2022 UWHEN Conference Information
With the rising number of COVID cases in Utah and the uncertainty of future variants, the UWHEN Board of Directors has determined to offer the 2022 Annual Leadership Conference in a Virtual format. Given the success of last year’s virtual conference, we look forward to once again offering quality educational sessions, an engaging keynote speaker, an insightful leadership panel, and acknowledging our peers with our annual leadership awards. We recognize and thank Weber State University for their planning efforts thus far. Please mark April 8 on your calendars, more details to come.
UWHEN Announces New Board Chair
2021-2022 Board of Directors Changes

Welcome to Chair Teri Bladen
On July 1, Teri Bladen became the new Chair of the Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN) Board of Directors. Teri Bladen was elected to serve as Chair-Elect for the UWHEN Board of Directors and will become Chair in July 2021. She is the Director of Campus Recreation at Weber State University (WSU), where she guides her team in creating opportunities that inspire engagement in healthy, active lifestyles. Bladen has been involved with UWHEN since 2013 and served on the Mission and Bylaws subcommittee in the creation of WSU's UWHEN chapter. She has served leadership roles in state, regional, and national associations, and embraces the idea of women moving forward together. UWHEN welcomes Teri’s leadership and appreciates WSU’s strong support of the UWHEN mission!

Looking Ahead: Debbie Tahmassebi, Board Chair-Elect
Prior to joining Westminster College as Provost in 2019, Dr. Tahmassebi served as Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (approximately 2,600 students, 350 faculty members, 130 staff), at Santa Clara University from 2015-2019. Her contributions there include launching a new program to support inclusive excellence post-doctoral/post-MFA Fellows across all College departments including a consortium among the AJCU institutions, leading the development of a new virtual reality laboratory space in the Art and Art History building, supporting the development of a new Neuroscience major that became the 7th top major among incoming students in 2 years, and increasing fundraising to the College including 4x overall gifts and 7x in Dean’s discretionary fundraising in 3 years. Prior to that, she served as Associate Dean of Program Development in the College of Arts and Sciences, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Special Assistant to the Provost at the University of San Diego. Her contributions included the development and support of new College programs and initiatives, oversight of assessment efforts, expansion of undergraduate research, and record growth in sponsored programs. In 2012-13, she was selected as an American Council of Education Fellow to work with President David Burcham at Loyola Marymount University.
Dr. Tahmassebi joined the faculty at the University of San Diego in 1999. As an organic chemist with interests in the synthesis and structural analysis of biologically relevant molecules, she studied novel nucleosides and amino-acid derivatives. Dr. Tahmassebi has mentored several undergraduate students in her laboratory and coordinated the Pre-Undergraduate Research Experience program, an initiative which supports socioeconomically disadvantaged students to attend the University of San Diego and become involved in research early in their academic careers. She earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of California, San Diego.

Gratitude for Past-Chair Angie Walker
Walker currently leads Salt Lake Community College’s online education division as the Director of SLCC Online & eLearning Services and teaches as an adjunct faculty member for Southern New Hampshire University. Regarding her new role, Walker shared, “I’m excited and grateful to have the opportunity to serve as the Chair for UWHEN this coming year! This is an amazing group of women who continue to inspire me. We have a great year ahead of us as we focus on expanding access to UWHEN’s events and resources to support all women across our growing organization.” Previously, Walker has worked across university and college levels as an educational administrator, project manager, assessment and instructional designer, and teacher. Walker holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Utah and a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis on Instructional Design from the University of Wisconsin - Stout. She also has a graduate certificate as a Higher Education Teaching Specialist from the University of Utah. Walker is passionate about creating a positive and supporting environment for women working in higher education where they can network, learn, and grow. (And, she does precisely that!)
Registration Open for 10.5.18 Fall Event at Utah State University
The Utah Women in Higher Education Network is pleased to announce registration is open for the first of three Fall Events. The Finding Financial Freedom workshop will be held on Friday, October 5 at Utah State University (Logan, Utah). Attendance is free for employees of UWHEN member institutions and workshop outcomes include:
- Find reliable resources for reducing debt (credit card, student, mortgage).
- Make prudent decisions on student loans.
- Know when to put your financial security first (when children of all ages may have a claim on your resources).
- Prioritize your long-term financial freedom over short-term wants.
- Recognize the need for an Advance Health Care Directive, letter of last instruction, and a will.
- Locate and use trustworthy financial resources
For additional details and to register by October 3, visit https://2018falleventusu.eventbrite.com.
2018 UWHEN Leadership Conference Registration Available (UPDATE: SOLD OUT)
Registration is now open for the 2018 UWHEN Leadership Conference, which will be held on Friday, April 6, at the Salt Lake Community College South City Campus. The Conference is applicable for all women employed in higher education, including staff, faculty, and administrators. This year’s Conference emphasizes mentorship and feature dozens of excellent speakers on subjects supporting UWHEN’s mission to advance women’s leadership on our campuses. Additionally, UWHEN will be presenting its inaugural Leadership Awards! Bring your colleagues and join us for an inspiring and educational event! Download the full program here.
Seats are limited, so register early to reserve your seat early at https://2018uwhenleadershipconference.eventbrite.com!
Call for Submissions: Mentor Stories & Photos (Due 3.12.18)
What is the most significant mentor-mentee relationship in your life and how did it impact you? What difference did a mentor make in your life at a critical time? What is a mentor? Why are mentors particularly important for women? Are mentors important in areas other than professionally? Who makes the best mentor? What was the most important thing you learned from mentoring or being mentored?
As part of our initiative to celebrate mentorship at the 2018 UWHEN Leadership Conference, we want to hear your story!
Help us recognize your mentor and celebrate mentorship by responding to any of the questions above in 100-400 words and including a photo of you and your mentor (or mentee!) or a meaningful mentoring event.
Submission Details
- Narratives should be submitted in Word format and high-resolution photos should be submitted as .jpg or .tif.
- Submissions should be emailed to UWHEN Board Member Jacqueline Russell (SUU) at jacquelinerussell@suu.edu.
- The submission deadline is March 12, 2018.
- By submitting a photo, you acknowledge you have the permission of the individual(s) pictured and, if applicable, the photographer to use for the purpose of this display (if selected).
- Selected stories and images will be displayed at the Leadership Conference on April 6, 2018.
- All complete submissions will be entered in a drawing for one of two $25 Amazon gift cards to be given at the Leadership Conference!
Do you have any questions? Let us know! Email info@uwhen.org.
Leadership Award Nominations Due 1.26.18
UWHEN is calling for nominations for the inaugural UWHEN Leadership Awards to be presented at the 2018 Leadership Conference on Friday, April 6, at Salt Lake Community College (South City Campus). The UWHEN Leadership Awards recognize those who are significantly advancing leadership and women as leaders within Utah’s higher education institutions. Administrators, faculty, and staff are eligible to be nominated or self-nominated. Nominations are requested from the higher education community through January 26, 2018 for the following categories:
- Distinguished Service – The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual for sustained exemplary leadership, scholarship and/or creative work, philanthropy or service which has served to advance the mission of UWHEN.
- Special Recognition – This award is given to an individual, group, or organization that has demonstrated excellence and or innovation in creating programs, curriculum, and/or projects that have had a significant impact on advancing women in higher education. For example, nominees may have provided an effective vision, devised impactful policy, created new systems, engaged in effective collaborative work, shown extraordinary courage or dedication, or achieved unique significant accomplishments with the intention of achieving positive change for women relative to leadership and advancement in higher education. Such programs/curriculum/projects may have connected their campus with the community, positively impacted their campus, or been disseminated beyond their institution.
- Mentorship – This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated ongoing commitment to mentoring other women in higher education. The recipient of this award should cultivate the importance of mentoring as a means of developing women in leadership in higher education. The recipient of this award should inspire and cultivate vision and leadership in others.
- Emerging Professional – This award recognizes an individual who is early-in-career in higher education and who demonstrates rising leadership potential through her work in higher education.
Award Eligibility Requirements
- Nominees must be affiliated with a Utah institution of higher education that is a member of UWHEN in good standing.
- Nominators may nominate only one candidate in each category.
Nomination Guidelines
- Obtain permission from the nominee prior to submitting materials.
- Submit all required information in the online nomination form by the published deadline.
- In addition to the justification essay on the form, please attach the nominee’s current CV.
- Please be sure to list the nominee’s name as they would like it reflected on the award and all published materials.
Additional Information
- Nominators and award recipients should expect to attend the annual UWHEN Leadership Conference and awards presentation. If the honoree cannot attend the conference, they should appoint a person to accept the award in their honor and prepare a brief, written statement of acceptance. The nominator may be asked to present the award.
- Award recipients are given a complimentary registration to the UWHEN Conference to accept their award.
- Awards will be given only when warranted at the sole discretion of the UWHEN Awards Committee.
- Special consideration may be given to candidates who have contributed time and energy on behalf of UWHEN.
- The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may hold interviews with appropriate persons from the candidate’s work environment.
- Only the required materials will be reviewed. Additional materials will not be forwarded to the evaluation committee.
See the award nomination link for details: https://rmuohp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5uyJ8D9JnBvqBX7. For assistance or questions, contact UWHEN at info@uwhen.org.
What will YOU propose? Submit Your Presentation Proposal by 1.12.18!
UWHEN is accepting presentation proposals for the 2018 Leadership Conference, which will be held at Salt Lake Community College (South City Campus) on Friday, April 6, 2018. Our theme is Mentorship Matters and we’ve provided below some topics to spark your ideas (and you’re welcomed to use these, too!). Submit your proposal by Friday, January 12, 2018. See the proposal submission link for details: https://rmuohp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qvPEUIjROx98xL. For assistance or questions, contact UWHEN at info@uwhen.org.
- Mentor Mystery: What Qualities Should I Seek in a Mentor?
- Lit Review: Evidence-Based Mentorship (Best Practices in Mentorship)
- Faculty Mentoring Models
- Investing in Mentorship: Developing a Mentorship Program in Higher Education
- Mentoring Measurement: How Do You Measure the Impact of Mentoring in the Workplace?
- Power Mentoring: Book Review (*Or Other Book Discussion)
- Barriers to Advancing Women in Leadership Positions: Mentorship as a Solution
- Men-Toring: Working with Male Mentors to Increase Gender Diversity & Equity in the Workplace
- Case Studies in Mentorship: Successful Leadership Development Programs
- Becoming a Mentor: Strategies for Improving Your Own Effectiveness as a (In)Formal Mentor
- Finding Your Voice: How to Receive Mentorship
- Using a Mentor to Create Opportunities
Registration Open for Final Fall Event: Creating Your Strategic Advantage – Women at Work (SUU)
Friday, November 3 | 1-4PM | Southern Utah University | Sharwan Smith Student Center (Starlight Room), 351 W University Blvd
Attendance is FREE for UWHEN member institutions. Register online at https://suu2017.eventbrite.com.
- 1-1:45PM Pre-Event Guided Tour of Southern Utah Museum of Art (13 S 300 W) with Director and Curator Jessica Farling. Guests will be able to view the exhibits and get behind-the-scenes information.
- 2-2:20 Meet & Greet Reception (Sharwan Smith Student Center; Starlight Room (2nd Floor))
- 2:30-3:30PM Workshop (Sharwan Smith Student Center; Starlight Room (2nd Floor))
- 3:30-4PM Networking (Sharwan Smith Student Center; Starlight Room (2nd Floor))
Facilitators

Mary Weaver Bennett most recently served as president of Red Ridge Consulting, LLC, and as an expert advisor for Blackline Advisory Group in Nashville, TN. She is a specialist in legislative and regulatory policy matters for the financial services industry, including electronic payments, government relations, advocacy, and communications. Prior to moving to southern Utah in 2014, she was Director of Government and Industry Relations for the Electronic Transactions Association in Washington, DC, where she led federal and state public affairs strategy, lobbying, and outreach initiatives. Ms. Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC, institutions including the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, The Washington Campus, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) under the US Securities and Exchange Commission. During this time, Ms. Bennett spent nearly ten years on Capitol Hill, working as professional staff member for several House committees and as a senior aide to Senator Richard Bryan (NV). Ms. Bennett then started her government relations career as an Associate Director at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a regulatory body overseeing auditors of public companies. Ms. Bennett has also worked as a public affairs television writer, created Washington-based political education programs for business executives, and is a veteran of several congressional and presidential campaigns. She is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where she majored in Political Science. She is enjoying the adjustment to western life in Ivins, UT, where she spends free time with her husband Doug, works with wild mustangs at Windhorse Relations, and supports the Kayenta Arts Foundation.
UWHEN Featured on American Council on Education Blog
The American Council on Education Women’s Network noticed UWHEN’s recent initiatives towards mission fulfillment and asked the Network to blog about strategies other state networks may consider towards the network’s development. The article, written by 2016-2017 UWHEN Board Chair Dr. Jessica Egbert (Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions), is entitled “Building Momentum: Lessons Learned & Success Strategies of the Utah State Women’s Network” and may be found at HigherEducationToday.org via https://www.higheredtoday.org/2017/09/13/building-momentum-lessons-learned-success-strategies-utah-state-womens-network/.
Registration Open for Second Fall Event: Lots of “A’s” with plenty of “F’s – Authentic Anecdotes that Allowed Actuality and Aha-Moments with Women Leaders (WGU)
Friday, October 6 | 1-4:30PM | Western Governors University | Big Cottonwood Conference Room, 4001 S 700 E, Salt Lake City
Attendance is FREE for UWHEN member institutions. Register online at http://2017wgu.eventbrite.com.
Join leaders for an interactive and insightful afternoon of learnings, lessons, and actionable activities that will support your goals for success.
Panelists





