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Anthropology (8)


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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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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Economics (55)


Joel Clark

BS Economics
MBA

CEO & Founder
Kodiak Cakes

Joel’s story is a one of perseverance. When his brother Jon handed operations of Kodiak Cakes over to him in 1997, Joel was a 23-year-old economics major attending the University of Utah. Over the next 12 years, Joel juggled side jobs, earned an MBA from Oxford University, and he still found time to make Kodiak Cakes a success.

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Nick Pappas

BS Economics

Co-founder, Comedy writer, Stand-up, & Storyteller
comedywire.com

Nick Jack Pappas is a comedy writer, stand-up, and storyteller in New York City. In a field of 1600 applicants, he was one of eight chosen for the NBC Late Night Writers Workshop 2015. Nick is one of the founders of Comedywire.com, a startup company that provides white-label humorous content to clients, including well-known comedians, politicians, and public speakers. The group's combined client network on Twitter has over 6 million followers.

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Ben Wilson

HBA Economics

Attorney
Information Security Expert

Ben Wilson graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi from the University of Utah's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 1987 with an Honors degree in Economics. His Honors Thesis focused on Mexico's decision to join the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. He then went on to obtain a JD from the U's College of Law in 1990, focusing on business law.

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Natalie Gochnour

BS Economics
MS Economics

Associate Dean at David Eccles School of Business
University of Utah

Natalie Gochnour earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in economics in 1984 and 1988 from the University of Utah.

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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)


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.

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Colleen Cluff Caputo

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Family and Consumer Studies Department - Chair
University of Utah

Colleen Cluff Caputo, born and raised in Salt Lake City, is one of the granddaughters of the second president of Brigham Young University, Benjamin Cluff, Jr. Her parents were Magdalen Reiser Mackintosh and Waldo Cullimore Cluff.

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Ron Dichter

BS Family and Consumer Studies

CEO
BlueDog Business Services, FortisPay, SIX PAC OTG

Ron Eliot Dichter is a serial entrepreneur who got his start while still attending the University of Utah. His first venture, Eliot Management Group, was sold by Dichter in 2010 and still operates in 15 states today. Dichter then started a national leading credit card processing company, BLUEDOG, which was later merged into FortisPay where Dichter currently serves as the Chief Revenue Officer.

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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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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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Teri Klug

BS Geography

President & Founder
Strategic Development LLC

Teri Klug is the community outreach director for Visit Salt Lake and is responsible for engaging with all constituents of Salt Lake County, with a learn, serve, grow together approach to the Visitor’s Economy. She also helps people better understand importance and value of visitors and define individual product offerings inside the fabric of each of 17 communities within Salt Lake County.

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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)


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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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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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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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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Master of Public Administration (23)


Mike Zuhl

BS Political Science
Master of Public Administration

Director, Public Affairs
R&R Partners & Government Relations Consultant

Mike Zuhl's vast background in government and public affairs, combined with the relationships he has cultivated over three decades, make him an invaluable asset to clients who are scrutinized by regulatory and legislative bodies.

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Tab Uno

Master of Public Administration

Retired
Candidate for the 2020 Utah House

Tab Lyn Uno lives in Clearfield City with his wife of 19 years. As a life-long resident of Utah, born in Salt Lake City a year before Burger Bar in Roy opened in 1956, a former member of the Salt Lake City Board of Education, a licensed clinical social worker along with a masters degree from the University of Utah in Public Administration.

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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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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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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.

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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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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


International Affairs and Global Enterprise (3)


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.

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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

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)


Rick Larsen

BS Political Science

President & CEO
Sutherland Institute

Rick Larsen is president and CEO of Sutherland Institute – a nonpartisan think tank that serves a unique role in today’s polarized, political climate. His passion for sound public policy and sustainable solutions at the community level motivated him to earn B.S. degrees from the University of Utah in both consumer and community studies and political science with an emphasis on public policy.

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Matthew Wilson

BS Political Science

Dean, Temple University Japan Campus
President, Temple Educational Support Services Ltd.

Matthew Wilson was recently appointed by Temple University as head of its campus in Tokyo. Temple University, Japan Campus serves approximately 4,000 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and non-degree students in Tokyo. Before accepting this post, Wilson served as President of the University of Akron and Missouri Western State University.

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Ross Romero

BS Political Science

Principal
Inclusion Strategies

Ross Romero is a Salt Lake City-based attorney & consultant with an extensive background in commercial litigation, labor and employment, and government relations. Ross currently is the Principal at Inclusion Strategies. Ross assists clients with government relations needs at the local, state and National level and is consulting in the diversity and inclusion area, with an emphasis in workforce and talent development.

Read more about Ross Romero

John Sheaffer

BS Political Science

Partner
Dart Adamson & Donovan

John has practiced family law since 1979; in 1987 he became a partner with Dart, Adamson & Donovan where his legal career focuses exclusively on the area of family law. He appears regularly in court on complex family law issues, and also applies his substantial skills and experience as a certified mediator and as a fellow of the Collaborative Professionals of Utah to effectively address the individual needs and concerns of his clients.

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Psychology (31)


Jeffrey Joe

MS Psychology

Research Scientist/Engineer
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Jeffrey Joe graduated in 2000 with a Master's of Science degree in Psychology. Since then, he has been working as a Human Factors Scientist at Idaho National Laboratory, studying people working with specialized technologies in high-consequence, complex operating environments, and evaluating the human-technology interactions to make the technologies more user-friendly and the operating environments safer.

Read more about Jeffrey Joe

Jane Hahn

BS Psychology

Owner & Educational Consultant
My College Advocate, LLC

Jane Hahn is the President of My College Advocate, LLC, a comprehensive college counseling practice that works closely with students to help them discover the best educational path for their goals and objectives,while fostering an environment that builds their confidence, self-advocacy, productivity, and personal success.

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Darady Bitter

BS Human Development and Family Studies
Psychology

Social Worker
Department of Veteran's Affairs

Darady Bitter received her bachelor's degree in human development and family studies in 2009. She then went on to receive her master's in social work at the University of Texas-Austin.

Read more about Darady Bitter

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


Sociology (23)


Douglas L. Anderton

BS Economics
MS Economics
Ph.D. Sociology

Chair of the Department of Sociology at the College of Arts and Sciences
University of Utah

Dr. Douglas L. Anderton, a renowned researcher in the growing field of social epidemiology and epigenetics, is the Chair of the Department of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina.

Read more about Douglas L. Anderton

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

Mark Arego

BS Sociology

Case Manager
Salt Lake County Felony Drug Court

Mark graduated from the Master of Social Work program in 2013, after completing two undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Sociology. He now works for Salt Lake County Felony Drug Court as a case manager. His ultimate goal is to a therapist within drug court program.

Read more about Mark Arego

Tobie Spears

BA Sociology
BA Political Science

Executive Director
Guatemalan Humanitarian Tours

Tobie says she is lucky enough to have one awesome husband, two amazing daughters, and three crazy cats. Tobie fell in love with traveling when she was 17 and backpacked through Europe and drove from Utah to Canada with her two best friends. In 2013 they drove from Utah to Guatemala where they lived, worked, and volunteered and Tobie's been leading international travel ever since.

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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

April Northstrom

Friend of CSBS

Grant Writing & Prospect Research Associate
Pathway Team

April Northstrom is a Grant Writing and Prospect Research Associate with the Utah Nonprofit Consultants Pathway team. She began her nonprofit career as an intern with the Make-A-Wish Foundation?? of Utah and has since worked as a development professional with nonprofits across the United States, including the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana, Goodwill Industries of Northeast Indiana and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Read more about April Northstrom

The Bright Future Foundation

Friend of CSBS

Non-Profit Organization

The Bright Future Foundation is a registered US non-profit organization and works to make a quality education more readily accessible to students domestically and those living in developing nations. This effort is based on the belief that education empowers individuals to pull themselves out of poverty.

Read more about The Bright Future Foundation

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

Last Updated: 4/28/23