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Anthropology (8)


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.

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Caroline Gleich

BS Anthropology

Professional ski mountaineer, Adventure Athlete, and Environmental Activist
Big Mountain Dreams

Caroline Gleich moved west from the frozen hills of Minnesota age at 15 and began to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a professional skier. Now she is sponsored by the likes of Patagonia, Zeal Optics, Clif Bar, Atomic skis, Thule, Nemo, Glide stand up paddle boards, Quickblade paddles, among others, and shreds with the best nearly every day of the season.

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Ted Coxworth

PhD Anthropology

Senior Director of Analytics
Progexion

As a leader, Ted's emphasis on accurate, clear, and efficient problem solving applies to more than just the models my team builds or tests we design and monitor. It extends to establishing IT and data infrastructure, adding new team members, and maintaining effective lines of communication.

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Terri Fain

BS Anthropology
MS Sociology

Artist

Terri "T. C." Fain trained at the Skinner Museum of Art, Palo Alto Artist's League and University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She has also benefited from working with local artists and their styles including the abstraction of John Grillo, spare eastern beauty of Q Holmes, classical style of Barbara Johnson and spontanaiety of Louise Minks.

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Economics (55)


Jason Ware

BS Economics

Partner & Chief Investment Officer
Albion Financial Group

As the firm’s Chief Investment Officer Jason guides Albion and their clients through complex and ever-changing financial markets with a rigorous investment approach underpinned by a resolute core long-term philosophy. Jason, and the team of portfolio managers and analysts he leads, build durable evidence-based investment portfolios for clients in service to the financial planning his firm’s advisors (CFPs) do on the front end.

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Jennifer Smith

HBA Economics
MS Economics

Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Zions Bancorporation

Jennifer Smith is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Zions Bancorporation. Smith previously served as director of Enterprise Operations and her responsibilities include executive leadership for the Customer Care Centers, as well as all Deposit, Treasury, and Lending Operations for Zions Bancorporation.

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Don Yacktman

BS Economics

Partner & Portfolio Manager
Yacktman Asset Management

Don Yacktman holds a B. S. Magna Cum Laude in economics from The University of Utah and an MBA with distinction from Harvard University. Don began his career at Yacktman founding the company as its President, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Investment Officer.

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Dave Patton

BS Political Science
Economics
Ph.D. Political Science

Executive Director
Utah Department of Health (UDOH)

Dr. W. David Patton has served as executive director of the Utah Department of Health(UDOH) since March 2011. As director, Patton oversees nearly 1, 000 health department employees with the goal of helping Utah become the healthiest state in the nation.

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Environmental and Sustainability Studies (4)


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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Family and Consumer Studies (14)


Melissa Freigang

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Executive Director
Weber Prosperity Center of Excellence

Melissa Freigang is the founding director of the Weber Prosperity Center of Excellence. The Center is unique, the first of its kind. It is a department of Weber County in partnership with the Weber-Morgan Health Department and Weber Human Services. Melissa blends her 25-years of experience in operational excellence with her expertise in human development, family resilience and intervention design to address the county’s most complex social challenges.

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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.

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Steve Alder

BS Family and Consumer Studies
MS Family Ecology

Chief, Division of Public Health
University of Utah

Stephen C. Alder, Ph.D., is a two time graduate of the College of Social and Behavior Sciences at the University of Utah through the Department of Family and Consumer Studies. He received a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Behavior 1992 and a Master of Science in Family Ecology 1996.

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Erin Trenbeath-Murray

BS Family and Consumer Studies
MS Family and Consumer Studies

Regional Chief Development Officer for the Utah/Nevada Region
American Red Cross

Erin is responsible for the blood donations and financial giving of the region through a team of executive directors and regional philanthropy officers. Erin has over 20 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. Her career spans from being an early childhood teacher, to instructing at the University of Utah, to CEO of a large non-profit organization.

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Geography (8)


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.

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Richard A. Carter

BS Geography

Vice President of Government Relations
Pacific Gas and Electric Company

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah and a current resident of Arlington, Virginia, Rick Carter graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Utah's College of Social and Behavioral Science in Geography/Urban Planning and a Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. He also affiliated with and was president of the Delta Sigma chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

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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.

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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


Health, Society and Policy (6)


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.

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Maziar Nourian

BS Health, Society and Policy
Minor Psychology
Minor Chemistry

Mentor
LEAP College of Health Program

Maziar M. Nourian is a graduate from the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He received his Bachelor of Science in Health Society and Policy as well as minors in Psychology and Chemistry ('13). Nourian will continue his education to complete a Doctor of Medicine in 2019.

Read more about Maziar Nourian

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.

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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.

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Master of Public Administration (23)


Robert Spendlove

Master of Public Administration

Senior Vice President & Economic and Public Policy Officer
Zions Bank

Robert is a Senior Vice President and the Economic and Public Policy Officer for Zions Bank. In this capacity he monitors and reports on economic indicators and public policy developments for the bank. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank is Utah's oldest financial institution and it operates locations in communities throughout the Intermountain West.

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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

Susan Chandler

Master of Public Administration

President
California Association for the Physically Handicapped, Inc

When Susan Chandler graduated, she was privileged to win the Dalmas Nelson award for her Thesis! She also applied for and got accepted into the CA State University/Sacramento & CA Governor??s Executive Fellowship Program. She worked for 10 months at the Staff, Services Analyst level for CalTrans at the EEO office in the Disability Program.

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Phyllis Hockett

Master of Public Administration

Principal & Co-Founder
Pathway Associates

Phyllis Hockett is a dedicated philanthropist, and believes in the transformative power of the generosity of volunteers and of donors. Her philosophy of nonprofit sustainability is founded on the principle of abundance and the enormous potential that generosity holds for our world and the nonprofit organizations that serve it.

Read more about Phyllis Hockett


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.

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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

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


Political Science (84)


Bill Crim

BA Political Science

President & CEO
United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL)

Bill Crim serves as President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL). Most recently, he worked as UWSL's Senior Vice President of Collective Impact and Public Policy. He has worked for over 23 years on issues related to economic opportunity, health care, education and poverty, first as a research fellow for the Coalition on Human Needs in Washington, D.C. and then as a researcher, policy analyst, community organizer, lobbyist, and executive director for Utah Issues.

Read more about Bill Crim

Jordan Andrew

BS Political Science

Private Wealth Advisor
Goldman Sachs

Jordan Andrew provides comprehensive fee-based financial planning and assists business owners and affluent families in identifying where the gaps and missed opportunities exist. He helps clients in the areas of investment management programs, retirement income strategies, estate planning, business succession planning, personal risk management, and tax reduction strategies.

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Kem C. Gardner

BA Political Science

Chairman
The Gardner Company

Kem C. Gardner earned a bachelor's in political science from the University of Utah in 1967 and a juris doctor from the S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1970.

Read more about Kem C. Gardner

James Bjorkman

BS Political Science

Foreign Service Officer
U.S. Department of State

D. James Bjorkman, '05 Political Science, is a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. He works in the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana where he is the Political and Economic Counselor to the Ambassador. He has previously worked at the embassy in Nicaragua as Immigrant Visa Unit Chief and American Citizen Services Unit Chief and in several U.S. Department of State offices in Washington, D.C.

Read more about James Bjorkman


Psychology (31)


Ryan Evans

BS Psychology

President
Utah Solar Energy Association (USEA)

Ryan provides leadership, direction and management for all aspects of USEA activities and is responsible for seeing that the strategic initiatives and policies of the Board of Directors are effectively implemented. Specifically Ryan leads Utah Solar's strategic & operational strategy; board member, and external relations; advocacy & public policy; administration; and business development.

Read more about Ryan Evans

Maziar Nourian

BS Health, Society and Policy
Minor Psychology
Minor Chemistry

Mentor
LEAP College of Health Program

Maziar M. Nourian is a graduate from the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He received his Bachelor of Science in Health Society and Policy as well as minors in Psychology and Chemistry ('13). Nourian will continue his education to complete a Doctor of Medicine in 2019.

Read more about Maziar Nourian

Mitchell Cox

BS Psychology

International Program Manager
Lucid Software

Mitchell Cox graduated with an Honors B.S. in Psychology from the University of Utah in December 2014. Passionate about people and technology, Mitchell enjoys building great tech products that provide exceptional user experiences. Outside of his professional work, Mitchell coaches CrossFit, is passionate about sexual assault education and prevention, and enjoys Utah's beautiful outdoors.

Read more about Mitchell Cox

Lace Padilla

PhD Psychology

Assistant Professor
University of California Merced

Dr. Lace Padilla is an assistant professor in the Cognitive and Information Sciences department at the University of California Merced. She received a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Sciences and an MFA in Design from the University of Utah. Padilla and collaborators were recently awarded an NSF RAPID award to study uncertainty in COVID-19 data visualizations.

Read more about Lace Padilla


Sociology (23)


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

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

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

Clover Sanders

Masters Sociology

Realtor
The Group Real Estate

Clover Sanders was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She attended Rowland Hall and graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A.. In 2001, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she and her husband lived for two years. Clover earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2005. She then lived and worked in Boston for one year before returning to Salt Lake City in 2006.

Read more about Clover Sanders


Friend of CSBS (15)


Mickey Ibarra

Friend of CSBS

President
Ibarra Strategy Group

For Mickey Ibarra advocacy has always been a way of life. It was in that role he honed the leadership skills that led him to the White House senior staff of President Bill Clinton, the creation of his own business and the development of the Latino Leaders Network.

Read more about Mickey Ibarra

Desmond C. Barker

Friend of CSBS

President
Des Barker Associates, Inc.

Desmond C. Barker is the president of Des Barker Associates, Inc., which provides public relations, government affairs, and business-to-business marketing consulting to the tourism, land development, manufacturing, mining, and telecommunications industries, areas he has specialized in for 12 years. He serves on the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce government affairs and transportation committees, among others.

Read more about Desmond C. Barker

Stanley Mulaik

Friend of CSBS

Retired Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Stanley Allen Mulaik has had a long association with the U. In 1939, at age 4, he began his schooling at the University of Utah in the Nursery School in the Home Economics department. (His parents were students, then faculty in the biology department next door). He next attended kindergarten in 1940 in Stewart School diagonally across the street (which later became the Anthropology Department) and went on for the next 9 years there to 'graduate' in 9th grade In 1950.

Read more about Stanley Mulaik

R. Christian Sonne

Friend of CSBS

Practice Leader
Self Storage Valuation Group at CBRE

R. Christian Sonne is a Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield and the Specialty Group Manager of the Self Storage Industry Group. An appraiser and real estate economist by training, Chris started Self Storage Economics in 2002 because of the growing sophistication of the self storage asset class and market demand for quantified self storage data and conclusions.

Read more about R. Christian Sonne

Last Updated: 4/28/23