By Southern Utah University, Matthew McKenzie, Tony Pellegrini
5
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The podcast currently has 57 episodes available.
General
Dr. Richard Saunders is an academic librarian and former Dean of Library Services at Southern
Utah University. A graduate of Utah State University, he holds a library degree from Brigham
Young University and a PhD from the University of Memphis with an emphasis on the social
history of recent America, and is professionally accredited by the Academy of Certified
Archivists. His professional work experience includes service at the Utah State Historical
Society, Montana State University, in the production side of commercial publishing, and at the
University of Tennessee at Martin. Though a professional librarian, he has conducted historical
research across the US and published widely, on Yellowstone literature, early Utah printing,
Montana history, the work of historian Dale L. Morgan, Tennessee novelist Harry Kroll, and the
civil rights movement in the rural South during the 1950s and 60s.
History
Dr. Richard Saunders is an academic librarian and former Dean of Library Services at Southern
Utah University. A graduate of Utah State University, he holds graduate degrees in history from
USU and the University of Memphis. His career in history has centered on preserving the
sources of history as a Certified Archivist and special collections librarian, but he has also
researched, written, and published widely in historical topics including Yellowstone, the
American West, Mormons, American popular literature, and the US civil rights movement. His
biography of Utah native and historian of western America Dale L. Morgan was named a Finalist
in 2024 for the Evans Biography Prize. He is currently at work on a study of post-war social and
economic change in the rural South, focusing on several counties in West Tennessee.
Library
Dr. Richard Saunders is the former Dean of Library Services at Southern Utah University and
has been an archivist and librarian since the days of typewriters and ARPAnet. He holds a
library degree from Brigham Young University, one of the library-school casualties of the 1990s,
a PhD in History from the University of Memphis, and has been a member of the Academy of
Certified Archivists since 1992. Since 1988 he has worked as an archivist or librarian at the
Utah State Historical Society, Montana State University, University of Tennessee at Martin, and
Southern Utah University where he was dean from 2014 to 2018. Dr. Saunders currently serves
as the editor of RBM, ACRL’s journal of special collections librarianship.
Printing
Dr. Richard Saunders, academic librarian and former Dean of Library Services at Southern Utah
University, has been a student of printing, type, and publishing for over two decades. Informed
by activity as an amateur handset printer and craft bookbinder, his scope of interest includes
industrial-scale papermaking, typography, printing, and both historical and descriptive
bibliography. He worked professionally in the production side of commercial publishing in the
1990s during the industry’s transition from filmsetting to direct-to-plate technology. Dr.
Saunders has guest-lectured to college students and the public in classes and at symposia at
institutions including Brigham Young University and the University of Tennessee. His
professional output includes Printing in Deseret: Mormons, Politics, Economics, and Utah’s
Incunabula, 1849–1851 (Univ. of Utah Press, 2000), and Reams in the Desert: Papermaking in
Utah, 1849–1893 (Legacy Press, 2021).
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Aimee Dibrienza is the Director of Adult & Workforce Education in SUU's Community & Workforce Development department. As an experienced Assistant Director, she has demonstrated a history of working in the education management industry. She has demonstrated the following skills:
Aimee earned her Master of Education - MEd focused in Montessori Administration from Westminster College.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Brianne Kramer, Ph.D., is an award-winning Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Southern Utah University where she teaches Social Foundations of Education courses. Additionally, she coordinates the Educational Foundations and Policy major for the Master’s of Education and Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies programs. Her research focuses on teacher workforce issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion, educational policy, and teacher activism. She has co-edited the 2022 book Children and Trauma: Critical Perspectives for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Educational Communities, and the 2024 book Activists, Advocates, and Agitators: Justice-Oriented Organizing in the 21st Century. She also currently serves as a series co-editor for The Badass Teachers Association Education Series through Myers Education Press. Dr. Kramer is the current AFT president at SUU.
Gretchen Ellefson is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at SUU. Her research is in philosophy of language and addresses the roles of cooperation and power in communication. She teaches broadly in philosophy, and was the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award. Gretchen is currently the SUU AFT Vice President.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Heather Callison is the Director of Student Outreach & Support Office; housed within the Dean of Students Office of Student Affairs. Her formal academic education includes Psychology and Sports Conditioning & Performance. She is QPR Trainer trained, Safe Zone trained, and is a member of the NABITA & NASPA Communities. Heather has worked on SUU campus in a professional staff setting for five years and is currently a Student Affairs Representative in the Staff Association Board. In her role in the Student Outreach & Support Office she hopes to continue to collaborate with all students, faculty, and staff to meet the needs of students and help them achieve their version of success.
Rachel Brindley is the Assistant Director in the Student Outreach & Support office at SUU. She has been a full-time staff member for five year; both in Enrollment Management (Registrar's Office) and Student Affairs. She has her Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in Higher Education from Southern Utah University. Her passion lies in helping students remember why they started their academic journey in the first place and finding the resources and support necessary to help them continue to fulfil their goals and dreams, despite life getting in the way sometimes. Rachel enjoys volunteering as a member of the Iron County Search & Rescue. In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors with her husband and three kids.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Chelsea Gambles, LCSW is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her masters of clinical social work from the University of Utah. Chelsea has owned a clinical mental health private practice for 14 years. She specializes in trauma with intersectionality between spirituality/faith transitions and sexuality and trauma. Chelsea has worked with diverse populations related to gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc and applies theory to practice with a feminist-multicultural and systems lens. Chelsea spent five years at the Counseling and Psychological Services at Southern Utah University where she developed an interest in development, particularly amongst college-age students. Chelsea is most passionate about mental wellness, trauma recovery and trauma-informed education. This led Chelsea to teaching college students. Chelsea implements trauma-informed education in her pedagogy and finds a great deal of meaning in educating future social workers. Chelsea takes pride in being a constant learner by attending conferences frequently in the field of mental health and education, maintaining licensure in a number of areas, as well as staying present in literature and best practice. Chelsea enjoys anything outdoors and time spent with her three daughters.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Chelsea Gambles, LCSW is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her masters of clinical social work from the University of Utah. Chelsea has owned a clinical mental health private practice for 14 years. She specializes in trauma with intersectionality between spirituality/faith transitions and sexuality and trauma. Chelsea has worked with diverse populations related to gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc and applies theory to practice with a feminist-multicultural and systems lens. Chelsea spent five years at the Counseling and Psychological Services at Southern Utah University where she developed an interest in development, particularly amongst college-age students. Chelsea is most passionate about mental wellness, trauma recovery and trauma-informed education. This led Chelsea to teaching college students. Chelsea implements trauma-informed education in her pedagogy and finds a great deal of meaning in educating future social workers. Chelsea takes pride in being a constant learner by attending conferences frequently in the field of mental health and education, maintaining licensure in a number of areas, as well as staying present in literature and best practice. Chelsea enjoys anything outdoors and time spent with her three daughters.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Brianne Kramer, Ph.D., is an award-winning Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education and Human Development at Southern Utah University where she teaches Social Foundations of Education courses. Additionally, she coordinates the Educational Foundations and Policy major for the Master’s of Education and Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies programs. Her research focuses on teacher workforce issues, diversity, equity, and inclusion, educational policy, and teacher activism. She has co-edited the 2022 book Children and Trauma: Critical Perspectives for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Educational Communities, and the 2024 book Activists, Advocates, and Agitators: Justice-Oriented Organizing in the 21st Century. She also currently serves as a series co-editor for The Badass Teachers Association Education Series through Myers Education Press.
Dr. Kelly Goonan is an Associate Professor of Outdoor Recreation in Parks and Tourism at SUU. She has a Ph.D. in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management from Utah State University. A self-described “hybrid recreation ecologist/recreation social scientist,” Dr. Goonan's expertise is in the management of outdoor recreation in parks and protected areas. She teaches courses in the ORPT program and collaborates with community partners to provide engaged learning opportunities for students. Dr. Goonan also serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences and served as the Faculty Senate President in 2023-2024.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
As a student, Ashleigh graduated with almost $30,000 of debt and became obsessed with learning as much about our financial system as she possibly could. She firmly believes you have to learn the game to break the rules and she is excited to share the ways the financial system can work for and against you.
Her goal is to not only prepare students with the hard skills to budget, save, and invest but also to help them take control of their relationship with money. College is an awesome time, full of potential for new adventures. At SUU, she is here to make sure students' finances don't get lost in the mix or end up holding them back. She genuinely believes SUU can become America's most financially savvy campus by breaking the taboo around money and creating a positive support network for students' financial success.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
John Lisonbee serves as Southern Utah University's (SUU) Staff Association President. John is also part of SUU's IT department. In his professional journey, attention to detail is non-negotiable, and his passion for teamwork fuels his drive for excellence. Whether aligning SUU's group efforts towards a common goal or ensuring clients and colleagues nod in satisfaction, his is there to ensure high standards are met and exceeded.
As John puts it, "Technology is my arena, and I get a real kick out of blending innovative tech solutions with everyday business challenges. It's about keeping things running smoothly and being part of the progress shaping our work and world." He finds excitement in the tech industry's fast pace and is keen to contribute to its leading edge by providing forward-thinking solutions that matter. Beyond his technical know-how, he values genuine connections and aim to cultivate a work environment where people can speak openly, creativity is encouraged, and everyone is geared up for success.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
Former Southern Utah University Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services joins host Tony Pellegrini to discuss the world of education and finances. Marvin Dodge took the opportunity to join the Department of Government Operations as Executive Director in April 2023. In this role, Marvin is responsible for Administrative Rules, Archives, Purchasing, Fleet, Finance, Risk Management, Facilities and Construction Management, Technology Services and Human Resource Management for state agencies in Utah.
These comments made as part of the podcast reflect the views of the episode participants only and should not be construed as official university statements.
The podcast currently has 57 episodes available.