As trustees, we invite you to join in the learning, improvement and excitement of
UVU.
High quality teaching, hands-on learning, personal help, and lifelong friendships
await you in a welcoming and supportive environment. UVU is YOUR university and is
committed to YOUR success.
We are engaged in some of the most significant educational improvements in the history of the world. I am referring to the integration of AI teaching and learning technologies throughout the entire university… from Arts to Business; Humanities and Social Sciences to Physical Sciences; and from Education, Health and Public Service to Science and Technology. Whatever your passion and course of study, we are focused on your success, future employment, and life goals.
UVU has a place for you. Each professor, staff member, administrator, and member of the Board of Trustees holds a position of trust that is committed to the exceptional care of you, personally. This responsibility requires extraordinary partnerships, opportunities and results, and is all part of an exceptional accountability for your success.
We encourage those of you contemplating a journey of self-improvement and learning to engage with the UVU programs, people and resources. Whether you are a concurrent high school student, a recent high school graduate, or a non-traditional student, we are here to assist you in learning and receiving help for your individual needs. We are here to serve you and share our experiences and resources.
Is UVU the best place to begin your journey? Certainly, that choice is yours… but I will share with you that UVU has remarkably altered the life path of seven of my children and they are extremely satisfied with their UVU experience. More than 46,000 students are currently enrolled at UVU, and the student poll showed 82% of respondents were extremely satisfied or satisfied with UVU (satisfaction scale).
As trustees, we are committed to student success, engaged learning, inclusion, rigor and professional excellence in academic studies and other experiences at UVU. We recognize and commend our governor, legislators, and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) for their far-reaching insight, leadership and planning for excellence in education, especially at UVU. We are “all-in” and focused on your UVU experience and educational success.
All the best,
Scott Smith
GO WOLVERINES!
Scott is honored to serve and associate with the members of the UVU Board of Trustees, with the UVU Faculty and Administration, and UVU Students. UVU holds a unique position in academic achievement and student learning that fosters great individual growth opportunities for students and faculty alike. He is grateful to support the state of Utah and the community in growing UVU.
Scott serves with a distinctive perspective on the Board of Trustees, having a passion for research and analysis. Following the completion of an undergraduate degree in business (BYU), MBA (Michigan State), and a Ph.D. (Pennsylvania State University in business with minors in computer science, social psychology, and quantitative methods), he joined the faculty at the University of Oregon. A faculty position at Brigham Young University followed, where he enjoyed 30 years of teaching, researching, and writing at BYU’s Marriott School of Management. His works include more than 100 refereed publications, and the three volume book series Basic Marketing Research (2012), Introduction to Marketing Research (2011), Fundamentals of Marketing Research (2005), and Multidimensional Scaling: Concepts and Applications (1989).
During a diverse career, Scott was honored as a Fulbright Scholar, consulted, and taught executive courses for many leading corporations, and qualified as expert witness with testimony reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. At the time of his retirement, his research focused on methods of online data collection, and the measurement and analysis of data.
Following this interest in business, computer science and statistics, Scott developed several statistical software packages, and with two of his sons, co-founded Qualtrics, the world leading Experience Management platform (XM). In January 2019, Qualtrics was sold to SAP, in what was the largest private enterprise software acquisition in tech history. (Marketwatch 12/28/2020)
Scott and his wife, Karen, spend most of their time engaged in humanitarian, church, and other service activities. They have coordinated humanitarian services in Israel and the West Bank (Palestinian Territory Occupied) while living and serving at the BYU Jerusalem Center. They have been service missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong and have participated in training medical professionals in newborn resuscitation techniques in Palestine, Ghana, and Nepal. They currently serve in supporting church humanitarian efforts in the Middle East/Africa North area.
Scott and Karen share a large, blended family of nine children, who have blessed them with 28 grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. They are both cancer survivors and their philanthropic priorities are education and cancer research.
Jeanette Bennett has been telling the stories of Utah since she founded Utah Valley Magazine in 2000 and BusinessQ Magazine in 2003. As CEO of Bennett Communications, her team produces 25+ magazines annually including Parade of Homes, Prosper Magazine and Utah Valley Bride. Jeanette earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Brigham Young University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from Utah Valley University. Jeanette was named the Top Woman Entrepreneur in Media in 2018 at a luncheon in New York City, alongside Martha Stewart. In February 2023, Jeanette was named to the prestigious Silicon Slopes Hall of Fame.
Jeanette’s community involvement spans two decades and includes being on the Board of Trustees at UVU, as well as four years as Chair of Utah Philanthropy Day. Jeanette was named the Outstanding Business Leader in Utah Valley as well as the Small Business of the Year. She is currently Chair-Elect of United Way of Utah County. She’s served on boards for the Chamber of Commerce, UVU Foundation Board, Roots of Humanity, and the Cook Center for Human Connection. She recently began an adventure as Chief Visionary Officer at Thanksgiving Point.
As Utah County’s premier media personality, Jeanette is a sought after speaker, podcast guest and emcee. She also hosts her own events each year, including the UV50 where she names the top 50 businesses in Utah County as well as awarding a Lifetime Achievement Award to notable giants including Gail Miller, Fraser Bullock, Warren Osborn, Josh James, Andrew Smith and Blake Roney.
BusinessQ Magazine also hosts the annual “40 under 40” event where she honors entrepreneurs and launches the accompanying magazine with all of the interviews and photos. Since 2000, Jeanette has sat knee-to-knee with the state’s biggest names and told their epic stories — including those who have passed on such as Stephen Covey, Becky Lockhart, Larry King, Hyrum Smith, Christopher Clark and Ruth Hale. Her cover stories are legendary and have highlighted current superstars including Ryan Smith, Astrid Tuminez, Carine Clark, James Clarke, Todd Pedersen, Steve Young, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Stirling and David Archuleta.
Jeanette has presented twice at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York City and has continued to be active in promoting family, entrepreneurism, faith and education.
She serves the community as she drives a pink golf cart around with stickers such as “Heels on Wheels” and “Charity Never Walketh.” Her life was beautifully depicted in a 17-minute ballet choreographed by the Utah Metropolitan Ballet in 2021.
Jeanette was a finalist for Utah’s 2019 Mother of the Year, although her five funny kids like to remind her that she didn’t win. She was born and raised in Idaho Falls, where she landed her first job as a high schooler at the local TV station and launched her journalism career.
She grew up in a large family in Idaho Falls, where her dad was a school teacher. She was known for being a quiet student who would surprisingly come out strong and win academic contests and debates. As a first-grade student, she won the reading contest for reading 234 books, with the second place student reading 50 books. Throughout her life, she has put her head down and outworked the competition.
Jeanette is a cancer survivor, former state senate candidate, on-again-off-again runner, and perpetual cheerleader for the state of Utah.
Blake joined Pelion as the Managing Partner in 2002 and has led the firm through 4 successful funds. Blake is focused on backing entrepreneurs building unique and disruptive technology. Blake has led investments in Redhat, Riverbed, Fusion.io, Integral Ad Science, DOMO, enCommerce, Soasta, and Metacloud.
Prior to joining Pelion, Blake was Managing Director for Novell Ventures and VP of Strategic Business Development. He directed Novell’s venture strategy including both its direct investments in companies and indirect investments in venture capital funds. During this time, he served on the boards of several public and private companies as well as the advisory boards of several venture capital firms.
Prior to managing Novell’s venture capital organization, Blake held a number of sales, marketing, product management, global channel sales development and business development positions within Novell and WordPerfect. Blake has a B.A. in Economics from Brigham Young University.
Andrea E. Clarke is an accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business and a Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management from Columbia University. Andrea’s early career included working in computer electronics for some of the world’s fastest-growing organizations—Megahertz, US Robotics, and 3COM. Years later, she transitioned her sales career to the pharmaceutical industry where she was recognized as a top sales rep.
In the early 2000’s, Andrea and James founded CLEARLINK and began growing their family of five. The Clarkes are now founders, investors, and operators of private and public companies on five continents with over 36,000 employees globally.
Andrea has dedicated her life to her family and makes time to support a number of causes in her community and abroad. She is a member of the board of the Stella H. Oaks Foundation, CharityVision, Bridle Up Hope—the Rachel Covey Foundation, The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, and serves as a Governor-appointed Trustee for Utah Valley University, as well as Past-Chair of the UVU’s Women’s Success Center Advisory Board.
With her exceptional background in nonprofits, Andrea closely oversees the affairs of The Labor and Honor Foundation, the Clarke family charity, which focuses on poverty alleviation, education, and the arts. The name of the foundation is derived from the Clarkes’ English family crest dating back centuries, which instills that whether a task be great or small, ALL work should be done with honor. The Clarkes’ hope is that through their efforts, they might improve the lives of others by giving back with humble thanksgiving for life’s many blessings.
Justin Olson is the President and CEO of Utah Community Credit Union, where he leads with a passion for empowering individuals to improve their financial strength and achieve their dreams. Prior to being appointed as President and CEO, Justin served as Chief Information Officer and led the institution’s technology strategy and teams, scaling the organization from a few hundred million in assets under management to nearly $4 billion.
A proud alumnus of Utah Valley University, Justin earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management while working full-time, exemplifying the spirit of UVU’s nontraditional student body. He later completed his MBA at Brigham Young University, where he was recognized for being in the top 10% of his class. Justin’s connection to UVU runs deep—not only as a graduate, but also through his service on the Scott M. Smith College of Engineering and Technology Advisory Board. In that role, he collaborated with faculty and industry leaders to ensure UVU’s Information Security and Technology curriculum remains aligned with the ever-evolving demands of industry and academia.
Justin is inspired by UVU’s mission to serve students from diverse backgrounds, including the 41% who are first-generation college attendees. His leadership is rooted in a commitment to student success, academic excellence, and community-building—values that reflect UVU’s enduring impact on Utah’s workforce and society. Justin and his wife, also a UVU alumna and registered nurse, are proud to call Utah home with their three children. Their journey through higher education at UVU shaped their lives and careers, and they remain dedicated to supporting the university’s continued growth and success.
Kristin Andrus is the Chief Culture Officer to her husband and six children, and founder of Gathering for Impact. She is a committed advocate for women, children, and vulnerable populations in Utah and beyond. She empowers individuals to give back by aligning their service with personal values and passions—a philosophy she calls "sticky service," rooted in the belief that "just keep showing up" leads to lasting change.
Working at the intersection of hands-on service and systemic advocacy, Kristin mobilizes communities through volunteerism, social media, collaborative events, and policy efforts that address root causes. As head of the Andrus Family Foundation, she blends strategic philanthropy with direct community involvement to amplify impact. She also serves on the Utah Valley University Board of Trustees, the Cities Strong Foundation board, and works with the Utah Workforce Housing Authority to advance solutions to some of the state's most pressing challenges.
Kristin and her family are the authors of Life At Our Table, a cookbook and fundraiser supporting Huntsman Mental Health Foundation and its work in substance abuse prevention and treatment. The project reflects her belief in the power of gathering, not only around meals but around shared purpose, but as a force for healing and connection.
Widely recognized for her ability to inspire action and get things done, Kristin serves as a trusted advocate, event host, and bridge builder across Utah's nonprofit landscape. She champions collective effort, knowing that true change comes when individuals, families, and neighborhoods work together.
Brad Herbert is Senior Vice President of International Banking at Zions Bank, where he leads the bank’s global banking strategy and helps companies across the Intermountain West expand into international markets. Since joining Zions Bank in 2006, Brad has held several leadership roles, including serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications from 2017 to 2023.
A passionate advocate for global commerce and regional growth, Brad oversees the annual Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, one of his key responsibilities in promoting international business development. In 2018, he joined a Utah delegation of business and government leaders on a trade mission to China, strengthening ties between local businesses and international partners.
Brad’s commitment to community service is reflected in his work as a board ambassador for the University of Utah Women’s Resource Center, co-chair of the Utah Food Bank’s Young Professionals Committee, and organizer of “Light Up Puerto Rico,” a humanitarian relief initiative launched in response to Hurricane Maria.
He holds an associate degree from Utah Valley University, a bachelor’s degree in Advertising Communications from Brigham Young University, an MBA from the University of Utah, and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School through the University of Washington.
Outside of work, Brad is an avid tennis player, golfer, and water skier. He and his wife Carmen are the proud parents of four boys.
As CEO and co-founder of Savory, Shauna is an accomplished executive leader with more than 15 years of experience at the helm of Food & Beverage organizations. Shauna started as an operator and has since been integral in developing, acquiring, and operating over 400 restaurants across a dozen states since 2008. Cumulatively, these establishments have raked in sales north of $2.5 billion, offering employment opportunities to over 40,000 individuals. Her primary focus is elevating operational efficiencies and accelerating revenue growth across the various brands in the Savory portfolio. With an operational depth supported by a 70-person value-add team, she directly supervises the senior leaders of each portfolio company to ensure both strategic and tactical objectives are met. Shauna’s superpower is value creation through three key drivers -- growth, efficiency and site replication. This remarkable growth trajectory earned the firm multiple accolades, including back-to-back fast-growth awards from Restaurant Monitor, as well as eight appearances on Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Inc. 500 list — a testament to its rapid expansion and success.
Jared Finch is President of the Utah Valley University Alumni Board and a member of the UVU Foundation Board and Board of Trustees. A proud Wolverine and former UVU Student Body President, Jared has built a career connecting people and experiences around the world.
He spent nine years living in Australia, where he served as Sales Director for Asia Pacific, leading growth across diverse international markets. For the past eight years, Jared has worked in global meetings and incentive travel and now serves as Senior Global Sales Executive at Morris Meetings & Incentives, designing and delivering transformative corporate events and reward programs for leading brands worldwide.
Deeply committed to community impact and alumni engagement, Jared is passionate about strengthening connections among UVU graduates and advancing initiatives that elevate the university’s reputation and reach.
Jared lives in Provo Canyon with his wife Julie, and they have five children and one son-in-law.
Kyle Cullimore
Clark Collings is Utah Valley University’s General Counsel, where he is responsible for the provision of legal services on all University transactional, business, and financial legal matters. He also serves as counsel and liaison to the Utah Valley University Foundation, oversees the provision of legal services on all University privacy matters, and provides legal counsel to the University’s Athletics Department. He also serves as secretary to the Board of Trustees.
For real-time access to current agendas, minutes, and recordings for trustee meetings as well as access to an archive, visit https://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html.
Agendas
Minutes
