Faculty Bios
Curriculum Committee
Charlie Huenemann
College of Arts & Sciences — Philosophy
Charlie Huenemann, Professor of Philosophy at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has been a member of the faculty since 1994. His research focuses on metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and the history of philosophy since 1500. He teaches philosophy courses at all levels, many of which carry general education designations such as BHE, DHA, CI, or QI. He has also served as department head, associate dean, and a member of general education subcommittees for eight years.
Ryan Bosworth
Quinney College of Ag & Natural Resources — Applied Economics
Ryan Bosworth, Professor and Department Head of Applied Economics at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oregon and has been a member of the faculty since 2010. His research focuses on resource economics, applied econometrics, and policy analysis. He has taught general education courses—primarily in the American Institutions and Social Science areas—for more than a decade. He has also served in multiple university leadership roles and has been actively involved in undergraduate curriculum development and first-year instruction.
Edd Hammill
Quinney College of Ag & Natural Resources — Watershed Sciences
Edd Hammill, Professor and Interim Department Head of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Sheffield and has been a member of the faculty since 2015. His research focuses on community ecology, conservation, and marine biology. He has taught general education courses including The Natural World and Our Place Within It, Introduction to Marine Biology, and Introduction to Coral Reefs over the past decade. He also developed a partnership with the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper and co-leads the "Freshwater and Marine Ecology" major in the Quinney College of Ag and Natural Resources.
Patrick Mason
College of Arts & Sciences — History
Patrick Mason, Professor of Religious Studies and History and Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in History from the University of Notre Dame and has been a member of the faculty since 2019. His research focuses on Mormonism, American religious history, and religion, violence, and peacebuilding. He serves as director of the Religious Studies Program and is also a faculty member of the Heravi Peace Institute, where he has taught several general education courses on religion and society. He is the author or editor of multiple books for academic and popular audiences, and is frequently consulted by the local and national media for his expertise on Latter-day Saint history, theology, politics, and culture.
Kevin Olson
College of Arts & Sciences — Music
Kevin Olson, Professor and Interim Department Head of Music at Utah State University, earned his EdD from National-Louis University and has been a faculty member since 2010. He has expertise in applied instruction, collaborative performance, educational theory, and curriculum design. He teaches piano performance, literature, pedagogy, composition, accompanying, class piano, music theory, and general education courses including Masterpieces of Music, Rock and Roll: Catalyst for Social Change, and Arts Symposium. He is also a pianist, composer, and piano pedagogy specialist.
Jen Burbank
College of Arts & Sciences — Biology
Jen Burbank, Professor of Biology at Utah State University, earned her M.S. in Biology and Molecular Biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and has been a member of the faculty since 2018. She focuses on student-centered curriculum design, evidence-based teaching practices, and improving scientific literacy among early-career college students and has taught large introductory biology courses since 2015. She also serves as the Biology Department's concurrent enrollment liaison and collaborates with programs such as Connections and the Center for Academic Belonging and Learning Excellence to support undergraduate success.
Lezlie Christensen-Branum
College of Arts & Sciences — English
Lezlie Christensen-Branum, Principal Lecturer of English and Director of USU's Writing Fellows Program, earned her Ph.D. in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Utah State University and has been a member of the faculty since 2007. Her research focuses on writing assessment, first-year writing pedagogy, and writing across the curriculum and she has taught more than one hundred sections of general education courses. Additionally, she specializes in writing curriculum design and instruction, having served USU for six years as International Composition Program Coordinator, three years as Writing Program Assistant Director, and two years as Interim Writing Program Administrator.
Travis Dorsch
College of Education & Human Services — Human Development & Family Studies
Travis Dorsch, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Purdue University and has been a member of the faculty since 2013. His research focuses on families, motivation, and youth sport development. He has extensive general education teaching experience, having taught HDFS 1500: Lifespan Human Development for 13 years, in addition to contributing to student transition and success through USU 1010: Connections. He also serves in leadership roles within the university, including Graduate Program Director for Human Development and Family Studies.
Stephen Van Geem
College of Arts & Sciences — Sociology
Stephen Van Geem, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of South Florida and has been a member of the faculty since 2012. He teaches undergraduate courses including Social Statistics and courses on crime, criminological theory, delinquency, and deviance. He helped design and implement the Criminal Justice major, currently serves as the Undergraduate Program Director for the Sociology Program, and received the Lawrence O. Cannon Award for Teaching Excellence in 2026.
David Wall
College of Arts & Sciences — Art & Design
David Wall, Professor of Art and Design at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University and has been a member of the faculty since 2011. His research focuses on film and visual studies and he has taught Creative Arts, a core general education course exploring art forms across cultures. He has served for many years on the university's general education committees.
Brynja Kohler
College of Arts & Sciences — Mathematics & Statistics
Brynja Kohler, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Utah State University, earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Utah and has been a member of the faculty since 2010. Her research focuses on mathematical biology, applied mathematics education, and mathematics teacher preparation, with an emphasis on mathematical modeling and data-driven learning. She has taught general education courses, including College Algebra, Calculus I, and Calculus Techniques. Additionally, she participates in the Mathematics and Statistics Education Group, which focuses on modern, meaningful and accessible quantitative literacy for students in all programs across campus.
Michaelann Nelson
USU Eastern — English
Michaelann Nelson, Associate Professor of English at Utah State University, earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of New Mexico and has been a member of the faculty since 2016. She has taught general education courses every semester since starting at USU, including classes in composition, literary analysis, environmental literature, and 20th-century British literature to students throughout Utah over Zoom. She has won the USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Mentor of the Year award, as well as the English Department Teacher of the Year award.
Damon Cann
College of Arts & Sciences — Political Science
Dr. Damon Cann, Professor of Political Science at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Stony Brook University and has been a member of the faculty since 2008. His books Sharing the Wealth and Voters' Verdicts received national recognition from the American Political Science Association for outstanding contributions to legislative and state politics research. His scholarship has appeared in leading political science journals, and he frequently provides public commentary on politics for regional and national media; he also previously served as Mayor of North Logan City.
Deepak Keshwani
College of Engineering — Biological Engineering
Deepak Keshwani, Professor and Assistant Dean of Biological Engineering at Utah State University, earned his Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University and has been a member of the faculty since 2026. Prior to joining USU, he was involved at his previous institution in campus-level general education reform and governance strategies. He has a strong interest in elevating the value of general education in STEM disciplines and exploring models to make general education more relevant and responsive to societal contexts.
Katherine (Katie) Potter
College of Arts & Sciences — Geology
Katherine (Katie) Potter, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Geology Department at Utah State University, earned her Ph.D. in Geology from USU and has been a member of the faculty since 2020. Her research explores mantle plume geodynamics through igneous petrology, geochemistry, and volcanology. She teaches general education courses including Physical Geology and University Connections. She also serves as Chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Director of the Professional Program, and Undergraduate Faculty Advisor within the Geology Department.
Ex-Officio Members
Lisa Simmons
Student Orientation & Transition Services
Lisa Simmons is the Executive Director of Student Orientation and Transition Services at Utah State University. She has spent 22 years helping incoming students and their families navigate their transition to Utah State University. Her work focuses on reducing friction in university processes, improving onboarding systems, and strengthening student success pathways across all campuses and modalities.
Britt Fagerheim
USU Libraries
Britt Fagerheim is the Department Head and Associate Dean for Public Services with the Utah State University Libraries. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State University. Since joining USU in 2004, she has led several student-focused initiatives through roles as Head of Reference and Instruction and Statewide Services Librarian.
Shelly Kotynek
University Advising
Shelly Kotynek is the Executive Director of University Advising, bringing over sixteen years of experience in academic advising and leadership. She holds a Master of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in School Counseling and is a Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, grounding her work in a coaching‑oriented, student‑centered philosophy. She has served in roles across Teacher Education, the Quinney College of Natural Resources, and university‑wide training and development, advancing evidence‑based, strengths‑focused advising practices.
Toni Gibbons
Office of the Registrar
Toni Gibbons is the Assistant Registrar for Curriculum and Director of Concurrent Enrollment at Utah State University and has been in the Office of the Registrar for seven years. She manages the curriculum approval processes and oversees the catalog and degree audit system. She also leads USU's statewide Concurrent Enrollment program, where she works closely with high schools, academic departments, and state partners to support course delivery, policy implementation, and student success.
Harrison Kleiner
Office of the Provost
Harrison Kleiner is the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Philosophy at Utah State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and politics at Cornell College, a masters in philosophy at Boston College, and a Ph.D. in philosophy at Purdue University. Harrison is engaged at the university and state level in initiatives around general education and student success; he consults regionally and nationally with faculty involved with general education and on issues around excellence in teaching and learning.
Heidi Kesler
Center for Academic Belonging & Learning Excellence (ABLE)
Heidi Kesler is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Academic Belonging & Learning Excellence (ABLE) at Utah State University. The work of ABLE is centered on supporting General Education and student academic success through Academic Success Coaching, Peer Assisted Study Sessions for GE courses, and Habits of Mind courses. Additionally, Heidi has served on the Faculty Advisory Committee for USU 1010: University Connections for the past 11 years.