-solving solutions. She has become knowledgeable in a wide range of administrative tasks and she is the go-to person for staff, faculty, and students alike!
She is currently participating in the Franklin Covey Leadership program this spring and summer semesters. Through this experience, she has a better understanding of the department’s mission and future goals. She has gained professional knowledge of the importance of teamwork, one-on-ones, and developing a leader’s mindset.
She is excited to work with members of the Utah Tech Staff Association by connecting with staff at the University and making a difference in our Trailblazer community.
I became a Trailblazer almost four years ago and I love working here at Utah Tech! In my position in Central Scheduling, I have some contact with most of the staff on campus, at least through email, and I have formed some great relationships with many of you. It is a pleasure to work with so many fabulous people who are trying to do great things for the campus community.
I graduated from Utah State, where I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, and met my husband, Mason. We have lived in St George for 26 years. We have two amazing grown children and a wonderful daughter-in law. When I’m not here scheduling classes, meetings, and events, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, volunteering in the community, camping, going to Disneyland, and planning new adventures.
I have enjoyed serving on the Volunteer Committee for three years, and on the Events Committee this last year. I appreciate the opportunities that the Staff Association gives us to make connections with others on campus. I am humbled to have been nominated, and would love the opportunity to serve as the Staff Association Secretary.
Alli McMullin is from Lima, Peru and has worked at Utah Tech University for over six years. She started working as a student mentor for Upward Bound in the TRiO office, then moved to the Center of Inclusion and Belonging as a peer advisor.
Alli graduated from Utah Tech University with a degree in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Mass Communications. She then went on to receive her Master of Public Administration from Southern Utah University.
Currently, Alli is the International Student & Scholars Office Immigration Coordinator, and loves working with all of UT’s international students. She is also the Chair of the Utah Board of International Educators and State of Utah Representative for NAFSA Region II.
Alli would feel privileged to be part of the Staff Association Board as she is a very proud Utah Tech alumna and staff member.
Leslie Twitchell is the Administrative Specialist for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She began her career at Utah Tech University in 2017 as the English Department Administrative Assistant and three years later changed positions to work for Dean Lee.
Leslie enjoys her interactions with faculty, staff, and students. Her favorite part of working at UT is the people and being a part of the campus community. It keeps her young and energetic! She loves to serve others and help in any way she can and feels it would be a privilege to serve as the Staff Association secretary.
On a personal note, Leslie loves to sew quilts, watch football, hang out with her family, and spend time outdoors.
A board member will serve as a member of the Executive Board, act under the direction of the President, and will chair or co-chair an SA committee. Vote for four.
After earning degrees in Business, Family Studies and Marriage & Family Therapy from WSU and USU, I entered the counseling world to explore my love for helping children and young adults navigate life’s challenges. After a few years of working in public schools, my husband and I started a retail business which we continued for 17 years closing just before COVID. During this time, I enjoyed working in optometry until we decided Southern Utah was where we belonged.
This move from Arizona led me back to my true passion of working in higher education. I love working in Human Resources at the University I have watched grow and expand since I was a little girl playing on the field that now is the Eccles Fine Arts Center.
When I am not busy with part-time adjuncts and planning employee activities, you can find me exploring the areas around St George, reading a book, or trying to put something together!
Dr. Teri Brandenburg currently serves as the Manager of Quality & Training for Utah Tech Online. She enjoys working with faculty and staff to help ensure high-quality learning experiences for online students.
Teri grew up in Happy Valley (Provo/Orem, Utah), and earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Spanish from Brigham Young University, an MBA from BYU’s Marriott School of Management, and a Ph.D. in Business Information Systems and Education from Utah State University.
Prior to her graduate studies, she worked in the computer software industry and for the U.S. Senate. After graduate school, Teri held faculty positions teaching business courses (at Mississippi State University, Utah State University, and Utah Valley University). She also worked as an administrator in higher education with responsibilities for online curriculum design & development (at Western Governors University, etc).
In her spare time, Teri enjoys exploring the natural wonders of Southern Utah, e-biking, and doing family history.
I have worked at UTU for almost 22 years. I grew up in Bountiful but have been in St. George since graduating from high school. (That’s a really long time). I love working with the students and the great people here on campus.
When I am not here, I am hanging out with my kids and grandkids. I am lucky to have them all here in St. George. I spend a lot of time at the soccer fields and at band concerts. I love to kayak and be outside. Almost the whole family has dogs so when we get together it is an absolute zoo. I also have chickens and love them also. Anything to do with kids of any age and animals is where my heart truly is.
I am a collaborative, motivated, ethical, troubleshooting, and storytelling full-time employment recruiter for Utah Tech University. I am passionate about people, education, and public service. I love to work with teams to get hard things done.
I am guided by the core values of integrity, confidence, positivity, inclusivity, and understanding. I look forward to providing my services to the Staff Association members in a way, no one else can deliver with a positive attitude, good humor, professionalism, and high energy.
Holly is a hard-core introvert, working in the extroverted world of marketing. She earned an AA in art, BA of Communications, and MA in Mass Communications, but eventually tired of selling planners and janky weight-loss programs and made the welcome jump to the non-profit world of higher ed. After five years creating the Admissions Marketing program at the University of Utah, she spent two years recruiting at Colorado College. Holly eventually left to be director of Auxiliary Services Marketing at UCCS, but when too many blizzards and tornado warnings closed down her hometown, she upgraded to sunny St. George.
Holly joined UT Online in November 2020, and has sought opportunities to serve since arriving. In addition to her marketing career, Holly spent 1.5 years as adjunct communications faculty at her alma mater, and has presented at multiple conferences and served on a myriad of committees. She is step-mother to three grown children, and dog-mom to a pack of lovable pooches. An artist by nature, she loves creating and all things DIY.
Jill is entering her 3rd year with Utah Tech University working in the Booth Wellness Center. Although she grew up in Taylorsville, Utah, she has lived in Southern Utah for nearly two decades and has raised her four children here.
Jill believes that effective communication, self-care and “consistent persistency” are the keys to long term success both personally and professionally.
A brief history about Jill:
• She has been a successful local entrepreneur and business owner.
• She led the Red Rock council PTA organization for Washington County.
• She maintains strong connections to the financial services and insurance industry.
• She has developed led and facilitated mentoring and coaching programs within the community.
• Within her role at the Booth Wellness Center, she helps organize, collaborate, and facilitate events that are delivered to the student body such as: Decompress and Stress Less, Wellness Fair, Suicide Prevention Week, QPR trainings, etc.
Dru has worked as a leader in the public sector for 20+ years and is currently the Student Resource Center Director in Student Affairs. She has a bachelor’s degree in public administration/sociology from Northern Arizona University and an MBA.
Dru has a diverse professional background in state government and public education, but finds working with students the highlight of her experiences. Her favorite role in higher education is helping students with basic needs and providing supportive services for non-traditional and first-generation students. Dru’s summer project is bringing child care options to Utah Tech students. She has built relationships across campus working with faculty, staff, and students. Dru enjoys volunteering and working with community advocacy groups.
Outside the university, she loves doing anything that involves spending time with her family and dogs. She is grateful for the opportunity to work at Utah Tech with wonderful people. Dru would like to represent you through involvement on the staff association by exploring innovative ways to build a positive campus culture with an emphasis on an improved work-life balance for employees.
I have been a St. George resident for almost 20 years. After graduating from Desert Hills High School, I attended UT and graduated in 2014 with by bachelor’s in Biology. In July of 2017, I became the Support Specialist for the Digital Forensics Crime Lab and Applied Sociology & Criminal Justice Department. As well as the evidence technician for DFCL. Do I possibly have one of the longest titles on campus? Maybe. Have I confirmed it? No, LOL.
I would love to serve on the Board this year and be even more involved in helping out staff members across campus. The past two years I have assisted board members behind the scenes and would a chance to be more involved by serving on the board directly.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, sewing/crochet, being outside, and I am a car person. I own a 1998 Pontiac Trans Am that I enter into local car shows, including the Hurricane Rotary Easter Car Show. The last several times I have entered my car, I have received 2nd in the 1990s stock and newer category. One of these years I’ll get 1st.
In October of 2022 Darren became a member of the Custodian Team for Housing at Utah Tech University. Darren is an eternal optimist who has high energy and everyone he meets is a friend.
Darren has a Bachelor of Science in Communication/Public Relations from the University of Utah and for the past 30-years he held various leadership positions in human resources with Fortune 100 and 500 Companies. He worked with executives and vice presidents to improve performance and retention of employee programs throughout the United States and Canada. His work ethic and attention to detail set him apart from others as he built successful recruiting teams and set the standard in identifying and attracting quality individuals to the companies he represented.
Darren loves serving others. His service includes 25-years with the Boy Scouts of America where he sat on Council Boards. He is currently a member of the St. George Lions where he sits on the Board. He and his wife also recently joined the Assistance League of Southern Utah.
His knowledge and expertise in recruiting and helping grow thoughts and ideas into action plans is second to none. He loves to live life to the extreme and give back when he can.
Hello, I am Cindy Peterson. I have been the PM Custodial Supervisor close to two years and previously worked in the oil and gas industry as a manager in office administration, labs, safety compliance in MSHA working in mining of minerals needed for the extraction of petroleum and OSHA in the building of processing petroleum for consumption for public use. I worked at Utah State University prior in the custodial department as a supervisor while going to school.
I am excited to be nominated for the Staff Association Board position. I would like to continue helping with recognizing staff doing great things for the future greatness of our University. I would also like to help in developing better communication between departments and making better flow of information to bring a cohesiveness of the united wholeness of our University.
Asha Stapley is from Gilbert, Arizona but now claims St. George as her home. She is the Career Coach for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has been involved at Utah Tech since 2016 as a student and then a staff member.
Asha received her BS in Communications, Applied Leadership Emphasis, in 2019 and has worked various roles on campus including with Trailblazer Connections, Admissions, and now the Career Services and as a Welcoming Mentor. She is a Certified Career Services Provider and a Mental Health Ally. She has enjoyed learning more about career development and is grateful for the opportunity to serve her students to help them develop more confidence in their futures. (Don’t get her started on the “Becoming Journey”– she can get on her soapbox.)
Asha loves to spend her spare time doing art projects, being in the sun, hanging with her family, or traveling for vacation or service opportunities. Asha is grateful to have an opportunity to serve on the Staff Association Board to connect more with campus to assist Utah Tech staff and Trailblazers.
Marisa is the Coordinator of First-Generation Student Services at Utah Tech. She grew up in Southern Utah and received her Bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University.
She has enjoyed developing and implementing new programming and services for our first-gen Trailblazers.
She loves traveling and spending time with her family.
Shayne has been working at Utah Tech since September 2019. She is an alumna and received a BS in Integrated Studies focusing on Recreation Management and Communication Studies. She is currently the HPC Assistant Manager/Aquatics Operations here on campus.
She started her career as a lifeguard at 16 and never looked back from the aquatics world. She has filled every position along the way from lifeguard, swim lessons instructor, coach, coordinator, interim manager, and aquatics manager. She was previously employed at Washington City Community Center and enjoys networking with the community and throughout the state.
Shayne loves making an impact on future students through the events she holds on campus. She is always looking for ways to help us improve our processes and make sure we are providing the best customer service possible. She enjoys seeing her staff succeed through school and ultimately graduate doing what they love.
Robb Rosenthal joined the Trailblazer family in October 2021, as the Compliance Coordinator. In 2022, Rosenthal was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance.
A native to Las Vegas, NV., Rosenthal received his Bachelors of Science from San Diego State University in 2014 and Masters of Arts in Sport and Athletic Administration at Gonzaga University in 2021. Since joining the athletic department, Rosenthal was selected by his conference colleagues in representing the Western Athletic Conference in the first ever compliance academy held by the NCAA. Rosenthal has been an intricate part in elevating the UT teams to Division I through its probationary period. He looks to continue the strong bond between University and Athletics by being a pivotal player within the Staff Association.
My name is Huck Stewart and I am honored to be considered for the Staff Association Board position. I look forward to serving all members of the Staff Association.
In my full-time role as a Learning Design Manager, I assist faculty and staff in designing and building high quality online learning experiences. I have been working with a team of amazing learning designers in UT Online since 2019. Before working here, I taught 7th grade mathematics. I think of myself as a creative educational leader who is committed to listening and making deep connections with others. I strive to be the kind of person who values logic and data, empathy, openness, warmth, and humor. I feel most successful when I get to help others succeed and transform around me.
Southern Utah has always been home to me. I completed my associate degree from here before transferring to USU to earn my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I currently reside in Washington Fields and co-parent three amazing children with my best friend and spouse Liz. Some of my interests include making videos, coaching my kids’ sports teams, watching and playing sports, video gaming, building and programming LEGO, and traveling.
Roger Watson is the Human Performance Center and Student Activity Center Marketing & Building Operations Manager here at Utah Tech. Roger is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the both the HPC and SAC. He is involved in many things to help both buildings be as successful as possible. He is also heavily involved with NIRSA, Climbing wall association, Utah Parks and Recreation associations.
Roger has been at the University since 2019 and has loved his time here at Utah Tech. He is from a Spring City, Utah. He received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in General Studies with a minor in Business. Before his time at Utah Tech, he was the Director of the Snow College Horne Activity Center. Most people don’t know that he coached with Legendary coach Jon Judkins @ Snow College and Dixie College. He also coached basketball at HS level as head coach and assistant coach.
In his free time, Roger likes to play pickleball, watch sports, see his daughter play sports, listen to music, and spend time with his wife and two daughters.
