Skip to content

Main Navigation



Anthropology (8)


Michael Bird

BS Anthropology

National Consultant
National Policy Council for AARP

Michael E. Bird is a Santo-Domingo/KEWA Pueblo Indian from New Mexico. Mr. Bird has more than 30 years of public health experience with Native American populations in the areas of medical social work, substance abuse prevention, health promotion and disease prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, behavioral health, and healthcare administration.

Read more about Michael Bird

Earl Skidmore

BS Sociology
BS Anthropology

President (retired)
Northern California Chemical Association & Esbro Chemical

Earl S. Skidmore earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah where he majored in Sociology and Anthropology and earned minors in Zoology and Chemistry. Earl's studies at the University were interrupted by two years of service in the U.S. Navy. Later in his career, Earl returned to higher education earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University.

Read more about Earl Skidmore

Misty Frost

BS Anthropology

CEO
CareerStep

Misty’s passion is for building company value though building consumer value. As CEO of CareerStep, Misty drives the vision and strategy behind building learning experiences that allow individuals to enter and then grow their careers in healthcare.

Read more about Misty Frost

Edward R. Christensen

BS Anthropology
MS Anthropology
Ph.D. Anthropology

Docent
Utah Museum of Natural History

Edward R. Christensen has achieved wide intellectual, accomplishments in a variety of academic and professional fields, and is devoted to civic and social service. He graduated from the, University of Utah in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in, Chemistry in 1949. Edward then completed his Ph.D. in Anthropology, in 2009.

Read more about Edward R. Christensen


Economics (55)


Luis Garza

BS Economics
Master of Public Administration

Executive Director
Comunidades Unidas

Luis Garza has been involved in community affairs for the past 10 years. Prior to working at Comunidades Unidas, he worked for the SLC Mayor's Office of Diversity & Human Rights, The State Office of Ethnic Affairs, and the University of Utah Hospital.

Read more about Luis Garza

Richard Simpson

BS Economics
Ph.D. Organizational Psychology

Chief Academic Officer & Senior Vice President
Zenith Education Group

Dr. Simpson is an innovative educator with over 30 years of demonstrated exceptional experiences in teaching, consultation, administration, leadership and scholarship in large-scale higher educational settings both on-ground and online. He has an established record in strategic planning, fiscal management, resource allocation and the supervision of large divisions of personnel.

Read more about Richard Simpson

Greg Aiken

BA Economics

Vice President, Private Client Advisor
ZIONS Capital Advisors

Since 2011 Greg has been a Wealth Advisor with Zions Wealth Advisors working with many of the high valued clients of the bank. Prior to joining Zions, he was a Vice President/Relationship Manager with Key Private Bank. Before joining Key, Greg was the Vice President/General Manager for IKON Office Solutions.

Read more about Greg Aiken

Samantha Terry

BS Economics

Client Services Manager
Investor Reporting

Ms. Terry graduated from the U in 2007 with a degree in Economics. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles, California where she works as an Investor Services Associate with CBRE Global Investors in downtown Los Angeles.

Read more about Samantha Terry


Environmental and Sustainability Studies (4)


Brandon Lee

BA Political Science
BS Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Principal
ABS Consulting

Director, Environmental and Economic Policy and Regulation, Lee leads and manages projects related to environmental, regulatory, economic, and security risk-related issues for ABS Consulting, a maritime risk firm. He has led projects analyzing environmental impacts in the Western U.S., regional, national, and international air emissions and climate change, air and water regulations.

Read more about Brandon Lee

Kelsey Howard

BS Geography
BS Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Research Consultant
Boulder Mountain Consulting, LLC

Kelsey Howard is currently attending graduate school at the University of Utah in the geography department. Her Master's research is focused on studying paleoecology and spring productivity in Utah's west desert by reconstructing past fire and vegetation histories, as well as past climates through the use of pollen and charcoal from wetland sediments.

Read more about Kelsey Howard

Jason Robison

BS Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Fellow
Harvard Kennedy School of Government at Harvard College

Professor Robison's research and teaching interests generally revolve around water law and related areas of environmental and natural resources law and policy. He began his work in this field while earning a B.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Utah and subsequently completed a J.D. at the University of Oregon School of Law, as well as an LL.M. and S.J.D. at Harvard Law School.

Read more about Jason Robison

Sara Baldwin Auck

BS Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Regulatory Program Director
Interstate Renewable Energy Council

As IREC's Regulatory Program Director, Sara is responsible for managing the development of IREC's regulatory strategy, establishing priorities for engagement, and assisting with the strategy implementation.

Read more about Sara Baldwin Auck


Family and Consumer Studies (14)


Abbirose Polityka

BA Family and Consumer Studies

Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Salt Lake County

Abbi provides services with respect for human dignity and promotes the individuality of the residents unrestricted by considerations of age, social or economic status, personal characteristics, sexual orientation or lifestyle. She strives to respect and promote residents’ rights of self-determination, making every reasonable effort to act in accordance with residents’ wishes.

Read more about Abbirose Polityka

Natalie de Guzman

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Research Scientist
California Department of Public Health

Natalie de Guzman received her bachelor's degree in human development and family studies in 2009. She was then accepted into UC Davis for her master's program,and earned her degree in human development in 2010.

Read more about Natalie de Guzman

Carol Heap

Family and Consumer Studies

Cook & Seamstress

Carol graduated from the University of Utah, magna cum laude, in home economics education in 1978. She was a member of Omicron Nu, the honor society for home economics majors (now known as Kappa Omicron Nu). She taught for one year at Hillcrest High School from 1978 to 1979. She married David Heap in 1979, and after the end of the school year, they moved to the Washington ,D.C. area for nine years, and then to Phoenix, Arizona in 1988.

Read more about Carol Heap

Karen White Fairbanks

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Owner
Fairbanks, Inc.

Karen White Fairbanks,a lifelong resident of Ogden, manages Fairbanks, Inc., a national purchasing cooperative in the underground piping industry, with her husband Rick. Previously, they owned and operated the industrial piping firm W.R. White Company. Karen earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics.

Read more about Karen White Fairbanks


Geography (8)


Merrill K. Ridd

BS Geography
MS Geography

Emeritus Professor
University of Utah

Merrill K. Ridd is an emeritus professor of geography. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in 1954 and MS in 1960. Ridd earned his PhD from Northwestern University in 1963. He is a Korean War veteran 1950-1956.

Read more about Merrill K. Ridd

Matthew Moffit

BS Geography

Vice President, Navy Systems
Boeing's National Security and Space Group

Matt Moffit is Vice President, Navy Systems for Boeing's National Security and Space Group. He brings numerous years of Navy operational experience plus military assessments, requirements and budgeting expertise with him.

Read more about Matthew Moffit

Charles Sensiba

BS Geography

Partner
Troutman Sanders LLP

Charles Sensiba is a partner in the law firm of Van Ness Feldman, LLP, in Washington, DC. He provides strategic counsel and legal representation to public utility districts, state governmental entities, investor-owned utilities, water districts, independent power producers, and developers on the full spectrum of complex licensing, natural resources, and environmental issues related to hydropower development.

Read more about Charles Sensiba

Don Lewon

BS Geography

Owner
Dixie Metal Recycling

Don Lewon has been an exemplary leader in and supporter of the University, the College, and the community. He received a B.S. in Geography from The University of Utah.

Read more about Don Lewon


Health, Society and Policy (6)


Nathan Vassiliades

BS Health, Society and Policy

Dentist & Owner
Queen Creek Smiles

Nathan Vassiliades completed a BS in Behavioral Science and Health and then went on to complete dental school at the Marquette University School of Dentistry. Nathan has volunteered for Give Kids a Smile, Sealants for Smiles, the American Red Cross, and Cancer Wellness House.

Read more about Nathan Vassiliades

Elaine Peterson

BS Health, Society and Policy

Academic Program Manager
John A Moran Eye Center - University of Utah

Elaine started with the University of Utah in 1994, as part of the Health Sciences Development Office, and has been the Program Manager in Ophthalmology for 15 years. She oversees one ACGME-accredited residency program with a complement of twelve trainees, and seven non-ACGME fellowships with a total of eleven fellows.

Read more about Elaine Peterson

Alexis Lee

BA Health, Society and Policy

Programs Manager
University of Utah

Alexis Lee is a Programs Manager in Wellness and Integrative Health at the University of Utah. On the WIH Team, Alexis primarily helps to manage department finances, Wellness Outreach events, and ongoing program development. Alexis is a proud University of Utah graduate with a BA in Health, Society, and Policy and a BS in Exercise and Sport Science.

Read more about Alexis Lee

Frank Ulibarri

BS Health, Society and Policy

Market President
Aetna - Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi

As President of Aetna, Mr. Ulibarri is responsible for leading local markets in Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi overseeing sales, network development, and operations for commercial group, individual and government businesses. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Coventry Health Care of Florida, and was later named Aetna Market Executive Director in 2013.

Read more about Frank Ulibarri


Master of Public Administration (23)


Jennifer Seelig

Master of Public Administration
Ph.D. Political Science

Community Empowerment Director
City of Salt Lake

Jennifer Maurine Seelig has been involved in politics and public service for more than decade at a policy-making and leadership level. She was a policy and research analyst for the Salt Lake City Council between 1995 and 2000, handling such sensitive and critical issues relating to crime control, budget compliance within the administrative office, community relations, and public meetings involving the City Council.

Read more about Jennifer Seelig

Julie Newland

Master of Public Administration

Contract Specialist
Department of the Interior, National Park Service

Julie Newland graduated from the Executive MPA program in 2008. Since graduation, she has worked as a Contract Specialist for the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Read more about Julie Newland

Amanda K. Covington

HBS Mass Communications
Master of Public Administration

Executive Vice President, Communications & Government Affairs
Larry H. Miller Group of Companies

Amanda Covington has more than 20 years of experience leading corporate communications and government relations strategies impacting financial communications, crisis communications, domestic and international media/public relations, corporate branding and advertising, digital media, employee relations, public policy and legislation, industry associations, and community relations.

Read more about Amanda K. Covington

Aden Batar

Master of Public Administration

Director of Migration and Refugee Services
Catholic Community Services

Aden Batar is the Director of Migration and Refugee Services for Catholic Community Services (CCS). He is the first former refugee to ever hold such position in Utah. He has worked in this field for more than 20 years.

Read more about Aden Batar


Master of Public Policy (3)


Shawn Teigen

MS Master of Public Policy

Research Director
Utah Foundation

Shawn Teigen is the Lumina Foundation Strategy Labs State Policy Adviser for Utah. Lumina is the largest foundation in the United States that focuses solely on increasing Americans?? success in higher education. It works to increase the proportion of Americans with postsecondary credentials to 60% by 2025. Shawn is utilizing the resources of Lumina??s Strategy Labs with Utah leaders and influencers in an effort to help the state reach its attainment goals.

Read more about Shawn Teigen

Florian Hernandez

Master of Public Policy

Executive Director
Philippines Humanitarian

Florian Hernandez is the Executive Director for Philippines Humanitarian, a non-profit organization, providing funding for the education of impoverished children in the Philippines. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Utah State University.

Read more about Florian Hernandez

Michael Parker

BS Political Science
Master of Public Policy

Vice President of Public Affairs, Marketing and Senior Economist
Ivory Homes

Michael P. Parker earned both his bachelor's in political science and master's degree in public policy with an emphasis in regional economic policy from the University of Utah. He currently serves as the Director of Public Policy for the Salt Lake Chamber.

Read more about Michael Parker


International Affairs and Global Enterprise (3)


Mark Pittman

MS International Affairs and Global Enterprise
BS Political Science
BS Economics

Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Blyncsy

Prior to starting Blyncsy, Mark worked in areas as diverse as political campaigns, start-ups, and even a Fortune 500 Company. Mark was Director of the Lassonde New Venture Development Program at the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah.

Read more about Mark Pittman

Jeremy Lindsey

MS International Affairs and Global Enterprise

Chief Operating Officer
Alpha Warranty Services

Jeremy Lindsey is a winner of the 2017 Utah Business Magazine CXO of the Year award and AE Magazine's Top 40 Under 40.

Read more about Jeremy Lindsey

Kyle Gray

MS International Affairs and Global Enterprise

Storyteller, Professional Speaker and Bestselling Author

Right after graduation Kyle was adjunct faculty teaching an entrepreneurship class called The Foundry, helping local Utah entrepreneurs. It was his experience during his degree program and later teaching that helped him get a job with a startup, whose business he helped to grow with annual recurring revenue using just online marketing.

Read more about Kyle Gray


Political Science (84)


Ron Henriksen

BA Political Science

Co-Founder
Henriksen/Butler Design

Ron Henriksen received his bachelor's degree from the U in political science. He went on to co-found Henriksen/Butler Design, a contract furniture business, with Steve Butler in 1980, and the company became one of the leading distributors in the Intermountain West.

Read more about Ron Henriksen

Tom Love

BS Political Science

President & Founding Partner
Love Communications

Tom Love received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah. He is now is the President and CEO of Love Communications, a full-service advertising and communications agency focused on helping clients form strong bonds with their customers, consumers, and communities.

Read more about Tom Love

Jerilyn Oldroyd Stowe

BA Political Science

Chief Marketing & Engagement Officer
United Way of Salt Lake

Jerilyn Stowe is currently the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for United Way of Salt Lake. She provides creative leadership and vision for United Way of Salt Lake's communication strategies in order to advance the mission and organizational objectives. Stowe develops and implements local brand strategies to increase visibility of the organization and create a positive brand experience for United Way's stakeholders and the broader community.

Read more about Jerilyn Oldroyd Stowe

Leigh Von der Esch

BS Political Science

Managing Director
Utah Office of Tourism

Leigh von der Esch graduated in political science from the University of Utah in 1974. Inspired by Professor J.D. Williams, she has spent most of her professional years working in public service.

Read more about Leigh Von der Esch


Psychology (31)


Jonathan Owens

BS Psychology
Minor in Economics

Director of Retail & Land
Commerce Real Estate Solutions/Cushman & Wakefield

Jonathan Owens is Associate Director at Cushman & Wakefield, Commerce where he represents landlords as a leasing specialist, and tenants in expansions and start-ups. Owens is particularly experienced with development, leasing regional and community shopping centers, and equity projects stabilizing challenged properties.

Read more about Jonathan Owens

Marsha Gilford

BS Anthropology
BS Psychology

Southwest Regional Director, Corporate Affairs
The Kroger Co.

Marsha Gilford, Southwest Regional Director, Corporate Affairs for The Kroger Co., oversees government affairs, media relations, philanthropy and community relations for 139 Smith's store communities throughout a seven-state operational area. She has held her position as VP for the past 20 years.

Read more about Marsha Gilford

Nanci Klein

MS Psychology
Ph.D. Psychology

President
Nanci C. Klein, PhD, Inc

Dr. Nanci C. Klein is well known in the Salt Lake City, Utah community as a clinician, educator, and advocate. She has worked in the mental health field since 1973, receiving her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utah in 1985. Dr. Klein has maintained a private out-patient psychotherapy practice in Salt Lake City, Utah since 1986, having co-founded the Utah Institute for Psychotherapy and Training.

Read more about Nanci Klein

Christopher Fagundes

PhD Psychology

Associate Professor
Rice University

Working in the area of stress and health, Dr. Fagundes uses theories and methods from personality, clinical/health, and developmental psychology to examine how stress “gets under the skin” to impact diseases of older adulthood such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive decline.

Read more about Christopher Fagundes


Sociology (23)


Jody Olsen

BS Sociology

Visiting Professor
University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Social Work

Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW, is a visiting professor at the University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Social Work, director of the campus Student Center for Global Issues, and co-chair of the campus Global Health Interprofessional Council. She teaches international social work and is strengthening international opportunities for students and faculty at the school. She has participated in four inter-professional student summer health research projects in Malawi.

Read more about Jody Olsen

Allysann Ingram

BS Sociology

PAQ Program Manager
United States Air Force

A year after graduation, Allysann and her husband moved to Massachusetts. They both secured jobs with the Air Force, working at Hanscom Air Force Base. She is currently working as a Jr. Program Manager and was recently accepted into the Global Studies and International Relations master’s program at Northeastern University in Boston.

Read more about Allysann Ingram

Tanya Vea

BA Sociology
BA Mass Communications

Exec. VP, News & Cross Platform Development
KSL 5 TV & KSL NewsRadio

Tanya Vea is the Vice President and General Manager of Bonneville Salt Lake City, which includes KSL TV, KSL NewsRadio (FM 102.7), KSL Sports, FM 100.3 (KSFI) and 103.5 The Arrow (KRSP). She is the first woman to hold that position in Utah. Tanya joined Bonneville in 2010 as the executive vice president of cross-platform development and helped lead the formation of a combined news division, bringing together TV, radio, web and newspaper.

Read more about Tanya Vea

Leigh VandenAkker

BS Sociology

Teacher/Author
Salt Lake City School District

Leigh M. VandenAkker is Utah's 2012 Teacher of The Year and winner of Utah's 2011 Golden Apple Award. She is a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Huntsman Award and the 2016 PeaceKeeper Award. As co-author of Techniques for Tough Times TM, Leigh has trained teachers nationwide, providing insight and support by educating teachers in classroom management and how to teach SEL. She presented recently on Whole Child vs. No Child at SXSWEDU.

Read more about Leigh VandenAkker


Friend of CSBS (15)


Theresa Martinez

Friend of CSBS

Associate Professor of Sociology
University of Utah

Theresa Martinez completed her Ph.D. in Sociology in 1990 at the University of New Mexico and is currently Associate Professor of Sociology and former Assistant Vice President for Academic Outreach at the University of Utah. Her teaching and research deal with issues of race, class and gender, deviant behavior, juvenile delinquency, and popular culture.

Read more about Theresa Martinez

Matthew Theel

Friend of CSBS

Special Education Teacher
Canyons School District

William Matthew Theel graduated from the University of Utah in May of 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Ethnic Studies. Formerly under the College of Social and Behavioral Science, it is now housed under the School of Social and Cultural Transformation.

Read more about Matthew Theel

Connie White

Friend of CSBS

Vice President of Compliance
Western Electricity Coordinating Council's (WECC)

Connie White became Western Electricity Coordinating Council's (WECC) Vice President of Compliance in 2009. She provides oversight and directs all aspects of WECC's Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP). This includes the registration process, audits, investigations, and enforcement, for more than 450 entities in the Western Interconnection.

Read more about Connie White

Irwin Altman

Friend of CSBS

Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science & VP for Academic Affairs
University of Utah

Irwin Altman earned a bachelor's from New York University in 1951. He continued to pursue his studies in psychology at the University of Maryland, where he earned a master's and a Ph.D. in 1957.

Read more about Irwin Altman

Last Updated: 4/28/23