The Advancement Board of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is focused on developing relationships and increasing support among the key constituents of our college and of Utah State University—including alumni, community members, government policy makers, the media, and other philanthropic entities and friends. The board’s mission is to support the Dean and Executive Director of Development in all philanthropic and engagement activities.
Al Smith— Ex. Officio
Dr. Al Smith currently serves as Dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, the largest college on the USU campus. The College serves more than 6000 students, and is comprised of eight academic departments, five research centers, and a laboratory school serving 350 children grades K-6. The College is the top producer of early childhood, elementary, and special education teachers among Utah’s public institutions. US News and World Report currently ranks the college #32 among graduate schools of education in the nation, with faculty generating more than $50 million in research funding annually.
Lance Beckert— Ex. Officio
Before joining Dean Foley’s staff as Executive Director of Development at the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Lance G. Beckert spent three years as Director of External Business Development for the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. From 2005-2012 Lance was Director of Basketball Operations at Utah State University under Hall of Fame coach Stew Morrill. Lance graduated from Daito Bunka University in Tokyo, Japan, with a bachelor’s degree in International Economics in 1997. Lance played collegiate and professional basketball in Japan before beginning a professional career. Lance is a native of Mesa, Arizona and has two sons; Gabriel, Patrick, and one daughter Leillah. Lance enjoys coaching his children in youth sports and often gives back to the community as a youth sports official.
Bernice McCowin
Bernice and her husband, Ty McCowin, received bachelor’s degrees from Utah State Agricultural College in 1949. Bernice earned a master’s degree from USU in 1996 and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education degree in 2005. She has enjoyed over seven busy decades of community, university, and church volunteer service for which, she says, she has been amply rewarded. She has been employed as a teacher and business manager and currently works as a Utah court-rostered mediator as well as serving on community and USU boards.
The McCowins have lived in various parts of the country and raised eight children while Ty practiced family medicine and orthopedic surgery until his death in 1992. With numerous teachers among both progenitors and posterity, Bernice established a scholarship at USU in 1993 for prospective teachers.
Her current interests include continuing education, homemaking activities, travel, enjoying season tickets for USU games, visiting Teton Peaks Lodge (a family vacation home in Wyoming), and living in Cache Valley with all of its natural beauty and numerous cultural and creative activities.
Melanie Rice-Moffat
Melanie Rice Moffat earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Utah State University, and a master’s degree in special education at the University of Utah. She taught in private and public schools. In 1990 she launched Educational Advantage Inc., which became a full-service tutoring center, providing students with individual instruction to meet their specific needs. Currently, she is a teacher in Utah at Park City High School and enjoys working with special needs and first-generation students.
Melanie has served on the Park City Education Foundation Board and Park City Soccer Club Board. She enjoys playing and watching most sports, especially watching the Aggies. As a second-generation Aggie she is proud to be followed by her son who is a third-generation Aggie. Melanie is married to Mark R. Moffat and they have two sons and a daughter who are currently all in college. During their free time they enjoy skiing, biking, and hiking with their dogs.
Stacy Rice
Stacy is a fourth generation Aggie with a love and passion for teaching. Having a degree in English and dance, she has spent over thirty years as a teacher in both secondary and elementary education. While attending Utah State University, Stacy was involved in a variety of extracurricular activities including Aggiettes, Sunburst Dancers, and Danceworks, as well as a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. After graduating from Utah State University she taught English and Dance and was the cheer coach, drill team coach and dance company director at West Jordan High School. Currently Stacy enjoys the unique opportunity of being a dance educator for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP) at Hillcrest Elementary in Logan School District. BTSALP provides arts integrated instruction to elementary students in over 400 Utah elementary schools.
Stacy has served as a board member on the Big Blue Scholarship Fund for Utah State Athletics and on the Logan Schools Foundation for Logan School District. She and her husband Kevin (also an Aggie) are members of the Old Main Society, Aggies Unlimited Blue A Society, and have established an endowment scholarship to assist students desiring to one day be teachers.
As an active member of the Utah State University community, Stacy enjoys all things Aggie related from arts and entertainment to sporting events. She is thrilled that her two sons and daughter in law continued the Aggie tradition, with her eldest son, Austin, and his wife Kallie, graduating from the Huntsman School of Business and her youngest son, Kade, as a Huntsman Scholar in the Huntsman School of Business. Recently a new grandmother to grandson Rhett, Stacy is hopeful that all of her grandchildren will one day be the family’s sixth generation Aggies!
Suzie Stones
Suzane (Suzie) Stones is a retired health science educator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from the University of Utah, and then a master’s degree in economics from Utah State University. She was formerly employed as an academic advisor at Utah State University Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department and as a health science instructor at both Bridgerland Technical College. and Weber State University Extension. She was also involved in the career advisement and training of healthcare professionals throughout Cache Valley.
All during her lifetime, she has been involved in many church and community organizations, including the Logan Regional Hospital Board of Trustees, the Intermountain Homecare Board, the Hospice Advisory Board, the Utah Medical Association Alliance (where she served as state president), and the Hebgen Lake Zoning Advisory Committee. Suzie, along with her husband, received a USU Founder’s Day Distinguished Service Award and is a member of the Old Main Society, and The Aggies Unlimited Blue A Society. She appreciates the opportunity to remain associated with Utah State University.
Suzie is married to Michael J. Stones, MD. They have three married daughters and eight grandchildren. She especially enjoys being a grandma and spending time with her family, as well as traveling, working at her home-based jewelry business, and summer-living at the family home in Montana.
Tricia Danielson
Coming Soon...
Teresa Theurer
Teresa L Theurer graduated in 1976 from the Weber State/Utah State Cooperative Nursing Program and worked as a registered nurse until her first child was born. She also received a Bachelor of Science in General Studies in 2013 from the Utah State University College of Education.
She was elected to the Utah State Board of Education in 2000. She served two 4-year terms and was then appointed to the Utah State Board of Regents, where she served for 11 years. She has served as president of the National Alliance to the American Dental Association and currently serves as treasurer. She has served on the Utah State Charter School Board, the Edith Bowen Laboratory School advisory council, the Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Trustees, the Bridgerland Applied Technology College Advisory Board, the Utah Medical Education Council, the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees, and currently serves at the chair of the CacheArts Board of Trustees.
Teresa is married to Scott L Theurer, a general dentist in Logan and a member of the Utah State Board of Higher Education. They have four children and fifteen grandchildren.
Teresa’s father, Earl Lindley, played football and received a degree from Utah State University. Both Teresa and Scott received degrees from USU, as did their four children and three of the spouses of their children. Their oldest grandson, from Texas, is currently attending USU. Go Aggies!