With more than 30 years of service at Utah Valley University, Bobbie has built a career centered on student support, academic excellence, and community engagement. She began at UVU as an administrative assistant in the Criminal Justice Department before earning her degree in Criminal Justice and becoming an academic advisor. She later earned a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah, taught as an adjunct faculty member, and eventually joined the Criminal Justice faculty full time. She earned tenure in 2019 and served as department chair for three years.
Bobbie’s career has also included work with Utah County victim advocates and faculty externships with Provo Police Victim Services and United States Probation & Pretrial Services. Her service has been recognized with several awards, including the UVU Distinguished Service Award and the 2026 CHPS Outstanding Faculty Award. A lifelong resident of Springville, Bobbie enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, their six children and six grandchildren, as well as fly fishing and exploring Utah’s mountains.
Raiden has dedicated more than 35 years to nursing, combining extensive clinical experience with a passion for education. After earning a Diploma in Nursing in 1988 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989, Raiden worked in Emergency, Labor and Delivery, and the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Raiden continues to practice part time in Maternal Fetal Medicine and later earned a master’s degree in Nursing Education and a PhD.
Raiden’s passion for education grew while teaching simulation-based neonatal resuscitation in a hospital setting. After joining Utah Valley University as an adjunct faculty member 11 years ago, Raiden became a full-time, tenured faculty member in 2026. The most rewarding part of working at UVU is seeing students have those “light bulb” moments and empowering them to achieve their professional goals. Born in Hong Kong, Raiden has lived in many places and has called Orem home for 23 years. Outside of work, Raiden enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with six children and five grandchildren.
Donna Cotterell has built a diverse career spanning legal administration, law enforcement, and emergency services. After earning a degree in Legal Administration, she worked for local attorneys before joining the Provo Police Department as an administrative assistant in the Detective Division. She became a certified dispatcher, assisted with several high-profile murder investigations, and later served as the Chief’s Executive Administrative Assistant. After taking time away from the workforce to raise her four children, Donna joined UVU’s Firefighter Recruit Candidate Academy in 2012.
Donna now serves as the RCA Program Coordinator, managing day-to-day operations and serving as the program’s equipment quartermaster. She is also certified to maintain and repair students’ firefighter turnout gear. The most rewarding part of her work is watching students learn and grow from their first application through graduation and into their careers. Outside of UVU, Donna enjoys spending time with her family and is a proud grandmother of four. Three of her children have also earned bachelor’s degrees from UVU.
Brandon Amacher is the Director of the Emerging Tech Policy Lab at Utah Valley University, where he leads research and technical intelligence initiatives focused on U.S. national security and the strategic impact of emerging technologies. His work includes artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies. He also serves as an instructor in UVU’s Center for National Security Studies, teaching courses on advanced technology security policy and cyberwarfare.
Brandon is a recognized voice in technology policy and security and has appeared as a subject matter expert with the BBC, PBS NewsHour, The Japan Times, and Dr. Phil Primetime. He also provides professional training for government, industry, and law enforcement audiences on topics including artificial intelligence and election security. Before joining UVU, Brandon worked at leading cybersecurity firms Mandiant and FireEye, advising enterprise and federal clients on threat intelligence, nation-state threats, and strategic cybersecurity initiatives.
Physician Assistant Studies
Dean's Outstanding Faculty Award
Emergency Services
Dean's Outstanding Faculty Award
Emergency Services
Dean's Distinguished Staff Award
Director of Healthcare Curriculum, Accreditation, and Assessment
Dean's Distinguished Staff Scholarship Award
Emergency Services
Dean's Outstanding Staff Award
Criminal Justice
Dean's Outstanding Adjunct Award
