A new school year welcomes new faces among our faculty across all five departments. We are thrilled to have these eight people join us to share their skills and knowledge on campus. Read below to learn a little bit more about each of them and what they will be bringing to the table.
Dr. Tara Field (PhD), Art History
Dr. Tara Field is joining Utah Tech as Assistant Professor of Art History. Her research explores how materiality shapes devotional practices and cultural identity in Italy, Spain, and the Americas. She is passionate about creating active learning experiences that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement with art history.
Wyatt Miles (BFA), Animation
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Animation from BYU, Wyatt Miles has worked as an Animator for about 20 years, mostly in the Game Industry. He enjoys long walks on the beach and is not quite sure if the same will hold true in the sweltering desert. He is very passionate about 2D Animation and is excited to teach and to share his experience with the students and faculty in the Art Department.
Feather Weldon (MFA), Dance
Feather Weldon is a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a MFA in Dance and Choreography from the University of Arizona and a BA in Dance from The University of Akron. She has performed with Dayton Ballet, Verb Ballets, Charlottesville Ballet, Zion Dance Project, American Neoclassical Ballet, Ad Deum Dance Company, Ballet Legato, and MadJax Dance Company. She has choreographed for various studios around the country and her recent work, Risk and Release, won second place in the 2025 Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival and was selected for the 2025 Dance City Festival Detroit.
William Cowser (MFA), Film
Wil Cowser is a filmmaker, theatre artist, and educator from Salt Lake City, Utah. He holds an MFA in Film and Media Arts from the University of Utah, where his research examined Utah’s cinematic identity and its potential for contemporary filmmaking.His creative work spans narrative film, theatre, music videos, and live performance, with a particular interest in horror, science fiction, and the contemporary American West. Working with both analog and digital tools, his films explore stylized visual storytelling through practical effects, material processes, and genre traditions. Wil has taught film production and media studies all across the state of Utah, and has led multiple studies abroad to Romania and the northern coast of Sicily. His teaching emphasizes hands-on production, collaborative storytelling, and the development of each student’s unique creative voice.
Bill Pruitt (MFA), Film, Utah Tech Creative Studios, Managing Director
Bill Pruitt has been nominated for and won many film awards over the years. He started out working for Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute. He followed one of the founders of Sundance to the Columbia University School of the Arts to study screenwriting and directing while he helped develop the producing curriculum and graduated with honors. His short films have won awards in several festivals and his feature script, “Dry Cycle”, was produced by Newmark Films. After receiving an MFA from Columbia, he took to the road, producing television for CBS, NBC, MTV, E!, Nat Geo, Amazon, Animal Planet, Vice, HBO, History and Discovery filming on nearly every continent on the planet. He is thrilled to be back home in Utah and sharing his knowledge and experience with students and fellow collaborators at Utah Tech.
Cole Wilkes (BS), Film, Utah Tech Creative Studios, Equipment Manager
Robert Cole Wilkes has lived in St. George most of his life. He moved to St George with his family at the age of 5 and has been here since then except for leaving for a two year mission in Tallahassee Florida. He also attended SUU and UVU before coming back to finish his degree in Digital Film Production at Utah Tech. He has worked in various jobs in the professional film industry such as sound mixer, boom operator, locations PA, and camera operator. He also has written and directed two short films both winning awards, one in outstanding directing, and the other took third place in a local film festival. He is excited to continue working in the local film industry, while helping students and local film makers find connections in the industry. He also loves to help film students understand, and learn to use professional film equipment to best be ready for a great job after graduation. Cole has an excitement and passion for the film industry that he hopes to pass on to anyone seeking the opportunity to work in film in any capacity.
Dr. Collin Clark (PhD), Music Education
Collin Clark is a Music Educator who earned his PhD from Florida State University. He has experience teaching high school band, choir, piano, and guitar. While trombone is his primary instrument, he loves participating in music making of any kind.
Ky Trupp (MFA), Theatre, Technical Direction/Scenic Design
Ky grew up in southeast Idaho, where his love for film and theater began at a young age, starring in his first lead role at the age of six. He completed his undergraduate degree in Theater Education at BYU-Idaho, and received his MFA in Theater Set Design and Technical Direction at Utah State University. He’s designed for universities including Utah State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi, and has worked closely with multiple directors at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Ky’s pastimes include skiing, movie nights with his wife and 4 kids, and chasing the best peach tart recipe.
It is always thrilling to see what the new school year will bring!
By Allyson Twitchell, Marketing Coordinator for the College of the Arts