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Humans of the U: Ronnell Andersen Jones

“There just aren’t very many more rewarding things you can do with your life than spending every day encouraging the process of learning and having a hand in helping those light bulbs go on. That’s especially true when the subject is constitutional law and those light bulbs are illuminating new insights into the nation’s history, the workings of democracy and the hard questions that divide both the country and the court.”

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Humans of the U: Kevin Davenport

“Before physics, I was a designer, which is all about communicating complex ideas in novel ways. So, I came up with a board game. The basic idea is that you build an electrical circuit with your neighbors. Each player is a type of material, like silicon or germanium. Using currencies such as energy and photons, you push electrons around to the interfaces of the materials to create light.”

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Humans of the U: Liz Rogers

“I was born at Hill Air Force Base to a military historian and a Dutch immigrant, and have lived all over the western world. Because of that, I am owned by the love of history and the need to preserve it for future generations.”

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Humans of the U: Keith Diaz Moore

“What drove my architectural career was visiting my grandmother with Alzheimer’s disease in a lockdown wing of a nursing home. Architects, designers and planners have a social responsibility to do better, to act with an ethic of care. That has been my driving force.”

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Humans of the U: Ming Hammond

“As a professor, I think back sometimes to how impactful my experiences were as a freshman, getting that chance just because I asked. The first person you ask isn’t necessarily the first person to say yes, who will give you that shot. But we all started out as that nervous freshman, eager to try new things.”

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HUMANS OF THE U: CALBERT BECK

“I became a teacher to change the world. I feel that one should give back and, in my case, I knew I wanted to work with kids. Being a minority male, I felt that I could exemplify important things for young kids during a crucial time of their development. Something I did not have until junior high. My favorite thing about teaching is those “aha” moments when a child finally gets it, especially if it took perseverance and hard work.”

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HUMANS OF THE U: KYLE ETHELBAH

“When my mother passed from domestic violence at the hands of my father when I was three years old, it had a dramatic impact on me and my older brother. My father was in prison until I was 25 and died from alcoholism, and my brother eventually committed suicide. Of that union, I am the last one left. The only thing that was different for me was that I was given the opportunity to go to school—this is what truly allowed me to be where I am today.”

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HUMANS OF THE U: NOMAN KHAN

“I got my American citizenship exactly a day before my birthday this year. It was one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever gotten. Right after the ceremony, I took my citizenship certificate and ran to the passport office. Then I ran straight over to the elections office to register myself.”

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HUMANS OF THE U: CLAIRE TAYLOR

“Friends of Red Butte Creek and the Global Change & Sustainability Center awarded me a grant to create art of the wildlife in the Red Butte Creek area and I was able to combine that with my master’s degree project. I spent a year working in the Research Natural Area above Red Butte Garden, and the creek below it.”

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Humans of the U: Noelle Sharp

“Throughout most of my life, I’ve been traveling around the world and living in chaotic-filled cities. After attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I wanted a calmer lifestyle, so, I moved to Salt Lake. While still in school I took a weaving class while getting my degree in fiber material studies, I became fascinated with the history and complexity of weaving, and that eventually led me to starting my own business.”

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