USU Tooele Announces Four New Faculty Members

TOOELE, Utah — Utah State University Tooele has announced four faculty members that have joined the campus faculty. All the new faculty started on Aug. 1.

Rashad Flournoy

Rashad Flournoy is a professional practice criminal justice assistant professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Flournoy has a passion for how his field can impact lives for the better.

“One of the most interesting things about Criminal Justice is how one can impact lives in a positive way and by making transformations to our broken Criminal (in)Justice System,” Flournoy wrote.

Flournoy is currently working on his dissertation for a doctorate degree in criminal justice. He holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in the same field as well as another master’s degree in public administration.

Prior to coming to USU Tooele, he was a certified peace officer in the state of Georgia. He also has more than a decade of criminal justice teaching experience. In addition to being a police officer in Georgia, he was also a federal correctional officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Morgan Diederich

Morgan Diederich is a lecturer in the Data Analytics and Information Systems Department of the Huntsman School of Business. She finds it fascinating that data can be found almost everywhere.

“Data is ubiquitous,” she said. “It is critical for everyone, regardless of major, position, or age to understand how the data they generate in their own lives is used, as well as how to be effective data users in their own careers. Data drives business and, for a limited example, allow businesses to understand their past trends, predict future events, and identify areas for market growth. I am thrilled to be part of the Tooele team, to help bring the foundational skills of data analytics to students here in our own community and across the state.”

Diederich is a graduate of the Huntsman School with a master’s degree in management information systems. She is currently a doctoral candidate at USU. Prior to coming to USU Tooele, she had positions as a learning analyst, instructional designer and business intelligent consultant, as well as teaching data visualization at the Logan campus.

Diederich lives in Tooele with her family, which includes an 8-month-old child and a labradoodle.

Denise Rice-Prior

Denise Rice-Prior joins USU Tooele and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as an instructor in the Department of Social Work. Rice-Prior loves her field, especially seeing how social workers can influence others’ lives in a positive way.

“I am proud to say I am a social worker,” she said. “There have been many who have paved the way for me to be here, and their courage and strength to address social change is what keeps me going. I am excited to continue to share my experience, lessons learned, insight and perspective with the next generation of social workers. I was inspired by a woman growing up who demonstrated the power of human connections, and I want others to experience the same joy that I have from our work.”

Rice-Prior comes to USU Tooele after teaching as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver since 2016. During the spring 2024 semester, Rice-Prior developed the Crisis Intervention Response course for USU, which was approved by the Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Cal State Bernadino and is writing her capstone for a doctorate degree from Walden University. She was a volleyball student-athlete during her undergraduate degree at the University of La Verne. She is a licensed substance use disorder counselor and licensed clinical social worker in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah and has also been involved working as a therapist in both county and state prisons.

With her husband, Chris, Rice-Prior has three adult children, four dogs and two cats.

Charlie McMartin

Charlie McMartin is an assistant professor of English in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, specializing in composition. McMartin is a strong believer in the power words can have on others.

“I am fascinated by how people use language and rhetoric to bring people together and solve real-world issues,” he said. “I have found that students are some of the best rhetoricians, so I have dedicated my teaching to empowering students to become leaders in their communities and professions. I am so excited to learn alongside my students across the statewide system at USU as we navigate and respond to critical societal issues facing Utah. I'm particularly interested in building community with leaders in Tooele as I tailor my curriculum to address the needs and goals of industries and organizations in this beautiful place.”

McMartin holds a doctorate degree in rhetoric, composition and the teaching of English from the University of Arizona, graduating in May 2024. Prior to entering graduate school, he was a high school English teacher in both Colorado and Idaho. He especially enjoys working with students to enact change in their community through writing.

“I aim to foster a learning environment where students can critically engage with and challenge dominant narratives, cultivate coalitional capacities, and connect their academic work to real-world issues facing them and their communities,” McMartin said. “I also hope to integrate community writing practices and establish reciprocal partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits and advocacy organizations.”

In spare time, McMartin enjoys reading, hiking and exploring Utah’s landscapes. He is passionate about community service and likes to volunteer with local organizations that focus on education.

Located in the valley of the Oquirrh Mountains, Utah State University Tooele offers students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings, USU Tooele offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at tooele.usu.edu.