Skip to content

Main Navigation



Anthropology (8)


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

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.

Read more about Caroline Gleich

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

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.

Read more about Terri Fain


Economics (55)


Greg Schulz

BS Economics
Masters Public Administration

Municipal Administrator
Magna Metro Township

Greg currently serves as the Municipal Administrator of the Magna Metro Township. Prior to his work with the Metro Township, Greg spent almost 10 years serving Magna and the other previously unincorporated communities of the west side from the position of West Township Representative for Salt Lake County.

Read more about Greg Schulz

Richard Davis

BS Economics

Senior Manager of Insights and Analytics
Vehicle

Rich Davis is Senior Manager of Insights and Analytics at Vehicle. Vehicle uses personalized video to drive loyalty and reduce churn, enabling brands to make one-to-one connections with their consumers. Increased customer engagement is accomplished through hyper-targeted, dynamic and personalized video or rich media via digital advertising and messaging mobile channels. In his role, Rich optimizes targeting strategies and campaign insights to key Vehicle clients.

Read more about Richard Davis

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

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)


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

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

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

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)


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.

Read more about Erin Trenbeath-Murray

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.

Read more about Steve Alder

Allie Teller

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Playworks Specialist
Canyons School District

Allie Teller received her bachelor's degree in human development and family studies in 2009. She went on to receive her master's in educational psychology in 2013.

Read more about Allie Teller

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.

Read more about Melissa Freigang


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

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

Brian Haslam

BS Geography
MS Geography

President | CEO
Cityworks | Azteca Systems, Inc.

Brian Haslam earned his bachelor's degree from Geography in 1986, followed by his master's degree from Geography with a GIS emphasis in 1990 from the University of Utah. In 1986, he established Azteca Systems, Inc. to provide mapping update services for the US Forest Service Geometronics national mapping center located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Read more about Brian Haslam

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.

Read more about Richard A. Carter


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.

Read more about Frank Ulibarri

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

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

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


Master of Public Administration (23)


Janine Donald

Master of Public Administration

Executive Director
Elements Traverse

Janine is the Executive Director at Splore, a nonprofit adventure company which specializes in providing life-changing outdoor adventures for people of all abilities. Donald is an alumna of Pacific University in Oregon and in 2012, received her Master in Public Administration from the University of Utah.

Read more about Janine Donald

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.

Read more about Robert Spendlove

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

Denise Winslow

Master of Public Administration

Vice President
Community Relations at Wells Fargo

Denise Winslow is Vice President of Community Relations at Wells Fargo. She received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah and has been an active participant in the Utah nonprofit world and with the Community Foundation of Utah for many years. Denise has been particularly passionate about recent efforts to revitalize the Jordan River.

Read more about Denise Winslow


Master of Public Policy (3)


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

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

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)


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

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


Political Science (84)


Janice Ugaki

BA Political Science

President & Co-Founder
Firmseek

Janice Ugaki is the President and Co-Founder of Firmseek, an award-winning marketing and technology company based in Washington, DC. She frequently joins leading experts in speaking on technology and business development issues around the country.

Read more about Janice Ugaki

Stuart S. Dye

BS Political Science

Lawyer
Stuart S. Dye & Associates, PLLC

Stuart S. Dye graduated cum laude with his bachelor's degree in 1961. He currently practices in the areas of U.S. legislative and administrative law, international commercial transactions and projects. Dye represents domestic and multi-national corporations, trade associations and not-for-profit entities involved in transportation, energy, homeland and maritime security and emergency preparedness and response.

Read more about Stuart S. Dye

Laury F. Hammel

BS Political Science

President & CEO
The Longfellow Clubs

Laury was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and is a graduate of the University of Utah where he played on the nationally ranked tennis team. His parents, Lee and Ruby, met playing on the U tennis courts and both are members of the Utah Tennis Hall of Fame.

Read more about Laury F. Hammel

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)


Sydnie Simmons

BS Psychology
BS Sociology

Clinical Psychologist
OB/GYN Psychcare, PLLC

Sydnie Simmons is a licensed clinical psychologist currently specializing in maternal-infant health through a program I developed called OB/Gyn Psychcare. Her program has a focus in bringing awareness of the obstacles women, their partners, and their families face regarding emotional struggles during pregnancy and postpartum adjustment.

Read more about Sydnie Simmons

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

D. Brent Scott

BS Psychology

Past President of the Alumni Association
University of Utah

D. Brent Scott had a remarkable history of leadership throughout his life. After a short stint in the U.S. Navy from 1945-46, Mr. Scott earned his B.S. in psychology from The University of Utah. He founded Scott Machinery Company, where he served as its president for many years. He served as chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Utah, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Utah House of Representatives.

Read more about D. Brent Scott

Jeremias Solari

BS Psychology
BS Economics
MS Economics

Assistant Director
Department of Workforce Services

Jeremias Solari graduated from the University of Utah in 2017, 2015, and 2012 with a masters and bachelors in economics, and a bachelors in psychology. Jeremias immigrated at the age of 10 to the United States from Argentina; profoundly impacting his perspective on work, society, economics, and culture.

Read more about Jeremias Solari


Sociology (23)


Shawn Newell

BS Sociology

Vice President of Business Development
Industrial Supply Company

Shawn is the Vice President of Business Development at Industrial Supply Company where he has worked for the past 35 years. He serves as a community integrator working as the vice president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, a former Commissioner on the Governor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission and is on the executive Board of the Utah Black Round Table.

Read more about Shawn Newell

Matt Martinez

BS Sociology
BS Economics

Pioneer | Teacher Major Accounts Strategic Business Consultant
ADP

As a student Matt Martinez earned a degree in Sociology and a second in Economics while significantly contributing to the University of Utah Football team as a linebacker and team captain. Matt's success has continued post-graduation as he has excelled as a Regional Account Sales Executive for ADP Payroll and Business Solutions in Salt Lake City.

Read more about Matt Martinez

Joan Wasson Smith

BA Sociology

Licensed Psychotherapist; Executive Director
National Conference for Community and Justice, Utah Region

Joan Wasson Smith has worked for peace and justice, and against bias, bigotry, and racism in Utah. She received a B.A. in sociology with a concentration in political science from The University of Utah and a M.S.W. and D.S.W. from The University of Utah Graduate School of Social Work.

Read more about Joan Wasson Smith

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


Friend of CSBS (15)


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

J. Ralph Brown

Friend of CSBS

National Citizenship Chairman
National P.T.A.

J. Ralph Brown graduated from the University of Utah in 1935. While at the U, he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, served as a class officer, business manager of the campus magazine, and was selected to be part of both, Skull and Bones and, Owl and Key groups.

Read more about J. Ralph Brown

Ana Breton

Friend of CSBS

Digital Administrator/Producer
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee

Ana Breton is a Director of Photography & Editor for comedy series, TV and documentaries. Currently, she lives in New York and works as the Digital Administrator/Producer for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

Read more about Ana Breton

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