USASIE Program Leadership

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.

Olga Antonio

Hola! I was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, grew up in Texas, spent some time in the state of Washington, and have been in Utah for the last several years. I got my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in chemistry as well as a Master's in Higher Education Student Affairs Administration from Baylor University. I am currently pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education so I can continue to positively influence college students' lives. I believe mentoring is a meaningful way to make a difference in people's lives.

Dr. Therese Cavlovic

Therese Cavlovic is the director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and a professor of economics in the Goddard School of Business & Economics.

In 1993, she earned an MBA from Cleveland State University, and then worked in Chicago as a consultant for the HayGroup before returning to graduate school. In 2000, she earned her PhD in environmental economics from the University of New Mexico.

Over her tenure at Weber State University, Professor Cavlovic has forged a path of mentoring and conducting research. She has collaborated closely with economics students on a multitude of undergraduate research projects, which have not only yielded publications but also national and international conference presentations. Her commitment to fostering a research-centric educational environment was instrumental in the establishment of a four-year scholarship program in the Office of Undergraduate Research, designed to immerse incoming students in undergraduate research under the guidance of experienced faculty members.

With a career spanning over two decades at Weber State, Professor Cavlovic humbly acknowledges the reciprocal nature of teaching, often stating that the insights gained from course discussions and student interactions have enriched her own understanding and perspective as much as they have benefited her students.

She has been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor award in 2018, the Hinckley Fellows award in 2013, and the distinction of being an Eccles Fellow since 2006 in the Goddard School. Therese Cavlovic's career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the advancement of knowledge, the mentorship of future leaders in economics, and the importance of fostering an environment where research and inquiry flourish.

Matt Christiansen

Matt Christiansen is the Director of the Developmental Mathematics Program at Weber State. He joined the program in January 2019 as an adjunct instructor and later a full-time instructor. Matt earned both an MA in Mathematics with a Teaching emphasis and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado. His career has spanned K-12 and higher education as well as leadership positions in educational publishing and educational materials organizations. For much of his career, Matt has worked to provide curriculum and instructional materials and experiences for struggling learners, along with professional development for teachers and administrators throughout the United States. He loves seeing students have their ah-ha moments as they experience math.

Dr. Nicola Corbin

Nicola A. Corbin is a professor of communication at Weber State University who mentors and supports Wildcats on their quest to achieve their educational dreams. She teaches public relations and mass media courses, and directs the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Corbin was named Weber State University’s Crystal Crest Master Teacher in 2019 and the 2018 Educator of the Year award by the Iota Iota Iota chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. She was also awarded the Presidential Teaching Excellence Award in 2024. Her research interests encompass exploring the impact of race-gendered representations in mass media and popular culture, critical approaches to public relations pedagogy, and scholarship of teaching and learning. Prior to academia, Corbin practiced journalism and public relations for a decade, winning awards from the New Jersey Press Association and the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Seton Hall University, her Master of Arts in Graphic Communication Management and Technology from New York University, and her doctoral degree in Mass Communication from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Eddie Hill

Eddie Hill is an associate professor in the Outdoor & Community Recreation Education program at Weber State University. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Utah with a focus on youth development and diabetes management. He has written multiple grants, published extensively, and delivered numerous presentations at professional conferences. Eddie has a strong record of scholarship in the area of positive youth development, outdoor recreation, health & wellness. He is the Director of REACH Weber, a year-around recreation program serving youth with type 1 diabetes. Eddie has over 25 years experience as a former challenge course facilitator, Outward Bound field staff, and middle school teacher. He also teaches wilderness medicine and rock climbing to community groups.

Eddie is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP). He enjoys being outside with his wife and son.

Dr. Susan Matt

Susan Matt is Director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Presidential Distinguished Professor of History. She teaches courses in history and in interdisciplinary studies. Her research, which focuses on the history of emotions in the U.S., spans the disciplines of history, psychology, sociology, and technology studies. She is the author of Keeping Up with the Joneses: Envy in American Consumer Society, 1890-1930, Homesickness: An American History, and co-author of Bored, Lonely, Angry, Stupid: Changing Feelings about Technology, from the Telegraph to Twitter. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Slate and Salon, among other publications.

Dr. Gail Niklason

A 25-year veteran of Weber State University (WSU), Gail Niklason has led the Office of Institutional Effectiveness since its inception in 2011. Prior to that, she led the WSU Online Instructional Design team as an Associate Dean of Continuing Education. Her first seven years at WSU were spent managing a department in the Information Technology division. Gail earned an EdD in Instructional Technologies from the University of Wyoming in 2012, has a master’s degree in Business from San Francisco State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Utah. Hobbies include walking/hiking, kayaking, traveling, and hanging out with the grand babies!

Ashley Owens

Ashley Owens has dedicated over 20 years to Weber State University (WSU), where she currently serves as the Director of First Year Experience and Learning Communities. She earned bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Professional Sales, and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from WSU. Ashley was awarded the 2024 WSU Presidential Outstanding Staff Award and is passionate about helping students build strong foundations for both academic and personal growth. She especially loves teaching courses on mentoring and leadership. As an undergraduate student, she competed on WSU's rodeo team. Ashley enjoys finding balance in the outdoors, especially in the mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also competes in skijoring—a sport that combines her love of skiing and horses.

Dr. Leigh Shaw

Leigh Shaw has been at Weber State University as a faculty member for over 20 years. She is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor in Psychological Science, the Psychological Science Adviser, and the Director of General Education. She holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Wyoming and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Utah. She is a developmental psychologist who teaches Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology and capstone courses in Theories of Development and Psychology in the Media. Her research explores narrative processes in social development with adolescents and young adults. She loves teaching because she is a lifelong learner and her passion is working with students to find their passion and earn their degree.