Provost’s Office
The Provost’s office manages academic planning and ensures our students' quality of academic programs, faculty development and excellence, and timely degree completion. Our team works closely with academic college deans, department chairs, and faculty and staff to enhance the success of our students. Together, we support WSU’s mission by fostering excellence in teaching and instruction, research and scholarship, student learning, and community engagement. Other functions include digital learning and education, community, high school, and regional partnerships, sponsored research, and international programs.
Provost’s Council
Dr. Brent Horn
Interim Provost
brenthorn@weber.edu
Dr. Brent Horn
Dr. Brent Horn is the Interim Provost at Weber State University. Born and raised in Sacramento, CA, he has always been fascinated with how and why the physical world works the way it does. He began his college studies at BYU Provo, UT. After taking two years off school to serve a church mission in Argentina, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He moved back to California to attend graduate school at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. At CalTech, he learned about the future need for forensic scientists and found his "calling" in science. Upon earning a Master's degree in Chemical Physics, he returned to BYU Provo to complete a Doctorate degree in Analytical Chemistry.
After graduation, Dr. Horn took a post-doctoral position with Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, CA in the Microfluidics division working on national security projects including chemical and biological weapon detection systems for first responders and facilities protection. He joined the faculty at Weber State University in 2005. At the same time, he began working in the chemistry section of the Utah State Crime Lab while also spending time with the Weber Metro Crime Scene Investigation Unit. These experiences served as an excellent training ground for how science interfaces with the criminal justice system and formed the basis for his philosophy for teaching forensic science and crime scene investigation to Weber State University students.
Lisa Allen
Director, Academic Finance & Administration
801-626-7124
lallen1@weber.edu
Lisa Allen
Lisa Allen’s commitment to Weber State University spans over 35 years, marking a distinguished career dedicated to the institution. In her role as Director of Academic Finance and Administration, Lisa provides expertise in resource allocation, budget management, and strategic data analysis. She is a trusted advisor to the Provost, university administration, colleges, and departments, supporting their financial needs and meeting budgetary requirements.
Throughout her career, Lisa has approached tasks and challenges with a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative problem-solving to help solve critical issues and drive institutional initiatives forward.
Lisa’s ties to Weber State run deep through her professional contributions and as an alumna who proudly received her education from the institution. This deep-rooted connection underscores her enduring commitment to the university’s mission and values.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and cherishes her role as “Gram” to her granddaughter. She also enjoys pursuing her passion for running and engaging in spirited games of racquetball and pickleball.
Dr. Ivana Fredotovic
Dr. Ivana Fredotovic
Dr. Ivana Fredotovic brings a rich experience in higher education, institutional research, and analytics to her role as the inaugural Chief Data Officer at Weber State University (WSU), where she joined in April 2023. Committed to enhancing student success through a comprehensive approach to data and analytics, Ivana leverages her prior experiences as Director of Research and Data Analytics at Miami Dade College and in various institutional research roles at Barry University, FL. Holding a Doctorate in Leadership and Education from Barry University, Ivana actively engages in national and regional professional organizations, advisory boards, and community-based research projects, focusing on data literacy, organizational transparency, and data governance.
Throughout her career, Ivana has championed collaborative efforts and strategic priorities to foster a data-informed culture, supporting impactful strategies and proactively strengthening student success. Her leadership philosophy aligns closely with WSU's mission and values, driving her commitment to advancing data architecture, literacy, and governance across the campus to promote student success. As CDO, Ivana is pivotal in leading data administration efforts and cultivating a data ecosystem and culture that facilitates data-informed decision-making university-wide, ensuring WSU's continued commitment to excellence in education and student support.
Dr. James Hedges
Dean of Online & Continuing Education
801-626-6342
jameshedges@weber.edu
Dr. James Hedges
An expert in strategic innovation, James Hedges is a learning leader who oversees the institution's entrepreneurial and innovative arm, the Division of Online & Continuing Education. Driven by a longstanding passion for developing educational solutions to meet future workforce and stakeholder needs, he is a campus leader in non-credit to credit bridges, corporate partnerships, stackable credentials, and prior learning assessment.
Serving in the capacity of dean for Weber State University’s Division of Online & Continuing Education since 2022, he has extensive experience in competency-based education and creating educational pathways to enable mid-career professionals the opportunities to upskill and reskill. He and his team do this through mapping degree programs to labor market trends and collaborating across campus to build programming that fits students’ lives.
During his tenure, James developed a new strategic plan for the division and a campus-wide strategy for online education. He has also reorganized the division to create a more efficient business development and program creation process that is more responsive to employer needs. He has deep relationship-building experience with widely recognized companies and the facilitators who connect them to higher education, and he looks forward to maximizing those relationships with this new structure.
James has also led his division in creating an actionable strategy for online education. The strategy is built upon the pillars of quality, access and demand, program expansion and support. He partnered across campus to launch four new fully online programs in the fall of 2023. In addition, he worked with Weber State stakeholders to institute a new online tuition model for out-of-state students.
James believes that Weber State's unified commitment to innovative leadership within the changing landscape of higher education is crucial to executing the institution's mission.
Dr. Roy Kwon
Vice Provost, Undergraduate Studies: Academic Support & Institutional Effectiveness
801-626-6006
roykwon1@weber.edu
Dr. Roy Kwon
Dr. Kwon began his career as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of La Verne. Since that time, he moved through the faculty ranks to earn tenure and held a number of administrative positions, including the Interim Chair of Sociology and Anthropology, Director of the Honors Program, and Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. More recently, he held different positions in the Office of the Provost, including Assistant Provost of Undergraduate Programs, Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs, Interim Provost, and Vice Provost.
Dr. Kwon received his bachelor’s from the University of California, Irvine, and his Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. As a quantitative sociologist with specializations in organizations and institutions, as well as political economy and social change, his areas of teaching and research revolve around the topics of economic sociology, income inequality, and world-systems analysis.
In terms of his personal life, he enjoys quality time with his wife, Susan, and two-year-old son, Henry. Specifically, he finds himself spending much of his recent free time at playgrounds, children’s museums, and zoos.
Dr. Yudi Lewis
Executive Director, Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives
801-626-6030
yudilewis@weber.edu
Yudi Lewis
Dr. Yudi Vargas Lewis has over 32 years of experience in higher education, specializing in student success, leadership development, teaching, enrollment and retention strategies, academic advising, fundraising, international student services, grant administration, and program development. She currently serves as Executive Director of Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives. She is a fellow of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Leadership Academy and UC Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy. She serves in the Ogden School District Equity Community Council and boards for Make-a-Wish Utah, United Way of Northern Utah, and Futures through Training Inc.
Yudi spent 29 years at Utah Valley University, where she was instrumental in increasing UVU's Hispanic and Latino enrollment by 361% and graduation headcount by 724% (2007-2019). Yudi's work has garnered state and national recognition, including the Pete Suazo Social JusticeAward (2013), Tonauac Award (2016), Utah's 40 Over 40 (2023), Utah Business Magazine’s Living Color Award (2023), and Excelencia in Education program finalist (2013, 2015). In 2015, the Latino Initiative she led was selected as a Bright Spot for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
As a first-generation student, she holds two BS degrees in Business and Behavioral Sciences (Psychology), an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy. Yudi is an acclaimed presenter at national and international conferences. She co-led the development of a tuition-free Scientists of Tomorrow Summer Bridge program, which has been replicated at six schools nationwide.
Dr. Mary Machira
Executive Director, International Programs & Services and Senior International Officer
801-626-6839
marymachira@weber.edu
International Programs & Services
The International Student and Scholar Center (ISSC) is a resource for international students seeking academic opportunities in the United States at one of the best schools in Utah. Our mission is to support and enhance the experience of international students by providing guidance, resources, and services that foster academic and personal success.
Admissions Inquiries: intladmissions@weber.edu
Other Inquiries: issc@weber.edu
International Programs & Services tentatively report to the Interim Provost.
Dr. Melissa Neville
Director, Graduate Studies
801-626-6204
mneville@weber.edu
Dr. Melissa Neville
Dr. Melissa Neville is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor and a full-time faculty member in the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing since 2010. Dr. Melissa NeVille currently serves as director of the Office of Graduate Studies and chair of the Graduate Council, leading the university's graduate studies initiatives. Melissa’s previous leadership positions included two services as director of the MSN program, during which the program gained national recognition, being ranked in FORTUNE’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs and receiving Princeton Review’s 2022 Best Online Nursing School Master’s Programs. Additionally, Melissa served as Program Director for Weber State’s first doctoral program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Together with experienced graduate faculty, they established two regionally accredited DNP program options, gaining regional and national attention for their efforts. Melissa also has experience in programmatic and national accreditation leadership, having served as a peer evaluator for the Accreditation Commission for Nursing Education (ACEN) and evaluation chair of the Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing. Melissa’s leadership in nursing accreditation spans over a decade of service coordinating and leading nursing accreditation efforts at the Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels.
As the former two-term chair of the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom, and Tenure (APAFT) committee, Melissa coordinated the implementation of a university-wide adoption of the end-of-course evaluation process and streamlined tenure document, earning her Weber State’s Faculty Governance Award. As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner (CPNP), Melissa is passionate about improving health access and outcomes, and her current clinical practice focuses on providing care to vulnerable and underserved populations in urgent and primary care since 2001. In her academic role, Melissa helped advance graduate-level nursing education through leadership and participation in developing graduate courses and programs. She has extensive experience coordinating the development of nursing graduate programs, distance learning, and curriculum design, including systems leadership, evidence-based practice, scholarly foundations for graduate students, and curriculum design for nurse educators. Her efforts included co-creating the MSN educator residency and the MSN and DNP quality improvement projects that incorporated distance learning and high-impact student learning experiences. Melissa received the Weber State Presidential Teaching Excellence Award for these efforts to advance graduate nursing education.
Additionally, Melissa has co-authored peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on leadership, curriculum mapping, faculty peer review, DNP-PhD collaboration, and quality improvement in higher education. She has presented her research and translational efforts regionally, nationally, and internationally. Current research and translational interests focus on graduate accelerated degree pathways, graduate simulation experiences, early development of graduate student scholarship competencies, graduate simulation, enhancing faculty academic experiences, and faculty belonging. She also enjoys many activities, including hiking, cycling, scuba diving, yoga, and meditative practice. She is a lifelong learner, believing learning new things is the best adventure.
Office of Graduate Studies
The Office of Graduate Studies serves as the administrative body within Academic Affairs that promotes, supports, and reviews graduate education at the University. Together with the Graduate Council, they work with university administration, colleges, and academic departments to ensure consistency and excellence in all 20 graduate degree programs. Our programs have award-winning faculty, online and in-person classes and cutting-edge research.
The Office of Graduate Studies reports to the Provost.
Dr. Gail Niklason
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Liaison Officer
801-626-8586
gniklason@weber.edu
Dr. Gail Niklason
Gail Niklason has served in a wide variety of roles since joining Weber State University in 1998. Gail began her WSU career in the IT Division as the Director of Computing Support, where she worked for seven years. In 2005 she moved to Continuing Education as the Director of WSU Online. In 2011 Gail moved to the newly established Office of Institutional Effectiveness as the director and then executive director. This has been her home ever since, recently adding the role of accreditation liaison officer.
Gail received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah, a Master of Science degree in business and computing systems from San Francisco State University, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Wyoming where her research focused on distance education and instructional technology.
With children now grown (and two of them working for WSU) Gail gets to focus non-work time on hiking, biking, kayaking, and grandbabies! Pictures available upon request.
James Taylor
Executive Director of Office of Sponsored Projects & TCO
801-626-6055
jamestaylor8@weber.edu
James Taylor
James Taylor is a seasoned professional in the realm of academic research, sponsored projects, and technology commercialization, with a career that spans over two decades. As the Executive Director of Sponsored Projects and Technology Commercialization at Weber State University, James leads a dynamic team dedicated to fostering research excellence, securing funding for groundbreaking projects, and translating innovative technologies from research labs to the marketplace.
James holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Utah State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and the Society of Research Administrators (SRA).
Community Engagement
The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) engages students, faculty, and staff members in service, democratic engagement, and community research to promote civic participation, build community capacity, and enhance the educational process.
The Office of Community Development is responsible for supporting the vision, core values and mission of Weber State University by serving as a catalyst for convening anchor institutions to create civic action plans through community programs and partnerships such as Ogden Civic Action Network (OgdenCAN). OgdenCAN facilitates collaboration and local partnerships in health, education and housing by offering a central point of organization committed to improving the welfare of our vibrant communities in the East Central Neighborhood of Ogden, Utah.
The Community Research & Evaluation team promotes positive social change through community research and program evaluation. Their work informs public policy, improves organizational effectiveness, fosters innovation and data-driven decision-making, and expands community knowledge through research and evaluation that advances our community.
Community Engagement reports to the Executive Director of Office of Sponsored Projects & TCO.
Dr. Ali Threet
Interim Vice President for Student Access & Success
801-626-7256
alithreet@weber.edu
Dr. Ali Threet
Dr. Ali G. Threet serves as the Interim Vice President for Student Access and Success and Dean of Students at Weber State University. With over 20 years of experience in both secondary and higher education, she is known for her student-centered leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to creating environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Throughout her career, she has provided leadership to most Student Affairs offices and various auxiliaries, with a focus on strengthening campus culture, access, and engagement.
Ali recently completed her doctorate in Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho. Her research focuses on how a spirit of abundance—and practices like gratitude, generosity, and a mindset of enough—can foster resilience, meaningful connection, and human flourishing. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, playing games, attending concerts, and exploring new places with her husband and their three grown sons.
H. Laine Berghout
Interim Dean, College of Science
801-626-6159
cosoffice@weber.edu
H. Laine Berghout
Dr. Berghout was appointed Interim Dean of the College of Science (COS) at Weber State University (WSU) for a one-year term beginning May 2025. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Weber State University in 1992 and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. He was a research assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory 1998-2000. Dr. Berghout joined the WSU chemistry faculty in 2000 and has served as the Department Chair of Chemistry from 2011 to 2022. He served as COS Associate Dean from 2022 to 2025 with responsibilities for COS facilities and faculty. Dr. Berghout has provided extensive service to the faculty of WSU, including service as Faculty Senate Chair and Vice-chair, and as a member and/or chair of multiple faculty senate and administrative committees.
Dr. Berghout’s research interests include chemical reactions dynamics of the photodissociation of isocyanic acid and energetic materials ignition, combustion, and detonation processes. He has recently worked with physical chemistry laboratory teaching faculty from across the nation to develop new guided-learning physical chemistry laboratory experiments.
Dr. Berghout loves to teach chemistry and help students appreciate the fundamental connections between the sub-microscopy world of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic world that we live in and interact with. During his time at WSU, Dr. Berghout has taught introductory chemistry, general chemistry and physical chemistry courses. He has supported and advised students on numerous undergraduate research projects, ranging from applying computational chemistry to reaction dynamics, kenetics, and equilibrium problems, to quantifying environmental microplastics.
Wendy Holliday
Wendy Holliday
Wendy Holliday is Dean of the Library at Weber State University in Ogden, UT. Prior to joining her colleagues at Weber State University, she served as Head of Teaching, Learning, and Research Services at Cline Library, Northern Arizona University (2013-2017) and Coordinator of Library Instruction at Utah State University (2004-2013). Before becoming a librarian, she was the Hopi Tribal Archivist and a historian. She holds an MLS from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in history from New York University.
Academic Support Centers and Programs (ASCP)
Academic Support Centers and Programs offer various services. Learning Support includes a variety of peer academic tutoring, supplemental instruction and learning assistants that are offered in classes and at centers (Math Tutoring Center, Writing Center). ASCP also includes two federally-funded TRiO programs: Student Support Services and Student Support Services-STEM which offer financial and academic support to low-income, first-generation and/or disabled students. Finally, Testing Services also offers student support by offering course, placement and other testing through its six testing centers across campus.
ASCP report to the Dean of the Library.
Jeremy Oller
Dean, School of Business & Economics
801-626-7307
gsbe@weber.edu
Jeremy Oller
Biography coming soon.
Brian Rague
Dean, College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology
801-626-6303
east@weber.edu
Brian Rague
Dr. Brian Rague serves as the Dean of the College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology (EAST) at Weber State University (WSU). A faculty member of WSU’s Computer Science program since 2003, Brian has held several leadership positions at Weber State including Associate Dean of EAST, Department Chair of the School of Computing, Faculty Senate Chair, founder and Director of the Computer Literacy Center, founder and Director of the Data Science Research Center, and interim Dept. Chair for Construction and Building Sciences. Inevitable and rapid change in how we interact with ongoing and evolving technologies are the primary motivators for Dr. Rague’s goal to improve and expand student learning opportunities and career pathways.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Utah. He also brings industry experience and connections from working on various NASA projects, including satellite earth observing missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. His research interests include data science, algorithm design, formal analysis, parallel computing, programming languages, and opportunities for creative software engineering in the fields of education, biomedicine and physics. His recent book, co-authored with Dr. Robert Ball, is The Beginner’s Guide to Data Science. At Weber State University, Brian was the recipient of the John S. Hinckley Fellow Award for exceptional contributions in teaching, scholarship, and service and the Faculty Governance Award for Outstanding Contributions to Faculty Governance.
Dr. Rague recognizes the various avenues by which students can access and acquire expertise, most especially in the engineering, computer science, and applied technology disciplines offered by EAST. He has designed and implemented innovative pathways including stackable credentials, which give students usable knowledge they can accumulate and count toward certifications or a degree, and apprenticeships, which allow students to earn an income and solidify employer relationships, while simultaneously learning essential skillsets. Dr. Rague continues to develop and emphasize all the different ways we can train our workforce and provide individuals with enduring and fulfilling careers.
Julie Rich
Dean, College of Social Sciences & Education
801-626-6232
csse@weber.edu
Julie Rich
Dr. Julie Rich serves as the Dean of the College of Social Sciences & Education at Weber State University (WSU). With three decades of dedicated teaching under her belt at Weber, she transitioned to full-time administrative leadership in 2019 as Interim Dean, and by 2021, she was appointed Dean. Dr. Rich is not just an educator; she's a fervent champion for education, a beacon for effective mentoring, and an unwavering advocate for student success. Her extensive teaching journey underscored the profound importance of mentorship, leading her to actively involve students in her groundbreaking research on world deserts and Paleoclimatology.
Boasting a rich tapestry of international experiences, Dr. Rich has ventured through over 100 countries and resided abroad for more than eight years. Her commitment to experiential learning is demonstrated as she conducts high-impact, community-engaged initiatives for WSU students in countries like Rwanda, Mozambique, Uganda, Peru, Thailand, Ghana, and Fiji. These transformative projects not only aim to combat poverty but also champion education for women and children. Dr. Rich's global insights have earned her the privilege of consulting at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Her academic journey is equally impressive, with an undergraduate degree from Weber State, a Master’s from the University of Utah, and a Doctorate from the prestigious University of Oxford, England. Her scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Quaternary Science Reviews, Aeolian Research, Quaternary Research, and the Geological Society of America. Recognitions and accolades throughout her career include the H. Aldous Dixon Award, Hemingway Faculty Excellence Award, Hemingway Collaborative Awards, Red Cross International Hero, John A. Lindquist Award, Crystal Crest Master Teacher, and the esteemed Gwen Williams Prize.
Yasmen Simonian
Dean, College of Health Professions
801-626-7117
dchpdeansoffice@weber.edu
Yasmen Simonsian
Dr. Yasmen Simonian joined the faculty of Weber State University (WSU) in 1981 as an Assistant Professor in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and has been the Dean of the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions since 2008. She served as Department Chair for the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences from 1996 to 2008. In addition to chairing and teaching medical laboratory sciences she and her colleagues pioneered the development and delivery of the first entirely online medical laboratory sciences program in the nation.
As Dean, she oversees ten departments and schools and has helped expand the programs offered going from one master’s degree program to six and one doctorate degree program, the first doctorate degree at Weber State University.
Dr. Simonian has received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the Dumke College of Health Professions three times, and was honored as the 2004 Crystal Crest Master Teacher. In 2005, Simonian received WSU’s John S. Hinckley award for excellence in teaching, service and scholarship, and later that year was recognized as Utah’s Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In 2007, she was the first woman appointed as a WSU Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor. She was appointed as an Honorary Commander at Hill Air Force Base in 2018, and received WSU’s H. Aldous Dixon Award in 2021. In 2022, she was one of the honorees of the Utah Business Women of the Year, and most recently, was honored as the 2023 Girl Scouts of Utah STEM Champion.
Dr. Simonian serves on several professional boards globally and is the author of numerous articles in professional journals and regularly presents at state, regional, national and international conferences on hematology, education, supervision and management topics.
Yas was born in Iran to an Armenian family, and they immigrated to the United States in 1967 for a better life and education. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in medical laboratory sciences and her doctoral degree in patient education and counseling from the College of Health at the University of Utah.
She is passionate about education and loves working with students. She still teaches the Clinical Correlations class for the School of Radiologic Sciences master’s degree program while serving as dean.
She loves all things Greek and Armenian, dancing, and spending time with those she loves.
Deborah Uman
Dean, College of Arts & Humanities
801-626-6424
lindquistcollege@weber.edu
Deborah Uman
Deborah Uman serves as Dean of the Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities. Before coming to Weber, she was Chair of the Department of English at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY (2004-2020) and Assistant Professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University (2000-2004). She received her BA from Yale University and her MA and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her research focuses on Shakespeare, women writers and translators and public humanities. Her most recent book, co-edited with Jennifer Flaherty, is Liberating Shakespeare: Adaptation and Empowerment for Young Adult Audiences. Deborah also plays trumpet in several local groups, including Chamber Orchestra Ogden, New American Philharmonic and Ogden City Concertband.
Kallie Bennett
Administrative Associate
801-626-6008
kalliebennett@weber.edu
Aubrey Jenkins Lord
Administrative Associate
801-626-7804
aubreylord@weber.edu
Debi Larson
Administrative Associate
801-626-8902
deborahlarson1@weber.edu
Ella Mitchell
Administrative Associate
801-626-8904
maryellamitchell@weber.edu
Visit Us
Miller Administration Building 306
3850 Dixon Parkway Dept 1004
Ogden, UT 84408-1004
801-626-6006