Tiffany Vickers, Ph.D., CHES
Why I came to Utah Tech:
Dr. Tiffany Vickers holds a PhD in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Utah and has been building a career in higher education since 2007. She served for nine years as the Assistant Director for the MHA program at the University of Utah, contributing significantly to its growth. Now at Utah Tech University, Dr. Vickers leverages her extensive experience to integrate real-world insights into the curriculum, aiming to propel the institution forward in alignment with its innovative, career-focused educational mission.
Her research is concentrated on the self-efficacy of mothers caring for children with special needs, underscoring her compassionate and research-driven approach. Outside of her professional life, Dr. Vickers is passionate about outdoor adventures and reading. Joined by her partner John and two loyal dogs, she aspires to visit all the national parks.
Robert Kagabo, Ph.D., MSW, MPH.
Why I came to Utah Tech:
Robert graduated with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, and a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) also in Public Health from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine within the University of Utah School of Medicine. He later graduated with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree still from the University of Utah, and then completed a 2-year Post-doctoral training within the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
Motivated by his interest to study health disparities in under-served populations, he engages in projects that recognize substance use and mental health as greater public health concerns. His current research interests include promoting smoking cessation among vulnerable populations such as psychiatric inpatients with substance use problems, including opioid misuse. He also investigates possible predictors of readmission in psychiatric inpatient facilities. He hopes that identifying such predictors can assist in the development and implementation of interventions to improve community health issues, and substance use disorders among the understudied population of individuals with psychiatric illness.
In addition to his smoking cessation work in the US, he works in refugee camps in the West Nile region of Uganda in East Africa, where most of the refugees are from the Congo, and Sudan. His work in the refugee camps extends to understanding humanitarian work, improving community health, and treatment of mental health and substance use among the refugee and surrounding non-refugee populations. His approach is guided by principles of community-based participatory research.
Jennifer Bringhurst, Ph.D.
Why I came to Utah Tech:
Jennifer Bringhurst is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator, excited to embark on a new teaching journey at Utah Tech University. With six years of experience in education, she has a passion for population health and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment.
Having earned a doctorate in Health Sciences focusing on global health from A.T. Still University, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a talent for student-centered learning and has always prioritized her students’ academic and personal growth.
Outside of the classroom, Jennifer enjoys volunteering with Mercy Ships, this often serves as a source of inspiration for her teaching practice. She believes these experiences contribute to a well-rounded perspective that can benefit her professional and personal life.