Guest Column: Learn that We are One

I recently celebrated my five-year anniversary as an employee of Utah State University. The entirety of that five years has been spent working at the USU Uintah Basin statewide campuses in Vernal and Roosevelt. In April, I earned my Master of Business Administration from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. I attended every class over the course of two years from the Uintah Basin via interactive video conference (IVC) broadcasts and Zoom.

Despite my personal experience, I had no idea how robust, varied and welcoming USU’s Statewide Campuses are until this summer, when I was given a T-shirt with the words “We are One” emblazoned on it as I boarded a bus full of Aggies to travel more than 1,300 miles over three days.

The opportunity to join USU Student Association representatives, advisors, and administrators on their annual Statewide Campus Tour was truly rewarding. We started in Logan and visited USU’s campuses and centers in Brigham City, Kaysville, Tooele, Salt Lake City, Roosevelt, Vernal, Price, Moab, Blanding, Monument Valley, Ephraim, Nephi, and Orem. As you might imagine, visiting so many places in three days can feel a bit overwhelming. But at each stop, we were greeted by Aggies who were excited and proud to show us the spaces where education is changing lives. 

One of the things I learned is that some parts of the statewide campus experience are identical to those found in Logan. Others – as they should be – are unique to the communities where the campuses are located. In Blanding, we were treated to homemade fry bread prepared by students, presented with Diné (Navajo) Sani scarves, and given a tour of the traditional hogan that was dedicated on campus in November 2021. The hogan provides students with a place to pray, conduct ceremonies, or just study and relax. The smell from the cedar in the hogan was amazing!

In Tooele, the campus is nestled at the edge of a residential neighborhood. The vibe from the students and staff we met was that of a close-knit community that welcomes outsiders and fosters a sense of inclusion. The USUSA representatives in Tooele are actively engaged in promoting this culture, as are USU alumni who live in the area. Both groups hold events like movie nights, swimming parties, and the Blue Rock Run that encourage community involvement.

Time and again on the tour I was inspired by the work Aggies are doing statewide in the classroom and their communities. For years I’ve heard phrases like “Aggies are everywhere,” and “We’re part of the Aggie family.” Visiting just 14 of the 30 USU campuses and centers across the state reinforced the truth of these phrases. 

I believe we could all benefit from discovering the truth of these phrases for ourselves. To do that we must broaden our understanding of what it means to be an Aggie. So, my challenge is this: Take a road trip of your own, experience USU’s Statewide Campus system for yourself, and learn that We are One.

Vanessa Liesik is the Director of Statewide and USU Online Recruitment. She works out of the USU Uintah Basin campus in Vernal.

— vanessa.liesik@usu.edu