Born in Apia, Samoa, Major Faamai (Faa) Taupau’s journey to America began with his immigration to Hawaii. Embracing the values of his new home, he pursued higher education at Southern Utah University, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. His dedication to service was further solidified when he commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in 2005. With over 24 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, Major Taupau’s career is marked by his enlistment in the Utah Army National Guard in 1999. His active duty service is distinguished by numerous deployments and a variety of leadership roles, including Brigade and Battalion Operations Officer, Company Commander, Brigade and Battalion Fire Support Officer, and Deputy Mission Crew Commander. His pursuit of excellence continued with a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster University. Major Taupau currently serves in the Army Reserves as the Brigade Fire Support Officer. In his civilian role, he is the Director of the University of Utah Veterans Support Center, where he advocates for and supports fellow veterans. Away from his professional commitments, Major Taupau cherishes the time spent with his wife, Megan, and their three children, Oriana, Telesia, and Taliilagi. His life is a balance of service, education, and the joys of family life.

Mario Reeve joins us after serving nearly 30 years in the United States Air Force, 22 of which were on active duty status. He held multiple roles during that period to include Instructor Flight Engineer, First Sergeant, Retention Office Manager, and the Utah Air National Guard Superintendent of Recruiting and Retention. Mario also served as the Sr. Associate Director of the Center for Veteran and Military Services at Westminster University. Mario holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems and a Master of Education with an Adult Learning Focus. He has been married to his wife, Jackie, for 30+ years, and they have three adult children, two dogs, and a crazy parrot.

Angela, the daughter of a WWII veteran, was born in Virginia and raised in Michigan. She moved to Utah with her son to begin working at the U with the National Center for Veterans Studies in 2019 and joined the VSC team in 2020. As a non-traditional student, Angela earned a BS in Business Administration - Management from Emory & Henry College and an MBA in Management and Leadership from Milligan College. She brings with her many years of administrative experience within the academic arena with faculty, staff, and students which also includes experience working with veterans as well as active duty military. Angela is an action movie connoisseur who also enjoys traditional board games, cooking, and singing (in her car and karaoke).

Brittny is an Air Force veteran from Salt Lake City, Utah, and an alumna of the University of Utah. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology, with a minor in Human Development & Family Studies, along with several certificates from the U of U’s College of Social & Behavioral Science. During her time at the U, Brittny actively engaged with the university community, starting as a mentor in the Crimson Mentorship Program and later serving as a student representative for the Basic Needs Collective and U Life Mentor. She also took on leadership roles as President of the Crimson Transfer Honor Society and Secretary of the PCUU. Passionate about student support and higher education, Brittny is dedicated to helping students thrive, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting workforce readiness. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three daughters, watching movies and traveling to beaches around the world.

Jason is a Utah native. He has a BS in Psychology along with a Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Utah State University. He was worked for the VA for more than 12 years as a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, and joins us as part of the Vets Success on Campus program sponsored by the VA. He started out working in Colorado Springs, CO and returned to Utah in 2013. Jason is married and has four children.

Aaron was born in northern California, and although his family moved quite a bit due to his father's service in the Navy, he grew up primarily in Virginia Beach, VA. He attended Brigham Young University as an undergraduate majoring in psychology and minoring in Spanish, which he speaks fluently. He completed his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology at Utah State University. He has experience working in a wide variety of clinical settings including the VA hospital. He is excited to serve veterans at the U by providing counseling and facilitating access to VA health programs, including the VITAL program at the VSC. He enjoys exercise, playing soccer and basketball, listening to and playing music, and reading.