2022 Award Winners

Jeffrey Nielsen

DEAN'S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR SERVICE

Instructor, Philosophy & Humanities

Jeffrey Nielson

Jeffrey Scott Nielsen, MA, is a native of Brigham City, Utah. He is working on his Ph.D. (ABD) from Boston College and has a Master of Arts in philosophy (with distinction). He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in German with an emphasis in economics (Cum Laude) from Weber State University. His experience includes University Lecturer of Philosophy. He teaches courses in ethics, applied ethics, and critical thinking. Professor Nielsen also coaches the Utah Valley Intercollegiate Ethics Team and has taken them to nationals multiple times. He is the organizer and director of the Utah High School Ethics Bowl and the Director of the Utah Institute for Public Deliberation. He enjoys working at UVU because he loves teaching students and working with intelligent and creative colleagues. His advice to graduates is to “never forget to be fully present to the moment you are in and to the people you are with. Remember, it’s not what happens to you but how you respond that will determine the happiness in life.”

Elizabeth Fawcett

DEAN’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR TEACHING

Assistant Professor and Program Director, Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Program

Elizabeth Fawcett

Elizabeth B. Fawcett graduated with a Ph.D. in marriage family and human development from BYU, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in psychology. She is a higher education fellow and a licensed marriage and family therapist. She joined UVU in 2017, and before that, taught graduate and undergraduate students in, on-campus, online, and hybrid courses. She served as the MFT program director and vice president of academic affairs for Argosy’s Salt Lake campus. She received two Best of State Awards for curriculum development and academic administration during that time. In 2014, the Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy selected her as the recipient for its annual Advancing the Profession Award. She also served as the MFT clinical director at Northcentral University, working with master’s and doctoral students across 48 states and 14 countries. Dr. Fawcett chaired the Commission on Accreditation for MFT Education in 2021, and currently serves on the Utah MFT licensing board. She and her husband, David, are the parents of four wonderful sons.

Lori Duke

DEAN’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE STAFF

Associate Director, Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Kiera Davis

Kiera Davis hails from Lindon, Utah. Davis earned an associate degree in accounting with high honors and plans to pursue further education in accounting and whatever else may pique her curiosity. She has been at UVU for eight years, serving in various administrative support roles for the Office of the President, the College of Science, and the behavioral science department. She currently serves as the associate director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She said the best part about working at UVU is that “my colleagues are my work family.” Davis is the proud mother of a 12-year-old and is a 15-year yoga enthusiast.

Todd Spencer

DEAN’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Todd Spencer

Todd A. Spencer is a native of Slaterville, Utah. He earned a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in human development and family science. He also holds a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in marriage and family therapy and a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in child and family studies. While in Oklahoma, he served as a faculty member and clinic director. He joined UVU 2019 as a faculty member teaching within the Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program, serving as its first clinic director. He is also licensed as a marriage and family therapist. His many awards at UVU include a Faculty Excellence Award nomination and Flexible Learning Award nomination. His work has appeared in nine peer-reviewed publications and 12 published book chapters and has been presented at national and regional conferences dozens of times. Dr. Spencer said the best part of working at UVU is the university’s commitment to the student experience. He also calls the culture of collegiality among faculty a “dream come true.”

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2021 Award Winners

Grant Richards

Professor, Psychology

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Leandra Hinojosa Hernández

Assistant Professor, Communications

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Lori Duke

Associate Director, MFT Clinical Coordinator

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Fredrick H. White

Professor, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

 
 

2020 Award Winners

Martin McDonell

Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Nathan Gorelick

Associate Professor, English & Literature 

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Gregory Jackson

Assistant Professor, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Kristen Smith

Administrative Assistant, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2019 Award Winners

Anton Tolman

Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Russell T. Warne

Associate Professor, Behavioral Science 

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Stevie Munz

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Natalie Shelley

Advisor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2018 Award Winners

Elaine Englehardt

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Farah A. Sanders

Lecturer, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work

Claudia Jorgensen

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Mark Olson

Program Coordinator, Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 
 

2017 Award Winners

David Morin

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Eric Stencil

Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship

Maria Blevins

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching

Leslie Gae Robinson

Academic Advisor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Amelia Riding

Administrative Assistant, Languages & Cultures

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

2016 Award Winners

Dr. Karen Mizell

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Stephen Whyte

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Nancy Tobler

Assistant Professor, Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

Angela Chavez

Advisor, History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Kiera Davis

Administrative Assistant, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

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2015 Award Winners

Travis Reynolds

Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Kimberly Williamson

Administrative Assistant, History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Dr. Rob Carney

Professor, English & Literature

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Jessica C. Hill

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

Dr. Michael Minch

Professor, Philosophy & Humanities; Director, Peace & Justice Studies Program

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

 

2014 Award Winners

Tara Ivie

Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Toni Harris

Assistant Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

Dr. Kris Doty

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Dr. Karin Anderson

Professor, English & Literature

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

Dr. Russell Warne

Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research

 

2013 Award Winners

David Scott

Communication

Dean’s Award for Excellence for Research

Dave Litchford

Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service

Nancy Rushforth

Integrated Studies

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work

John MacFarlane

History & Political Science

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising

Natalie Shelley

Communication

Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff

 

Fourth Section (Section 4)

2012 Award Winners

Chris Weigel

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Rob Carney

English & Literatures

Dean's Recognition Award for Creative Work

Roger Wise

Behavioral Science

Dean's Recognition Award for Service

Kristen Campbell

Behavioral Science

Dean's Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Mark Olsen

Integrated Studies

Dean's Recognition Award for Staff Excellence

 

2011 Award Winners

Dr. Christa Albrecht-Crane

English & Literature

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Alex Caldiero

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Creative Work

Roger Wise

Behavioral Science

Dean’s Recognition Award for Service

Kristen Campbell

Behavioral Science

Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Mark Olson

Integrated Studies

Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence

 
 

2010 Award Winners

Dr. David Richard Keller

Philosophy & Humanities

Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research

Scott Carrier

Communication

Dean's Recognition Award for Service

Dawn Chase 

English & Literature

Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence

Carol Morgan 

Languages

Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence