Faculty & Staff

Christina Aguilar, MS

Instructor

Bio

Christina Aguilar is an instructor of Health Promotion in the Department of Health Promotion & Human Performance. She serves as the faculty adviser for the Health Promotion Club. She earned her Bachelors in Dietetics and Masters in Health Promotion from the University of Connecticut. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Health Education Specialist with experience in clinical and pediatric nutrition, health coaching, and employee wellness. Christina loves yoga, spending time with her husband, and finding fun vegetables at the Ogden Farmers Market.

Chris Eisenbarth, PhD

Professor

Bio

Chris Eisenbarth received his doctorate in public health, with a focus on health education/promotion, from Oregon State University. His graduate training and more than 15 years of experience in higher education have focused on the use of evidence-based strategies to change behavior and promote health in individuals and communities. To date, Dr. Eisenbarth has published several peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on stress and health and presented his work at scholarly conferences at the regional, national and international level. Dr.Eisenbarth also has been recognized nationally for serving in leadership positions for professional organizations that promote and sustain the practice of health education/promotion (e.g., National Commission for Health Education Credentialing). Personally, Chris is married, has two kids and enjoys playing all types of sports and games with his family—necessary rejuvenation to make subsequent work more productive and pleasurable.

Jon Griffith

Instructor

Bio

Jonathan Griffith is an instructor for the Outdoor and Community Recreation Education Program. His graduate work is in recreation management from Northern Arizona University and his Bachelor's degree is in Natural Resource Management from the University of Maine. Before coming to Weber State, Jonathan worked in the outdoor industry for over twenty years teaching outdoor education, running an adventure therapy program, and providing technical training and risk management consulting within the outdoor industry. When not in his office, Jonathan can be found skiing and snowboarding during the winter and mountain biking, boating, and climbing in the warmer months.

Yan Huang, PhD

Assistant Professor

Bio

Dr. Linnette Wong (former name Yan Huang) joined the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2017. Before coming to Weber State University, she served as Assistant Professor at California State University Chico. Dr. Wong received her doctorate in Health Behavior with a minor in Inquiry Methodology from Indiana University-Bloomington. She also earned her Master's degree in International Health Policy and Management from Brandeis University. Dr. Wong's research and teaching interests include community health, multicultural health, health education, global health, health program planning and evaluation, substance use among minority populations, and health disparities among minority populations. Dr. Wong enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Heather Hunter

Instructor for Health Promotion

Bio

Heather Hunter is an Instructor for the Health Promotion Program. She taught healthy lifestyles courses for WSU for 13 years as an adjunct instructor, while working in the Public Health field. She currently teaches Human Sexuality, Methods, and Healthy Lifestyles. Hunter received her bachelor’s degree from WSU, and her master’s degree in health promotion and education from the University of Utah. She is a certified health education specialist, CHES, since 2000, and is strongly committed to staying current in the health promotion field. In her free time, she creates mosaic artwork and enjoys hiking, pickleball, movies, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Mandy Kirkham, PhD

Assistant Professor

Bio

Mandy Kirkham King received her BS from Brigham Young University Hawaii in Exercise and Sport Science with a teaching certificate and her MS in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine. She received her PhD from University of Utah in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in sport pedagogy and sport psychology. Dr. K taught physical education for over ten years in public, private and charter schools. Dr. K is currently serving on the board for SHAPE Utah and the Leadership Council for SHAPE America Western District. Her research interests include increasing the overall physical activity in children as well as increasing the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity students get in physical education class. Dr. K’s hobbies are anything outdoors, namely hunting, fishing, camping and riding ATV’s. As well as any and all sports and spending time with her husband and three dogs.

Lisa Meerts-Brandsma, PhD

Assistant Professor

Bio

Lisa Meerts is an assistant professor in the Outdoor and Community Recreation Education program. She received her doctorate from the University of Utah’s Parks Recreation and Tourism program where her research focused on transformational learning experiences for adolescents engaged in experiential education programs. Prior to her academic work, Lisa worked for a number of outdoor organizations, including Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, Deer Hill Expeditions, the REI Outdoor School, and the National Outdoor Leadership School. When not at school, Lisa loves to be outside, and is especially passionate about cycling.

Cass Morgan, PhD

Associate Professor
Program Director of Outdoor and Community Recreation Education

Bio

Dr. Cass Morgan is an associate professor and program director of the Outdoor and Community Recreation Education program at Weber State University. She began working in the recreation field in 2001. Prior to coming to WSU, she worked as a recreation planning consultant and outdoor educator. Her research interest primarily focuses on the role that recreation programs have on youth development. She is also interested in outdoor education program efficacy, methods of program evaluation and wilderness nutrition. She enjoys mountain biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, road biking, snowboarding and playing outside with her family.

Michael Olpin, PhD

Professor
Director of WSU Stress Relief Center

Bio

Michael Olpin is a professor of health promotion and is director of the WSU Stress Relief Center. He earned his PhD in health education from SIU and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in health promotion and psychology from BYU.

He has been teaching at Weber State for 16 years. Among others, the classes he teaches include Mind/Body Wellness, Stress Management, Consumer Health, Methods in Health Education and wellness coaching. Dr. Olpin has presented many classes, seminars and workshops on stress management and wellness at the national, regional and community level. He recently finished the fourth edition of a textbook he co-authored on stress management titled Stress Management for Life: A research based experiential approach. Colleges and universities around the country and Canada are using this text. Dr. Olpin has published two additional books on stress management: “The World is NOT a Stressful Place: Stress relief for everyone” and “Unwind: 7 Principles for a Stress-Free Life.” He has also produced video, audio and websites containing instruction, training and guided relaxation exercises to help people more effectively manage their stress. Dr. Olpin has been happily married for 28 years and has four amazing kids.

Chad Smith, PhD

Assistant Professor
Program Director of Sport Coaching & Physical Education

Bio

Dr. Smith is currently program director of physical education and sport coaching education at Weber State. He received a master’s degree in sports conditioning and performance from Southern Utah University, and a PhD in exercise and sport science from the University of Utah. Dr. Smith is currently teaching courses in sport coaching and researches advanced techniques in sport conditioning. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

James Zagrodnik, PhD

Associate Professor
Department Chair

Bio

James Zagrodnik has been chair of the Department of Health Promotion & Human Performance since November 2015 and a physical education faculty member since 2011. He specializes in motor behavior and earned his PhD from the University of Georgia.

His teaching babies include PEP 3100 Principles of Motor Learning and Motor Development and PEP 3660 Adaptive Physical Education, but he also teaches numerous other courses from time to time, such as Fitness for Life (PEP 3290) and Methods of Teaching K–6 Physical Education (PEP 3620 and PEP 3630).

He is creator and director of CAPES!, a skill development program for children with developmental disabilities. His research interests currently focus on the skill and perception changes pre-service teachers have towards individuals with disabilities and the physiological impacts of pickleball.

Outside of the office, Dr. Z. enjoys endurance hiking, visiting state and national parks, snow shoeing, snowboarding, star gazing, playing racquet sports and watching Georgia football.

Matt Barker

Facility Manager

Bio

Matt Barker Bio.

Derek DeBruin, MA

Recreation Manager

Bio

Derek DeBruin is the recreation manager for the Outdoor & Community Recreation Education program. He earned a Master of Arts in higher education administration at the University of Alabama and is certified as a rock guide and assistant alpine guide by the American Mountain Guides Association. In addition to teaching classes on climbing, hiking, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing, DeBruin manages the WSU climbing wall and handles the administrative and logistical needs for the OCRE program. He comes from a strong guiding and instructing background with experience in outdoor education, commercial guiding and military recreation.

He serves on the American Mountain Guides Association Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and is particularly concerned with creating a more inclusive culture in the outdoor guiding industry. In his free time, you will almost certainly find him in the mountains.

Barbara Dirks

Internship Coordinator

Bio

Barbara B. Dirks has returned to Weber State University where her passion was first instilled as a lifelong learner. Barbara’s career path is diverse, which has allowed her to learn and fully exercise the importance of communication, leadership, management, communication, teaching, networking and organizational skills.

Barbara was with intermountain Health Care for 27 years. She worked at McKay Dee Hospital as Vice President of the McKay Dee Foundation and as the Allied Health Educator. She moved from McKay to Intermountain Homecare & Hospice working as the Reimbursement Manager, Operations Manager, and Facilities Director.

Barbara has a strong interest in government and community affairs. She worked in Washington D.C. on the staff of Congressman Wayne Owens and Senator Frank E. Moss and was later elected to the Ogden City Council, Assistant Mayor, and served on numerous state and local boards, commissions, and committees.

In returning to Weber State University, Barbara’s goal is to take these lessons learned and to reach out and help prepare today’s students to succeed as they become our pilots who will drive communities toward a healthier society. Barbara has a Bachelor of Integrated Studies and Masters in Education both from Weber State College/University.

She loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking, swinging on the front porch, reading, knitting and especially spoiling her two adorable grandchildren.

Marcia Kawa

Administrative Specialist II

Bio

Marcia Kawa is the Administrative Specialist II for the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation. She joined Weber State University as a staff member in July 2018. Marcia has a passion for higher education and is excited to be back at school after a long career in construction. She loves supporting the faculty and students and is always willing to help. Outside of the office, Marcia enjoys revisiting the violin she played as a child, attending and participating in film festivals, the beach, sun anywhere, travel, repairing anything that is broken and spending time with friends and family.

Brittni Strickland

Academic Advisor

Bio

Brittni Strickland is the Academic Advisor for the Department of Health Promotion & Human Performance. She joined Weber State University as a staff member in July 2018. Brittni received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Utah in 2016. Strickland has a passion for higher education and academic advising. She loves being a support system for students while encouraging them to see their successful future ahead. She is always willing to listen and offer help in any way possible. Outside of the office, Brittni is a huge Utah Jazz fan and loves to hike, boat, travel, and especially spend time with friends and family!