Marianne Hamilton

Arts Advocate, Journalist, Athlete, Volunteer, Cancer Thriver

Marianne Hamilton is a lifelong journalist whose work has appeared in national and regional publications, and a fitness instructor and athlete who has earned more than 40 gold medals in race-walking competitions. Following a 25-year stint as an artist’s model, Marianne devotes much of her time to volunteer work supporting the arts. She is Past Chair and Board Member of the Art Around the Corner Foundation, and has served on several other arts- and culture-related boards and commissions. In January of 2022, Marianne was crowned Ms. Senior Universe. She is also a breast cancer survivor who credits her commitment to fitness as the key to her successful outcome.

Follow and share with Marianne Hamilton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marianne.l.hamilton/, Twitter @mlhamilton02, and LinkedIn at @marianne-lucchesi-hamilton-a24125!

LEONARD BAGALWA

Founder of UVU African Club, Humanitarian

A former refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Leonard is 42 years old, he married to his beautiful wife Best Bagalwa and they have 4 children, 3 girls and one boy and one more on the way.  

Leonard completed his undergraduate education in Public and Community Health Education and his Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Utah Valley University.  

He has over 8 years of experience working with refugees in Utah and has served on the boards of multiple non-profit organizations.  

Leonard is the founder and former president of UVU African Club, a club that transformed the perception of Africa in the eyes of the local community and state of Utah. Leonard is the founder and Executive Director of the Utah Valley Refugees.  

Leonard is committed to maximizing the positive impact he can make in the world to bless many individuals. He believes that his personal experiences and the work he does can empower people and transform lives.  

Being recognized for his humanitarian work, Leonard has received multiple awards, Utah Business -Living Color and the Utah Freedom Festival and many more...... 

 Once kidnapped and used as a child soldier, Leonard escaped and found himself in the refugee camp in Malawi. After 7 years in the refugee camp, Leonard was resettled in the United States in 2004. 

Laci Wall

Dance Fitness Instructor, Entrepreneur, Athlete

Laci Wall is a dance fitness instructor, a DNA Wellness advocate and the co-creator of the 7 Elements of Wellness lifestyle routine.  She has a bachelors degree in Human Performance & Wellness and a lifelong passion for music and dance. After experiencing a multitude of health issues since birth, she created a unique, high-energy dance fitness class called LDUB CLUB. Laci believes in moving our spirit, mind and body by being active, engaging muscles, building stamina and cardio strength. Her overall purpose is to bring awareness to the degree of attention we bring to our spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, nutritional, physical and financial wellness. 

Anna Beck

Drama Therapist 

Anna Beck is a Registered Drama Therapist who uses expressive arts to help people heal, grow, and transform. Through a life-long love of being on stage, Anna discovered the inherent nature of arts to improve mental and emotional well-being. Anna has Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre and a Master’s Degree specializing in Drama Therapy. Working with hundreds of teens and women in Southern Utah, she specializes in using creative expression to treat complex trauma and other mental health issues. Anna also works as a Creative Consultant and Coach, providing clinically-informed experiences at conferences, workshops, and retreats. She loves spontaneous dance parties and singing loudly in her car with her champion of a husband and four magical children. 

SouthernUtah.DramaTherapy (IG),  AnnaBeck (LinkedIn)

Ingrid Bianca Byerly

Educator, Adventurer

Ingrid Bianca Byerly serves as the Director of the Humanitarian Challenges Focus program, and teaches public speaking and ethnomusicology at Duke University. A native of South Africa, she grew up in a family of musicians, which inspired her doctoral research on the agency of music in societies. Her interests as an educator range from the Montessori and Suzuki methods in early education to Lifelong Learning approaches in later years. Having sailed around the world as faculty on three Semester at Sea voyages, teaching world music and global advocacy for humanitarian causes, she has visited over 50 countries, both as a teacher and traveler. Besides instructing freshmen on the skills of student success, and guiding college seniors through their honors theses to graduate with distinction, she treasures the lifelong learners attending her classes on Semester at Sea, as they inspire her interest in the importance of adult education, and of optimizing the golden Third Act in life.

Anna J’Nett Miller

Family Nurse Practitioner

Anna J’Nett Miller is a Family Nurse Practitioner who specializes in integrative medicine for all ages. J’Nett has been in the health care field for over twenty years. She started as a dental assistant where she worked until her sister Celeste was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was then that she decided to become a Registered Nurse with a passion to diminish or eliminate human suffering. Every step of her sister’s journey has led her to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner so she could help others.

Desert Bloom Healthcare (Facebook), desertbloomhealthcare(IG)

Mayor Donia Jessop

Crime Victim Advocate

Donia was born and raised in Hildale, Utah and has always had a love and devotion for her hometown. In 2011, when the twin cities were being torn apart by its church leaders, Donia took her family and left the FLDS religion. She returned 3 years later, immersing herself in the goal of restoring and rebuilding Hildale. Through her leadership, many doors have been opened. Besides being Mayor of Hildale Ut, Donia is most passionate about her advocacy work with Cherish Families, helping each person to be empowered to create a new life and to live that life fulfilled. Through Cherish Families she was introduced to BACA, a body of bikers that empower children to not feel afraid in the world in which they live. They work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. Donia is deeply committed to the people of her community, not focusing on the differences but rather what is held in common: their desire to create a safe place for raising families.

Wendi Bulkley

Emcee

Wendi Prince Bulkley grew up in Salt Lake City, UT and she graduated from Taylorsville High School. Wendi came to Dixie State on a leadership scholarship and began recruiting for Dixie as an Ambassador. While an Ambassador at Dixie State, Wendi met her future husband Jake Bulkley, who was also an Ambassador at the time, although they were later married after both serving LDS Missions.  

Wendi had the pleasure of winning Miss Dixie Spirit in the D-Queen Pageant back in 2001. Wendi served as Student Body President at Dixie State, then chose to serve an LDS Mission in Sofia Bulgaria. After completing her mission, Wendi received a leadership scholarship to be Vice President of Special Events in student government at Utah Valley University. Wendi received her Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Management and Business Leadership from Utah Valley University. She later completed her Master’s in Public Administration from Southern Utah University. Wendi served on the DSU Alumni Board for 9 years and created the Student Alumni Association in 2006.

Wendi has held various professions throughout here 20 years living in the Washington County Area. Wendi was the Washington City Community Center Director for 13 years. Then served as the Associate Athletic Director for Trailblazer Athletics for the past five years. Wendi’s passion is teaching. She is currently an adjunct professor at Dixie State University, where she teaches Sports & Recreation Marketing and Event Management.  

In February, Wendi accepted a position with TDS as the Senior Administrator of Field Marketing.  Wendi is thrilled for this new opportunity, and cannot wait to represent TDS and continue a long legacy of giving back to the St. George Community. Wendi & Jake reside in Saint George, Utah, where they are raising four beautiful children Bailey (17 yrs old), Boston (13 yrs old) & their youngest, twins, Cooper & Campbell (9 years old).

Bri Ray

Nationally Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter

Nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, Bri Ray, began her music ventures at the age of 8. She has performed in renowned venues including Utah’s Lavell Edwards Stadium, California’s Dolby theatre, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center and more. For over 10 years Bri Ray has traveled across the nation sharing her music and message of acceptance, love and kindness. Bri Ray was featured on American Idol Season 15 and is the first ever Presidential Scholar of the arts in the singer-songwriter discipline.

www.thebriray.com

Elise West

Maven, Passionate, Enthusiast, Aficionado Love Personified, Radically Inclusive, Joyful, Creative

Elise West’s life is filled with music, two kids, cooking, five grandkids, nature, community, coffee, dinner parties, gardening, chocolate croissants and Mexican Train!

A St. George resident for the past 14 years, her dreams came true when she launched the Affogato Coffee Truck and a year later moved into a funky and eclectic warehouse space. Affogato closed in 2020, thanks to a little thing called COVID, but thrilled to be bringing her back in 2023!

Elise serves on the St. George Planning Commission and on the Board for The Encircle House, Arts to Zion, Pride of Southern Utah and Art Around the Corner. She volunteers her time for Rise Garden Vertical Gardens as part of Switchpoint CRC and encourages every single person to visit, volunteer and purchase their incredible greens!

Serving her community is her passion, and sees a great need for inclusivity and places to connect. Her mantra is “How do I want to spend my moments”, as she finds it keeps her present, calm and enjoying the seconds!