The Board of Trustees held its first meeting for the 2022-2023 school year on Sept. 23.
General session – welcome
“This is the beginning of an amazing era in our history,” Board Chair Tiffany Wilson said.
The meeting began with four Trailblazers receiving Board of Trustees Service scholarships.
Recipients of the scholarship: Brynn Swavely, a senior media studies major from Redding, Pennsylvania; Nicole Parkin, a junior communication studies major from West Jordan; Emilee Nelson, a junior pre-nursing major from St. George; and Megan Maller, a sophomore pre-dental hygiene major from Calgary, Alberta.
Welcoming new faces to campus
Brian Thornton, Western Athletic Conference commissioner
Thornton gave a few remarks on the growth of Utah Tech University, specifically on athletics and the transition to the WAC conference.
Thornton complimented the university’s leadership and how it has become a fixture in the WAC conference.
“Athletics can be a tremendous vehicle for the growth of any institution,” Thornton said. “It’s often the front porch of what is seen nationally when there is success that takes place.”
Thornton said the WAC fought extremely hard to make the transition to Division I shorter for the student-athletes at Utah Tech and give them the opportunity to compete at the national level.
“From the national standpoint, that transition has not been shortened,” Thornton said. “We do have an opportunity as a conference to allow your student-athletes to be a part of all championship opportunities because that’s what’s deserved.”
Rod Zundel, director of broadcasting and media content
“We are thrilled to have him here as the voice of the Trailblazers,” athletic director Ken Beazer said.
Zundel’s goal is to implement shows, interviews and stories during his broadcasting presence. He also wants to bring players’ and coaches’ stories to life.
“We all have stories, and some of them are incredible… It’s my job to tell those stories so the people in the community and around the country know what we are all about,” Zundel said.
Benjamin Tyrel, director of arts programming
Tyrel’s said his goal with celebrity concert series and UT life is to elevate and engage the community and students through the arts.
“We are excited to announce that we will be hosting 16-time Grammy award-winning composer and producer David Foster here in February along with his wife Katharine McPhee who you may have remembered from American Idol and Broadway,” Tyrel said.
Other new faces included: Bruce Tebbs, associate athletic director of business operations; Westley Petty, assistant to vice president for event services; Josh Thayn, executive director of university safety and risk management; and Jeffrey Stewart, interim director of Atwood Innovation Plaza and business resource center.
Swearing in of new trustee
Student body president Devon Rice, a senior marketing major from Bountiful, was sworn in as a board member.
Heritage Committee recommendations
The Heritage Committee recommended strategies in three parts to continue to contribute to the Dixie heritage.
“We were given a mandate by the state legislature that if the name were to be changed, they would give us 500 thousand dollars to preserve the heritage of Dixie and the area,” Wilson said.
- First, create the Dixie Heritage Center at the Utah Tech Library.
- Second, produce a broadcast quality film titled “In Search of the Dixie Spirit” (proposed title). The purpose of this film would be to promote community and give a background of the area and institution.
- Third, designate a site and request proposals for a physical monument or statuary on campus to define and commemorate the name “Dixie.”
The remainder of the meeting
The action items of the remainder of the meeting included academic department reports and new degree program announcements. This includes a bachelor’s science degree in special education and MS in nursing education and leadership.
There will no longer be a biology education minor. The computing and design department will be referred to as the computing department. There will be a new humanities center and a new institute of race, gender and identity.
Reports were given by Rice, Brad Last, vice president of advancement/ development; President Richard ‘Biff’ Williams; faculty senate Glenn Webb; Shane Blocker; vice chair Colleen Kvetko; and Danny Ipson, Dixie Technical College chair.
The next Board of Trustees meeting will be held Friday, Jan. 27.
