Kristen Walton Named Director of Students for USU Brigham City Region

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah — Kristen Walton has been named the director of students for the Utah State University Brigham City Region. Walton will join the region beginning Aug. 17, 2023.

“We are excited to have Kristen join us in the Brigham City region,” said Dan Black, associate vice president for the USU Brigham City Region. “Her experience obtaining a degree through our statewide system will be invaluable as she helps students succeed. We look forward to her doing great things with our students.”

The Brigham City region encompasses USU Brigham City, USU Tremonton and USU Kaysville. Walton will work closely with students and help them along their path of academic success.

“As a student service leader, Kristen's role is essential,” said Andrea Hunt, assistant vice president for Statewide Campuses. “I'm excited for the background, energy and ideas she brings to the position and look forward to collaborating with her to provide students with the best possible Aggie experience.

Walton joins USU Brigham City after serving as a USU facilities administrator. In this position, Walton worked with students and full-time employees. She looks forward to working closer with students and empowering and supporting them as they pursue their dreams.

“As someone who returned to school as a post-traditional student myself, I have learned that story is such an important aspect of recruitment and retention efforts, and I look forward to learning the many stories of Brigham City Region students and potential students,” Walton said. “I truly believe that degrees change lives and create opportunities, and I look forward to seeing our students evolve and grow at USU.”

While working in facilities, Walton initiated Student Employee Appreciation Week, a weeklong celebration of the work accomplished by USU student employees, whom she describes as the heart of Facilities Maintenance, Landscape Operations and Maintenance (LOAM). She served as the chair of the Brian L. Andersen Memorial Scholarship Committee, the Social Media Committee, and the manager of the Participation and Reinforcement (PAR) Team. Walton also worked to plan and coordinate large-scale employee appreciation events and recruiting and retaining employees by cultivating a positive and appreciative culture. She hopes to build on the already strong culture in the region.

“I hope to help foster a culture of belonging and safety — academic and otherwise — for students in our region and help connect them with the myriad resources and student services available to help them succeed and thrive,” Walton said.

Walton graduated from Box Elder High School in 1998 and would later go on to earn an associate degree from Weber State University. After spending years in the insurance industry, Walton returned to school as a post-traditional student at USU to complete her bachelor’s degree in Technical Communication & Rhetoric. She would later go on to earn a master’s degree in Professional Communication & Leadership Studies from Southern Utah University.

Walton is married to her husband, Tyler, and together they have five children between the ages of 9 and 21. The family love spending time at their homestead in Honeyville, traveling, glamping and swimming. Walton is a big sports fan and loves to cheer for the Aggies and the Utah Jazz, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs. She also enjoys reading and loves to write poetry.

With two locations in Box Elder County, Utah State University Brigham City and Tremonton offer students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With more than 100 degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings, USU offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at brighamcity.usu.edu.