University Journal: October 2022

Southern Utah University Journal

TART GIRL TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: THE STORY OF MINDY BENSON

Coach Fitz: SUU’s new head football coach is ready to step up

An inside look at SUU’s new Psy.D. program

THE UJ CREW

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASPEN ENGLISH

COPY CHIEFS

SHAURI THACKER

TARA DOLE

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

EMILY LOERTSCHER

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ANDEN GARFIELD

BRIA HANSEN

DEVAN CALL

LIFE EDITOR

ANDREA RODGERS

SPORTS EDITOR

PARKER HAYNIE

OUTDOOR EDITOR

JARED CLAWSON

NEWS EDITOR

LUKE MCKENZIE

ACCENT EDITOR

TESSA CHESHIRE

REPORTERS

ANTHONY COLASUONO

AUDREY GEE

BROOKLYN RUSHTON

CHEVY BLACKBURN

KALE NELSON

PODCAST DIRECTOR

NATE RISER

OPERATIONS MANAGER

MICHELE FOGG

•••

University Journal is published with the support of the Communication Department.

Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Southern Utah University.

Dear T-Birds,

It’s difficult to imagine a world without storytelling. The stories we tell shape the way we see the world, create cultures and even make us who we are.

We discussed this in Professor Barton’s persuasion class recently, focusing on the term “Homo narran.” As opposed to the more common term “Homo sapien,” “Homo narran” refers to a human being who tells stories.

The idea of the “Homo narran” fascinates me, mostly because it places more importance on humans’ tendency to tell stories than anything else we consider humanlike, including intelligence or logic. In fact, the folklorist who helped popularize the term, John Niles, argued that storytelling is a power that defines the human species and is even a “world-making ability.”

When we create a University Journal edition, our aim is to use our storytelling ability to show students, faculty and the SUU community what makes our school special. We focus on the stories of students, professors, events and programs. We write to document the history of this school, and hopefully, we succeed.

I hope that when reading the University Journal, you will focus on the stories. This edition has many to tell, including ones about the newly-inaugurated President Mindy Benson, a new head football coach, SUU’s first doctoral students and of course our notable clubs and organizations on campus. When you read them, you might just learn something new about our school.

Finally, I hope that when turning this issue’s pages you’ll realize that the people we write articles and magazines about aren’t the only ones with stories. Each of us has our own story to tell, and the more we do so, the more human we feel.

As always, thank you for reading, T-Birds, and thank you for being a part of our story.

Your editor-in-chief, Aspen English

CONTENTS

12|LEAVING A LEGACY

For some T-Birds, SUU pride just runs in the family.

14|This land is whose land?

Why certain groups are underrepresented in the outdoors — and how SUU communities are working to change that.

18|PhotoJournalism SNAPSHOTS

Features from the COMM 3090 photojournalism class.

20|Studying and understudying

How five SUU undergraduates got the opportunity of a lifetime with the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

22|Creating a model for mental health in Utah

An inside look at SUU’s new Psy.D. program.

24|Applied Event Planning

President Benson's class offers a practical learning experience.

26|The Braxton Jones Effect

Braxton’s journey as a Thunderbird to an NFL starter for the Chicago Bears.

28|Lee Byers

Meet Lee Byers and learn the history of SUU’s live broadcasting team.

FACES OF

“What have you learned about yourself while at SUU?”

I have learned that I can do difficult things. I have been able to learn self-discipline academically and personally. I have enjoyed my time at SUU thus far.

— Brex Delray

I have learned that mother knows best. My mom told me that she sees me as a radio show host. She sees me working for radio. Here at SUU, I’ve been able to be involved and handson with the radio, and I love it! So, words of advice: trust your mom!

— Cormick Bone

I’ve learned that I love being involved and a part of things. Even though it takes more of my time, it’s worth it to find ways to be a part of something that’s bigger than myself.

— Dean Goebel

I have learned that I love education, and I truly just want people to love what they do. I believe that if you allow your passion to become your purpose, then one day, it will become your profession. I learned what my purpose, my passion and my profession are at SUU.

— Laurel Buxton

I learned that I have more of an appreciation for sound and audio than I was expecting. I went into college thinking I wanted to go into video production, and I fortunately made it into the film program. After taking classes and stuff, I think I’ve found that I really like sound. I like doing radio things, doing work for the radio, and I think sound might be my calling.

— Sarah “Graveey” Hutchings

TART GIRL TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT:

THE STORY OF MINDY BENSON

Before this year, Mindy Benson never wanted to be the president of Southern Utah University.

In July 2021, Benson was asked to serve as interim president after former president Scott Wyatt was chosen to fill a new position within the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. At the time, she was serving as SUU’s Vice President of Alumni and Community Relations and teaching event-planning classes in the communication department.

“Never did I think I would be president,” said Benson. “That’s not where I saw myself — I’m the events person, right?”

Having worked on campus for almost her entire adult life, Benson planned three presidential inauguration ceremonies prior to her own appointment: Steven D. Bennion in 1997, Michael T. Benson in 2006 and Scott L. Wyatt in 2013. She stated that it was “completely surreal” to attend her own, especially as she watched her own students — whom she instructs in an event-planning course — put on the show.

“To see all of [my students] blossom from ‘I'm not sure what this class is’ to ‘This is what I want to do with my life’— I loved it. It was really neat to watch,” Benson said.

For most of her time as interim president, though, Benson looked forward to returning to her role in the alumni office. She didn’t even think about submitting an application for the permanent position until February 2022 when she led one of SUU’s most successful legislative sessions in recent history. Multiple voices from the legislature and commissioner's office persuaded her to reconsider.

“[Applying] was nowhere on my radar,” Benson said. “But as the right voices were starting to say, ‘You at least need to consider this,’ I thought, ‘Okay, I at least need to think about this.’ So, honestly, it's only been seven months of me thinking about this, not years.”

Benson is not only the first female president of SUU but also the first to be born, raised and educated in Cedar City, Utah. She was born at the local hospital and spent her childhood tagging along to SUU student activities. As soon as she was old enough to work, Benson got a job with the Utah Shakespeare Festival as a “tart girl,” someone who sells concessions such as the festival’s famous fruit tarts.

“[The interviewers] said, ‘How can you do it all?’ And I said, ‘I'll figure it out.’”

During her undergraduate years as a student, Benson was involved in student government and student alumni. After she graduated with a bachelor’s in zoology in 1994, she vowed to leave Cedar City for good.

She didn’t stay away for long.

“Pretty quick, I realized how much I missed this great campus. A year and a half later, I came back,” Benson said. “Sterling Church, who was my mentor, called and offered me my dad’s job. That’s a really hard thing to turn down.”

Benson’s father Ken served as the director of student activities for 14 years, starting back when SUU was Southern Utah State College. Ken Benson passed away in 2002, seven years after Mindy Benson took over the role he helped create.

“If he were here today, he’d be crying like a baby, like he always did,” Benson said of her father at her appointment announcement.

Benson remained in her father’s former role for 11 years, planning and carrying out dozens of events for the students of SUU. In addition to her work on campus, Benson became a professional event consultant and planner throughout the nation, producing hundreds of productions, concerts, conventions and even U.S. presidential inaugurations.

“Events are high-stakes, high-stress and everchanging,” Benson said. “Many skills from the events side of the world transfer over to my role as university president.”

In 2014, Benson was appointed Vice President of Alumni and Community Relations. In that role, Benson used her skills as an event planner and leader to create a new division for community outreach and a number of SUU’s public-facing entities, including Alumni & Community Relations, the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games.

Now, Benson is determined to fill the role of university president without giving up what she loves most: her students. She loves them so much, in fact, that she would have refused the position if she couldn’t remain in the classroom.

“If I couldn't teach my class, then that would be the deciding factor on applying for the presidency,” Benson explained. “[The interviewers] said, ‘How can you do it all?’ And I said, ‘I'll figure it out.’”

Benson did figure it out. She has now been successfully teaching and fulfilling her presidential duties for over a year.

“I think a lot of people have thought, ‘Surely Mindy will change. We expect her to be aloof now that she's president,’” Benson said. “But if anybody changes, it's them. I'm never changing. This is who I am.”

“I think a lot of people have thought, ‘Surely Mindy will change. We expect her to be aloof now that she's president.' But if anybody changes, it's them. I'm never changing. This is who I am.”

Benson will continue to teach classes, help plan campus events and mentor her beloved students. In her presidency, she will focus on five areas to enhance SUU’s future: increase access and affordability, cultivate a culture of caring, enhance well-being and student success, enrich the academic experience and expand alumni and community engagement.

Most importantly, though, she is done trying to hide or tone down who she is as a woman and as a leader.

“Especially being a single woman, I think that I often don't fit in,” Benson said. “But the number one mistake female leaders make is leading like a man and changing who they are and trying to lead like their colleagues and not being authentic to who they are.”

The new president is determined to serve as a role model for other women and girls, especially her elementary-

age nieces. Benson has already been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support from not only the community but also students on campus who have been inspired by her example of student-focused leadership.

“The impact this has had on young women on our campus has made me want to do this more,” Benson said. “It has made me aware of the role model I need to be.”

Although Benson’s rise to the presidency has been far from conventional, she reflected that she is uniquely situated to continue SUU’s legacy. Perhaps, she remarked, her eventplanning background has prepared her for this all along.

“I can make a difference,” Benson said. “It hasn't been what I've aspired to in my lifetime, but it's the honor of my lifetime. I won't take that for granted.”

-Written by Aspen English

Coach Fitz : SUU’s new head football coach is ready to step up

In December of 2021, Southern Utah University hired new head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald. Affectionately dubbed “Coach Fitz,” Fitzgerald is more than just a football coach — he is a father, a servant leader, a committed member of the team and a friend to anybody who has the pleasure of meeting him.

The player

For DeLane Fitzgerald, life has always been about football. When he turned seven, his father signed him up to play for the Amherst, Virginia, Wolverines youth football team.

“I figured out pretty quickly I wasn’t going to the NFL,” said Fitzgerald. This realization led him to a fundamental question: What was he going to do to keep football in his life?

When he hit the tenth grade, Fitzgerald had a typing teacher that gave his class the assignment to write anything they wanted as long as it was under 100 words.

The 15-year-old DeLane decided to write his own obituary:

“I was a high school coach in the state of North Carolina for 20 years. I won six conference titles and two state titles. I won ‘X’ amount of games. I produced ‘X’ many college players,” Fitzgerald remembered writing. The exercise helped him solidify what he already knew deep down: he was destined to be Coach Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald went on to play fullback for James Madison University. His coach always told him that if he wanted to see time on the playing field, he needed to be the toughest guy on the field. The advice helped Fitzgerald establish the mindset of what it takes to be a winner, and it showed him the importance of good leadership.

The coach

After graduating from JMU, Fitzgerald spent the next several years at various coaching jobs.

“I crammed everything I owned into my nasty, little, green Ford Aspire with dents on all sides,” he said. “When the next coaching opportunity came along, that Ford made sure I was going to get there.”

At each stop, Fitzgerald learned something new, including what he would or wouldn't do as a head coach one day. Over years of improvement, he crafted his perfect style of coaching, which focuses on servant leadership.

“I try to be a servant leader,” Fitzgerald explained. “All I want to do is teach these young men how to be good football players and great humans.”

“I try to be a servant leader,” Fitzgerald explained. “All I want to do is teach these young men how to be good football players and great humans.”

Fitzgerald’s unique style of football requires toughness on the field and absolute adherence to a strict set of team rules off the field. While this approach may not win him friends early on, it sets a high standard of excellence in all aspects of the student-athlete experience.

He has served as the head football coach at three different institutions: Southern Virginia, Frostburg State and SUU. At each stop, he inherited a team that finished last in its respective conference and was among the worst teams in the nation.

“It’s never easy, but in order to win in situations like that, you have to do all of the un-sexy things really well,” Fitzgerald said. “All of the things that people don’t want to do, you have to excel at them.”

These “un-sexy things” include showing up on time and showing up prepared. It’s about putting in the extra reps and tucking shirts in. It's about everybody looking the same out there on the field. Most importantly, Fitzgerald says, it's about being a team over everything else.

According to him, the best part of football is helping young men develop into successful adults.

“When I see the lightbulb come on for these young men, when they realize, ‘Oh, this is what it takes to be successful in football,’ that is the best part,” said Fitzgerald.

The father

Fitzgerald may love being a coach, but the most important role that he plays is that of father. During his career, he married his wife, Kim, and together, they have three beautiful daughters.

“The best part of my day is waking up with them, helping them get ready for school and then taking them to school,” Fitzgerald said.

Fortunately for the communities he has called home, the level of attention and compassion he displays as a father also extends beyond the walls of his home.

Community service work has always been a large part of what Fitzgerald believes in. He encourages his team and family to be a part of clean-up projects, moving jobs and service opportunities.

“I need to do better. We all need to do better,” said Fitzgerald of community service work. “But I will never, my family will never, turn down a community service opportunity.”

The success

Fitzgerald has already turned around two football programs at Southern Virginia and Frostburg State, and he plans to do the same for SUU.

However, he warns that success isn’t just measured in conference championships or 10-win seasons. Success includes caring about his players, his coaching staff, his community and his family. For Fitzgerald, success is more about seeing his team improve in football and in life, every single day.

“I have woken up every single day of my life and acted like I was down seven points,” said Fitgerald. “But the first few months I was here at SUU, I woke up every morning and acted like I was down 14.”

With his love of the game, passion and practical experience, Fitzgerald and SUU will be back to winning championships.

Southern Utah football will play their last conference game on Nov. 19. Fitzgerald encourages everyone at SUU to support the team through the end of the season.

- Written by Parker Haynie

“When I see the lightbulb come on for these young men, when they realize, ‘Oh, this is what it takes to be successful in football,’ that is the best part,” Fitzgerald said.

LEAVING A LEGACY

On Aug. 29, 2022, a whopping 2,900 new T-Birds walked under Southern Utah University’s iconic bell tower. They came from every county in Utah, all 50 states and countries from all corners of the world. Perhaps most impressive of all, though, is that this year brought in a record number of “legacy students” — the children or grandchildren of SUU alumni.

“Legacy students are so important to the culture of SUU,” said Shala Inskeep, a student services coordinator working in the First Year Experience Office. “It helps to keep our alumni connected to what’s happening at the university.”

Legacy students are so impactful to SUU’s culture that the university created a scholarship opportunity for the group in 2009. Out-of-state legacy recipients are eligible for in-state tuition rates — knocking off over $6,000 in cost per semester.

SUU’s legacy students are athletes, student officers, actors and more, and each is taking the opportunity to leave their own legacy as a proud T-Bird.

CEDAR ENGLISH

Cedar English always knew he wanted to be a collegiate athlete, the only question was where.

He applied to various programs and schools across the state, but when it came time to decide, he knew what to do. His grandfather, Robert Johnson, graduated from the university in 1969 when it was called the College of Southern Utah. His mother, Sarah Johnson English, then graduated in 1998. English committed to the SUU track & field team shortly before graduating high school in 2021.

“Being a legacy student has made my overall experience 100 times better,” English said. “I get to do something I love while getting a degree, 20 years after my mom did the same thing.”

English is now working towards a degree in exercise science. When he’s not in classes, he can be found practicing his long jump for the upcoming track season.

“I hope that being an athlete will inspire my little siblings to know they can be one, too,” said English. “I want them to have just as much fun as I have.”

NOAH DENHALTER

Some students move away from home to go to college, but Noah Denhalter knew his quality education was waiting for him in his hometown.

A lifetime resident of Cedar City, Denhalter’s parents, Matt and Jennifer, both attended SUU. He explained that his parents' alma mater was his childhood playground.

Noah has fond memories of his experiences growing up in a college town: childhood acting camps, competitions, conventions and more. “SUU does an amazing job at making the university accessible to the community,” said Denhalter, “not just students.”

Noah grew up seeing his parents utilize their post-high school education, helping him recognize the value of a degree. He never second-guessed his decision to go to college.

“SUU was fun and interesting to me,” Denhalter explained. “I’m proud to go to this school.”

Noah is working towards a psychology degree. He also feels fortunate to attend SUU on the Governor's Honors Academy scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship given to some of Utah’s greatest youth leaders.

RILEY HIGGS

Riley Higgs didn’t grow up in Utah, but she still found her place at SUU more than 20 years after her father, Kyle Higgs, attended.

Originally from North Dakota, Riley traveled 1,150 miles to become a T-Bird. SUU’s nationally accredited nursing program, along with her family history at the school, attracted Higgs to Cedar City.

“Not many places really feel like home when they’re away from your parents, your friends and your memories,” said Higgs, “but SUU is really starting to feel like a home to me.”

Riley’s father used to spend hours studying in the library when he was a student, and he showed Riley his favorite place to sit on the second floor.

“Whenever I’m in the library, that is always the first spot I check,” said Higgs. “If no one is sitting there, I go straight there.”

Higgs is studying pre-nursing and hopes to get into SUU’s nursing program in the spring. She is currently working hard at the Cedar City Hospital as a registered CNA to gain experience.

Legacy students are hard at work this year paving their own legacies at Southern Utah University. Their dedication to the campus remind both alumni and students of their Southern Utah roots. Once an individual has made a home at SUU, their legacy will forever live on here at Southern Utah University.

- Written by Brooklyn Rushton

Top: Sarah Johnson English, Robert Johnson and Cedar's uncle Brody

Left: Cedar English

Right: Riley Higgs

Bottom: Noah Denhalter, provided by Governor's Honors Academy

This land is whose land?: How SUU communities are narrowing the 'nature gap'

“I think our club has been able to bridge the gap a little more by making a safe place for women in the outdoors.”

For many, the outdoors represents a vast window of opportunity for unmatched recreation and respite. The United States boasts some of the most impressive and wild landscapes in the world, where millions of residents annually retreat to for solitude and adventure. Utah is particularly renowned for its impressive pull on outdoor recreation lovers, from its striking desert canyons to its “greatest snow on Earth” and the seemingly endless wild lands in between.

However, in recent years, there has been increasing recognition of a historic reality that merits consideration: the outdoor recreation community seems to lack ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

According to a 2021 study conducted by the Outdoor Foundation, 72% of participants in outdoor recreation in the United States are white, the majority of whom are male. Additionally, nearly one-third of participants recorded an annual household income of over $100,000. Even without the statistics, a visit out into nature or a quick browse through some outdoor media affirms this.

“There are different barriers for students at times,” said Levi Pendleton, an event coordinator with SUU Outdoors, “whether it be finances, ability, time or whatever else.”

Luckily, Southern Utah University has a number of clubs and organizations devoted to narrowing what many call the “nature gap,” barriers that prevent people from interacting with the outdoors because of economic status, gender or race.

“I have noticed gaps in outdoor recreation,” said SUU student Jessica Hanneman. “One is that women are still the minority, but even in that, women of color are less likely to be involved in nature and the outdoors.”

Noticing this and hoping for a group of girls to get outside with, Hanneman began the Women of the Outdoors Club in Sept. 2020. In its two-year lifespan, the club has become one of SUU’s most popular, flourishing with over 50 members. The club prides itself on providing a safe, enjoyable and informative environment for women of all backgrounds to experience the outdoors.

“I try to do events that are catered to beginners, for women who weren’t able to go camping or hiking in their childhood,” Hanneman explained. “Cultural histories keep a lot of women of color from going to outdoor activities. There is also a big gap of women going outdoors because it can be dangerous for them to camp or hike alone.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JARED CLAWSON

For this reason, the club hosts several activities each month, including hot spring trips, camping, rock climbing and even self-defense training. They meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Wing to discuss upcoming events.

“I think our club has been able to bridge the gap a little more by making a safe place for women in the outdoors,” said Hanneman, adding that the club would love to see more women of color as it continues to grow.

Another major barrier between people and the outdoors is income. Outdoor recreation can be pricey, especially in adventure sports such as rock climbing and river rafting where safety is often contingent on the use of high-quality, expensive equipment.

A cheap rope can swiftly transform a memorable day at the crags into an irreversible catastrophe, but luckily, there are programs that can circumnavigate this expensive price point for students.

“The really cool thing about SUU Outdoors is that the program is designed to have a pretty broad reach,” said Pendleton. “What we try to do is bridge a lot of those barriers.”

SUU Outdoors began operating in the early 2000s and has since become an SUU student’s premier stop for adventure. Offering gear rentals at prices a fraction of the industry standard, as well as affordable or free trips and events, the organization is the most accessible way for students on a budget to experience the outdoors.

“There is a diverse offering in terms of different things we have. If you want something a little more entry level, we

have that. If you want something a little more adventurous, we have that too,” Pendleton explained.

Each semester, SUU Outdoors offers a variety of adventure trips students can register for, from free day trips such as rock climbing at nearby locations to exciting overnight trips like river rafting, which students have access to for around $150 as opposed to the thousands a commercial adventure tour company would typically charge.

Those unable to register for these trips are encouraged to get involved in Local Events, Activities & Programming, also known as LEAP. The weekly free events offered on or near campus include slacklining, hiking, disc golf and their bi-weekly Outdoor Education Seminar. The LEAP program also holds a garage sale where students can expect to find used gear for cheap.

“Our primary focus is the student population first,” said Pendelton. “And it’s not just for outdoor-focused people, either. Anybody can get involved.”

With an arsenal of top-of-the-line equipment and an educated, experienced staff, SUU Outdoors is doing its part getting students from all walks of life into the outdoors, bridging one gap at a time.

Nature does not discriminate, but the patterns are glaringly obvious: not everyone gets outside the same. However, it does not have to be this way. Everyone has a right to — and frankly should — enjoy the wildernesses of this beautiful nation, and students can continue to do their part to reduce the nature gap.

- Written by Jared Clawson

“Our primary focus is the student population first...and it’s not just for outdoor-focused people, either. Anybody can get involved.”

Photojournalism

Photo by Alexa Davis

Photo by Luke McKenzie

Photo by Elsa Soula

Photo by Krystal Ashley

Photo by Alexa Davis

Photo by Elsa Soula

Photo by Alex Brooks

Studying and understudying:

How five SUU undergraduates got the opportunity of a lifetime with the Utah Shakespeare Festival

The average college student doesn’t get the chance to work and perform with world-class professionals and Tony Award Nominees before they even graduate, but the Southern Utah University acting program is far from typical.

Every year, the Utah Shakespeare Festival selects a group of SUU students to perform as part of the festival’s fellowship program. This year, students Spencer Watson, Elise Thayn, Brandon Zicker, Whitney Black and Nicholas Denhalter were selected.

Auditions to rehearsals to performances

The process of becoming a USF fellow is much like it is for any other actor wishing to join the festival. Hopeful students send in video auditions, then wait months to find out if they have been accepted into the program. Because the experience is so exclusive, most student actors spend the waiting time looking for other acting opportunities to fulfill their internship requirements.

After being cast, the fellows first finish their spring semester, then begin a hectic rehearsal schedule culminating in the start of preview performances at the end of June.

“It was a very speedy [rehearsal] process,” said Watson, who performed in the classic USF Greenshow and understudied roles in “Clue,” “Sweeney Todd” and “The Sound of Music.” “I had to rehearse three shows within a month’s time with pretty intense choreography.”

During that month, Watson would attend rehearsals for the Greenshow, a set of three original works, in the mornings. Each week would focus on a different Greenshow, meaning that Watson got some free time when the company was rehearsing the Greenshow he was not a part of. In the rest of the allotted rehearsal time, he rehearsed for the other shows he had been cast in.

“Because it’s a regional theatre, there are a lot of actors in multiple shows,” said Denhalter. “We would typically have a rehearsal block in the morning, afternoon and evening.”

Depending on the shows an actor was involved in, they could potentially be in rehearsals all day while other actors had full days off due to the inconsistent rehearsal schedule.

“I would get home from rehearsals at five and then have a two-hour break, try to make some dinner and be exhausted,” said Black, who performed in the Greenshow and “All’s Well That Ends Well” and understudied roles in “Sweeney Todd.”

The importance of being flexible

One of the many roles performed by the 2022 fellows was working as understudies during a season at USF that needed them more than many past seasons. There was a COVID-19 outbreak throughout the festival cast, prompting many of the fellows to go on in their understudy roles, something that hasn't happened often.

“Nowadays, when it comes to theatre, understudies and swings are getting a lot more attention than they used to,” said Watson. “It’s a thankless job. You don’t get a lot of praise or attention for it, but it’s so important because it keeps the business going.”

Denhalter went on for understudy roles on opening night for both “King Lear” and “All’s Well That Ends Well,” which then prompted festival administration to cast him in “The Sound of Music.”

“Nowadays when it comes to theatre, understudies and swings are getting a lot more attention than they used to,” said Watson. “It’s a thankless job. You don’t get a lot of praise or attention for it, but it’s so important because it keeps the business going.”

On multiple occasions, Watson would have to combine ensemble tracks in “Sweeney Todd,” covering for two missing actors within one performance. He went on in his “Clue” ensemble role just ten days after receiving the email asking him to be an understudy for the show.

Students who participate in the USF Fellowship Program get more than just the salary they earn working there. They also have the opportunity to work with experts in the industry and put real professional experience on their resumes.

“Some see the fellowship program as a way for the festival to dump a lot of work on someone they don’t have to pay a lot of money to, but I disagree with that,” said Denhalter. “It is a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of opportunity.”

Transitioning back to student life

Now, with the festival coming to an end, the USF fellows are facing a new challenge: transitioning back into being fulltime college students.

“The two worlds feel very compartmentalized for me, so it’s been hard going from one to the other,” said Watson. “I kind of had to move past USF to dive into the school stuff, but I still peek at my understudy scripts in case I do need to go on.”

For some students, the transition has been difficult, especially during the weeks they were performing at the festival while attending classes.

“It’s weird because you do school all day and then you go be with your castmates and do a show,” said Watson. “It felt very alien, like a Marvel movie, being in two different dimensions.”

Attending classes in tandem with performing at the festival also served as a transitional period for the fellows to phase into both no longer performing and being back in classes.

“When I first stepped into classes those first couple days, the pressure and the social anxiety of school was like a tsunami wave that kind of crashed all over me,” said Black.

Luckily, being part of the fellowship program grants the students a bit of grace from their professors within the department when it comes to missing classes.

“Working in a profession that's in the same category as your major is something that’s very justifiable when it comes to missing class,” said Denhalter. “I’ve had to miss a lot of class because I have two matinees a week, so [my professors] have been very understanding, even though it’s been quite stressful.”

With the festival coming to an end, a new group of SUU students are preparing to audition for the fellowship program’s next season, allowing a new group of young performers to work alongside professionals with a passion for theatre.

“Genuinely one of my favorite parts of the entire process was being surrounded by people who chose this as their life,” said Black. “You have to do that with the arts. You have to choose it.”

-

Written

by Tessa Cheshire

Creating a model for mental health in Utah: An inside look at SUU’s new Psy.D. program

In September, Southern Utah University made history by welcoming its first cohort of doctoral students. The Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program is the first doctoral program for SUU and the first Psy.D. program in the entire state of Utah.

When they graduate, the group of 10 SUU students (pictured above) will be the first in the state of Utah to receive a degree in clinical psychology at the doctoral level. That means the graduates will be qualified not only to see patients but also to teach psychology classes at a postsecondary level.

The new students will spend an estimated five years in the program, which will include a year assisting in a clinical internship where they will aid a licensed psychologist in seeing patients while on campus.

Dr. Steve Barney, the program’s director with 25 years of experience as a psychologist at SUU, says that the program will benefit not only the community but also current students through Counseling and Psychological Services, the university’s mental health resource center.

“Our students right now are working in graduate assistantships helping support mental health initiatives across campus,” Barney said.

In their second year, they’ll do practicum training. In their third year, they’ll have the opportunity to work in the CAPS office.

“They’ll be working at least 10 hours a week seeing clients, many of whom are going to be SUU students,” Barney said.

Barney believes the program is necessary for Utah because of the state’s lack of mental health services in rural areas similar to Iron County. When he began at SUU 13 years ago, resources for mental health were sparse.

“There were 12 psychologists in Iron County, and 10 of them worked here at SUU,” Barney said, “which left very few helping to provide services to the community.”

Many of the students in the program have experienced the effects of the lack of resources in their hometowns, which is why they were interested in joining the field of psychology. Orlando Rodriguez, a current Psy.D. program student, joined for this reason as he is from the rural town of Monroe, Utah.

“Coming from a small town myself, my experiences have shown me there is an incredible need,” Rodriguez said. “People have to drive hours and wait weeks for appointments to meet with professionals, and we want to change that for people.”

Rodriguez also believes that Utah is on the right track in terms of creating a positive environment to address mental health.

“I think we are learning to normalize mental health, at least moving in the right direction, and it is only going to increase our needs even more,” Rodriguez explained. “As students in this program, we hope to provide the resources people need to help with their lives.”

Alexana Stavros, another Psy.D. student, also plans to use the knowledge gained from their courses to help the many silent minority groups here in Utah.

“I hope to continue working in southern Utah with LGBTQ+ youth and other underrepresented populations,” Stavros said. “It is my dream to create and contribute to a healthier, kinder, more inclusive community.”

The process of creating such a program took years to accomplish. However, with support from the state of Utah, the psychology department was able to fulfill its mission. Garrett Strosser, the department chair of psychology, was one of many who helped build the program from the ground up. Strosser explained how the idea of the program progressed after brainstorming ideas for classes over a decade ago.

“The department had been thinking about graduate programs for a long time,” Strosser explained, “with both a combination of what would help students and what kind of degrees would help them get the kind of jobs that they want, but also to address mental health issues, especially in the state of Utah.”

However, the project was officially put into action four years ago when public support for resources skyrocketed due to Gov. Spencer Cox’s new approach to mental health. “There was support at the university in ways we had never seen before,” Strosser said, “and the state was supporting mental health initiatives. The governor wanted universities to help address mental health issues.”

Because of the success in creating this program, Barney believes that other schools can follow in SUU’s footsteps. “Especially in rural areas like this, there’s a shortage of psychologists and specialized services across the country,” Barney said. “I hope we can serve as a model to other universities in similar areas.”

- Written by Luke McKenzie

“I hope to continue working in southern Utah with LGBTQ+ youth and other underrepresented populations,” Stavros said. “It is my dream to create and contribute to a healthier, kinder, more inclusive community.”

Applied Event Planning: A practical experience with President Benson

“In this class, students have the opportunity to work hands-on with every major event SUU produces,” Pope said. “These students are getting this real life experience so they can jump right into their careers, whether it is in event planning or something else entirely.”

Southern Utah University prides itself on its use of practical education within its classes, and that pride goes all the way to President Mindy Benson. Her class, listed as either Applied Event Planning or Event Planning and Management, is one of the strongest examples of what practical, hands-on education has to offer.

Students in the class assist in planning and executing events on campus. These events include homecoming week, sporting events, concerts and even SUU’s graduation ceremony. When working on the events, students experience each step, getting their hands dirty when an emergency arises.

It also offers a safe experience for students to make mistakes. With a strong support system behind each choice, students are allowed to trust their gut and make decisions, comfortable that if something goes wrong, a whole line of classmates and mentors are there to catch them.

This class isn’t new, either. Many members of SUU’s current staff have taken Benson’s class and are using the skills they learned in their day-to-day lives. Kenten Pope, SUU’s executive event manager, is one such student.

Pope took the class in the fall of 2014, which then led him to be hired as Benson’s event assistant. After years of work as a student, he graduated with his master’s in 2019 and was promptly hired to the position he holds today. It was then that he began to work more closely alongside Benson, and he eventually became another mentor in Applied Event Planning.

“In this class, students have the opportunity to work hands-on with every major event SUU produces,” Pope said. “These students are getting this real life experience so they can jump right into their careers, whether it is in event planning or something else entirely.”

Pope isn’t the only student that has found benefits in the class. Many students retake the class semester after semester, seizing every opportunity. Matthew Watson, the Hospitality Guild president, is taking the class for his second semester, and he is still learning new things with each event.

Watson recently assisted with the presidential inauguration banquet, where he was able to help plan, set up and work throughout the event. It also provided him with an opportunity to network and show his work ethic to everyone who attended the event.

He hopes to take the class for a third time in his final semester.

The class allowed students to help with the presidential inauguration as well. Twelve students each had a different role behind the scenes that helped the event run smoothly, ranging from lining up the precession, setting up the stage and working the tech.

“I spent more time watching all of the students work than thinking about the moment,” Benson said.

It was truly a full-circle experience for both Benson and her students.

It is not just the experience that brings students to its seats semester after semester, it is Benson herself. With her can-do attitude, “nothing is a crisis” mentality and years of experience, she brings something to the table that can be hard to achieve. Students adore her, and she adores them in return.

Even with her additional responsibilities as then-interim president and current official president of SUU, Benson has refused to leave this class behind her, stating that if she couldn’t teach her class, she wouldn’t be president.

When asked how she could do it all, she said, “There will be things I might have to give up, but it won’t be my class. I think it's so important that all of us are in the classroom.”

The class isn’t just for hospitality majors. It is beneficial to everyone, featuring major lessons in leadership, communication and organization. As a communication class, it has no prerequisites, so it truly can be enjoyed by anyone seeking the opportunity to learn from President Benson.

For those interested in taking this class, it's offered once a semester as only one section. You can take the class by enrolling in either HRHM 4510 Applied Event Planning or COMM 4520 Event Planning and Management. There's only 40 spots available, so don't miss your chance to take this incredible course.

- Written by Audrey Gee

“Students are what my focus is and where my priorities are; I will always spend time with students,” Benson said. “That’s where I want to be and what I want to do.”

The Braxton Jones Effect

The Southern Utah University football team is not a program that regularly produces professional athletes, but offensive lineman Braxton Jones changed that narrative. Jones was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears with the 168th overall pick. Although he was projected to go in the sixth-seventh round of the draft, his athleticism bolstered his draft stock as Jones was one of only 14 offensive linemen in the country to record a 40-yard dash time under the five second mark.

Where it started

Jones started his football career as a high school student in his hometown of Murray, Utah. He was a two-sport athlete, playing both football and basketball. With a two-star rating in football, he decided to continue on the gridiron with NFL aspirations.

His first year as a Thunderbird was short, and Jones played just one game before opting to redshirt. A collegiate student-athlete has five years to play four seasons of their respective sport. Redshirting is a way for college athletes to take advantage of that extra year because they would not be playing much or sustain an injury; it helps them get a year back that otherwise would have been lost.

Although Jones was the one putting in the long hours athletically and academically, there is one person that should be recognized for helping him during the process: Thunderbird offensive line coach Aaron Fernandez.

“We do a drill called one-on-ones, a mano a mano type of thing,” coach Fernadez stated. “He didn’t really win one of those his redshirt freshman year. I might be exaggerating a little bit, but he was really learning the position and growing into his body. It is a testament to the way he is mentally, how he prepares and what he wants through all of this. The flipside to that is he really never lost one again.”

The drill coach Fernandez is speaking about is truly one of the hardest drills for an offensive linemen. It tested his skills as a pass-protector early on because of the one-on-

After his illustrious career as a Thunderbird, Jones had built a resume that NFL coaches and scouts could not overlook.

He was invited to the 2022 NFL Combine and was prepared to prove himself to teams looking for hidden talent.

one battle between him and the defensive lineman trying to rush the quarterback, but he continued to work through it, even though he struggled at first.

After spending his redshirt year in the weight room and watching his teammates on the field, Jones was ready to take on the Big Sky Conference with his fellow Thunderbirds.

College accolades

Jones earned many top awards throughout his career as a Thunderbird. In 2019, Jones began to show his hard work and dedication to perfecting his craft. Offensive tackle is a physically demanding position, and Jones only missed one game for the Thunderbirds that season, which helped him earn All-Big Sky Third Team honors. He was also named a Sophomore All-American by Hero Sports.

In his final year at Southern Utah University, he earned Big Sky All-Academic Team honoree, Phil Steel First Team All-American and All-Big Sky First Team selection for spring of 2021. In the fall of 2021, he added another All-Big Sky First Team selection, Hero Sports FCS All-American selection and Associated Press FCS First Team All-American selection.

After his illustrious career as a Thunderbird, Jones had built a resume that NFL coaches and scouts could not overlook. He was invited to the 2022 NFL Combine and was prepared to prove himself to teams looking for hidden talent.

Going pro

Chicago Bears’ general manager Ryan Poles drafted Jones in hopes that he could compete for the starting offensive tackle position one-day. That day came sooner than Poles expected — it was halfway through training camp that he realized Jones should be competing for the starting position immediately.

“There’s a lot of credit for our coaches and Chris Morgan; they’ve done an excellent job. He continues to kind of check the boxes. He continues to climb and get better and better and better,” Poles said in an interview with CBS Sports Chicago.

Now, Jones continues to work day in and day out as a Bear, just like he did as a Thunderbird. Not even Ryan Poles, the general manager who drafted Jones, expected the rookie to be ready so soon.

“We thought he definitely had starter potential,” Poles said via ChicagoBears.com. “I’ve been blown away by how fast he has developed.”

What it takes

Jones always told his Thunderbird coaches that his ultimate goal was to make it to the NFL. He achieved this by working tirelessly with his coaches and teammates at SUU.

“Just gotta get better every day and continue to do my job and not let this opportunity go to waste,” Jones said in the interview with CBS Sports Chicago. “I think that’s the biggest thing. It’s a great opportunity to show what I can do. So, I’ve got to continue to seize the opportunity and not really worry about being surprised.”

- Written by Chevy Blackburn

Lee Byers:

The man behind the camera

Have you ever wanted to watch an SUU sports game or performing arts show but could not attend in person?

If so, you probably tuned in to SUTV to stream it on your phone or computer. SUU’s television department is Cedar City’s main source for its televised and broadcasted local events. Much of its success is owed to Lee Byers, who has been managing the crew for 28 years.

Becoming a videographer

Lee Byers’ journey to Cedar City began in Provo, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University as a theatre major in 1977. However, he wasn’t passionate about it and felt it did not fit him well.

Luckily, BYU’s theatre department and television studio were in the same building, which led Byers to explore the news program. He quickly developed an interest in the material and the technical work.

With the permission of his department chair, Byers built his own major, consisting of both film production and theatrical directing. He dreamed of making his career directing scripted television shows.

During his studies, Byers started working for KBYU on the tech and camera crew. Over time, Byers’ workload increased. In addition to his job and schooling in Provo, he started working as a freelancer and technical director in Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, this strained Byers’ physical health.

“I woke up one day … because I’d fallen asleep at the wheel and was about to rear-end a semi-truck,” Byers stated. “And I said, ‘You know, it’s time [to quit].’”

Byers dropped out of school and decided to move to Salt Lake City. In 1981, Byers started working for Channel 2 News, where he won two regional Emmy Awards for directing.

Eventually, Byers settled down and started a family. He then enrolled back in school and studied at home through BYU, graduating more than 12 years after starting.

Moving to Cedar City

After completing his degree, Byers started looking for a new job. He befriended a now-former Southern Utah University faculty member, Lionel Grady, who spent his summers in northern Utah. In the summer of 1994, Grady contacted Byers about a job at SUU’s radio and television stations.

“[Cedar City] had what we wanted: a university town with a vibrant arts community and a small place,” Byers said. Byers applied and was hired. For the first three years of his new career, he managed the radio and television stations, as well as several production projects on campus.

“We were excited to bring on a television professional to take SUTV to a new level,” said Jon Smith, an SUU communication professor. “With Lee’s professional television experience, we knew that SUTV and its students would be able to produce professional quality productions.”

Along with being the station’s manager, Byers helped rebuild parts of SUU campus. He replaced and rewired the television station, switcher, cameras, arena and football stadium.

“Lee has a quiet and calm approach to television production,” Smith said. “In the real world, some people get way out of control, but Lee is able to calmly move to solve problems and complete a task.”

Arts and awards

Byers has not only managed the stations but has worked hands-on within them. He has operated cameras and switchboards to stream and record several speaking events, concerts and theatrical performances on YouTube. This was especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic since he could broadcast events when live audiences weren’t permitted.

As he had planned back as a student, Byers has also applied his knowledge of theatre and television production together in award-winning film projects. Smith and he have produced several documentaries together, including “Back Up the Mountain,” a docudrama of SUU’s origins.

“As part of SUTV’s mission, we produce professionalquality videos,” said Smith. “It has been a real reward for me to write, produce and shoot videos knowing that Lee would do a fantastic job editing them. His knowledge of editing software is great.”

The rise of ThunderVision

ThunderVision, SUTV’s live broadcasting team, is not only responsible for filming events for the arts but for sports, as well. When asked about ThunderVision’s beginnings, Byers reflected, “It kind of grew organically as the athletic department grew.”

At first, sporting events were filmed by volunteers. During the fall, football games were run by Byers and high school students since football season would start before the university’s semester started.

“It was a lot of fun working with the students,” Byers recalled.

He hoped that televising games would raise awareness and money for the station. However, because of Cedar City's easy availability to attend these events in person, this goal was not reached.

Eventually, Byers switched to filming and editing highlight reels on his own, then sharing them with news stations in Salt Lake City.

“Ultimately, it worked really well and got a lot of publicity for the university,” Byers said.

In 2010, the university’s athletic department purchased a multimedia scoreboard for the football field. A film company was hired out of Logan to film the games while SUTV would operate the scoreboard and live video feed. However, it was very expensive. Because Byers wouldn’t charge travel fees and paid student wages instead of freelance wages, the school gave SUTV, Byers and his employees full control of filming and broadcasting sporting events.

SUU eventually became part of the Big Sky Conference’s streaming contract. This allowed all their sporting events to be shared over the internet instead of just a live feed on the scoreboards. In the summer of 2021, ThunderVision joined ESPN+, making SUU sports available for viewing all over the country. The contract would not have been possible without Byers’ contributions and successes.

Byers’ many years of service have helped individuals and teams share their talents for their loved ones to watch and support, even from great distances. His contributions to SUTV and the communication department have edified both SUU and the entire Cedar City community.

- Written by Andrea Rodgers

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