WSU Honors Dixon Award Winners for Service to Students
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University Distinguished Professor of History Susan Matt and public relations director Allison Barlow Hess are the 2022 recipients of Weber State University Alumni Association’s H. Aldous Dixon Award. The two will be formally recognized during a short ceremony and reception on March 23 from 2-4 p.m. To register to attend in person or virtually, visit this link.
Each year since 1970, the Alumni Association has honored outstanding members of WSU’s faculty and staff with an award bestowed in memory of President Dixon, who served as the school’s chief administrator from 1919 to 1920, and from 1937 to 1953. Dixon Award recipients have demonstrated careers of excellence and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support students.
Susan Matt
Susan Matt began her career teaching history at Weber State in 1999. She has taught subjects ranging from U.S. history to the history of emotions to interdisciplinary courses co-taught with colleagues. She has also mentored hundreds of students through the 
history program and supervised their senior capstone projects. Matt believes students have the power to change the world and endeavors to make history relevant to each one by extending the study of the past to as many people as possible.
As a social historian, Matt focuses on the history of ordinary Americans — how they lived and experienced large-scale historical events, like revolution, war and economic depression. Her students examine the past through the eyes of immigrants, enslaved people, farmers, factory workers, soldiers, families and children.
“When students understand that history is not merely about the actions of presidents and generals, but also about people like themselves, they come to see themselves as historical actors, with the ability to make changes in their lives and the larger society,” she stated recently.
In addition to teaching WSU students, Matt has provided a range of educational opportunities to the community. She was part of the Venture program, which offered free college courses to adults with low incomes. After completing the program, many participants went on to become full-time students at Weber State.
In 2020, Matt harnessed the global pandemic as a springboard to a successful series of free, interdisciplinary classes on “hot topics.” More than 100 people signed up for the first course titled, “Pandemics and People.” Subsequent courses included “The Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights” and “How Did We Get So Polarized?”
Matt has held numerous administrative roles at the university including history department chair and interim associate dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. In July 2021, she was selected as director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Collaborations.
Since arriving at Weber State, she has written two books, co-authored a third, edited another two, and published dozens of scholarly articles, many of which appeared in highly respected media outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Slate, and the Wall Street Journal.
Allison Barlow Hess
Allison Hess has dedicated 30 years of her life to helping Weber State students achieve more than they first thought possible. She began her career at WSU in 1992 as an adjunct professor, having worked previously as a reporter for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City.
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In 1997, the Department of Communication offered Hess a full-time faculty position. In addition to teaching print and electronic media, public relations, editing, and visual communication, she also advised students working at KWCR, the university’s radio station and the student newspaper, The Signpost. Under her watch, The Signpost earned top accolades from the National Society of Professional Journalists and the Utah Press Association.
Hess was a longtime board member of the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving two years as vice chair and two years as chair. For six years, she penned a monthly newspaper column for the Standard-Examiner and used the stipend she received to create an editorial scholarship for student writers at The Signpost.
In 2010, Hess switched gears to become the university’s public relations director. She is heavily involved in planning and securing media coverage for major university events, including two Dream 125 campaign celebrations, the Crystal Crest Awards and the inauguration of President Brad Mortensen. Amidst a global pandemic, she helped organize a successful “socially distanced” graduation event in Stewart Stadium.
Recently, Hess worked with University Archives to identify and honor 12 “Women of Weber,” alumnae or friends of the university who made an indelible impression on campus and the community and whose stories motivate current and future Wildcats. Hess helped shape the university’s Ever Upward campaign, which spotlights inspiring stories of students and alumni through news releases, videos and social media. As public relations director, Hess has advised interns in the Office of Marketing & Communications who have used their internships to build solid foundations for satisfying careers.
Hess’ teaching has been honored with a George and Beth Lowe Innovative Teaching Award, a Hemingway Vitality Award, and a Crystal Crest Master Teacher nomination. She also received a Weber State University Presidential Staff Award for exemplary service. She has announced plans to retire following graduation events on April 29.
To learn more about the legacy of H. Aldous Dixon, watch this video.
To see the names of past Dixon Award recipients, visit this link.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Karin Hurst, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7337 • karinhurst@weber.edu- Contact:
Sandy Smith, Alumni relations
801-626-7535 • ssmith1@weber.edu