Ten Scholars Join CEHHS Faculty for 2026-27 Academic Year

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human, Health, and Human Sciences at Utah State University is welcoming new faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year.

“We deeply value the fresh perspectives, cutting-edge expertise, and energy that our new colleagues bring to our college,” said Al Smith, Emma Eccles Jones endowed dean. “Their contributions to our student experience, scholarship, and community engagement will meaningfully advance our college mission and USU’s statewide impact.”

Kaytlin Clegg, Professional Practice Instructor, Department of Nursing

Kaytlin Clegg is a professional practice assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, teaching second-year nursing students.

She began her formal teaching career in 2025 after spending two years in hospital education, where she discovered a passion for teaching and mentoring future nurses.

Clegg has been a registered nurse for 10 years, with clinical experience in medical/surgical nursing and infusion services. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Weber State University and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in nursing through Western Governors University.

She is passionate about helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in nursing practice. Outside of work, Clegg enjoys spending time outdoors with her two young sons.

Evin Daines, Professional Practice Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Evin Daines joined the Department of Psychology as a professional practice assistant professor. She earned her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Utah State University in 2026 and her M.Ed. in school counseling from USU in 2020.

Before joining the faculty, Daines worked as an elementary and middle school counselor, facilitated groups for Juvenile Justice Services, and served youth in a residential treatment center for mental health and behavioral disorders.

Daines is passionate about preparing future school counselors to support the academic, social-emotional, and career development of K-12 students across Utah. Her research focuses on school counselors’ roles in mental health and behavior as well as professional advocacy within the school counseling profession. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Aaron Fischer, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Aaron Fischer was hired as part of the college’s initiative focused on technology and healthcare delivery.

Before joining USU, he was a full professor at the University of Utah. A licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst, Fischer’s work focuses on using technology to improve behavioral health, professional training, and school-based services. His research spans telehealth and consultation, artificial intelligence, virtual and immersive learning environments, and integrated models of behavioral healthcare.

Fischer is the author of Teleconsultation in Schools and founder of the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, which brings together schools, healthcare systems, universities, and communities to build better systems of support for children and families. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, practicing yoga, rock climbing, and getting outside.

David Fukuda, Department Head, Kinesiology and Health Science

David Fukuda is a professor and the Department Head for Kinesiology and Health Science at Utah State University. Prior to joining USU, he spent 13 years at the University of Central Florida, most recently serving as professor and division chair of kinesiology.

His research focuses broadly on human performance and exercise physiology, with interests spanning sport science, body composition, exercise testing, lifespan development, and ergogenic aids.

Fukuda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Production/Operations Management from Boise State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Oklahoma. He is a fellow of both the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In his free time, Fukuda enjoys hanging out with family, exercising (preferably outdoors), and practicing the Olympic sport and martial art of judo which he’s been involved with for over three decades.

Lora Israelsen, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Lora Israelsen isa licensed psychologist who specializes in diagnostic assessments related to neurodevelopmental disorders and cognitive differences.

She has a doctorate in clinical psychology from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a master’s degree from Harvard University.

Following her doctorate,Israelsencompleted a postdoctoral fellowship at ChildServe, a large medical clinic in Iowa that provides care to children with complex medical needs and/or developmental disorders. She has also received specialized training in the treatment of sleep disorders and perinatal/postpartum mood disorders.

Outside of work, Israelsen prioritizes spending time with her family and friends. She also loves long walks and hikes, learning about fiber arts and crafts, and reading.

Charles Jenks, Professional Practice Assistant Professor, School of Teacher Education and Leadership

Charles Jenks is a professional practice assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership. He recently joined USU after 18 years in K-12 public education, serving in a variety of roles including special education teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Jenks earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Wyoming. His research interests focus on educational leadership and organizational improvement, particularly what helps educational leaders thrive, how organizational conditions affect leader well-being, and how healthy leaders contribute to healthy, improving organizations.

Jenks is passionate about preparing and supporting educational leaders and bringing his experiences as a practitioner into his teaching and scholarship. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and five children and being outdoors, particularly backpacking, hiking, and fly-fishing.

Dorie Noll, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences

Dorie Noll is a clinical assistant professor in the Listening and Spoken Language Deaf Education Graduate Program at Utah State University, where she also serves as the director of Sound Beginnings.

With nearly two decades of experience as a teacher, certified Auditory-Verbal Educator, researcher, and university instructor, Noll specializes in family-centered early intervention, caregiver coaching, and listening and spoken language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

She has a Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences from the University of Ottawa and serves on national and international leadership boards, including the Board of Directors for the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language and the National Language Acquisition Workgroup through the National Beacon Center.

Before coming to USU, Noll was an assistant professor at Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Her work is deeply informed by both her academic research and her personal experience as the parent of a highly successful adult son who uses a cochlear implant. She enjoys reading, hiking, camping, walking her dogs, and playing with her grandson.

Kellsie Prather, Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies

Kellsie Prather is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University’s Vernal campus in the Uintah Basin.

She completed her Ph.D. in human development and family science at the University of Georgia. Her work focuses on parenting and family relationships, particularly in rural communities and among families navigating economic and community challenges.

Her research emphasizes parents’ lived experiences, parent-child relationships, emotion socialization, and how families draw on personal and community resources. She is especially interested in community-engaged research that can translate into meaningful support for families.

Originally from rural Appalachian southeastern Ohio, Prather is excited to make a home in eastern Utah and learn from the communities she serves. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places with her partner and dog and staying connected with friends and family across the country.

Lauren Ralston Ruesch, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences

A native of La Porte, Texas, Ralston Ruesch came to Utah State University from The University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Doctor of Audiology and Ph.D. in speech, language, and hearing sciences with a supplemental focus in neuroscience. During her Ph.D. training, Ralston Ruesch also practiced clinically as a licensed audiologist.

At USU, she is an assistant professor and directs the Clinical Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, where her work uses cortical electrophysiological methods, such as electroencephalography, to better detect and understand auditory pathologies like hearing loss and tinnitus.

Ralston Ruesch lives with her husband and their dog, Wynnie. They have already taken to hiking in Logan Canyon and exploring Bear Lake and are looking forward to discovering more of Utah's natural beauty and outdoor adventures. In her free time, she also enjoys camping, boxing, sewing, and baking.

Amanda Stark, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences

Amanda Stark is a voice scientist and speech-language pathologist specializing in clinical and performance voice, laryngeal physiology, respiratory science, and translational voice technologies.

She is an assistant professor at Utah State University and adjunct professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Utah Center for Vocology (previously the National Center for Voice and Speech) at the University of Utah. She is also part of the college’s initiative focused on technology and healthcare delivery.

Stark earned her bachelor’s from the University of Colorado Boulder, her master’s from the University of Utah, and her Ph.D. in speech, language, and hearing sciences from the University of Arizona.

A licensed speech-language pathologist and ASHA-certified clinician, Stark has more than 15 years of clinical experience in voice, swallowing, and upper-airway disorders.

A central focus of Stark’s current research is the physiologic, acoustic, aerodynamic, and respiratory basis of elite and extreme vocal production, with special emphasis on professional metal vocalists, harsh vocalizations, and the high-performance demands of stage singing.