Weber State University

06/02/2026

Have you ever wondered just how hot it gets on 25th Street in the summer?

Dan Bedford, a geography professor at Weber State University, is studying the urban heat island effect around downtown Ogden. For many cities, summer means sunbaked sidewalks and asphalt the radiate the day’s heat.

“Urban areas heat up more than the surrounding countryside,” Bedford said. “Research has reached the point where we can measure how and why this varies block by block. I was really curious to see what kind of patterns we would find in Ogden.”

Bedford partnered with the city to place 14 thermometers on lamp posts along 24th and 25th streets, between Washington Boulevard and Wall Avenue, and on several connecting streets.

He focused on downtown Ogden, since it’s the hub for Farmers Market Ogden, Ogden Twilight, and other popular summertime outdoor activities. The thermometers recorded temperatures every 15 minutes from June through September 2025.

During the Farmers Market, which is held throughout the summer from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hottest recorded temperatures along 25th Street averaged 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Peak afternoon temperatures on 25th Street during the study hit 102 degrees.

Bedford said his data can help with that planning, informing decisions like where to focus efforts and how to maximize comfort in outdoor spaces.

Lorenzo Long, Ogden City’s sustainability coordinator, collaborated on the research. He said the data helped the city develop messaging and strategies for Ogden’s forthcoming general plan, which addresses growth and a vision for the city’s future.

“This work continues to influence city conversations,” Long said. “I’m grateful for the time spent and expertise provided by Dr. Bedford, and I look forward to future collaborations with Weber State that benefit Ogden residents, students, businesses, and visitors, making our city more resilient for decades to come."

05/28/2026

📢 Hey, parents and caregivers: Arts and Science in the Parks starts next week!

These free programs offer daily opportunities for children of all ages to explore science, visual arts, and performing arts through interactive, hands-on activities in Ogden's parks. Visit www.weber.edu/WSUToday/arts-and-science-in-the-parks-weber-state.html for more details.

See you in the parks!

05/27/2026

Erin Buell helped four of her seven children pursue pre-medical education tracks before deciding it was her turn.

“When my youngest daughter started first grade, I had a lot of me time,” Buell said. “I looked around and was like, ‘I can sit in my house cleaning, reading books, exercising, quilting — all really fun, good things — or I can do something different.’”

At 47, she enrolled at Weber State University to meet the requirements for medical school. She’d always had an interest in medicine and was ready for a change.

Weber State’s pre-medical professional programs provide pathways for students interested in medical school and other advanced programs. Buell is majoring in biochemistry, and pre-med advisors help her prepare for the next steps of becoming a physician.

Buell was a 2025–26 Presidential Leadership Fellow, part of a cohort of students focused on leadership and engagement. She’s also an anatomy teaching assistant, engaged in multiple research projects, and a volunteer at Seager Memorial Clinic in Ogden.

Her involvement will help with medical school applications, and it’s helped her find a supportive community on campus.

“I’m at a place where all my options are open,” Buell said. “I have found a community here. It’s not just attending classes; I have a lot of connections. My brain has lit up here.”

05/22/2026

A message from our next president, Chris Mallett.

05/21/2026

Welcome home, President Mallett! 💜

05/21/2026

Chris Mallett has been named the next president of Weber State University. Welcome, Chris!

Chris is a Wildcat alum who brings decades of experience in higher education innovation, workforce development and industry partnerships, and student-centered learning, along with a strong commitment to expanding educational opportunity and preparing students for a rapidly evolving economy.

“When I was a Weber State student, I had no idea I might one day lead this incredible university,” Mallett said. “Weber State’s mission to transform lives and communities by educating people from all backgrounds with an unyielding commitment to meet students where they are is our greatest advantage."

With deep Utah roots, Mallett currently serves as chief administrative officer at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute. He previously spent nearly 14 years at Western Governors University as part of the institution’s founding team, helping pioneer online competency-based education and expand access to postsecondary education for hundreds of thousands of learners.

His first day will be Aug. 1.

05/21/2026

Watch the announcement of Weber State's new president LIVE at 10 a.m. 👇

Captions for Board meeting recordings are auto-generated, so the quality of the captions may vary. Once the meeting is finished, captions are reviewed and corrected by a USHE staff member and will be updated as soon as possible. Board meeting minutes are also posted to the meeting event page once th...

05/20/2026

We're excited to welcome the next president of Weber State!

Join us tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Hurst Center for Lifelong Learning on Weber State's Ogden campus as the Utah Board of Higher Education appoints the university's 14th president. You can watch online at https://ushe.edu/live-stream/

Please be advised: there may be increased traffic on Harrison Boulevard due to high school graduations being held at the Dee Events Center. Parking at the building is limited, but you can park in any lot south of the Val A. Browning Center until 12 p.m. without being ticketed.

05/18/2026

Early childhood education majors Ashley Ardon and Katelyn Hurst are demonstrating how a better understanding of literacy can help children succeed long before they learn to read or write.

“It doesn’t just come from opening a book and learning how to read or learning the alphabet,” Ardon said. “Literacy is all around children at all times. Just by coming to school and having conversations with teachers and peers, they’re learning how to read and write.”

Ardon said early childhood education and the foundation of literacy isn’t always widely understood, which is why it’s important to her to provide children with skills that will set them up for the rest of their lives.

Sheila Anderson, WSU’s early childhood education program director, said the t The Melba S. Lehner Children’s School’s approach to emergent literacy focuses on holistic learning experiences and self-initiated tasks.

“We conceptualize literacy not as a discrete skill, but as the process of becoming part of a community,” she said. “It grows from the desire to express needs, ideas, creative and emotional experiences, while seeking to understand and connect with others.”

The MSL Children's School is supported by the Melba S. Lehner endowment, which helps advance higher education for early childhood educators while elevating the quality of educational experiences for young children.

After student teaching at the MSL Children’s School for a semester, Hurst knew early childhood education was the right classroom setting for her.

Through enrichment opportunities and hands-on student teaching experience, Hurst said the Early Childhood Education program has helped shape her perspective as a future children’s teacher.

“It’s so cool to see how the children learn through play,” she said. “We can see their growth in literacy with scribbling as they’re starting to learn how to write. Or when they’re making their own stories by drawing pictures.”

05/15/2026

This game gets easier the more time you spend on campus. Just saying...