On 8 October 2026, special agent for the Department of State Tony Medina visited Utah Valley University (UVU) and spoke to the members of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU, detailing his career experiences and past service with the UIMF. Tony has made past visits to UVU in February 2024 and July 2025, showing his continued support for the UIMF past his traditional tenure as a member of the organization, which he served as president of from 2015 to 2016. Tony spent his visit speaking with the current members of the UIMF about his current role at the United States Department of State, but also about how his experiences in the UIMF guided him to his current role.
A group photo with Tony Medina, UIMF students, UVU professors, and Orem-Lindon Rotarians
Tony spent time recounting his journey to become UIMF President, including his experience as a non-traditional student. Mr. Medina joined UVU after a nine-year Army career that included multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and originally joined the university with no interest in the political science or advocacy spheres. Over his time at the university, Tony joined the UIMF in 2014 based on the advice of Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev, Lecturer and Advisor for the UIMF, leading to his 2015 to 2016 presidency of the coalition. This presidency would place Tony at the helm of organizing the 2015 International Women of the Mountains Conference under the umbrella of the United Nations Mountain Partnership, an event that would later be recognized by the United Nations Secretary-General in his 2016 report on Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD). After his time at UVU and as president of the UIMF, Tony would go on to join the United States Department of State as a special agent, using his diplomatic experience gained in the UIMF as a defining skill that set him apart from his career competitors. Tony has served in many roles since joining the Department of State in 2022, but throughout each position, he has remained a strong advocate for the UIMF and the Student-Engaged Learning Model (SEL).
Tony answering questions during the Q&A session of the event
Among those in attendance at the event were Dr. Jay Desart, Chair of the Department of History and Political Science; Clark Merkley, past President of the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club; Dr. Rusty Butler, UVU VP for International Affairs and Diplomacy from 1992 to 2016; and Vicky Butler, a UVU student. The event took place in room 206A of the Clarke Building, and all members of the Utah International Mountain Forum were in attendance. Tony spent a majority of the event answering questions for UIMF members, speaking on how critical his time in the organization was to his career. Tony recounted a personal experience he had where, when visiting a small Japanese fishing village, he noticed that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were hanging in a window. Tony shared this story because it is an example of how his previous experience in the UIMF researching and advocating for the UN SDGs was deeply interconnected with his current job in the Department of State, emphasizing the importance of paying forward what you have and not forgetting how you got to where you are now. Tony openly stated that this is the reason why he has returned to UVU so many times over the years: to directly inspire and assist future generations of the UIMF to pursue their goals and eventually become as successful as Tony himself.
Aemish Brock, Foreign Affairs President (L), Kayla Hatch, Foreign Affairs Vice President (M), and Clark Merkley, past President of the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club (R), gifting Tony Medina souvenirs and memorabilia
After speaking in the Q&A, Tony was given multiple gifts by the UIMF and Orem-Lindon Rotary, keepsakes that continue the deep connection he has to UVU and the UIMF. Tony’s continued presence at UVU has shown how the Student-Engaged Learning Model (SEL) continues to prove a useful and crucial method towards empowering students to develop real-world problem-solving skills and gain direct experience in advocating for mountain communities. Tony’s direct leading role in organizing events such as the 2015 Women of the Mountains Conference gave him the experience to pursue higher career ambitions, eventually leading him to the prestigious position he finds himself in today. Through Tony’s continued support and participation with the UIMF, through visiting members and directly assisting international advocacy using his connections, Tony is not only a valuable asset to the current UIMF, but an indisputably critical member of the organization's past, proving how the SEL model and direct experience from students can lead future UVU students towards great success.
Author of the post Jackson Weech with Special Agent Tony Medina
A special thank you to Tony Medina for his continued support of and participation in the UIMF, inspiring future students such as myself to reach for the stars and understand that the future truly is ours to write. I would also like to thank Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev for his mentorship of the UIMF, and also my fellow members of the UIMF for organizing and hosting this event.
Jackson Weech, Vice President - Foreign Affairs Club
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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS
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26-10-24-Natalia-Figueroa-Reflecting on Tony Medina’s Legacy and the Next Generation of UIMF Leaders
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