August 23 Dr. Bennion, grandson of SUU's founding principal, Milton Bennion, began his service in Cedar City on July 1, 1997. He previously served as president of both Snow College and Ricks College and has devoted virtually his entire working life to higher education administration. At SUU, he has led an ambitious drive to increase scholarship opportunities for students and strengthen academic programs. An avid jogger, President Bennion is a strong advocate for physical activity and recognizes the importance of extracurricular options. He is also a champion for the performing and fine arts. President Bennion is married to the former Marjorie Hopkins, and they are the parents of five children.
Steven D. Bennion - President, Southern Utah University
August 30 The goals of the International Dark Sky Association are to help stop the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of nighttime lighting. The organization is also active in building awareness of the adverse problems affecting astronomy from radio frequency interference, space debris, and any other environmental impacts that have the potential to destroy our view of the universe in which we live. Southern Utah University operates the Ashcroft Observatory, located west of campus. Factors adversely affecting the observatory will be explored.
Sponsored by the International Dark-Sky AssociationChristian Luginbuhl - US Naval Observatory's dark-sky site near Flagstaff, AZ
September 6 At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Peter Vidmar captained the US Men's Gymnastics Team to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in a stunning upset victory over the People's Republic of China. He captured the gold medal in the pommel horse competition and won a silver medal in the individual all-around men's competition, the first American ever to do so. With a message of determination and hard work, Peter uses live demonstrations on the pommel horse which art artfully blended into his presentations. Peter and his wife, Donna, a former UCLA gymnast, live with their five children in California.
Co-sponsored by the Utah Rural SummitPeter Vidmar - Captain of the US Men's Gymnastics Team at the 1984 Olympic Games
September 13 Henry J. Eyring was named Director of the MBA Program at the Marriott School of Management in May of 1998. A graduate of Brigham Young University with degrees in Geology (B.S.), Business (M.B.A.), and Law (J.D.), he spent ten years consulting with the international management consulting firm Monitor Company before returning to direct the MBA Program at BYU. He is currently a Director of Skywest Airlines and the Layton Companies and is also a trustee of Southern Utah University. Henry and his wife Kelly are the parents of three children.
Henry J. Eyring - Director of MBA Program, Brigham Young University
September 20 Special Agent John Douglas is a legendary figure in law enforcement and the model for the Scott Glenn character in The Silence of the Lambs. He ushered in a new age in behavioral science and criminal profiling after studying dozens of serial killers and assassins including Charles Manson, Sirhan Sirhan, James Earl Ray and Ted Bundy. Douglas and his colleagues have been able to assess the different temperaments and motivations at work behind grisly acts. He has contributed to the arrest and prosecution of thousands of murderers, rapists, kidnappers, arsonists, bombers and extortionists the world over. Douglas holds a Doctor of Education degree and is a veteran of the United States Air Force
John Douglas - Retired FBI Criminal Profiler
September 27 Come and help celebrate SUU's homecoming week. A special presentation will help us consider the beauties of southern Utah and the benefits of educational opportunities. SUU's traditions and the accomplishments of graduates will be traced as we celebrate homecoming.
Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna
October 4 Home Alive's work in self defense encourages everyone to recognize their entitlement to the basic human right to live free from violence and hate. The group assists in accomplishing long-term social change by providing classes, workshops, education and events from a framework of anti-oppression and movement building. They attempt to shift people's perspectives from focusing on safety as an individual concern to seeing violence prevention as part of a collective action. Home Alive trainers integrate a belief that violence stems from power imbalances related to such things as gender, class, race or sexual orientation as they work toward a common goal of safe communities, safe relationships, safe families and safe streets.
"Home Alive" - Seattle based anti-violence project
October 11 Born in Cedar City, David Howard now lives in Santa Monica, California where he is active in the movie industry. His creative screen writing was the genesis of the recent movie success Galaxy Quest. While attending Southern Utah State College, David was active in campus life, with special interest in the school's theatre department. He is another example of an SUU student who has gone on to do great things in life. He has sound advice for those wishing to pursue a successful career in any field. David and his wife have four young children.
David Howard - Hollywood Screenwriter
October 18 Ms. Huston gives a frank, lively, personal narrative of surviving her own problems with alcohol and eating disorders. She has come to an acute understanding of how alcohol clouded her judgment and wreaked havoc in her life. Despite such tragic circumstances, River has endured because of her contagious sense of humor. River, a former starver/binger, will share a harrowing tale of what it is like to overcome the torment of not living up to the images delivered daily in our mass-media obsessed culture. She will share advice on warning signs and risky behavior.
River Huston - Social Activist and College Lecturer
October 25 The National Conference for Community and Justice, is a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. NCCJ promotes understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures. Mr. Zamora holds a B.S. in Sociology from Southern Utah University where he was active in campus life and served as SUU's multicultural representative. He recently completed a Master Degree in Social Work at the University of Utah.
Kilo Zamora - Program Director, National Conference for Community & Justice - Utah Region
November 1 Phillip Bimstein has been dubbed by Outside Magazine as "America's only all-natural politician-composer." A native of Chicago, Bimstein is a graduate of Chicago Conservatory of Music. In the 1980's he led the new wave band (Phil 'n' the Blanks) whose three albums and six videos were college radio and MTV hits. He uses music to tell stories and "uses the voices, natural sounds and culture of his adopted home (Utah) in his compositions." Currently serving his second term as mayor of Springdale, Utah, Bimstein's works include "Garland Hirschi's Cows," and "The Bushy Wushy Rag," featuring the sounds of a St. Louis Cardinal's baseball game, combined with the echoes of Scott Joplin's ragtime and the distinctive calls of Bushy Wushy, the Beer Man. Orchestral students from Southern Utah University will perform some of Bimstein's work during the convocation.
Phillip Bimstein - Composer and civic leader
November 8 Founded by Shirley Ririe and Joan Woodbury, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company is the oldest professional modern dance company in Salt Lake City performing, teaching and conducting residencies throughout the world. For 38 years, generations have been inspired by Ririe-Woodbury's belief that "Dance is for Everybody." Internationally renowned for their innovative modern dance style, the Company will perform favorites from the repertory created by some of the nation's leading choreographers including the company's founders. The company is a non-profit organization funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Utah Arts Council and the Salt Lake City Arts Council.
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company
November 15 Dr. Bryan, who holds the Alexander Badawy Chair in Egyptian Art and Archeology, is a noted Egyptologist who has done extensive research along the Nile. Professor Bryan has recently been working at the temple of the Goddess Mut. She and her team are also studying Egyptian residential quarters located nearby. Noted as an outstanding teacher as well as researcher, the gregarious professor from Baltimore will address Egypt's antiquity in laymen's terms.
Co-sponsored by SUU Social Science Department and SUU Multicultural CenterBetsy Bryan - Professor, Johns Hopkins University
November 29 Author of Image Politics: The New Rhetoric of Environmental Activism, DeLuca is a well published and traveled professor. Educated at the University of Massachusetts and University of Iowa, Dr. DeLuca has much interest in wilderness issues and environmental challenges. During the summer of 2001, he spent time in Malaysia doing sea turtle conservation work and in Austria where he was also involved with environmental issues. DeLuca also has much interest in and experience with communication theory related to mass-media in America.
Kevin Michael DeLuca - Asst. Professor of Speech Communication, University of Georgia
December 6 Various groups and cultures have interacted with the San Juan landscape over the centuries. Clovis hunters, archaic Indians, Anasazi, Utes, Paiutes, Navajos and Mormons have all made settlement attempts. Each group has made an impact, especially in their use of plants and animals in the region. Dr. Aton, author of River Flowing from the Sunrise, will trace the various waves of settlement using intriguing graphics to complement his presentation.
Dr. James Aton - Professor of English, Southern Utah University
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Last Update: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 |  |
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