WSU Salutes honors contributions of alumni, community leaders
OGDEN, Utah — Dedicated Weber State University alumni and impactful community leaders will be honored at the 56th Annual WSU Salutes ceremony on Friday, Oct. 10. The public is invited to attend the free Homecoming event hosted by WSU’s Alumni Association.
A reception will be held at 6 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Atrium, followed by the awards program at 7 p.m. in the Browning Center Austad Auditorium. The best-dress event is free and open to the public. The ceremony will also be broadcast on the Browning Center website.
“This is a night of inspiration at Weber State, when we hear the stories of our alumni and friends who have made such significant contributions to the institution and their communities,” said Nancy Collinwood, executive director of Alumni Relations. “We invite everyone to join us and celebrate these outstanding individuals.”
The 2025 honorees are as follows:
Emeriti Alumni Homecoming Royalty: Rob ’80 and Pam ’79 Higginson
Rob and Pam Higginson have attended, participated, and loved their association with Weber State, treasuring the many memories they have made through the years. They met at Weber State College: Rob was a member of Phi Kappa fraternity, and Pam was a member of the La Dianaeda sorority. Rob was a business major, Pam was a music major, and at the same time they both worked, married, and started a family. Weber State holds a special place in both of their hearts.
Rob has built a successful career marked by entrepreneurial ventures. His first business was co-founding H&W Industrial Sales in Ogden with his father; the business operated for more than 18 years. Currently, he owns HCS, LLC (Higginson Consulting Service), where he and his son draw on more than two decades of elevator-related industry knowledge and offer top-tier consulting services. The latest business venture is Crumbl Cookies: Rob and Pam, along with their daughter and son-in-law, own three Crumbl locations in west Texas.
After having their children, Pam returned to her alma mater and worked for nearly 10 years as the director of development for the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions and the Stewart Library. Both entities had committed donors and superb staff who demonstrated daily their commitment to education.
Pam says, “We each have the ability to make a difference in our own unique and special way.” Deeply committed to the treatment and eradication of cancer, she retired from the American Cancer Society, where she served as the vice president of major gifts for Utah, Hope Lodge Campaign director in Utah, and national principle gift officer over cancer control and prevention. Presently, she works for the YMCA of Northern Utah as director of advancement.
Rob’s strong connection to Weber State is evident in his roles as former president of the WSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and member of the Board of Trustees. Presently, he serves on WSU’s National Advisory Council.
Pam has served on numerous boards, from president of Utah Musical Theater, Ogden Musical Theatre, and Onstage Ogden, and board chair of the Dumke College of Health Professions. In 2024, she received WSU’s AHA! Arts and Humanities Award, which honors individuals who embody the spirit of the arts and humanities.
As Rotarians, Pam and Rob enjoy being involved with an international organization with the motto “Service Above Self.” Pam served as president of the club in 2023–24, and Rob will be incoming president in 2026–27.
Rob and Pam carry on their family’s tradition of service through work, community, and faith. They have been blessed with three children and their spouses: Josh and Tausha Higginson, Tiffany and Jared Johnson, and Stefanie and John Brooksby, along with six dogs and 10 grandchildren.
The couple says, “We are grateful and feel blessed for our beautiful life and know that our love story started at Weber State.”
Distinguished Service Award: Suzanne M. Lindquist ’76
Since graduating from Weber State with double bachelor’s degrees in history and English, Suzanne has been a longtime supporter of many university initiatives, including serving on the Mikel and Janis Vause Endowment Committee for WSU’s annual National Undergraduate Literature Conference. She has also supported the Interior Design Program Scholarship and the Suzanne M. Lindquist Boys & Girls Club Scholarship.
A philanthropist and community volunteer, Suzanne has served for more than 30 years on the board of her hometown Ogden School Foundation, and has also been a decades-long member of the Junior League of Ogden.
Along with many of her family members, she is heavily involved with her son, John A. Lindquist, at Social Construct, Inc., which supports artistic endeavors and projects from businesses and community organizations. She was also a leading driver of the effort to build the MarketStar Student Resource Center at Ogden’s James Madison Elementary School.
Suzanne’s other longstanding community leadership roles include serving on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club of Weber Davis; the University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts Special Exhibitions Council; the McKay-Dee Foundation; St. Benedict’s Foundation; chair of the American Cancer Society; the Eccles Dinosaur Park Foundation; and the Ogden Symphony-Ballet Association. She is heavily involved with the Ron McBride Foundation for afterschool programs, served for more than a decade on the board of what is now Prevent Child Abuse Utah, and has been chair or co-chair of a variety of charity golf tournaments.
Suzanne was a guardian ad litem (now court-appointed special advocate) volunteer for more than 10 years. She was trained as an advocate for abused children, and in conjunction with this program, she also served as a victim-witness volunteer, acting as a voice for abused children in the court system and making recommendations regarding the child’s best welfare.
Lewis W. Shurtliff Award for Contributions to Education: James Taggart ’00
James Taggart is the president of Ogden-Weber Technical College (OTECH), where he has served in various leadership roles, including vice president for instruction, vice president for student services, and faculty member. Over the past eight years as president, he has led OTECH through significant growth, establishing it as one of Utah’s largest technical colleges with a nationally recognized return on investment — offering low tuition costs and strong post-graduation earnings.
With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, James has been an active leader at the local, state, and national levels. He has served on numerous boards, including the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, where he also chaired the Legislative Affairs Committee; Northern Utah Chamber Coalition; Northern Utah Economic Alliance; Utah Defense Alliance; and Major Brent Taylor Foundation. He also spent six years as a commissioner for the Council on Occupational Education, the national accrediting agency for technical education.
For his work at OTECH and in the community, James has been honored as Chairperson of the Year by the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, Community Partner of the Year by the Adult Education Association of Utah, and Education Partner of the Year by the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
James earned two associate degrees and a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University, which laid the foundation for his career as a registered nurse, technical educator, and graduate student at Utah State University. He continues to collaborate closely with WSU and the Northern Wasatch Collegiate Coalition on initiatives such as Direct Admissions, Jumpstart Weber, and Weber Tech Transfer — efforts aimed at expanding educational access and success for all technical college graduates.
Lewis W. Shurtliff Award for Contributions to Education: Darin Brush
Darin Brush has enjoyed the most rewarding career he can imagine. As president of Davis Technical College, he combines his passion for serving people, especially underserved and vulnerable populations, with three decades of experience in community, economic, and workforce development. He is grateful every day for the opportunities that have shaped his journey and led him here.
Before joining Davis Tech, Darin served as executive director of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, the state’s lead agency supporting individuals with disabilities. Prior to that, he was CEO of Community Development Corporation of Utah, where he led the development of more than 400 affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income households. He also served as deputy director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
A first-generation college graduate at the University of Utah, Darin has developed a deep appreciation for Weber State University. A natural collaborator, he works closely and consistently with WSU leaders to design and expand opportunities that serve students, employers, and communities throughout northern Utah. Their partnership has become a nationally recognized model of institutional cooperation. Whether pioneering these new educational pathways or cheering from the stands at athletic and cultural events, Darin is a familiar and enthusiastic presence on WSU’s campuses.
Darin was raised by his single mom, whom he regards as his greatest hero. He derives his strength from his family and faith. He and his wife Natalie, married nearly 30 years, have three great kids. Darin also loves history, the outdoors, and his hometown San Francisco Giants. Of the Lewis W. Shurtliff Award, he humbly commented that it is the greatest honor he has received in his career.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Jasmine Marie Pittman ’17
Jasmine Pittman has carved a unique path in the world of creative strategy and storytelling, becoming a rising voice in fashion, culture, and community-focused communications.
During her time at Weber State, Jasmine was deeply involved in campus life, using her voice to advocate for underrepresented communities and spark critical conversations through writing, events, and media. After graduating with a degree in communication, she quickly made waves in the creative industries — bringing a distinctly thoughtful, culturally grounded perspective to everything she touched.
Over the past few years, Jasmine has contributed to projects featured by TIME Magazine, Vogue, and NBC. Her experience spans three seasons of New York Fashion Week, interviews with political changemakers for Win With Black Women, and leading logistics for major retreats and campaigns centered on equity and storytelling.
Now based in Washington, D.C., she continues to uplift voices through her blog, production work, and public speaking. Whether organizing a media blitz for CROSS on Prime Video, planning press briefings, or capturing the spirit of emerging designers at Paris and Milan Fashion Week, Jasmine's work is rooted in intentionality, inclusion, and impact.
In 2024, she was invited to the first-ever White House Black Excellence Brunch — an experience that reflects her growing influence as a creative changemaker and cultural connector.
Today, Jasmine is considering pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Global Fashion Management with plans to bridge global markets and elevate underrepresented creatives across industries.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Todd D. Kammeyer ’03
Todd Kammeyer is president of The Kroger Company’s Fred Meyer Division, where he leads more than 38,000 associates across 132 stores in the Pacific Northwest, along with 125 Fred Meyer Jewelers locations nationwide. Todd’s career at Kroger began in 1992 as a courtesy clerk at Smith’s in South Ogden. He has held multiple leadership roles across the organization since, including vice president positions in both operations and merchandising before being named president of Fred Meyer in 2022.
Todd earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems and technologies from Weber State in 2003. He later completed executive programs at the University of Southern California and Cornell University, further sharpening his industry leadership.
Todd remains a dedicated supporter of his alma mater. He is a multi-year mentor in the university’s Mentoring Alumni Program and Scholarship (MAPS) initiative, and he actively supports the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics through a scholarship endowment and as a speaker in the Ralph Nye Lecture Series.
In 2024, Todd was selected as Executive in Residence at the Food Industry Management Program at USC's Marshall School of Business and was a guest speaker throughout the year. Earlier this year, Todd was named an “Executive of the Year” by the Portland Business Journal.
His leadership has extended to board positions with the Western Association of Food Chains and the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, along with fundraising for education through the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A lifelong learner and endurance athlete, Todd has completed Ironman races, marathons, and global hikes, including summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Ann Shallcross Johnson ’87
Ann Shallcross Johnson is a senior executive at Microsoft, serving as a corporate vice president and deputy chief information security officer leading the Customer Security Management office. Ann also serves as a board director for N-Able, Human Security, and Datavant, as well as a technical cybersecurity advisor to the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Ann is a 35-plus-year technology veteran, spending more than 25 years in the cybersecurity domain. She currently lives in Seattle with her family, including three rescue pups!
Working in cybersecurity is mission-based work, and Ann is fulfilled by being a contributor to making the world a safer place. Her passion for cybersecurity has been demonstrated in many roles throughout her career, and she is a strong advocate for women in cybersecurity — a significantly underrepresented group in the field. Despite the lack of a traditional technical or STEM degree, Ann has built a successful career by adopting a learn-it-all attitude and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Weber State was heavily influential as Ann developed the skills and attributes to build a successful career and fulfilling life. As a member of the competitive speech and debate team, she developed critical thinking skills, exceptional written and oral communications skills, and the life skills related to working as part of a successful team. She valued the small, family-sized nature of the college, as she came from a small, rural town with a graduating high school class of only 50 students. Attending Weber State allowed Ann to obtain a high-quality education without being overwhelmed by the size and scale of the campus and programs. It is a testament to the quality of education received at Weber State that she has achieved such career success.
Emeriti Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award: Willard Z. Maughan, M.D., and Rona Lee Maughan ’03, Ph.D.
Willard and Rona Lee Maughan have been avid supporters of Weber State and each other for more than 57 years. Even though they grew up in Ogden just three blocks apart, they first met at Willard's homecoming missionary report on his mission to Ireland.
Rona Lee attended Weber State the year after they met, and Willard went to the University of Utah. He came home on weekends while they dated — often cutting a late-morning class on Fridays with his brother to come meet Rona Lee and a friend.
They were married August 20, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple and moved into an apartment in Salt Lake City. Rona attended the “U” and graduated as a member of Phi Kappa Phi with a B.A. in English in 1970 while Willard attended medical school. He graduated as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society, in 1972.
Rona worked at the Salt Lake City Library until May 1971, when their first child, Julie, was born. Willard delivered Julie and was thrilled with the experience until he had to fill out all the paperwork.
The next year, they moved to Washington, D.C., for Willard's internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Following the internship, they moved to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after brief training stints in Texas and Alabama. They were at Fort Campbell for three years as Willard was a flight surgeon for the 101st Airborne Division, and their second child, Kathryn, was born.
After leaving the service, they moved to Rochester, Minnesota, while Willard served three years as a resident in dermatology at the Mayo Clinic. Their third child, Willard, was born. Rona, who’d had years of piano lessons, took up playing the organ. She took lessons on a large pipe organ at the United Methodist Church in Rochester, where she performed recitals and served as a substitute organist.
The Maughans returned to Utah in 1979 and lived in Roy for the next 24 years. Willard was in solo dermatology practice in Ogden while Rona continued organ lessons with J.J. Keeler at Brigham Young University and Clay Christiansen in Salt Lake City. She played recitals at the Ogden Tabernacle and St. Mark's Episcopal Church and was an adjunct professor of organ at WSU.
Their fourth child, Christopher, was born while they lived in Roy. When Chris started first grade, Rona decided to take Spanish classes at WSU. She graduated with a second B.A. in Spanish, then went on to complete a master’s degree and a doctorate in Spanish literature at the University of Utah. She started teaching Spanish as an adjunct professor in 2000 and has continued for 25 years. She has developed and taught unique courses, such as Latin American Myths and Legends, Nobel Prize Winners of the Spanish-Speaking World, and Cuban Writers. She continues to be active in church music.
Willard has been active in the WSU Alumni Association, serving one year as president in 2007. He has also served five years on the Emeriti Alumni Council and many years on the advisory board for the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. He has been on several community boards, including Catholic Community Services, Prevent Child Abuse Utah, Weber County RAMP, and the American Cancer Society of Weber County. He has been a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.
Rona and Willard are avid WSU supporters and have supported multiple scholarships and other projects. They also have been very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serve in the Ogden Temple each week.
President’s Award: Howard R. Brady
Howard Brady is the founder and president of MFI Resources, established in 2007 to provide essential training and consulting services in the microfinance sector.
With a focus on helping organizations improve financial efficiency and reduce the risk of waste and fraud, his work is driven by his desire to create positive economic outcomes for low-income communities. His analysis has guided operational changes for dozens of microfinance institutions, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Howard is passionate about linking strategy to reporting, decision making, change management, and budgeting. As a chartered public accountant and an expert facilitator, he leads courses on strategic management and financial analysis, offering his insights in both English and Spanish based on his industry experience since 1994.
Howard also serves on the academic advisory board of the Microfinance Association, an international organization. He holds a degree in accounting from the University of Utah and an MBA in international finance and business from Seattle University.
Howard’s connection to Weber State is rooted in family. His father, Rodney Brady, served as the school’s eighth president from 1978–85. Howard has been a member of the university’s National Advisory Council since 2024, and both of his children have attended WSU.
He and his wife, Victoria, have been generous donors and active participants in university events. Their ongoing support includes annual contributions to the Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor Program, which recognizes WSU faculty who have demonstrated the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research, and community service. Since 2006, the Brady award has been one of the highest honors faculty can receive for excellence.
Jen Wright, Marketing & Communications
- Contact:
Rachel Badali, Interim Public Relations Director
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu