Events

Past Events

2021 Spring Virtual Event: Leadership in Action – Q&A with UVU President Tuminez

DATE: 22 January 2021
TIME: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
LOCATION: Virtual event

About this Event

Join us for an informative chat as Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez shares advice and insight on a storied leadership path.

UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez has a broad and rich experience in academia, philanthropy, technology, and business. As a researcher and advocate for women and leadership, she has given numerous keynotes on business, political, financial, and non-profit subjects to audiences in Asia, Europe and the United States. Join us as President Tuminez shares her expertise, advice and insight on her leadership path.

Register through Eventbrite Link: Spring 2021 UWHEN Virtual Event

Featured Speaker: Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University

Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez was appointed the seventh president of Utah Valley University in 2018, and is the institution’s first female president. Tuminez brings to UVU a broad and rich experience in academia, philanthropy, technology, and business. Born in a farming village in the Philippine province of Iloilo, Tuminez moved with her parents and six siblings to the slums of Iloilo City when she was two years old, her parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children.

Her pursuit of education eventually took her to the United States, to Brigham Young University where she graduated summa cum laude in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Russian literature. She earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in Soviet Studies (1988) and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science (1996).

Before assuming her current position, President Tuminez was a world leader in the fields of technology and political science, most recently serving as an executive at Microsoft, where she led corporate, external and legal affairs in Southeast Asia. Tuminez is also the former vice dean of Research and assistant dean of Executive Education at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, the premier school of public policy in Asia.

In 2012, Dr. Tuminez authored a report on women’s leadership in Asia, sponsored by Asia Society and the Rockefeller Foundation. Titled “Rising to the Top? A Report on Women and Leadership in Asia,” the report was launched in Shanghai, translated into Vietnamese and used widely in Asia. As a researcher and advocate for women and leadership, she has given numerous keynotes on the subject to business, political, financial, and non-profit audiences in Asia and Europe.

She and her husband, Jeffrey S. Tolk, have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, dancing, and martial arts.

Facilitator: Teri Bladen, Weber State University

Teri Bladen MS, is the Director of Campus Recreation at Weber State University where she guides her team in creating opportunities that inspire engagement in healthy, active lifestyles. Teri 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 in leadership roles in state, regional, and national associations, and embraces the idea of women moving forward together. Teri is the 2020-21 Chair-elect for the UWHEN Board of Directors.

 

Registration Details

Registration closes on Wed. Jan. 20, 2021. Attendees will be sent Zoom meeting link a minimum of 2 days prior to event.

COVID-19: Strategies to Make Life and Work Doable

DATE: 10 November 2020
TIME: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
LOCATION: Online Event
Explore strategies to help you navigate multiple dimensions of your professional and personal life in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

About this Event

2020 has been a challenging year particularly with COVID-19. Our long established personal and professional routines have been upended. The boundaries between the different domains of our lives have become increasingly blurred. We are navigating work, home life, schooling, care responsibilities, faith, health and finances in ways that we probably never imagined. Women, in particular, have been impacted significantly and potentially contemplating life changes that will have possible long term implications for careers. Join us for a panel discussion which will explore strategies to help us navigate multiple dimensions of our professional and personal lives in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

Moderator:

Mary Anne Berzins, University of Utah

Mary Anne Berzins is the institutional representative for the University of Utah and has worked with UWHEN since its creation. She is the current Past Chair of the UWHEN Board. Berzins has extensive HR experience in a wide range of industry sectors and joined the University of Utah in 2004. She is passionate about leadership development, mentoring and coaching. Berzins presents and facilitates workshops in a wide range of settings, loves working with individuals and groups to advance their success and the multiple opportunities she gets to interact with so many amazing, higher education colleagues brings her great joy.

Panelists:

Shalini Kesar, Southern Utah University

Dr. Kesar is an associate professor of information systems at Southern Utah University and Director of MS- Cyber Security & Information Assurance (CSIA) program. She has found a niche in Southern Utah and become a role model while enhancing awareness by motivating females in considering technology in their education and career. Her main outreach projects are in southern Utah rural audiences where skills and resources are limited. Kesar was recognized as 2016 Education Excellence Award by Women Tech Council. The event recognizes technology-focused women who are innovators, leaders and key contributors in STEM fields.

Bonnie Andersen, Utah Valley University

Dr. Andersen is the only female faculty member in Physics at UVU. She is passionate about the goals of UWHEN and helping make science more accessible. She is the past president for the UVU UWHEN. She participates regularly in outreach events, such as SheTech. In 2017, she organized the first UVU Science Camps for children 7-12. Andersen has had low vision all of her life, which prevents her from driving. Additionally, she has been a single mother for the past seven years to two children, one of which has ADHD. She finds joy in her faith, gardening, and running.

Ruchi Watson, University of Utah

Dr. Watson, MBA, Ed.D. is Managing Director of the Goff Strategic Leadership Center and faculty member in the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the University of Utah. She also serves as co-chair for the university’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and was founding chair of the UofU Chapter of UWHEN. Prior to working the UofU, Watson spent 10 years in the corporate sector at Fortune 500 companies. Watson graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in chemical engineering and earned an MBA from Northwestern University. Watson holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Wendy Fox Kirk, Weber State University

Dr. Fox Kirk is Department Chair for Business Administration & Marketing (Goddard School of Business & Economics). She researches gender, power and identity in relation to women’s careers. She was selected as ILA’s 2019 Outstanding Emerging Scholar. She publishes Gender in Management: An international journal; Human Resource Development International and, Advances in Developing Human Resources. She has chapters in Handbook of research on gender and leadership and, Theorizing women & leadership: New insights & contributions from multiple perspectives. (IAP.) She is also a consulting editor for the Journal of Leadership Studies, and the Journal of Education for Business.

Katie Mazzie, UHEAA

Katie Mazzie, MPA, serves as Manager of Outreach and Scholarships at the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA). She has dedicated her career to improving access and equity in higher education, both through her work with UHEAA and in her previous position working in the Salt Lake City School District’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program for aspiring first-generation college students. Mazzie received her Bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science and her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.

 

Membership Reminder 

You are a UWHEN member if you are employed by any of the following: Brigham Young University, Dixie State University, Ensign College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah System of Technical Colleges, Utah State University, Utah State University – Eastern (Price), Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster College.

Registration Details

Register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-fall-event-covid-19-strategies-to-make-life-and-work-doable-registration-124453667269.

2020 Fall Virtual Workshop Webinar: Cultivating Resilience in the Era of COVID-19

DATE: 08 October 2020
TIME: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
LOCATION: Zoom: Hosted by UVU

Thursday, 10.8.2020
1-2:30PM

For many women, life has become more complicated in the era of COVID-19. In addition to uncertainty in the world, fear for personal and family safety, financial stress, and often juggling working from home with family responsibilities is causing increased stress on women.  In this presentation, participants will learn how to build personal resilience and gain practical strategies to help them better adapt to the unique challenges of today’s world.

Facilitator: Julie de Azevedo Hanks, PhD, MSW – Utah Valley University

Learn more and register at https://uwhenresilience.eventbrite.com. 

Hosted by UVU

 

Registration Details

https://uwhenresilience.eventbrite.com

2020 Fall Virtual Workshop: Self-Care and Self-Love Practices for Women

DATE: 25 September 2020
TIME: 12:00 - 1:30
LOCATION: Zoom: Hosted by Dixie State University

September 25, 2020

Join us for this interactive workshop that is all about taking care of the most important person in your life—YOU! Based on the bestseller title, Warrior Goddess Training: Become the Woman You Are Meant to Be, by Heath Ash Amara, we will explore what it means to practice radical self-love through simple rituals of self-care.   “Sacred Self Care is about the gift of the most exquisite, impeccable love and care that you can possibly give to yourself.  It’s about coming home to your body and asking “how can I nurture and nourish you with tenderness, Sweetheart?” ~ Heather Ash Amara

Learn more and register HERE.

Hosted by Dixie State University

 

 

 

Registration Details

Register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-fall-event-self-care-self-love-practices-for-women-registration-118940800135

Fall Workshop-Salt Lake Community College-Sept. 13, 2019

DATE: 13 September 2019
TIME: 02:00 pm - 04:00 pm
LOCATION: Oak Room in the Student Center, Taylorsville Redwood Campus, Salt Lake Community College

Building Your Network

Come join us for an engaging hands-on workshop where we’ll discuss strategies for growing your professional network.  You’ll also have the opportunity to create your own networking map.  And of course, you’ll have the chance to network with other UWHEN members!  At the end of the workshop we will be able to:

·        Determine areas of your network that you would like to develop

·        Identify various opportunities for growing your network

·        Develop a networking map

Registration Details

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uwhen-2019-fall-event-building-your-network-registration-70072806651

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Maura Hahnenberger, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Salt Lake Community College. She is a past president of the SLCC UWHEN Chapter and a former state board member. Maura is the Social Media and Member Engagement Leader for the Earth Science Women’s Network, an international non-profit focused on building a resilient community that lifts all women and moves the geosciences forward, through online and in person networking, professional development events, advocacy, and more.
Sarah Reale is the Director of Digital Marketing at SLCC, where she manages the institutional website and web team, social media channels, email marketing, and video production. Before SLCC, Sarah worked at Utah State University in public relations and marketing, where she built the Aggie’s social media presence. (Back when Twitter had just begun!) Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in political science from USU. Her favorite use of her master’s degree is teaching an Intro to US Gov and Politics class at SLCC.

Fall Workshop-University of Utah-October 11, 2019

DATE: 11 October 2019
TIME: 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm
LOCATION: University of Utah: Child Hall, 7th Floor, Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building Campus Map: https://map.utah.edu/ (type building name in search and detailed map will be displayed) The Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building is easily accessible by Trax (Red Line to the University Medical Center) and a number of UTA buses including numbers 17, 213, 354, 455, 473. At Salt Lake Central, you can connect from Frontrunner to the campus by bus numbers, 2, 6 and 220.

At the Spring 2019 UWHEN Leadership Workshop, we distributed a book, written by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, called “How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion or Job.” Come join us for an engaged conversation about how we rise and how our habits act as potential inhibitors.

At the end of the workshop we will be able to:

  • Understand how the concept of “rising” applies to us at the individual level
  • Recognize the 12 habits and how they potentially hold us back
  • Identify strategies to help master them

Registration Details

TBA

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Mary Anne Berzins is the AVP of Human Resources and current UWHEN Board chair. Mary Anne works across the campus on leadership and professional development for faculty, postdoctoral scholars and also presents and facilitates in a wide range of settings. She is passionate about supporting women's advancement.
Hollie J. Fuhrmann is a Research Associate in the Emma Eccles Jones Nursing Research Center. She develops and implements strategic services and collaborative resources with the goal of attracting extramural research funding and facilitating research excellence among individual researchers and interdisciplinary research teams.
Annalisa Purser has more than a decade of experience in higher education and is the Associate Director of Communications. she has experience with internal and external communications, strategy, media relations, marketing, digital content, publications, design, crisis management, and has led several collaborative institution-wide projects.
Justina Smith is the Director of Advancement for the Department of Dermatology. After spending more than 12 years raising children, she is passionate about women's professional development and working with women re-entering the workforce.

Parking Details

Exact parking location will be available closer to the event date and will be sent directly to registrants.

Fall Workshop-Brigham Young University-November 1, 2019

DATE: 01 November 2019
TIME: 01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
LOCATION: 2260-2262 CONF--the BYU Conference Center on the northeast corner of campus. Easily accessed by UVX from the Orem and Provo Frontrunner stations. https://map.byu.edu/

This workshop will provide suggestions for improving department dynamics so as to increase levels of participation and professional satisfaction for women employed in higher education. It will also provide insights and practical ideas for improving the experience and performance of female students. The focus here is practical, not theoretical.

Registration Details

TBA

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Jessica Preece is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University.  Her areas of research include gender and workplace dynamics.  She is also an expert in running social science experiments.  Her work has been published in top journals, including the American Journal of Political Science, the Quarterly Journal of Political Science, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Behavior, and Politics & Gender.  During the 2018-2019 academic year, Jessica was a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan and the Harvard Kennedy School's Women and Public Policy Program.  In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking, skiing, knitting, and finding abandoned fruit trees to harvest for jam.

Parking Details

Parking will be available in the lot directly west of the BYU Conference Center. map.byu.edu  

2020 Spring Leadership Conference, Weber State University, April 3, 2020

DATE: 03 April 2020
TIME: 8:00 - 03:00 pm
LOCATION: Weber State University

Join us for our 2020 Utah Women in Higher Education Network Leadership Conference!

This year’s Conference theme is Looking Back, Moving Forward and features a variety of speakers from across the State, a Presidents Panel, and a special keynote by Justice Paige Petersen. Content is relevant to all women employed in higher education, including faculty, staff, and administrators. We are limited to 350 registrations and, as we have in the past, anticipate a waitlist will quickly form – grab your reservation and join us at Weber State University!

Registration Details

Registration is found at https://uwhen2020.eventbrite.com. The $35 early registration rate is available until March 16.

2019 Leadership Conference, April 5, 2019, Dixie State University

DATE: 05 April 2019
TIME: 08:00 am - 03:00 pm
LOCATION: Dixie State University, Gardner Student Center 225 N University Avenue, St. George, UT 84770

Registration Open for 2019 Leadership Conference

April 5, 2019 Dixie State University

Rise Together

 

Registration Details

https://uwhen2019.eventbrite.com

Online Fall Event Webinar: Let’s Rise–How Women in Higher Education Can Rise Together

DATE: 07 December 2018
TIME: 01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
LOCATION: Online Webinar

Let’s Rise – How Women in Higher Education Can Rise Together

Friday, December 7 ▪ 1-3PM ▪ Webinar via Western Governor’s University

Description
Join leading women in higher-education from the comfort of your own favorite work-space in an inspiring, reflective, and interactive virtual workshop (yes, even virtual meetings online can be interactive!) focused on personal and professional development.  This workshop is dedicated to identifying the unique leadership barriers, habits, and behaviors that hold women back from rising and strategies for how to transform your skills to confidently achieve your goals

Registration Details

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uwhen-2018-fall-event-lets-rise-how-women-in-higher-education-can-rise-together-registration-51734146224

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Dr. Lauren Carris is a learning design leader with over 15 years of experience in higher education settings. Currently, she leads the transformation of personalized learning design, at scale, at Western Governors University as the Director of Learning Experience and Design.  There, she focuses on implementing a transformational Learning Design Methodology to support curriculum and assessment teams in the colleges throughout the program lifecycle. She leads design teams, creative content teams, content curation teams, and accessibility and universal design teams who support the evolution of our practice and process. Dr. Carris is a respected leader who excels at solution-driven interdisciplinary collaboration, talent development, and scalable change-leadership.  She relies on the latest innovations and research in technology, learning science, user experience and design, accessibility, and industrial-organizational psychology to reimagine the definition of exceptional learning experiences and transform design practice.
Kacey Thorne is the Director of Program Architecture at Western Governors University. She is responsible for setting strategy and vision for the design of program frameworks and curriculum maps that serve as the foundation on which all WGU programs are built. Thorne is passionate about competency-based education and creating programs that facilitate open loop learning, leverage prior learning, and allow for personalized pathways. She began her career in education 15 years ago as a Health Science and CTE classroom teacher for both secondary and post-secondary students.
Dr. Mollie Nordgren is an Academic Program Director in the College of Health Professions at WGU.  She is responsible for leading disaggregated program teams to achieve the best outcomes for students.  Dr. Nordgren has a passion for educational innovation and technology. She has successfully utilized simulation and other innovative teaching modalities to improve student performance and satisfaction in challenging courses.  Her background as a nurse and clinical educator brings a unique perspective to higher education.  Dr. Nordgren has a PhD in Nursing Education and Administration and she has been at WGU for three years, where she has served in various curricular positions.

Fall Event: Mentor Match

DATE: 09 November 2018
TIME: 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm
LOCATION: Westminster College ▪ Kim T. Anderson Alumni House 1840 S 1300 E ▪ Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

Women. We are in a moment.

On the national and the local stage, the power of women—and particularly women working together—cannot be denied. Utah higher education is at the forefront of this moment, with a record 5 female presidents leading our institutions. Utah Women in Higher Education Network has an opportunity to continue to lead this moment. This is where YOU can make a difference.

Have you ever wanted a mentor but don’t know how to make that happen? Or have you ever wanted to share your experience and expertise in a meaningful way? We are not only going to help you understand what a mentoring relationship can be, but we will also put it into action. Whether you come to this session wanting to find a mentor or looking to mentor a budding professional, you will leave satisfied.

We are seeking up to 40 women (20 mentors and 20 mentees) from various backgrounds across higher education to help us pilot a UWHEN mentoring program. During the session, we will “speed match” you with a mentor or mentee, we will provide you with mentorship training, and we will ask you to schedule future mentoring sessions as your schedule allows. We will provide suggested topics to discuss at each session, as well as an optional check-in call with our facilitators to help you with the process.

UWHEN. Let’s take this moment and make it a movement.

Registration Details
Identify yourself as a mentor or a mentee. Registration is limited. Workshop attendance is a requirement in order to match mentors and mentees.

  • Register as a MENTEE if you are desiring to build a relationship with someone further along in their career that can guide you and give you advice.
  • Register as a MENTOR if you are interested in providing guidance and advice to a budding professional.
  • If filled, register on the WAIT-LIST. If a spot becomes available we will contact you.
  • If unable to attend please NOTIFY us beforehand so we can give your spot to someone on the wait-list.

Registration Details

Registration: https://2018uwhenwestminster.eventbrite.com (Registration is limited to 40!) Directions & Campus Map: https://www.westminstercollege.edu/about/campus-map/directions Parking: Please print a visitor parking pass (sent to you via email after registration) and park in any available spot. We recommend entering Westminster College on 1700 south and 1200 east and park in the Dumke Field Parking Lot, (underneath the soccer field). Exit the lot heading north and the building is the Kim T. Adamson Alumni House, (building 19 on the map). Contact: Lauren Erlacher, lerlacher@westminstercollege.edu, 801.832.2208

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Emily Tillett, Assistant Director, Coaching and Mentoring Center @ Westminster College Emily has an undergraduate degree from Westminster College in psychology and business. She has a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University in organization development. Her varied work experience has taken her into the world of non-profits and corporate America and from academia to consulting. She has been an Adjunct Professor for the Gore School of Business, a Career Coach for the Career Center and is now the Assistant Director for the Coaching and Mentoring Center on-campus. She is passionate about being a domestic diva and raising her daughter while connecting people to their True Selves through real relationships and vulnerability.
Annalisa Holcombe, Chief Advancement Officer @ Westminster College A proud Westminster alumna, Dr. Annalisa Holcombe currently serves the college as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement. She is responsible for the fund and friend-raising that supports academic and co-curricular excellence as well as the financial needs of our students. She leads a core group of professionals who are engaged in development, alumni and parent relations, community and government relations, and coaching and mentoring programs. Annalisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Gore School of Business at Westminster College, a law degree from the University of Utah, and is currently pursuing her PhD in leadership and change at Antioch University. Over the past thirteen years, she has served the college in many capacities, including chief strategy officer, Secretary of the Corporation, and Associate Provost for Integrated Learning. She has overseen the master plan and strategic plan processes for the college and has commissioned and overseen the production of the college’s economic impact studies. She is the founder of the Westminster alumni mentoring program. An active civic participant, Annalisa serves on the executive board of the Utah Foundation (an independent public policy research group), and is an institutional planning fellow with the Society for College and University Planners. She is the past chair and founder of the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce and has served as a community council trustee. She speaks and writes about connection, mentoring, planning, and community engagement.

Fall Event: Finding Financial Freedom

DATE: 05 October 2018
TIME: 01:30 pm - 03:30 pm
LOCATION: Utah State University David B. Haight Alumni Center 600 N 700 E Logan, Utah 84321 Directions & Guest Parking Information: https://alumnicenter.usu.edu/directions

What does “financial freedom” mean to you? Getting out of debt? Paying off your mortgage? Getting beyond living paycheck-to-paycheck? Having an emergency fund? Knowing you are on track for a secure post-career life (AKA retirement)? After this session, you will be able to:

  • 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.

Registration Details

Register online at https://2018falleventusu.eventbrite.com. Attendance is FREE for UWHEN member institutions. You are a UWHEN member if you are employed by any of the following: Brigham Young University, Dixie State University, LDS Business College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah System of Technical Colleges, Utah State University, Utah State University - Eastern (Price), Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster College.

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Jean Lown, PhD, recently retired from Utah State University, where she taught personal finance, investing, and retirement planning. Much of her research focused on women and financial planning. Dr. Lown taught the monthly “Financial Planning for Women” workshop for two decades and continues to write the Financial Planning for Women blog and provides financial advising. She and her husband, Bryan Dixon, spend winters biking, hiking, birding, and exploring the desert by motorcycle in St. George.

2018 UWHEN Leadership Conference

DATE: 06 April 2018
TIME: 08:30 am - 03:30 pm
LOCATION: Salt Lake Community College (South City Campus)

Registration Details

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 (full program at http://uwhen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-UWHEN-Leadership-Conference-Program.pdf). Additionally, UWHEN will be presenting its inaugural Leadership Awards! Bring your colleagues and join us for an inspiring and educational event! Seats are limited, so register early to reserve your seat early at https://2018uwhenleadershipconference.eventbrite.com! UPDATE: This Conference is sold out, but a waitlist is available through 4.2.18 via Eventbrite.

Fall Event: Lots of “A’s” with plenty of “F’s – Authentic Anecdotes that Allowed Actuality and Aha-Moments with Women Leaders

DATE: 06 October 2017
TIME: 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm
LOCATION: Western Governors University, 4001 S 700 E, Salt Lake City

Join leaders for an interactive and insightful afternoon of learnings, lessons, and actionable activities that will support your goals for success.

Registration Details

Attendance is FREE for UWHEN member institutions. Register online at https://2017wgu.eventbrite.com.

Facilitator/Speaker Information

Lauren Carris is a higher education and learning leader with over 15 years of curriculum and program design experience in diverse institutional settings. She seeks to inspire her teams and institutions to solve complex challenges in design and delivery. Lauren entered higher education through language learning program development in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at UCLA, where her career advanced to focus on faculty and staff development, high stakes performance assessment leadership, cross-institutional curriculum alignment, and higher education leadership in public, private, for-profit, and non-profit institutions. Today, she applies her leadership and drive for innovation to the increasing demand for affordable, attainable, personalized, quality higher education at Western Governors University. There, Lauren leads teams within Academic Programs to support the advancement of WGU’s competency-based learning experience at scale. She relies on the latest research in learning science and user experience and design to facilitate collaboration among thought leaders, policy makers, industry experts, institutional leadership, and learning design professionals to reimagine the definition of exceptional learning experiences.
Melissa Flores (Facilitator) serves as the VP State Operations and Partnerships for Western Governors University (WGU). Flores develops strategic initiatives with WGU State Chancellors, elected officials, business and community leaders to expand access to post-secondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals to learn, independent of time or place, and to earn competency-based degrees that are credible to both academic institutions and employers. As part of an extensive career in higher education, Flores has served in a variety of roles. She had responsibility for 29 schools, 15,000 students and 1,800 employees as a Division President for Corinthian Colleges, Inc. Prior, she established School Analytix, and consulted with post-secondary, for-profit, higher education institutions. Flores was also the Chief Operating Officer for a start-up university, establishing all activities associated with campus operations and accreditation. Flores was an 11-year veteran of Apollo Group/University of Phoenix moving through positions of increasing responsibility at a state, national and international level. As the Vice President of International Operations, she was instrumental in starting international campus activities and gaining regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. As Vice President of Business Development and Integration, she implemented a national online distribution system for curriculum and initiated the pilot for a blended delivery model combining online and campus-based learning. Melissa is passionate about expanding opportunities and experiences for others. Within non-profit organizations, she served as Director of Vocational Services for a health-care organization. She currently serves as a committee member for the National Ability Center which is committed to helping people of all abilities develop lifetime skills through both affordable & adaptive sports and recreation. Melissa received her undergraduate degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and her masters from University of Phoenix. Melissa was born and raised in Southern California but has called Park City, Utah, home for 14 years. She is married and has a 15 year-old daughter.
Stacey Ludwig Johnson has spent 26 years serving individuals and families in capacities relating to before and after school and alternative programs for high-risk youth, Department of Corrections programs for juvenile offenders, distance learning certification programs for adults, and most notably, almost 20 years as a pioneer in competency-based education leading and inspiring teams at WGU. Dr. Johnson was drawn to WGU because of WGU’s mission and she has enjoyed the opportunity to innovate and deliver student support services that improve the quality and expand access to higher education for a primarily non-traditional, under-served population of adult learners. She is most excited about her new role as the VP of Academic Operations because it provides the opportunity to collaborate with talented colleagues as they lead the largest Teachers College in the nation.
Lisa Raisor has over 15 years’ experience in the private higher education arena. She currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Interim VP of Academic Programs for Western Governors University, College of Information Technology. In these roles, she provides leadership and vision to the ongoing design, development, delivery and evaluation of the IT programs, utilizing student performance data as well as feedback from students, faculty and employers to inform continuous improvement efforts of the IT programs and student experience. In addition, she collaborates with industry experts to ensure programs meet industry need, and works with university stakeholders to ensure processes and procedures surrounding curriculum design, development and delivery effective. Prior to joining WGU, Lisa served as the Director of Product Development for ECPI University, where she was responsible for the curriculum design, development and deployment of all university programs for online, hybrid and residential delivery, as well as faculty/staff training initiatives. Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Western Michigan University, and a MS in Education, Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University. She is also a United States Distance Learning Association member.
Kacey Thorne is the Director of Assessment Design and Development at Western Governors University. As the Assessment Director, Kacey leads cross functional teams in the design, development, and evaluation of all assessments delivered at WGU. She is passionate about the design and development of authentic and reliable assessments for WGU students. Kacey began her career in education 14 years ago as a Health Science classroom teacher in both traditional and online settings for secondary and post-secondary students. Her passion for students and a desire to expand access to higher education brought her to WGU 5 years ago. Kacey holds a MEd in Instructional Design from Western Governors University.
Tracey Wheeler is the Director of Curriculum for Teachers College at Western Governors University. She received her doctorate at Utah State University in Curriculum Design and Instruction with emphasis in Instructional Leadership and has a BA degree in Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach. She has over 16 years of experience in higher education leadership in areas related to accreditation, state licensing, programmatic development, curriculum and assessment at department and institutional levels. Wheeler’s current role as Director of Curriculum includes building collaborative teams, ownership, mentoring future leaders and making strategic decisions related to competency-based education, program development processes, use of innovative technologies, program priorities, and working with external agencies to meet state and accreditation requirements. Tracey’s additional experiences include; Site Visitor for CAEP, Director of Secondary Education, Director of Accreditation and Assessment for the Education Department, Institutional Accreditation Assessment Coordinator, instructional designer consultant for Mager Consortium, grant awards, scholarly productivity, and member of external advisory committees (e.g., NSF State of Nevada Epscor grant, STEM education, online/ blending digital environments, etc.). She was a professor for over 13 years, received full rank advancement, designed/ taught courses in Teacher Education through different delivery formats (e.g., face-to-face, blended, online), received grant awards, served on institutional committees and has presented at international and national conferences on research-based innovative technologies, online curriculum design and learning theories. Tracey has a passion for her profession in the field of education and believes her most important contribution is creating future leaders and teachers and are caring, effective and be positive role models for future generations.

Additional Information

Please park on the top level of the parking structure (north side of the WGU building).

Membership Reminder

You are a UWHEN member if you are employed by any of the following: Brigham Young University, Dixie State University, LDS Business College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah System of Technical Colleges, Utah State University, Utah State University - Eastern (Price), Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster College.

Event Photos & Videos

By attending a UWHEN event, an attendee acknowledges and that photographs and/or videos may be taken. The attendee gives permission for UWHEN to use his or her likeness in photographs and/or videos for events, websites, social media, and other print or digital media.

Fall Event: Creating Your Strategic Advantage – Women at Work

DATE: 03 November 2017
TIME: 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm
LOCATION: Southern Utah University, Sharwan Smith Student Center (Starlight Room), 351 W University Boulevard, Cedar City
  • 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))

Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Do you know what you bring to the table when you show up to work each day? Do you know where you want your career to go and how to get there? Join a conversation with Mary Weaver Bennett who spent over 25 years as a legislative and regulatory policy expert in Washington, DC, Ms. Bennett will share insights and experience on how she thrived and was successful in a demanding and male-dominated environment. This event will help you gain tools to explore your individual strengths and weaknesses and create your strategic advantage.

Registration Details

Attendance is FREE for UWHEN member institutions. Register online at https://suu2017.eventbrite.com.

Facilitator/Speaker Information

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.

Additional Information

Free parking is available directly north of the J. L. Sorenson Physical Education Building (36. PEB on the attached map). Guests will park here and have time to walk between events.

Membership Reminder

You are a UWHEN member if you are employed by any of the following: Brigham Young University, Dixie State University, LDS Business College, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah System of Technical Colleges, Utah State University, Utah State University - Eastern (Price), Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster College.

Event Photos & Videos

By attending a UWHEN event, an attendee acknowledges and that photographs and/or videos may be taken. The attendee gives permission for UWHEN to use his or her likeness in photographs and/or videos for events, websites, social media, and other print or digital media.