First Year Conference

Matt Sanders is a Professor of Communication Studies at Utah State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matt conducts research in the areas of nonprofit organizations, organizational communication, and student learning. He is the author of Becoming a Learner: Realizing the Opportunity of Education, which is used in first-year experience courses at many colleges and universities. He is also the co-author (with John McClellan) of Studying Communication: An Invitation to Purposeful Learning. Awards recognizing Matt’s work with students include the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Western States Communication Association and being named Teacher of the Year for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Utah State University.

Nicole Weis is the Director of Community and Healing Programs at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience. She is a 2016 graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Master’s in Clinical Psychology program, with an emphasis in trauma, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor. In her role at the Institute, Nicole oversees the Veteran Health and Trauma Clinic, Milestones Resilience Care Center, and Institute community trainings. These trainings include Peer Support Programs for several organizations in Colorado,  the Trauma Training for Professionals online program,  GRIT Program, and customized workshops. Nicole is skilled in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, community crises and disasters, and resilience and self-efficacy skills.