UVU's Presidential Internship Program is a distinguished internship. It provides students from all backgrounds with the chance to learn from and engage with UVU's executive leadership team. Each intern will work closely with a UVU cabinet member to develop and complete projects. By working with the cabinet, students will better understand UVU's purpose and values and gain an inside view of higher education. Students will also develop skills to enhance their education, careers, and personal lives.
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Utah native from Alpine, Eli Cloward is a senior majoring in finance with a double minor in marketing and business management. He serves as the cohort lead intern and presidential intern to President Jon Anderson. Known for his genuine love for people, Cloward helps coordinate projects, advance executive initiatives, and foster a strong, inclusive, hardworking culture where every intern feels valued.
Beyond his internship, Cloward is the founder and president of UVU’s Management Consulting Club and an associate with the Wolverine Fund, UVU's student-led venture capital fund. His professional experience spans market research, private equity, and financial planning and analysis. He is passionate about turning data into actionable insights that improve decision-making.
A proud Wolverine, Cloward wholeheartedly embraces UVU's motto, "A Place for You." He credits the university's supportive community for helping make his achievements possible and is grateful for the people and opportunities that have shaped his journey.
Looking ahead, Cloward plans to pursue an MBA and build a career that combines his enthusiasm for education, leadership, and people. Outside of work and school, he enjoys golfing, movies, football, friendly competition, and spending time with his family.
Alexa Chock is a junior pursuing a degree in graphic design with a minor in marketing. She is the presidential intern for Kara Schneck in Marketing and Communications. In her role, she combines her creative and marketing skills to contribute to projects that strengthen UVU’s brand and engage the university community.
Chock’s background in graphic design has shaped her approach to marketing. She has a passion for visual storytelling, branding, and creative communication. Through her work at UVU, she has gained experience in both marketing and design while continuing to develop her skills as a creative professional. She enjoys finding the balance between creativity and strategy. She is interested in how strong branding can shape the way people experience an organization.
Beyond academics, Chock enjoys being outdoors, staying active, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She also finds inspiration through art, design, and new experiences. She is excited to continue growing at UVU and hopes to build a career that combines marketing, creativity, and meaningful connection.
Annabelle Lue is serving as the presidential intern to Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Wayne Vaught. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Lue moved to the United States at seventeen to pursue higher education. She is majoring in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry and minoring in biology. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in formulation chemistry and contribute to greater diversity and representation within the industry.
As a first-generation college student and immigrant, Lue has experienced firsthand how transformative access to higher education can be. These experiences have shaped her belief in the power of education and her passion for helping students recognize what is possible for them. She is particularly interested in understanding how universities can create an environment where students from different backgrounds can find opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.
Before joining the Provost’s Office, Lue worked in the Financial Aid Office, helping students navigate financial aid and connect with resources to support their education. She also serves as an officer in UVU’s Black Student Union, where she helps foster community and student engagement. As a transfer student herself, Lue has experienced firsthand the breadth of opportunities UVU offers and is excited to bring her perspective to her work in Academic Affairs.
Outside of work, Lue enjoys thrifting, listening to music, watching films, caring for her plants, and meeting new people.
Cooper Winegar is a senior majoring in human resource management and is expected to graduate in spring 2027. As a presidential intern, he is eager to deepen his understanding of human resources functions within higher education while contributing a fresh perspective, contagious energy, and commitment to creating a positive workplace culture. A hardworking, people-oriented, and competitive individual, Winegar is passionate about helping others succeed and creating environments where people feel valued.
Winegar is actively involved in the UVU community. He served as a 2024–25 Presidential 100 cohort leader and adored the lessons learned in that space. From 2024–26, he was a UVU recruitment ambassador and ambassador manager, where he enjoyed inspiring prospective students through his UVU story. He also serves as a presidency member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Club and has participated in the SHRM Case Study Competition. As a first-generation college student and participant in the Woodbury School of Business HOPE Scholarship Program, Winegar values the opportunities that have supported his educational journey. In 2026, he and three fellow students presented at CIVSA’s national conference in Oregon; their presentation was among the highest-ranked at the conference. He is also pursuing an undergraduate certificate in data analytics and brings strengths in collaboration, relationship building, conversational Spanish, and helping others grow.
From 2021 to 2023, Winegar served a religious mission in Mexico, an experience that strengthened his love for people, community, and shared growth. After graduation, he and his wife plan to move to the Seattle area, where he hopes to begin a career in human resources and help organizations build strong, people-centered cultures. Outside of school and work, Winegar enjoys staying active with his wife and friends through pickleball, hiking, fishing, swimming, weightlifting, climbing, running, and playing the saxophone and piano.
Liza Ashton is a junior studying art and design with an emphasis in photography and a minor in Spanish. She developed a love for creativity and visual storytelling at an early age, growing up surrounded by art through her mother and grandfather, both artists themselves. Her passion for photography has grown into her own business, where she specializes in photographing families, couples, senior graduates, and weddings. Following graduation, she hopes to continue expanding her business and pursuing photography professionally.
As the presidential intern for Kyle Reyes, vice president of Institutional Advancement and CEO of the UVU Foundation, Ashton applies her background in photography, design, and visual storytelling to support the university’s advancement efforts. She assists with marketing initiatives that increase awareness of opportunities to support UVU students and strengthen connections between donors, alumni, and the university.
Ashton has a deep appreciation for the Spanish language and the cultures connected to it. She served a Spanish-speaking mission and later worked as a language teacher at the Missionary Training Center, experiences that strengthened her love for language, people, and service. Her faith is an important part of her life and continues to shape her commitment to serving others and building meaningful connections.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Ashton enjoys hiking, camping, rock climbing, playing pickleball, and spending time with her family. She also enjoys painting, drawing, and exploring other creative mediums. She is passionate about using creativity to tell meaningful stories and hopes to build a career that combines art, photography, culture, and connection with others.
Mekael Coreas is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s of science in psychology. His love for education cannot be attributed to a single source; he has always been inquisitive, curious, and persistent in his pursuit of understanding. He is particularly drawn to understanding systems and institutions, as well as the people within them. Throughout college, Mekael has immersed himself in his studies through the Honors Program and by finding ways to apply what he learns to his own life. He is thrilled to bring his curiosity and perspective to the Presidential Internship, eager to learn from executive leadership and contribute meaningfully to the university
Looking toward the future, Coreas plans to pursue a juris doctorate and a master’s degree in psychology, building on his interest in both people and the systems that shape their opportunities. He is particularly interested in immigration law, public policy, and corporate law, and hopes to use the knowledge and experience gained along his academic and professional path to create meaningful and lasting change.
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Coreas loves the beach, nature, and the outdoors.
In his free time, he can often be found hiking with a camera in hand, playing basketball,
or staying active through fitness. He also enjoys working on cars and creating opportunities
to learn something new.
Shelby Gardner is the presidential intern for Deputy Provost Kat Brown. She is in her senior year pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human resource management with a double minor in business management and event management. During her time at UVU, she has served as a residential community leader, communication liaison for UVUSA, and student alumni ambassador. Through these experiences, she has developed a passion for higher education, student success, and creating meaningful opportunities for others.
In her role as a presidential intern, Gardner will serve on the Ira A. and Mary Lou Fulton Library Advancement Board, facilitate the faculty newsletter, contribute as a student voice in academic policy, and is especially excited to help with the Roots of Knowledge 10th Anniversary this year.
Beyond campus, Gardner volunteered teaching English to children in Mexico for four months and served as an American ambassador with the AFE International Folk Dance Team in Portugal. Outside of work and school, she enjoys all kinds of crafting, hot yoga, and pickleball. She is hoping to begin her 200-hour yoga teacher training this summer.
After graduation, Shelby plans to pursue a career in human resources with an emphasis on corporate events before earning a master’s degree in higher education leadership. She hopes to combine her passion for people, leadership, creativity, and higher education throughout her career.
Veronica Mini is a junior and honors student majoring in mechanical engineering. Originally from Treviso, Italy, she currently serves as the presidential intern to Christina Baum, vice president of Digital Transformation, where she contributes to policy research and website projects.
Since beginning her journey at UVU, Mini has continuously sought opportunities to grow, challenge herself, and step outside of her comfort zone. Her path at UVU has taken her from Dining Services to roles with International Student Services and the Honors Program, as well as a teaching assistant position, with each experience motivating her to continue learning and taking on new challenges. She is also a junior mentor with the UVU International Student Council and a member of the UVU Race Team.
Mini’s drive to challenge herself started well before college. During a high school exchange year in the United States, she pushed past her hesitation to compete in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and became the only student from her high school to qualify for the national competition in two different events.
Mini has a strong passion for motorsports, particularly Porsche and Formula 1, and
hopes to pursue a career in motorsport engineering. Outside of academics and work,
she has been skiing since she was three years old and competed for several years.
She also enjoys baking, working out, traveling, and experiencing new cultures.
Jessica McClellan is a junior majoring in event management. She serves as the presidential intern for Michelle Kearns, vice president of Student Affairs, helping plan and execute events for students. She also serves as vice president of UVU’s student chapter of the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE).
McClellan’s passion for bringing people together was shaped by growing up in Dallas, Texas, in a family influenced by Danish culture. She embraced hygge, the Danish concept of creating connection and appreciating life’s small joys. Growing up around people from diverse backgrounds strengthened her desire to create spaces where others can connect, grow, and feel valued.
Later, McClellan served a religious mission in Las Vegas and taught at the Missionary Training Center, where she developed a deep passion for service, leadership, and helping others recognize their potential.
This past summer, McClellan was selected as a seminar specialist for the Mission President Seminar, attended by senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was also an Alpine Days intern, helping plan and execute more than 50 events attended by over 7,500 people. She also led the planning and execution of a car show featuring more than 300 vehicles.
McClellan hopes to combine her passion for event management and leadership in a corporate career where she can lead a team and create meaningful experiences that bring people together. She credits her husband and family for encouraging her goals and supporting her dreams. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, baking, playing the cello, and practicing hygge with loved ones.
Nathan Wright is a senior pursuing degrees in philosophy and political science with an emphasis in public law and political philosophy, along with a minor in constitutional studies. He is passionate about law, constitutional government, and the American legal system. Through UVU, Wright had the opportunity to study the U.S. Constitution at Oxford, deepening his interest in constitutional law and legal scholarship.
Wright serves as the presidential intern for Clark Collings, UVU’s General Counsel, conducting legal and policy research and assisting with university contracts, policies, legal cases, and matters involving the Board of Trustees. He is excited to broaden his understanding of the law as he prepares to attend law school and, hopefully, become a federal judge.
Wright’s passion for UVU has led to years of campus involvement. He currently serves as a student alumni ambassador, working with alumni through the Forever Wolverines Podcast, and as a Tocqueville fellow with UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies. Previously, he held several roles in the ambassador program, including wolverine ambassador, ambassador manager, and assistant to the program, and served as an executive events ambassador, legal chair for the Women for UVU club, and an intern for the UVU Buried Library Conference.
Outside of academics and his work at UVU, Wright enjoys the outdoors, reading, writing, and discussing current events, philosophy, and politics with friends. He is also an avid hammock enthusiast and, somehow, owns twelve hammocks. He also bartends part-time at a local restaurant.
Caden Rowley is a senior majoring in business and analysis and minoring in international business. He enjoys expanding his skills in data analytics and creating visualizations that support informed decision-making. Following graduation, he plans to pursue an MBA.
Rowley currently serves as a presidential intern to Rasha Qudisat, Ph.D. in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Engagement. In this role, he enjoys using data to identify opportunities for improvement and better understand the needs of the UVU community. He is particularly interested in leveraging data to drive continuous improvement and improve the way organizations serve their communities.
Originally from Santaquin, Utah, Rowley grew up on his family’s fruit farm, where he developed a strong work ethic. He also served a religious mission in Peru, an experience that broadened his perspective and deepened his appreciation for different cultures.
Outside of his academic and professional endeavors, Caden enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, and baking sourdough bread.
Zane Weeks is a junior majoring in business analytics and minoring in philosophy. Serving as the presidential intern to Val Peterson, vice president of Administration and Strategic Relations, Weeks focuses on improving the logistical environment here at UVU while gaining hands-on experience with university and local policy.
Before joining UVU’s Presidential Intern Cohort, Weeks worked as an immigration law paralegal, learning the important nuances of the local and federal legal systems. He also gained significant experience as a legislative intern on Utah’s Capitol Hill, where he witnessed firsthand the importance of the relationship between higher education and the state's political authority. During his time at UVU, he has been a part of UVU’s honor program and actively participates in campus events and projects related to sports and debate.
Zane comes from a unique family background, being a triplet in a family of six children with two younger siblings adopted from China. He was born and raised in Farmington, Utah. He served a religious mission in Richmond, Virginia after graduating high school. If you were to find Weeks in any moment doing what he loves, you would find him reading, listening to a podcast, sewing, or being outdoors playing sports (most recently, golf). He is fluent in Spanish, plays the guitar, and enjoys intellectual debates on religion, politics, and philosophy.
