USASIE Program Leadership

Dr. Roy Kwon

Dr. Kwon began his career as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of La Verne. Since that time, he moved through the faculty ranks to earn tenure and held a number of administrative positions, including the Interim Chair of Sociology and Anthropology, Director of the Honors Program, and Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. More recently, he held different positions in the Office of the Provost, including Assistant Provost of Undergraduate Programs, Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs, Interim Provost, and Vice Provost.

Dr. Kwon received his bachelor’s from the University of California, Irvine, and his Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. As a quantitative sociologist with specializations in organizations and institutions, as well as political economy and social change, his areas of teaching and research revolve around the topics of economic sociology, income inequality, and world-systems analysis.

In terms of his personal life, he enjoys quality time with his wife, Susan, and two-year-old son, Henry. Specifically, he finds himself spending much of his recent free time at playgrounds, children’s museums, and zoos.

Carl Porter

As the Executive Director of Academic Support Centers & Programs, Carl oversees a network of resources designed to empower student success. These include Learning Support (including Supplemental Instruction/Learning Assistants and Academic Peer Coaching), Testing Services, and Student Support Services, which offer comprehensive support systems for learners at all stages of their academic journey and support faculty with peer academic support embedded in the classroom. Carl earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English, and he is interested in all forms of narrative and storytelling—book, screen, stage, and musical performance. He is a fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams and enjoys golfing with friends.

Dr. Leigh Shaw

Leigh Shaw has been at Weber State University as a faculty member for over 20 years. She is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor in Psychological Science, the Psychological Science Adviser, and the Director of General Education. She holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Wyoming and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Utah. She is a developmental psychologist who teaches Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology and capstone courses in Theories of Development and Psychology in the Media. Her research explores narrative processes in social development with adolescents and young adults. She loves teaching because she is a lifelong learner and her passion is working with students to find their passion and earn their degree.

Dr. Gail Niklason

A 25-year veteran of Weber State University (WSU), Gail Niklason has led the Office of Institutional Effectiveness since its inception in 2011. Prior to that, she led the WSU Online Instructional Design team as an Associate Dean of Continuing Education. Her first seven years at WSU were spent managing a department in the Information Technology division. Gail earned an EdD in Instructional Technologies from the University of Wyoming in 2012, has a master’s degree in Business from San Francisco State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Utah. Hobbies include walking/hiking, kayaking, traveling, and hanging out with the grand babies!

Dr. Christy Call

Christy Call directs the Honors Program and is an associate professor in English. Her work concentrates on the intersections of ontology, agency and ethics in contemporary literature, with special attention on the fiction of Cormac McCarthy. Her Ph.D. from the University of Utah integrated the areas of literature, environmental humanities, and pedagogy. This training anchors a continuing passion for interdisciplinary forms of teaching and learning. Christy has extensive experience in Honors education, having taught over 20 Honors Program courses and received two Honors Eccles Fellowships and two Honors Outstanding Faculty awards. As a first-generation student herself, she has long been involved in initiatives and programs serving traditionally underserved students. She is committed to the open-enrollment vision of access and inclusion. Outside the office, she and her partner enjoy skiing, hiking and biking.

Dr. Susan Matt

Susan Matt is Director of the Office of Interdisciplinary Collaborations and Presidential Distinguished Professor of History. She teaches courses in history and in interdisciplinary studies. Her research, which focuses on the history of emotions in the US, spans the disciplines of history, psychology, sociology, and technology studies. She is the author of Keeping Up with the Joneses: Envy in American Consumer Society, 1890-1930, Homesickness: An American History, and co-author of Bored, Lonely, Angry, Stupid: Changing Feelings about Technology, from the Telegraph to Twitter. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Slate and Salon, among other publications.

Amy Huntington

Amy Huntington, Director of the Office of Learning Communities, has been with Weber State University in Student Affairs and grant management roles for 10 years. She holds an MA in School Counseling and in addition to administering Learning Communities, Amy periodically teaches in first-year seminars. Amy serves on several key university groups, including Qualitative Literacy Task Force and Composition Advisory Committee and served as chair of WSU's Staff Advisory Council in 2019-20. Prior to working at WSU, Amy worked on a college access initiative in the Ogden School District.