The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) has a number of women and leadership announcements this month:
First, a last minute reminder that She Talks Utah will be held tomorrow evening from 6:30-8:30pm at Utah Valley University. You can still RSVP ONLINE now to attend in person or you can live stream tomorrow at the link here.
Second, we are releasing our 11th Utah Women Stats research snapshot today titled “Utah Women and Mental Health,” with authors Robbyn T. Scribner, Susan R. Madsen, and Elyse Barnes (see related infographic as well). We are grateful to Wasatch Family Therapy and the Peterson Family Foundation for their support and also for a number of health experts who reviewed this document (see page 4 for names). See this and other briefs and snapshots here.
Third, Real Women Run is hosting its first-ever training in Logan for women in northern Utah and surrounding communities who want to get involved in politics or other public leadership roles. Former Utah State Representative Ronda Rudd Menlove will keynote the event on Saturday, November 4th at 9:00am-2:00pm in the Huntsman Hall Perry Pavilion on the USU Campus. Also, Real Women Run’s annual fall social will be held Tuesday, November 14th at 5:30-7:30pm at Log Haven. This year’s discussion will be with Senator Deirdre Henderson (District 7) and Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, and hosted by Laura Jones, KRCL Executive Producer and Host of RadioActive. More info and online registration for both events is at www.realwomenrun.org/events.
Fourth, we at the UWLP are honored to be receiving one of the two 2017 Common Good Awards from Envision Utah on December 1, 2017 at an event at the Grand America. We would love to have you join us to celebrate this wonderful acknowledgement for our work (and many volunteers who have been involved as well) for the past decade. The following link has details about the event. I really appreciate Envision Utah’s five amazing videos that focus on the importance of education.
Fifth, if you know a woman who you want to encourage to return to college and graduate—check out our “5 Steps to Finish Your College Degree.” This project features 5-minute videos from 5 women who have talked about how they have made it work in their lives. Thanks to UEN for their partnership on this project. See other resources here for helping girls/women get to (or back to) college. Also, check out the new blog, “Why Not Me?,” and other recent women and leadership blogs here.
Finally, as we approach the holiday season and are thinking of gifts for women in our lives—consider sharing some resources. For example, if you know women who are struggling with the basic skills and resources to get back into the workforce, here are some ideas you can pass along:
Lt. Gov. Cox announces new chief of staff and director of elections
SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 31, 2017) – Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox has announced the appointments of Kirsten Rappleye as chief of staff of the Office of the Lt. Governor and Justin Lee as director of elections for the Utah Elections Office.
“I’m thrilled to have Kirsten and Justin join my senior staff,” said Lt. Gov. Cox. “They are sharp, driven individuals who will continue to be of great service to the state of Utah as they step into their new roles.”
Kirsten currently serves the Herbert/Cox administration as public information officer, overseeing media relations, interagency communications and assisting with communications strategy. From 2012 to 2016, Kirsten served as majority assistant to the Utah Senate. She holds a degree in Law and Constitutional Studies from Utah State University.
As chief of staff, Kirsten will advise Lt. Gov. Cox on policy and oversee the implementation of office initiatives and programs, boards and commissions and budget matters. She will assist the lieutenant governor in fulfilling his constitutional and statutory duties, including communicating with elected officials and governmental entities and coordinating intergovernmental policies and programs.
Justin currently serves in the Cox administration as deputy director of elections, a position he has held since 2012. Justin holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Utah, and an M.A. in Political Science from Utah State University.
As director of elections, Justin will oversee state elections, the day-to-day activities of the Elections Office and provide general supervision over all elections-related issues.
Other personnel changes in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor include Derek Brenchley, newly appointed as deputy director of elections, Jennifer Storie, newly appointed as office administrator, and India Nielsen, newly appointed as an elections specialist.
The appointments are effective Nov. 18, 2017.
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UTAH SENATE REQUESTS PUBLIC COMMENT ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEE
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Paige Petersen who was appointed by Governor Herbert to serve as a Justice on the Utah Supreme Court.
Those who desire to comment should contact Jerry Howe at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah State Capitol Campus, House Building, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210, by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. All statements should include the respondent’s name, telephone number, and mailing address.
The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee plans to hold a public hearing, then issue a recommendation to the full senate. If confirmed by the senate, Ms. Petersen will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Christine Durham, effective November 15, 2017.
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NOTES:
1. Members of the 2017 Judicial Confirmation Committee are Senator Todd Weiler (Chair), Senator Jim Dabakis, Senator Lyle Hillyard, Senator Peter Knudson, Senator Karen Mayne, Senator Brian Shiozawa, and Senator Kevin Van Tassell.
2. Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee information is available on the committee page.
http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2017&Com=SPESJC
3. The governor's press release announcing Petersen’s nomination is archived at
http://www.utah.gov/governor/news_media/
