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Anthropology (8)


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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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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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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Economics (55)


Larry Gelwix

BS Economics

Managing Director & Co-Head of Industrial Corporate Advisory
Greenhill & Co.

Mr. Gelwix joined Greenhill in 2008. Prior to joining Greenhill, Larry was with Lehman Brothers where he focused on a variety of M&A and corporate finance transactions. Larry works primarily with industrial and aerospace & defense-oriented clients and his background includes working in the commercial aerospace industry.

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Darin Gilson

BA Political Science
BS Economics

Managing Director
Banyan Ventures

Darin Gilson is a founding partner of Banyan Ventures. Darin has led the firm’s efforts in developing BelleHavens, Spruce, Palo Verde, Terra Flame Home, RCA Holdings, and Kore. Prior to co-founding Banyan, Darin served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Campus Pipeline and as a consultant with McKinsey & Company.

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L.E. Simmons

BS Economics

President
SCF Partners

L.E. Simmons, President of SCF Partners, founded the firm in 1989. He is responsible for guidance over the firm's investment program and strategy. L.E. began his focus on finance at the University of Utah, where he studied Economics and at the London School of Economics. He subsequently earned an MBA from Harvard University.

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Jeff Dixon

BS Political Science
Economics

Nevada State Director
The Humane Society of the United States

Jeff Dixon received Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Utah. While attending college Jeff was awarded the Young Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Science.

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Environmental and Sustainability Studies (4)


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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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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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)


Mary Chase Tommaney

BS Family and Consumer Studies

Advertising

Mary Chase Tommaney grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. She graduated from the University with a bachelor's degree in Home Economics and went on to the University of Southern California for a Masters in Merchandising. Returning to Salt Lake, she became Assistant Advertising Manager in a large fashion department store, later leaving for summer in Europe with school friends.

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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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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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Carol Heap

Family and Consumer Studies

Cook & Seamstress

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

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Geography (8)


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

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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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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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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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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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)


Mark James

Master of Public Administration

Senior VP HR
Procurement & Communications at Honeywell

Mark James is Honeywell's senior vice president of Human Resources, Procurement and Communications, a position he was appointed to in November 2007. Honeywell is a $40B diversified technology and manufacturing company serving customers in aerospace, automation control, automotive and chemical industries.

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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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Amanda K. Covington

HBS Mass Communications
Master of Public Administration

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

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

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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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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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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


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.

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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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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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Political Science (84)


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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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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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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Ron Henriksen

BA Political Science

Co-Founder
Henriksen/Butler Design

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

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Psychology (31)


Sean Meegan

MS Psychology
Ph.D. Psychology

Adjunct Professor
University of Utah

Sean Meegan was born and spent his childhood in New York and moved around a good deal. He did a BS in Psychology at St. Louis University in 1993 and a PhD in Developmental Psychology at the U. in 1999.

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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.

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Michael Rosmann

MS Psychology
Ph.D. Psychology

Adjunct Faculty, Psychologist, & Farmer
University of Iowa

Michael R. Rosmann is a psychologist and farmer whose life's work involves improving the behavioral healthcare of the agricultural population. He seeks to advance regional and global food production policy which enhances the behavioral and economic welfare of food producers,maintains stewardship of the land and other resources used in food production and protects the safety of food for consumers.

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Christine A. Currey

BS Psychology

Clinical Psychologist
Juvenile Court, Primary Children's Medical Center and the University Neuropsychiatric Institute

Christine Currey (7/24/50 - 12/22/14) grew up in Lewiston, New York. She graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she was Phi Beta Kappa. She studied clinical psychology at the University of Vermont and then at the University of Utah where she received a master's degree and a Ph.D.

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Sociology (23)


Nubia Peña, J.D.

BA Sociology

Director
Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs

Ms. Nubia Peña is the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs where their mission is to promote an inclusive climate for Utah's growing diverse community through training, outreach and youth leadership development. Ms. Peña is immensely grateful for the extensive experience acquired during the past 15 years working as a community organizer, advocate, and ally for marginalized populations.

Read more about Nubia Peña, J.D.

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

Andrea Martinez

BA Sociology

Acting United States Attorney
District of Utah

Andrea T. Martinez is the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Utah, appointed on March 1, 2021, by virtue of the Vacancies Reform Act. As Acting U.S. Attorney, Ms. Martinez will serve as the District’s chief federal law enforcement official until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Read more about Andrea Martinez

Sara Starkey

BS Sociology

Vice President & General Counsel
Larry H. Miller Dealerships

Sarah Starkey joined the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies in October 2010 as Staff Attorney and now serves as General Counsel for Miller Automotive Operations. In her role, Sarah provides a broad range of legal counsel to Larry H. Miller Dealerships including acquisitions and divestment, state and federal automotive sales and service compliance, manufacture contracts and compliance, contract review and management, litigation, advertising review, risk management, employment and government relations.

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Friend of CSBS (15)


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

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

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

S.J. Camarata

Friend of CSBS

Director
ESRI

S.J. is a director of ESRI. He focuses on the company’s global corporate strategies. He also currently serves on a number of boards—both for profit and nonprofit organizations—and has held a number of other board seats over the years.

Read more about S.J. Camarata

Last Updated: 4/28/23