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.”
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.
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.
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.”
Professor, Psychology
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Assistant Professor, Communications
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching
Associate Director, MFT Clinical Coordinator
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Professor, Integrated Studies
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work
Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Associate Professor, English & Literature
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Integrated Studies
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching
Administrative Assistant, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Associate Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching
Advisor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Professor, Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Lecturer, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship or Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching
Program Coordinator, Integrated Studies
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Assistant Professor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Scholarship
Assistant Professor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Teaching
Academic Advisor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising
Administrative Assistant, Languages & Cultures
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Professor, Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Assistant Professor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research
Advisor, History & Political Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Administrative Assistant, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising
Administrative Assistant, History & Political Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Professor, English & Literature
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research
Professor, Philosophy & Humanities; Director, Peace & Justice Studies Program
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Academic Advisor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising
Assistant Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Professor, English & Literature
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work
Assistant Professor, Behavioral Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Research
Communication
Dean’s Award for Excellence for Research
Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Service
Integrated Studies
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Creative Work
History & Political Science
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Advising
Communication
Dean’s Award of Excellence for Staff
Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research
English & Literatures
Dean's Recognition Award for Creative Work
Behavioral Science
Dean's Recognition Award for Service
Behavioral Science
Dean's Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence
Integrated Studies
Dean's Recognition Award for Staff Excellence
English & Literature
Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research
Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Recognition Award for Creative Work
Behavioral Science
Dean’s Recognition Award for Service
Behavioral Science
Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence
Integrated Studies
Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence
Philosophy & Humanities
Dean’s Recognition Award for Scholarly Research
Communication
Dean's Recognition Award for Service
English & Literature
Dean’s Recognition Award for Advisor Excellence
Languages
Dean’s Recognition Award for Staff Excellence
