Meet the 2024–25 WSUAA Alumni Leaders
By Jen Wright, Marketing & Communications
We met with WSU alumni leaders for a golf-themed photo shoot and learned more about them and why they love Weber State.
Matt Dixon BA ’98
WSUAA Board of Directors President
Please share your best golfing experience.
“The best experience was golfing at Entrada a couple of years ago in St. George. This is the golf course where High School Musical was filmed.”
What are some of your favorite places to explore Utah’s great outdoors?
“I enjoy fly fishing and mountain biking in the beautiful Wasatch Back. My family’s favorite place is undoubtedly Lake Powell.”
What makes Weber State special?
“First, the personal connection students have with professors, and the high-impact experiences they receive while attending WSU are second to none. Second, the quality of education for the cost makes attending Weber State an easy decision.”
What is your favorite thing about being involved in WSUAA?
“It’s fun to be around the amazing people that help make WSU so great. From the faculty and staff to the many great alumni that serve on various boards, it’s an honor to be involved and to be able to give a little back to WSU.”
In this issue of Wildcat, we're featuring WSU’s study abroad program. What foreign country would you most like to visit?
“I’d love to return to Brazil. I had the opportunity to serve an LDS mission in Recife, Brazil, and I’d love to be able to go back and visit the amazing people and culture that taught me so much during my two years serving there.”
Kathy Mower CP ’72
Emeriti Council President
Please share your best golfing experience.
“My husband and I enjoy a little healthy competition with our children when we travel. We were doing a scramble in South Carolina with my son and his wife. My daughter-in-law hit her drive. When we came around the corner, the ball was sitting right next to a large alligator’s mouth. Obviously, we didn’t retrieve it. Another time, at a golf scramble, our team came in last. Our prize was four fishing poles. We were encouraged to take up a new hobby.”
What are some of your favorite places to explore Utah’s great outdoors?
“Two of my favorite places to explore Utah’s great outdoors are Bear Lake and St. George. They are both exceptionally beautiful! I enjoy hiking, biking, walking and kayaking in both of these places.”
Do you have any outdoor-related family traditions?
“One of our favorite traditions is spending the Fourth of July week and the week after Christmas at Bear Lake. Our family does enjoy competition. We have pickleball, basketball and cornhole contests outside. We also love to boat, paddleboard and kayak. We keep the midnight oil burning playing games together in the evenings. In the winter, the family likes to go sleigh riding, skiing at Beaver Mountain and playing ice hockey on the frozen lake. Another family tradition is our family campout each year. Recently, we were in the Uintas. It is exhilarating to be in nature and to appreciate all of God’s marvelous creations. I have to admit, though, that my idea of camping is spending the day with the family in the campground, then finding a nice hotel close by to spend the evening.”
What is your favorite thing about being involved in WSUAA?
“My favorite part of being involved in the Emeriti Alumni Council is, again, the people. We have some of the most extraordinary people you will ever meet, including our fearless leader, Jason Nelson. They are friendly, talented, service-oriented, giving and fun to be around. We love to laugh and spend time together! I am so grateful for the new friendships I have made and the associations I have with members of our alumni council. They are the best! Go Wildcats!”
What foreign country would you most like to visit?
“Visiting the continent of Antarctica is on my bucket list. My daughter-in-law and I went on a Civil War cruise up the Intercoastal Waterway 25 years ago. There were lots of people on that cruise who had traveled the world, and I asked them their favorite cruise destination. Without exception, I was told Antarctica. I decided then and there that someday I would visit that continent. It hasn’t happened yet, but it will!”
Tia Walker BS ’17
New Alumni Council President
You’re not a golfer, so what other outdoor activities do you enjoy?
“I enjoy going hiking, watching a good football or soccer game, snowboarding occasionally, shooting hoops, going to outdoor concerts, barbecues and going on walks either in the neighborhood, with a friend or playing Pokémon GO.”
What are some of your favorite places to explore Utah’s great outdoors?
“Hiking Adam’s Canyon, Waterfall Canyon or the Wind Caves up in Logan. Going tubing in Ogden’s Weber River, driving up canyons — especially during fall — or going to Park City to explore.”
Do you have any outdoor-related family traditions?
“Going to outdoor concerts and having summer barbecues.”
What do you think makes Weber State special?
“The people who know there is more to Weber State than what others give it credit for. The people who donate time, money and/or resources to continue to help with Weber State’s growth and make it a place where students want to go to school and are proud it is their university. And of course, the professors, faculty and staff who try their best day in and day out to help students grow and succeed.”
What foreign country would you most like to visit, and why?
“More of Europe than the two countries I have visited (the UK and Italy). If I had to pick, I would have to go with either Spain or Germany. Both have a rich abundance of history, beautiful land and architecture.”
Phoebe DuCourant AS ’22
Student Alumni Association President
Please share your best golfing experience.
“I grew up golfing with my dad and brothers in Idaho and then had the chance to golf on the Clearfield High School golf team. I can still remember the first time my dad finally let me drive the golf cart. I may have been too young. But after I almost drove into a pond, he decided I needed a bit more time till I could really take the reins of the golf cart. We laughed about it for a while.”
What are some of your favorite places to explore Utah’s great outdoors?
“I love Ogden. I feel like Ogden has some of the best access to any kind of outdoor activity. I love to ski, and there are amazing ski resorts right in our backyard. I also love to hike and feel that some of the prettiest hikes I have been on are in Ogden.”
What do you think makes Weber State special?
“The ability for students to be involved in as many things as they wish to be. There are so many opportunities for students to be involved on campus. Weber State really knows how to connect their students to in-the-field experiences and resources to help them be successful.”
What is your favorite thing about being involved in WSUAA?
“The wonderful people that I get to meet and learn from. It truly has blessed me in a professional setting to have learned from amazing people.”
What foreign country would you most like to visit, and why?
“I would love to visit Greece. It is beautiful, and the food is amazing.”