Dr. Eric Kirby is an Assistant Professor of Management, Leadership, and Business Law in the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University. Prior to this role, Dr. Kirby served as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (Completion and Student Success) at Southern Utah University, where he led important campus retention, completion, and student success initiatives, as well as directly oversaw a number of units on campus directly related to this effort. Dr. Kirby holds a B.A. in Political Science (Southern Utah University), a M.S. in Administration (University of Denver), J.D. in Law (University of Denver), and a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Academic Administration (Indiana Tech). Prior to working in higher ed, Kirby practiced law for nearly a decade. His research interests are focused on innovative and unique retention and completion practices, leadership development, and the success of marginalized student populations.

Dr. Jared Tippets has worked in both the private sector and higher education and currently serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Utah University. His professional career has been spent focusing on retention, completion, and student success efforts as well as organizational change on both the academic affairs and student affairs side of the academy.  Prior to SUU he worked at Purdue University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Utah Valley University. Dr. Tippets holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems (Utah State University), a M.A. in Higher Education Administration (University of Missouri-Columbia), and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership (University of Kentucky). His research and professional interests are in retention and completion efforts along with leadership and organizational change strategies.