51st Annual H. Aldous Dixon Awards

Named in memory of the former Weber president, the H. Aldous Dixon Awards have been presented annually since 1970 to honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated careers of excellence and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support students. Dixon served as president of Weber College from 1919 to 1920 and again from 1937 to 1953.

Yasmen Simonian

Dean, Dumke College of Health Professions

How does someone inspire students to remember and differentiate the morphology of blood-forming cells eternally in order to diagnose a disease? Does it resemble a pepperoni or mortadella? Is it a whole potato or a potato chip? Using food analogies is what Yas Simonian has successfully been doing to teach hematology (blood disorders) for years.

Simonian graduated from three colleges at the University of Utah: health, pharmacy and medicine. She joined the WSU faculty in 1981. After chairing the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences for 12 years, she was appointed dean of the Dumke College of Health Professions in 2008.

Her many professional achievements include serving as president of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science, commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and representative for the Association of Schools of Advancing Health Professions. She has authored numerous articles in professional journals and regularly presents at state, regional, national and international conferences with students.

She received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions three times and was honored as Crystal Crest Master Teacher. In addition, she received WSU’s John S. Hinckley Award and the Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor award, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Utah Professor of the Year and the Kendall Award for Professional Achievement in Hematology/Hemostasis and Education awards. Along with her colleagues, Simonian pioneered the development and delivery of the first entirely online clinical laboratory sciences program in the nation

During her tenure as dean, the college went from offering one master’s degree program to five. Recently, the college graduated its first Doctor of Nursing Practice cohort.

Simonian has educated thousands of students who are now healthcare providers. Their contributions to healthcare locally, nationally and globally validate the value of their Weber State education and demonstrate the differences they continue to make in communities they serve.

Kelly Stackaruk

Senior Development Director

Kelly Stackaruk arrived at Weber State as a student on a vocal scholarship. She loved performing with the jazz group Choralition and studying abroad in England.

Stackaruk returned to WSU after the birth of her first child to work with the Wildcat Club, hosting out-of-state booster trips, handling annual giving campaigns, producing the newsletter, “Cat Paws” and promoting the annual Cat Bash dinner and auction.

Her success and enthusiasm eventually led to the position as development director for COAST, now the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology (EAST). During her tenure with EAST, she has established a successful Pacific Northwest Alumni event and increased privately funded scholarships by 70%. During Weber State’s Dream 125 Comprehensive Campaign, she oversaw fundraising efforts that exceeded the college goal by over 200%.

Her fundraising has resulted in two new buildings for the university: the Computer & Automotive Engineering Building at WSU Davis and the Noorda Engineering, Applied Science & Technology Building under construction
in Ogden. Stackaruk’s efforts also produced the Ardell Brown Automotive Wing and three centers: Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence, Wadman Center for Excellence in Construction & Building Sciences and the Center for Technology Outreach. When President Mortensen announced his “Louder and Prouder” initiative, Stackaruk developed the EAST Explorer Initiative, a program that employs current WSU students to conduct strategic outreach to alumni. She also collaborated with the interior design program to create the annual Charitable Chair fundraising event.

Stackaruk loves meeting with alumni, corporate partners and friends of the university. A favorite aspect of her job is hearing stories from alumni about their time at WSU and their life after graduation.

She has served on the board of trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis and is a current member of the Box Elder School District Foundation Board, overseeing fundraising efforts. Stackaruk remains a loyal Wildcat and is proud to represent Weber State.