USU Honors Announces 1st Cohort of Honors Faculty Fellows

LOGAN, Utah — The Utah State University Honors Program has announced the inaugural cohort of Honors Faculty Fellows, who will participate in monthly meetings this fall as part of a new Honors Experiential Learning Collaborative.

The collaborative will create a statewide network of teachers and mentors who share a deep commitment to high impact applied learning, and conversations will range widely across topics including:

• Research, creative or practicum experiences.
• Statewide and Extension work.
• Community involvement.
• Internships and professional development.
• Online learning.
• Global engagement.

The goals of establishing this cohort are to recognize the accomplishments of imaginative and innovative USU faculty; create space for cross-disciplinary pedagogical conversation and collaboration; empower faculty to bring new ideas and partnerships back to their departments, colleges and campuses; and prepare interested faculty to apply in January 2026 for a three-year Honors Faculty Fellowship, which will provide time and funding for individuals to lead an Honors experiential-learning course or activity in each year of the fellowship.

“The Honors Faculty Fellows are exceptional teachers and mentors eager to work together to develop experiential learning opportunities for all USU students,” says Kristine Miller, professor of English and executive director of the Utah State University Honors Program.

According to Provost and Executive Vice President Laurens H. Smith, “This group has the potential to make a positive impact on student success at USU, and I look forward to seeing the results of their work together.”

The 2025 Honors Faculty Fellows cohort are listed below and also featured on University Honors Program website:

College of Arts & Sciences

• Mike Ashfield (History, Cultures & Ideas – Logan).
• David Brown (Mathematics & Statistics – Logan).
• Jen Burbank (Biology – Logan).
• Molly Cannon (School of Social Sciences – Logan).
• Chen Chen (Communication & Media – Logan).
• Christine Cooper-Rompato (English – Logan).
• Amanda Dawson (Theatre Arts – Logan).
• Sarah Gordon (World Languages & Cultures – Logan).
• Susan Grayzel (History, Cultures & Ideas – Logan).
• C.R. Grimmer (English – Logan).
• Amanda Katz (History, Cultures & Ideas – Logan).
• Marcela Lemos (World Languages & Cultures – Logan).
• Nicholas Pardikes (Biology – Logan).
• Lucía Sánchez-Gilbert (World Languages & Cultures – Logan).
• Xiao Tan (English – Logan).
• Cree Taylor (English – Logan).
• Raymond Veon (Art + Design – Logan).

College of Engineering

• Ryan Berke (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering – Logan).
• Liyuan Hou (Biological Engineering – Logan).
• Nadia Kouraytem (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering – Logan).
• Nick Roberts (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering – Logan).
• Yang Shi (School of Computing – Logan).
• Elizabeth Vargis (Biological Engineering – Logan).

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

• Rebecca Bayeck (Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences – Logan).
• Jennifer Grewe (Psychology – Logan).
• Kerry Jordan (Psychology – Logan).
• Tyler Lefevor (Psychology – Logan).
• Gregory Madden (Psychology – Logan).
• Christopher Warren (Psychology – Logan).

Jon M. Huntsman School of Business

• James Cannon (School of Accountancy – Logan).
• Reagan Siggard (Data Analytics + Information Systems – Logan).

S. J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Shawn Barstow (Aviation Technology – Eastern/Price).
• Sunshine Brosi (Wildland Resources – Eastern/Price).
• Shalyn Drake (Aviation Technology – Eastern/Price).
• Katie Kraus (Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Science – Logan).
• Julie Lamarra (Technology, Design & Technical Education – Logan).
• Kara Thornton-Kurth (Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Sciences – Logan).