Following his years as an elected official at the state and local level, former governor Gary Herbert partnered with Utah Valley University to create Utah’s newest public policy institute. The Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy is located in UVU’s Fugal Gateway Building in what is called “Herbert Hall.” In this space, the Herbert Institute honors the exemplary public service of Governor Herbert and is a hosting center for students, elected officials, and political thought leaders on UVU’s Campus.
DEVELOPS future policy leaders,
GATHERS the community, and
BUILDS TRUST in civic institutions that are the
foundation of our democratic republic.
The mission of the Herbert Institute is to increase positive civic engagement among students, policy leaders, and the community by developing future policy leaders; gathering the community to engage in respectful civic dialogue; and building trust in civic institutions that are the foundation of our democratic republic.
The Herbert Institute teaches and sponsors UVU interns from every major for state, federal, and in-house internships.
The Herbert Institute hosts forums, conferences, debates, and other events to gather the students, leaders, and the community to engage in respectful civic dialogue.
The Herbert Institute conducts and publishes research to inform the community of important topics and to recommend evidence-based solutions to policy concerns.
Thank you for visiting the Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University. While there are a variety of parking options available to you, we strongly encourage you to park in the UVU Parking Garage, a paid parking garage that utilizes the Passport phone application. To view more parking options, visit the UVU Parking Services website.
Want to visit or host an event with the Herbert Institute? Contact Us!
Former Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert is both the Herbert Institute founder and an essential part of the Herbert team. His founding pillars and vision continue to guide the Herbert Institute in our mission. His office can be found in Herbert Hall, where he serves as both an advisor for the Institute and a mentor to the Herbert Interns.
Gary R. Herbert was born and raised in Utah County, and spent most of his life in Orem, Utah. In high school, he was concurrently enrolled at Utah Technical College, now Utah Valley University. After graduating, he served a mission for his Church, attended Brigham Young University, and joined the Army National Guard. After finishing his military service, Herbert opened his own real estate firm, Herbert and Associates, and taught real estate classes in the Woodbury School of Business.
A successful realtor and businessman, the governor saw firsthand how decisions made by public officials can impact private enterprise. From 1990, he decided to make a difference and served as a Utah County Commissioner for over 14-years, where he gained invaluable experience that benefited his later decisions as governor.
In 2004, Herbert left his job as Utah County Commissioner to join newly elected Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. as his lieutenant governor. They were re-elected in 2008, but Herbert’s second term as lieutenant governor came to an unexpected end a year later when Governor Huntsman stepped down to become a U.S. ambassador and Gary R. Herbert suddenly became the 17th Governor of Utah. He was sworn in on August 9, 2009, and was later elected in a 2010 special election.
As governor, Gary R. Herbert led Utah’s recovery from the Great Recession to a position of national economic prominence. His unwavering focus on economic development included attracting businesses and investment to the state while helping homegrown businesses flourish.
Governor Herbert’s focus was on four cornerstones to strengthen Utah’s economy: education, jobs, energy, and self-determination. As a result, Utah has become a premier destination for business, with an unsurpassed quality of life.
As governor, he served as the Chair of the Western Governors Association and the Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA). His focus as the leader of the nation’s governors was to make the relationship between states and the federal government more collaborative, highlight state solutions and share best practices between states. The governor believes real solutions are found in the states, the real innovators, and laboratories of democracy.
Following his service, Herbert helped launch the Herbert Institute. He rejoined the UVU faculty in January of 2021 to be a lecturer and resource to the University.
Governor Herbert and his wife, Jeanette, are the proud parents of six children and 17 grandchildren.
Justin Jones was appointed Executive Director of the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy on Aug. 1, 2021. As the director, he is responsible for the operational, financial, programmatic, fundraising and personnel activities of the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. He works to achieve several important Institute initiatives, including mission fulfillment and outreach with educational and business partners.
Prior to this appointment, he worked as the Senior Director of Donor Relations and Annual Giving from Nov. 2019 to Jul. 2021. He served as the Chief of Staff to two Presidents of UVU, starting in August 2016. His most recent work included directing the successful leadership transition from outgoing President Matthew S. Holland and welcoming UVU’s seventh President, Astrid S. Tuminez.
Before joining UVU, Jones worked as the Vice President of Public Policy and Communications for the Salt Lake Chamber. His primary role was to advocate for and negotiate business friendly policies focused on education, healthcare, water, and other interests with the Utah Legislature and with Utah’s Congressional delegation.
Prior to the Chamber, he directed all strategic public relations, social media, internal communications, and marketing efforts for Rio Tinto Kennecott. He lead the crisis communications efforts during the catastrophic collapse of the Bingham Canyon Mine wall.
His previous work includes working as the senior advisor to the president, government relations director, and spokesperson for the Utah Transit Authority. He worked as the communications advisor for the Utah County Health department, and a grants specialist during the administrations of Governor Michael O. Leavitt and Governor Olene Walker.
EDUCATION
PERSONAL
Justin is married with four children, two of whom are Wolverines. They live in American Fork, UT where he enjoys working in the garden, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with family. Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, he, and his family make annual pilgrimages to enjoy family while boating and other outdoor activities in the beautiful Black Hills.
Erik’s passion lies in helping college students, regardless of age or background,
discover the next steps in their careers post-graduation. He firmly believes that
internships serve as pivotal experiences that transform lives, and he’s witnessed
this transformation firsthand through his work. As the Director of UVU’s Government
Internship Program, Erik collaborates closely with U.S. Senate and House staff for
the Utah delegation, and is regularly in touch with agencies such as the State Department,
the Secret Service, and other key government organizations to provide prestigious
opportunities for his students.
Under his leadership, UVU has sent a record number of legislative interns to the Utah
Capitol, surpassing previous years. Erik’s dedication to creating meaningful career-launching
experiences has left a lasting impact on both students and the institutions they serve.
Beyond his formal role, he’s been involved with the Utah Symbols Commission, the New State Flag Design Committee, and continues to serve as a judge in the Miss America Organization’s local pageants. Though his role is anchored in the Herbert Institute for Public Policy, Erik is committed to helping students from all disciplines explore and realize their career potential.
Becca Aylworth Wright was thrilled to join the team at the Herbert Institute in September, 2024. Becca received her Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in Community Health Science Education, but decided to make a career change to editing. She received her Certificate in Editing and Document design from Utah Valley University while creating content for LDSDaily.com. From there, Becca worked as a writer and editor at the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines. She now brings her experience in writing, editing, social media, and mentoring back to UVU.
PERSONAL
Becca and her husband, Jonathan, are raising five children, ten chickens, and one cat. She loves singing with Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, dark chocolate, hiking, walking, and listening to audiobooks.
Karen Gill happily joined the Herbert Institute team as an Events Coordinator in January of 2024. Karen’s passion for Event Planning dates back to 2015 at her first position working for Bawden Capitol as an assistant/events coordinator in Manhattan, NYC, planning events for socialite clients. After 2 years she moved to Utah and found her home for the next 4 years at the University of Utah in their Continuing Education Department as a Program Coordinator. Transitioning into the tech/business world in 2021 she started out at a Startup called Sponsr and worked her way from Events Coordinator to VP of Communications in just under a year. Enthralled with the world of entrepreneurship Karen broke ground on her very own company, combining her two passions: business, and event planning, in 2023, and is the Founder and CEO of Forte Events Co.
PERSONAL
Karen is from Powhatan, Virgina and currently resides in Orem, Utah with her husband, Ty, who is pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. Karen comes from a Deaf household and speaks American Sign Language. Karen spends her free time traveling, attending concerts, salsa dancing, singing in choirs and reading.
Jonathan Barton joined the Herbert Institute as its first Administrative Support III in April 2025, bringing a diverse background in media, business, and operations. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Sound Recording Technology with a minor in Media Arts from Brigham Young University. During his final year of college, Jonathan developed a strong interest in financial services and entrepreneurship, which sparked a broader passion for business leadership.
Over the next decade, he gained experience across several industries. In Southern Utah, he successfully built a media department for an OSHA compliance company. Later, he became the first hire at a social media marketing agency in Utah County, where he worked as a Project Manager, honing his skills in marketing, advertising, and client relations. At the Herbert Institute, Jonathan now leverages his wide-ranging expertise to support efficient and effective operations across the team.
A native of Springville, Utah, Jonathan currently lives in Orem with his wife MaryAnn—an Air National Guard service member—and their four children. Outside of work, he enjoys playing the viola, wrestling with his kids, learning new languages, raising chickens, staying active, and tackling outdoor projects.
Dr. Tara Bishop is a dryland community and ecosystem ecologist asking questions about
climate change (drought and precipitation changes), wildfire, and plant-soil feedbacks.
Most of Dr. Bishop's work centers in drylands of the western United States including
the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, Sonoran and the Colorado Plateau. She utilizes experimental
studies, observational studies, remote sensing, and drone image analysis with GIS
to answer her research questions.
Dr. Bishop enjoys building relationships between scientists and decision makers, and
has been collaborating with the Herbert Institute since the fall of 2024.
Dr. Kidd joined the Mathematics Department at UVU in the fall of 2021 after completing his PhD in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. His goal when instructing students is to help them not only understand the concepts so that they can succeed in statistical procedures but also to incorporate additional applications so that students of all levels can recognize good and poor analyses and studies. He puts a great emphasis on critical thinking and scientific rigor.
Dr. Kidd has worked in genomic cancer research since 2014 and made genetics a focus during his PhD work. His dissertation developed new statistical tests and methods for conducting mediation analysis in genetic studies.
Dr. Kidd has been providing statistical support for the Herbert Institute since the summer of 2024, particularly with respect to ranked-choice voting.
He and his wife have four children. Running is a big part of his life; he has run four marathons, though half marathons are his preference.
Dr. Parry completed a PhD in Mathematics from Duke University in 2013. After a three-year postdoc at the University of Connecticut, he joined the UVU Mathematics Department in Fall 2016. Dr. Parry loves teaching and is committed to UVU's student-centered mission.
In the past, Dr. Parry's research was in differential geometry and mathematical relativity, but more recently, he has turned towards research in mathematics education and the mathematics of elections. He has been involved with the Herbert Institute since early 2023 and has been a Faculty Fellow of the Institute since October 2023. Dr. Parry's work with the Herbert Institute has focused on ranked-choice voting.
Dr. Parry maintains a YouTube channel called Scholar Sauce that works towards making mathematics accessible, fun, and exciting for the general audience. Some of his videos discuss ranked-choice voting.
Dr. Parry and his wife have four children, some of whom are now UVU Wolverines.
