Meet Our Students: Sean Stetson

Name: Sean Stetson

Pronouns: he/him

Residence: Rose Park, Salt Lake City

Major: Journalism and Digital Media

Man with beard smiling leaning up next to a railing

Academic goals: I plan to get my associates at Salt Lake Community College this spring, and then transfer to the University of Utah in the Fall of 2024.

Dream job: I am manifesting that more professional sports come to Utah so I can either be a beat reporter or even a broadcaster.

Plan B: I will still find a way to be involved in some capacity to my dream job.

Why higher education: I really wanted to just learn as much as I can about everything to do with journalism.

Why SLCC: It was just there. Easy and accessible and I’m so grateful for that.

What motivates you or inspires you at school or in life: My wife Wendy Brown, the best appellate public defender for the state of Utah I know (I am very biased). She’s the smartest and hardest worker and she makes me want to be a better person every single day.

Meaningful life or career lessons you have learned so far: Well one thing that Professor Alison Arndt-Wild taught me is being organized when saving my files and my goodness has it helped me with everything. It’s so much easier to navigate my courses with where to save and look for my homework and with my new and current position of editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to efficiently do the job if it wasn’t for her, so thank you Alison.

Also, I always try and make everyone laugh as much as possible because laughing is fun, and it makes for a better environment. To quote Oscar Wilde: “Life is much too important to be taken seriously.”

Family: I am originally from Massachusetts and have no immediate family here in Utah. l am, however, very lucky that I married into a very large, beautiful and loving family with 14 nieces and nephews, a niece-in-law, and a grandniece. They all keep me very busy, and I truly am blessed that they are all in my life.

Hobbies: I recently got into photography since I am taking Intro to Photography this semester and it’s definitely not easy, but I love capturing precious moments. I am still learning but I think photography is going to be really important in my life going forward. I also love following sports especially if they’re from Boston and I like to think of myself as a “good” golfer.

Awards/accomplishments: This past August I was published in the Salt Lake Tribune with a story I wrote about the Salt Lake Community College Prison Education Program’s first graduating class, and I still am really proud of that. I am also the editor-in-chief of The Globe which is the student run newspaper and it’s just been a really great semester learning everything and there’s still plenty more to learn. The biggest thing I can say is that for the journalism and digital media department at SLCC there are just so many different opportunities and I’m excited for each and every one.

This semester as editor-in-chief has been a wonderful learning experience. It was a lot more work than I had initially anticipated, but it’s set me up for future success. I’m excited to finish out this semester strong and then welcome in new journalists to our staff next semester.

Military service: I was in the U.S Army as a 13D which is a Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems Specialist. I was stationed at what was then known as Fort Hood Texas in the 1st Calvary Division from 2008-2012 and I deployed to Iraq twice.

My experience with the military is one I will remember for the rest of my life. I am very proud to have served my country honorably. I traveled the world and met a great number of people who helped mold the person I am today. I do my best to live my life to the Army Values that I learned which are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog