2025 WSU Salutes
Weber State honored 11 outstanding individuals at the 56th Annual WSU Salutes ceremony in October 2025. The event is part of WSU’s Homecoming celebrations and honors those who have lived distinguished lives, made a difference in the community, or have otherwise contributed to WSU’s success and reputation.
“Our alumni are amazing. The incredible impact they each have on the community brings such honor to the Weber State name. Every one of our recipients brings great recognition and acclaim to the university,” said Nancy Collinwood, executive director of Alumni Relations.
Front row: Suzanne M. Lindquist, Todd D. Kammeyer, Jasmine Pittman, James Taggart
Back row: Rob and Pam Higginson, Darin Brush, Howard Brady, Rona Lee and Willard Maughan
Not pictured: Ann Johnson
Distinguished Alumni
Todd Kammeyer
Todd Kammeyer BA ’03, president of The Kroger Co. Fred Meyer Division, 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 leadership roles across the organization, including vice president positions in 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.
Todd is a mentor in WSU’s Mentoring Alumni Program & Scholarship (MAPS) initiative, and he supports the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics through a scholarship endowment and as a Ralph Nye Lecture Series speaker.
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. In 2025, he 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.
Ann Shallcross Johnson
Ann Shallcross Johnson BS ’87 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 of 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 lives in Seattle with her family, including three rescue pups.
Ann’s passion for cybersecurity has been demonstrated in many roles throughout her career, and she is an advocate for women in cybersecurity — a significantly underrepresented group. Ann has built a successful career by adopting a learn-it-all attitude and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Weber State was 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 skills needed to work as part of a successful team. She valued the college’s small, family-sized nature, as she came from a small, rural town. Weber State allowed Ann to obtain a high-quality education without being overwhelmed by the size of the campus and programs.
Distinguished Service Award
Suzanne M. Lindquist
Suzanne M. Lindquist BS ’76 has supported many Weber State initiatives since graduating with bachelor’s degrees in history and English, 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 family members, she is involved with 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 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, the American Cancer Society as chair, the Eccles Dinosaur Park Foundation, and the Ogden Symphony-Ballet Association. She is 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 served as a victim-witness volunteer, acting as a voice for abused children in the court system and making recommendations regarding their welfare.
Lewis W. Shurtliff Award
James Taggart
James Taggart BS ’00 is the president of Ogden-Weber Technical College (OTECH), where he has served in leadership roles including vice president for instruction, vice president for student services, and faculty member. Over the past nine years, he has led OTECH through significant growth, establishing it as one of Utah’s largest technical colleges with a nationally recognized return on investment.
With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, James has been a leader at the local, state, and national levels. He has served on 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 served six years as a commissioner on the Council on Occupational Education, the national accrediting agency for technical education.
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, 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, and Weber TechTransfer — efforts aimed at expanding educational access for technical college graduates.
Darin Brush
Darin Brush, president of Davis Technical College, combines his passion for serving people — especially underserved and vulnerable populations — with three decades of experience in community, economic, and workforce development.
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. Before that, he was CEO of Community Development Corporation of Utah, where he led the development of more than 400 affordable housing units. 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. He works closely 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 new educational pathways or cheering at athletic and cultural events, Darin is an enthusiastic presence at WSU.
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 loves history, the outdoors, and his hometown San Francisco Giants. He said the Lewis W. Shurtliff Award is the greatest honor he has received in his career.
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Jasmine Pittman
Jasmine Pittman BS ’17 has carved a unique path in the world of creative strategy and storytelling, becoming a voice in fashion, culture, and community-focused communications.
During her time at Weber State, Jasmine used 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 creative industries — bringing a thoughtful, culturally grounded perspective to her work.
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.
Based in Washington, D.C., she uplifts 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.
Jasmine is considering a Master of Professional Studies in Global Fashion Management with plans to bridge global markets and elevate underrepresented creatives.
Presidential Award
Howard 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 insights in both English and Spanish based on his industry experience. Howard also serves on the academic advisory board of the international Microfinance Association.
He holds a degree in accounting from the University of Utah and an MBA in international finance and business from Seattle University.
Howard’s father, Rodney Brady, served as Weber State’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 attended WSU.
He and his wife, Victoria, have been generous donors and active participants in university events. Their 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 — one of the highest honors faculty can receive for excellence.
Emeriti Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award
Willard and Rona Lee Maughan
Willard and Rona Lee Maughan BA ’95 have been avid supporters of Weber State and each other for more than 57 years. Though they grew up in Ogden three blocks apart, they first met at Willard’s homecoming report on his mission to Ireland.
Rona Lee attended Weber State the year after they met, and Willard went to the University of Utah, coming home on weekends while they dated.
They were married on Aug. 20, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple and moved into an apartment in Salt Lake City. Rona attended the University of Utah and graduated as a member of Phi Kappa Phi in 1970 with a BA in English, 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. 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 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.
After leaving the service, they moved to Rochester, Minnesota, while Willard served three years as a resident in dermatology at the Mayo Clinic. Rona began taking 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 had a 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.
Rona graduated from WSU with a second BA in Spanish, then completed a master’s 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 over 25 years. She has developed and taught 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 as president in 2007. He has 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 have four children: Julie, Kathryn, Willard, and Christopher. The couple has supported multiple WSU scholarships and other projects. They have also been very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serve in the Ogden Temple each week.
Emeriti Alumni Homecoming Royalty
Rob and Pam Higginson
Rob BS ’80 and Pam Higginson ’79 treasure the memories they have made at Weber State through the years. They met at Weber State College, where Rob was a member of Phi Kappa fraternity studying business, and Pam was a member of the La Dianaeda sorority studying music. At the same time, they worked, married, and started a family.
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 Weber and worked for nearly 10 years as the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions and the Stewart Library director of development. Both entities had committed donors and superb staff.
Deeply committed to the treatment and eradication of cancer, Pam 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 principal 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, including as president of Utah Musical Theatre, 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 in 2023–24, and Rob is the president for 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.