College of Health Sciences: Outstanding Alumni Awards
Each year the College of Health Sciences recognizes our outstanding alumni from each department. These individuals are chosen based on their professional achievements and contributions.
Melanie Taylor
Melanie Taylor is a dedicated nutrition expert with a deep-rooted passion for teaching the community in Southern Utah about the importance of healthy eating. Melanie’s commitment extends from individual counseling sessions to leading informative grocery store tours, where she helps individuals transform nutrition information into positive and practical grocery shopping experiences. Her personal and professional journey has uniquely positioned her as a valuable resource, particularly in diabetes and food allergies. Melanie’s empathy and understanding make her an invaluable support for customers navigating specific health concerns. Her enthusiasm for good food and cooking allows her to connect effortlessly with those who appreciate the pleasures of a well-prepared meal. Melanie’s academic journey includes earning a bachelor’s degree at Southern Utah University, followed by the completion of the Coordinated Master’s Program in Nutrition at the University of Utah. Since becoming a registered dietitian in 2002, she has gained experience in education, food service, assisted living, and substance use recovery, but Melanie has found the most professional fulfillment in the aisles of the grocery stores. Currently, Melanie serves customers at the St. George and Santa Clara Harmons Grocery locations. She also consults with several assisted living facilities. She has served for the last several years on the UAND board as the Southern Utah Representative. When she is not wearing her dietitian hat, she can be found in the Pilates studio or at one of her five children’s activities.
Celeste Maloy
A graduate of Southern Utah University, has built a career focused on rural Utah, agriculture, and public lands policy. She began as a soil conservationist working with farmers and ranchers, later earned a law degree, and worked with local water districts and county organizations to support agricultural and natural resource issues. She now serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she chairs the Congressional Western Caucus and works on the House Natural Resources and Appropriations Committees.
Derek Bryan
It is an honor to introduce Derek Bryan, a distinguished outdoor professional and educator who has dedicated 24 years to the Outdoor Education and Recreation field. Hailing from northwestern Utah, Derek was one of the first graduates of the Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism degree program at Southern Utah University. He has built a wealth of experience across numerous facets of outdoor education, including public land management, private guiding, recreation therapy, community recreation, and higher education. Currently, Derek serves as the Director of Southern Utah University’s Outdoor Program (SUU Outdoors), where he continues to inspire and lead the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals. He also continues to support the ORPT program by serving as an Adjunct Instructor. He holds a B.A. in Outdoor Recreation in Parks and Tourism from SUU, is a graduate of The Alaska Mountain School, and holds an M.Ed. in Experiential Learning and Development from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Derek is deeply involved in local initiatives, serving as an active board member for various non-profits, such as Get Outside, whose aim is getting high school aged students active in outdoor pursuits and Iron Trailcraft, where he works with private and federal land managers in designing and building local bike and hiking trails. His passion for connecting people to the natural world through education, stewardship, and adventure drives his efforts both within his community and beyond. In his personal life, Derek loves being outside with his family, climbing, biking, skiing, and river rafting, all amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the southwest. He can also do 7 pushups in a row!
Amie Despain
Is an educator and coach focused on wellness, mindfulness, and student-athlete development. An alumna of Southern Utah University, where she earned her Master’s in Sports Conditioning and Performance, she has been teaching wellness and mindfulness since 2013 and holds multiple fitness and meditation certifications. She also serves as an assistant coach for the 2026 Canyon View High School state champion swim team, supporting student-athletes through training, discipline, and performance development.
Drew Willmore
Drew Willmore, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Drew grew up in Springville, Utah. He currently lives in Cedar City with his wife and three children. He obtained his Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Utah and his Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from Southern Utah University. After graduating from SUU Drew worked in the Cedar City Hospital emergency department for six years. In 2018 he was recognized by Southern Utah Nursing as the critical care/ER nurse of the year. For the past five years, as a nurse practitioner, he has been working in urgent care throughout Southern Utah. He's passionate about his family, faith, everything sports, and working in Cedar City.
Robert Bright
Robert has built a broad clinical background since graduating from nursing school in 2022, with experience in cardiac, oncology, orthopedic, medical-surgical, and intensive care settings. He currently works in the Emergency Department in Cedar City, where he also serves on the trauma committee to help improve emergency response protocols. He is now preparing to pursue Nurse Practitioner training to further advance his clinical career.