“Alumni in the News” highlights Utah State University graduates who are making headlines and impacting their communities, industries, and the world. From national recognition to local features, this collection celebrates the ongoing achievements and influence of Aggies everywhere.
Benjamin Berlin ’25
Berlin claimed first place in the full marathon at the 25th Ogden Marathon in May 2026, finishing strong in downtown Ogden.
Sydney Bowman ’25
Former Aggie softball student-athlete Bowman has been named Utah State Athletics’ first Associate NIL Business Development Manager, working with Aggie Sports Properties to expand NIL opportunities.
Gabriel Iniguez Jr. ’25
Utah State Head Football Coach Bronco Mendenhall hired Iniguez as a defensive analyst working with the defensive line.
John Miller ’25
Miller signed with the Montreal Alouettes after a standout career at Utah State, where he recorded 170 tackles and 10 sacks in two seasons and earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2025.
Chelsea Southam ’24
Former Aggie gymnast Southam was named Utah State gymnastics’ director of operations after a four-year career at USU that included WCGA Scholastic All-America, Academic All-Mountain West and MW Scholar-Athlete honors.
Ryah Dowdy ’23
Logan High School math teacher Dowdy placed among the top eight finalists in the 2026 America’s Favorite Teacher competition, which drew more than 160,000 candidates nationwide.
Sergiu Bucur ’21
Utah State men’s tennis assistant coach Bucur was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Assistant Coach of the Year.
Daniel Jones ’20
Jones, a Utah State alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in human biology, received a 2026 Conquer Cancer Merit Award, recognizing his research advancements and contributions to the cancer care community.
Anca Matcovschi ’20 MBA
Matcovschi, founder of The Diffusion Lab and former CCMO for USU’s ASPIRE NSF, was named a Women to Watch 2026 by “Utah Business.”
Aubree Thomas ’18
Thomas named new coordinator of Utah Farm and Bureau's Women’s Leadership Committee.
Hongjie Wang ’18 Ph.D.
Wang accepted the 2026 ITEC+EATS Best Paper Award for research on an electric vehicle in-motion wireless charging system, recognizing work by USU’s ASPIRE research team.
Alexis Allard ’14 AAS
Allard has co-founded Revelations Wealth Builders, an independent insurance and financial services agency that helps clients make informed financial decisions through education and planning.
Crista Vance ’14
Vance, Co-Founder and COO of Morbrium, was named a Women to Watch 2026 by “Utah Business.”
Joshua Lamb ’12
Lamb, PE, was named in Marquis Who’s Who. He currently serves as a project manager at Gerber Construction.
Jodi Lunt ’11 Med
Lunt, chief development officer of Switchpoint, was named a 2026 Executive Excellence honoree by “Utah Business.”
Jami Van Huss ’09 MS
Hyrum City Museum Director Van Huss received national recognition from the American Alliance of Museums for her work at the museum and her impact on Utah’s broader museum community.
Brittany Woytko ’08
Woytko, thermal vacuum manager at Space Dynamics Laboratory, has been named a 2026 Women Tech Award honoree, recognizing women whose innovation and leadership are transforming industries.
Jed Grunig ’06 Med
Grunig, the director of elementary schools for the Logan City School District, has been named the 2025-2026 Supervisor of the Year by the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals.
Alisa Olsen ’06
Olsen, a teacher at Nibley Elementary, was named to the Utah 2034 Winter Games Education Committee, which will develop statewide initiatives connecting students and educators to opportunities leading up to the games.
Bart Liechty ’04
Liechty, COO and president of Kandice, was named a 2026 Executive Excellence honoree by “Utah Business.”
Anne Marie Wallace ’04
Wallace, state director for the Women’s Business Center of Utah, was named a Women to Watch 2026 by “Utah Business.”
Siva Gunda ’03 MS
The California State Senate confirmed California Energy Commission Vice-Chair Gunda for a second term in May 2026.
Don Stafford ’03
Stafford has been named executive vice president and director of commercial and corporate banking at Zions Bank. He previously led Wells Fargo’s commercial banking division for the Pacific Northwest.
Andy Walker ’03 Ph.D.
After 10 years in the role, Walker is concluding his service as head of the Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Department in Utah State University's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.
Kim Frost ’02
Frost, director of government relations and public affairs with Regence BlueCross BlueShield, was named a Women to Watch 2026 by “Utah Business.”
Amy Secrist ’01
Secrist, branch head of special programs within Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory’s Strategic & Military Space Division, was named a Women to Watch 2026 by “Utah Business.”
Jayson Argyle ’00
Argyle has been named senior vice president of community hospitals at Phoenix Children’s, a newly created leadership role that will help guide the continued growth and expansion of the health system’s community hospital network across Arizona.
Vicki Kulow ’00
Vicki, alongside her husband, Jim, was named a 2026 International Days Grand Marshal in recognition of their lifelong service, leadership and commitment to the people of Carbon County.
Jon Anderson ’99
Anderson, president of Pennsylvania Western University, has been named Utah Valley University’s eighth president.
Fred Titensor ’99
Titensor has been appointed to the Altabank, Division of Glacier Bank, board of directors. He is co-owner and general manager of Valley Implement Company, serving communities across Utah and Idaho.
Kristi Smock ’98
Smock, MD, has been named associate chief of the Clinical Pathology Division in the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine’s Department of Pathology.
Curtis Condie ’94
Alhambra High School named Condie, a Mont Harmon Middle School teacher, to its 2026 Hall of Fame, recognizing the lasting impact he has made through his career in education and coaching.
Scott Rigby ’94
Rigby has been selected as Cache County School District’s next business administrator, bringing extensive leadership experience in school finance and operations to the district’s executive team.
Bradley Birzer ’92 MA
Birzer, professor of history and Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies at Hillsdale College, received a Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prize from The Heritage Foundation.
Kelly Haws ’92
Haws was appointed academic vice president of Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Cortney Liddiard ’91, ’92 Macc
Liddiard, an Idaho Falls businessman, has been appointed by Governor Brad Little to the Idaho Transportation Board, representing the East Idaho region.
Troy Oldham ’89
Oldham, a longtime Green Canyon boys lacrosse coach and business teacher, has been named the school’s new athletic director.
Janet Anderson ’88 MS
After more than four decades in higher education, academic leadership, teaching, research and public engagement, Anderson retired from USU, where she most recently served as vice president and chief of staff to the provost.
Jed Clark ’86
Clark and his wife, Sharma, have grown Little Bear Bottoms from eight acres purchased in 1995 to a 76-acre farm, contributing to Utah’s growing agritourism economy.
Gina Green ’86 Ph.D.
Green, a 2026 Women in Behavioral Analysis Hall of Fame inductee, was recognized for decades of pioneering research on stimulus equivalence, autism intervention and evidence-based practice, including early criticism of facilitated communication.
James Deckelman ’85 MS
Deckelman has been appointed chief executive officer of Copperhead Resources Inc. An exploration and energy executive, he brings extensive industry leadership experience to the role.
Chad Campbell ’83
Campbell, president of Bridgerland Technical College, retired in June after 41 years in Utah technical education, including the past 11 years leading the Logan-based college.
Craig Mosman ’83
NanoKar Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing CAR-based cell therapy technology, has appointed Mosman, JD, as chief executive officer.
Sydnee Dickson ’80
Dickson, Utah’s former state superintendent of public instruction, was named vice chair of the Utah 2034 Education Committee, which will help bring Olympic and Paralympic values and opportunities to students statewide.
Saboor Sahely ’80
After being inducted into the Utah Restaurant Hall of Fame in spring 2026, Sahely and his wife, Kristine, owners of Angie’s diner in Logan, credited generations of loyal customers and dedicated employees for the honor.
N. George Daines III ’72
Daines III was honored by the Utah State Bar for 50 years of active licensure and distinguished service to the legal profession.
Elizabeth Dowdeswell ’72 MS
Recognized for her leadership in civic engagement, sustainability and strengthening democratic dialogue, Dowdeswell received an honorary doctorate from the University of Toronto. She was Ontario’s longest-serving lieutenant-governor.
Miles Jensen ’72
Jensen was honored by the Utah State Bar for 50 years of active licensure and distinguished service to the legal profession.
Boyd Jentzsch ’72
Jentzsch was honored by the Utah State Bar for 50 years of active licensure and distinguished service to the legal profession.
Michael Kjar ’71
Gov. Spencer Cox has chosen Col. Kjar to be the next adjutant general of the Utah National Guard.
