Meet Our Alumni Board and Leadership
In serving as ambassadors for the College of Health, Alumni Board members promote the College's goals, encourage alumni engagement, and identify potential investors, as well as recruit new Board members to help realize the College's mission: creating a world of "Redefining the Human Healthspan" The Board meets three times each academic year, and its members attend College of Health events regularly.
Eric Aragon
Exercise Sports Science, MS, 1994
Learn More About Our Alumni Board Members
Bonnie Park
About Bonnie:
New Jersey-born Bonnie Bedford Park graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Science (1978) and a master’s degree in Leisure Studies (1980), now known as the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. An unpaid internship with the Park City Chamber of Commerce opened the door to her first job promoting the resort town of Park City.
Over the next thirty years, Park’s professional career spanned the nonprofit, commercial, and public recreation sectors. Most notably, she launched the Snyderville Basin Recreation District from an office in her family’s laundry room, where she began planning and building public parks, non-motorized trails, and recreation facilities—with a parallel emphasis on open space preservation.
In 2016, Park founded Spiky Pig Press, LLC, and has since self-published two of three books in a WWII trilogy: Brides of 1941 (2018) and Six Weeks for Boat Mail (2022), with the final installment, Separation by Force, expected in 2025.
Mitch Von Puttkammer
About Mitch:
Mitch grew up in Park City, UT, and quickly discovered he had a knack for taking care of the international tourists who visit during the summer and winter seasons. This led him to pursue a degree in Hospitality Management at the University of Utah. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism in 2016.
After graduation, Mitch moved to California and spent two and a half years working in the wine industry, educating visitors to Napa Valley about the history and uniqueness of wine in America. His love for education eventually brought him back to the U after three years as an elementary and middle school teacher. He’s currently a candidate for a Master’s of Education at the University of Utah, expected in 2027.
One of Mitch’s all-time favorite books—one that perfectly captures his shift from hospitality to education—is Parker Palmer’s The Courage to Teach. Palmer writes:
“Good teaching is an act of hospitality toward the young, and hospitality is always an act that benefits the host even more than the guest... By offering hospitality, one participates in the endless reweaving of social fabric on which all can depend – thus the gift of sustenance for the guest becomes a gift of hope for the host. It is that way in teaching as well: the teacher’s hospitality to the student results in a world more hospitable to the teacher.”
Taylor Schweitzer-Harper
About Taylor:
Taylor is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist currently working in Title I public schools, where she serves elementary and middle school students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2017, followed by a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology in 2020—both from the University of Utah.
Since graduating, Taylor has applied her expertise across a variety of settings. She began her career in a skilled nursing facility, supporting both rehabilitation and long-term care patients. There, she saw firsthand how speech therapy can enhance quality of life and help individuals transition back home. One of her most memorable experiences was starting a book club with a group of residents, fostering connection and friendship through shared stories.
Taylor has also worked in outpatient rehabilitation and now thrives in the school setting, where she enjoys the opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives. One of her favorite aspects of the profession is its versatility—allowing her to work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Outside of work, Taylor enjoys running, cooking and baking, and cheering on the Runnin’ Utes men’s basketball team.
Brad Dalton
About Brad:
Brad Dalton is a proud graduate of the University of Utah’s Physical Therapy program in the College of Health. Since earning his degree, Brad has built a dynamic career at Intermountain Health, where he has served as a physical therapist, rehab manager, and now as the operations director for outpatient rehab.
Reflecting on his time at the U, Brad credits the service-learning opportunities offered through the Honors and Physical Therapy programs for shaping his commitment to using his skills to serve others. “My education helped instill in me a desire to share my knowledge and make a difference,” he says.
One of Brad’s most memorable college experiences? A Friday afternoon rock climbing class. “It was the perfect way to unwind after a tough week and enjoy Utah’s incredible mountains,” he recalls. That love for the outdoors has stayed with him—he still lives in Utah and turns to nature for mindfulness and balance when life gets challenging.
Daniel Mackintosh
About Daniel:
A proud native of the Salt Lake Valley, Dan grew up near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and has deep roots in the Utah community. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army as a medic with the 144th Evacuation Hospital, followed by a church mission to Southern Brazil. Upon returning home, he attended the University of Utah, where he met his wife at a campus dance—beginning a 52-year journey of marriage, family, and shared purpose. Together, they’ve raised five daughters and a son, and are now the proud grandparents of 14.
After graduating from the College of Health, Dan began his professional career with the Surgical Division of American Hospital. Nine years later, he founded Surgi-Tech, Inc., a Salt Lake-based company that represented manufacturers of surgical instruments, equipment, and implantable devices across the Western United States, with a focus on the Rocky Mountain region. He successfully led the company until his retirement in 2015.
Today, Dan continues to serve his community in meaningful ways. He is an active member of the College of Health Alumni Board and dedicates his time to family, faith, and civic engagement—including work with Adult Probation and Parole, serving as a State Delegate, and supporting disadvantaged populations.
“Life has been good to me and very rewarding.”