CTI Teaching & Innovations Podcast

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 Crea...

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 Crea...

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...

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...

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...

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 teach...

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...

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 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. ...

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 teach...

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...

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...

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, F...

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...

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 i...

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,...

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/sta...

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 relatio...

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 the...

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,...

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 an...

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 associa...

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 M...

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.

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...