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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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Economics (55)


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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Stephen L. Mangum

BS Economics
Masters Human Resource Management

Dean & Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair
Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Stephen L. Mangum is the Dean of the Haslam College of Business and the Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair at the University of Tennessee. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in human resource management from the University of Utah.

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Matt Lyon

BS Economics

Chief Operating Officer
WCF Insurance

Matt Lyon is the Chief Operating Officer for WCF Insurance where he oversees marketing and sales, underwriting, safety and health, IT, human resources, and corporate strategy. Matt joined WCF Insurance from Farmer's Insurance in Los Angeles California where he was most recently Head of Commercial Insurance Product Management.

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Luciano Pesci

BS Political Science
MA Economics

CEO
Emperitas

Luciano Pesci is a graduate instructor of Economics at the University of Utah where he teaches statistics, intermediate micro, American economic development, and applied business analytics. He holds an HBA in history, a BS in political science, and an MA in economics all from Utah, where he was the 2008 valedictorian, and is in the final phase of his PhD in economics.

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Environmental and Sustainability Studies (4)


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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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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Family and Consumer Studies (14)


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.

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Barbara Vance

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Professor
Brigham Young University

Barbara Vance earned a bachelor's in family and consumer studies from the University of Utah in 1956. She received a master's in human development from Brigham Young University in 1959 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in counseling from Stanford University.

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Jenny Stout

Family and Consumer Studies

Undergraduate Advisor
University of Utah - Family & Consumer Studies

In 2007, Jenny Stout received two bachelor's degrees: one in consumer and community studies and one in human development and family studies. She is now an academic advisor for the Department of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah.

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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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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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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.

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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.

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Health, Society and Policy (6)


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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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.

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Marlowe Dazley

BS Health, Society and Policy

Senior Vice President, Managing Director
Health Catalyst

Marlowe Dazley is senior vice president and managing director at Health Catalyst, a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, committed to being the catalyst for massive, measurable, data-informed healthcare improvement.

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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.

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Master of Public Administration (23)


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.

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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.

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Renee Morita

BS Political Science
Master of Public Administration

Adjunt Professor
University of Utah

Renee Morita received a degree in Political Science and a graduate degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Human Resources and Labor Relations form the University of Utah. While attending college, Renee completed several Hinckley Institute of Politics internships at the American Educational Research Association (Washington, D.C.); the League of Women Voters (Salt Lake City); and the Winterim Symposium (Washington, D.C.).

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Julie DeLong

Master of Public Administration

Managing Partner
Pathway Associates

Julie DeLong, MPA, CFRE, is an accomplished executive with a strong background in leadership, management, fundraising, communications, and governance. A nonprofit consultant and expert with a focus on community development, education, environment, healthcare, equity, and the arts, she is particularly skilled at building new capacities, sustaining and coaching organizations through leadership transition, and capital campaigns.

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Master of Public Policy (3)


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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Political Science (84)


Leonidas Ralph Mecham

BS Political Science
Master of Public Administration

Director
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Leonidas Mecham graduated from the University of Utah with highest honors,receiving a B.S. in Political Science in 1951, a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University in 1963, and a J.D. from George Washington University.

Read more about Leonidas Ralph Mecham

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.

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Judge Bruce S. Jenkins

BS Political Science

Senior United States District Judge
State of Utah

Judge Bruce S. Jenkins graduated magna cum laude in political science from the University of Utah in 1949, and went on to earn a juris doctor from the S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1952 where he wrote for the Utah Law Review.

Read more about Judge Bruce S. Jenkins

Carl Churchill

BS Political Science
MBA

Chief Coffee Officer
Alpha Coffee

Carl and his wife Lori co-founded Alpha Coffee starting in their basement on Sept 11, 2010 as an online purveyor of specialty coffee, roasted fresh in small batches and mailed directly to customer’s homes. Since then Alpha has grown to over $1M in annual sales and includes a wholesale program, 2 brick and mortar stores at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and in West Jordan , a coffee truck, and an expanded online presence and Amazon Prime.

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Psychology (31)


Afesa Adams

MS Psychology
Ph.D. Psychology

Senior Research Associate, Emeritus
University of North Florida

Here at the University of Utah, Dr. Adams was known as an inspirational educator and leader. She helped pioneer the transition of Home Economics to the contemporary Family and Consumer Studies Department. As Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, she initiated the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Days of Remembrance activities.

Read more about Afesa Adams

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.

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Jed Elison

BA Psychology

Assistant Professor
University of Minnesota

Jed T. Elison was born in Blackfoot, Idaho. With the exception of a formative year spent in Boston as a young child (developing into a Red Sox fan), he grew up in southeast Idaho. While both of his parents and 3 of his 5 older brothers took bachelors degrees from Brigham Young University, Jed earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology (2005) and English Literature (2005) from the University of Utah.

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Charles L. Perschon

BS Psychology

Director of Business Development
North America, Kaspersky Lab

In law school, Mr. Perschon was a summer clerk for Presiding Judge Judith M. Billings of the Utah Court of Appeals and was a summer associate at Danaher, Lagnese & Neal in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating in 2006, Mr. Perschon joined Hill, Johnson & Schmutz in Provo, Utah where he practiced litigation and appellate work.

Read more about Charles L. Perschon


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

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

Jill McAree

BS Sociology

Co-Sponsor
Discover's Professional Women Impacting Results (PWIR) Chapter

Jill started her career at Discover 21 years ago. She is a tenacious business leader, constantly considering ways to improve the experience with Discover for employees, customers, and the community. Recently, Jill led the complete overhaul of the recruiting process for all field hiring across the country. She worked to improve the sourcing, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding of new employees.

Read more about Jill McAree

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)


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

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

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

Last Updated: 4/28/23