Norris and Thomas Join Staff at USU Uintah Basin

VERNAL, Utah — Utah State University Uintah Basin is pleased to announce the addition of two new staff members. Carolyn Norris has been hired as a Community Engagement & Campus Mentoring coordinator and Jon Thomas has been hired as a Concurrent Enrollment and Education coordinator.

Norris joins USU after spending three years as an event coordinator at Uintah Basin Technical College. In this new role, Norris will help create and promote mentoring programs that connect students with other peers, alumni and professionals across a variety of majors and industries, empowering them to succeed academically, professionally, and personally.

“I am excited to begin this new chapter at Uintah Basin Utah State University, where I can contribute to the university’s vision to empower all people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact,” Norris said. “I have the unique opportunity to do this through serving and engaging with our wonderful Uintah Basin community and USU Alumni. I also look forward to supporting students in their success through coordinating important mentoring relationships and experiences.”

USU Uintah Basin has always had a strong mentorship program between faculty and students. Norris will help bolster other mentoring opportunities, both with alumni and students helping one another.

“USU Uintah Basin has a strong history of faculty-to-student mentoring,” said David Law, associate vice president for USU Uintah Basin. “We are excited to see how Carolyn will help expand that even further with peer-to-peer mentoring and alumni-to-student mentoring. This will be of great benefit to our students as they move along the path to graduation and employment.”

In addition to work at UB Tech, Norris has also owned her own business as a business coach and holds an MBA from Western Governors University. She is excited to help build relationships and engage with the USU community.

“I am passionate about building relationships that empower individuals and strengthen the bonds between the university and the broader community,” Norris said. “I’m dedicated to relationship-building, student support, and community outreach that will help our university continue to grow as a leader in service and student success.”

Thomas joins USU after two years as the director of Curriculum Design at DevPipeline, as well as being an Excel instructor at UB Tech. Thomas is excited to take on this new role at USU, and for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both educators and students.

“By enhancing the concurrent enrollment program, I can help educators access the resources they need to offer rigorous college-level courses and guide high school students in their transition toward higher education,” he said. “I look forward to supporting our talented faculty and fostering a learning environment that encourages students to achieve their full potential.”

Thomas will be tasked with reviewing and strengthening USU Uintah Basin’s concurrent enrollment program, as well providing insights in how the statewide campus can improve its course offerings overall.

“Jon brings with him a unique set of skills that will be of great benefit to USU Uintah Basin,” Law said. “With his experience, we will be able to enhance not only our concurrent enrollment program, but the overall curriculum at our university. USU’s land-grant mission seeks to meet student educational needs, and we feel Jon will be a great asset as we look to the future educational needs of our students here in the Basin.”

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Utah Valley University, and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU. He hopes to strengthen the partnerships between USU and high schools in the region, as well as help enhance the quality of concurrent enrollment courses. He also hopes to work on initiatives to better prepare high school students for the academic demands of college, thus creating a smoother transition when they enter higher education.

“My primary goal is to improve opportunities for educators by providing professional development and resources that enhance the quality of concurrent enrollment courses,” Thomas said. “I aim to strengthen the partnership between high schools and USU, ensuring that our programs align with college expectations and help students develop the skills necessary for post-secondary success.”

Thomas is married and has three children. He enjoys playing football with his sons, discussing art with his wife, and dancing with his daughter.

Operating campuses in Vernal and Roosevelt for more than 50 years, Utah State University Uintah Basin gives students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university, all in the backdrop of the outdoor oasis that is the Uinta Mountains and Ashley National Forest. With degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees and more than 125 programs available, as well as access to the renowned Bingham Research Center, USU Uintah Basin offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at uintahbasin.usu.edu.