August 2018 Faculty and Staff Newsletter
The College of Science Fall Retreat will be on Thursday, August 16th at The Grove at The Copper Mill Restaurant (located at 2427 N Main St, Logan, UT 84341). If you've not yet submitted your online RSVP, please use the link below to do so. Email Christianna Miles with questions you may have about the retreat.
Elizabeth Christensen, proposal development specialist for Utah State University’s College of Science, works closely with individual faculty in support of their proposal development activities. Elizabeth helps to identify grant opportunities and offers proposal editing and submission guidance.

Elizabeth received her master’s degree in Public Administration from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Sacramento. Most recently, she worked as the director of Institutional Giving at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, and as a development specialist for Science and Education Faculty in Sponsored Research at San Diego State University.
Professor Diane Alston, left, new head of USU’s Department of Biology, and undergrad researcher James Withers, left, view insects they’re using in a research project.
Effective July 1, Professor Diane Alston assumed the helm of USU’s Department of Biology as department head. Diane, who joined USU’s faculty in 1989, earned a PhD from North Carolina State University that same year. Promoted to professor in 2005, her research focuses on the mechanisms involved in host plant-pest and pest-pest interactions, along with field- and landscape-scale insect ecology and pest management. Diane currently serves as the co-director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Biology Department and as the Utah Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator. She received the Extension Specialist Career Award in 2015. We welcome Diane’s vision and leadership!
The College of Science Dean’s Office welcomes Christianna Miles, who has been employed with USU since 2016 and most recently coordinated “Focused Fridays” with the Huntsman School of Business. A native of Pinetop, Arizona’s White Mountains, Christianna earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. Her professional experience includes community education, event coordination and hospitality. She enjoys working with people and establishing processes to increase efficiency. Christianna’s perfect day? Waking up in the mountains after camping, followed by coffee and a hike. After a shower, she’d love to eat sushi and snuggle with her husband and two cats. Welcome, Christianna!
Welcome to Utah State University
Welcome, New Faculty and Staff.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Robert Schaeffer (Biology), Dr. Melissa Kofoed (Chemistry), Dr. Kevin Moon (Math and Stats) and Dr. Yih Sung (Math and Stats) on your new appointments. Welcome to Utah State University and to the College of Science!

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