April 8, 2022: Navigating New Spaces, Annual Leadership Conference

Registration is now open for the 2022 UWHEN Annual Leadership Conference! This year’s conference will be held virtually on April 8, 2022 and will include a keynote presentation from Vice Chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education Nina S. Barnes, a panel discussion with women leaders from across the state of Utah, as well as several great breakout sessions. You won’t want to miss it! You can register here. Cost is $25 for UWHEN institutional members, $35 for non-members.

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9:00 – 9:30 am | Welcome & Awards
Ms. Teri Bladen (WSU), UWHEN Board Chair; President Brad Mortensen (WSU); President Astrid. S. Tuminez (UVU), UWHEN Presidential Sponsor; Dr. Valerie Herzog (WSU), UWHEN Awards Committee Chair

9:30 – 10:15 am | Breakout Sessions

• “But I’m Not a Leader!”: First Steps Toward Leadership – Ms. Amber Collins (RMUHP) 
• Embodying Wayfinding: Survivance and Navigation of “Difficult Conversations” as Two Faculty Women of Color– Dr. Andrea Garavito Martinez and Dr. Kristina Moleni (WSU) 
• Women in Higher Education: Knowing Strengths, Knowing Leadership – Ms. Kristen Nuesmeyer and Ms. Marianna Henry (UVU) 
• Navigating Mentorship: Pathways to Build Up Women – Dr. Heather Wilson-Ashworth and Ms. Jessica Ballard (UVU)

10:15 – 10:30 am | Break

10:30 – 11:15 am | Keynote Speaker: Mindy Benson, SUU Interim President
Mindy Benson is the first female to serve in the presidential role for Southern Utah University. President Benson’s primary focus has been to connect and engage stakeholders who are often overlooked. She has strengthened ties to alumni, along with creating deep and lasting relationships with community members and leaders in Utah. She is actively involved in the community and region by serving on the Cedar City Historic Downtown Economic Development Committee, Bryce Canyon National History Association Board, SUU’s Community Advisory Board and Rocky Vista University Executive Advisory Council. President Benson is responsible for a variety of community outreach projects, alumni engagement, workforce development, economic growth, community leadership trainings and special events. Along with her University responsibilities, she is a professional event consultant and planner, with experience producing hundreds of productions, concerts, events and political inaugurations nationally.

11:15 – 12:00 pm | Breakout Sessions

• Navigating New Spaces: Actions for Aspiring Male Allies – Dr. Kyle Reyes, Mr. Jeremy Knee, and Mr. Dustin Berlin (UVU)
• Women’s Equality in Utah: Why UT is Ranked as the Worst State, and What Can Be Done – Dr. Susan Madsen (USU) and Ms. Nubia Peña (UT Office of the Governor)
• Navigating Stormy Conversations – Ms. Jodie Jones (SLCC)
• Lessons Learned from Joining a New Team in the Age of COVID – Ms. Katie Mazzie and Ms. Lisa Molina (USHE)

12:00 – 12:15 pm | Break

12:15 – 1:15 pm | Leadership Panel
Join women leaders from across the state as we discuss their journey and strategies in “Navigating New Spaces.”

1:15 – 1:45 pm | Networking and Wellness Break Sessions

1:45 – 2:30 pm | Breakout Sessions

• Navigating the Glass Labyrinth: Models and Advice for Success – Ms. TaraLee Cook (Snow College)
• Leading from the Edge – Ms. Anya Petersen-Frey and Ms. Sharon Lyman (U of U)
• Navigating Change: How We Resist, Subsist, or Insist – Ms. Melanie Chambers and Ms. Sharon Lyman (USU)
• Making a Difference Through Advocacy – Dr. Valerie Herzog (WSU) and Dr. Rosemary Lesser (UT House of Representatives)

2:30 – 3:00 pm | Closing Remarks & Raffle Drawing