UTAH CHAPTER
The American Society for Public Administration was established in 1939 and is the largest and most prominent professional association in public administration. With a diverse membership of approximately 9,000 government and nonprofit administrators, scholars, educators, and students, ASPA advances the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and nonprofit administration.
The Utah Chapter sponsors luncheon meetings and other events on topics of interest to local public and nonprofit administrators, educators, and students. As an ASPA - Utah Chapter Member, you have the opportunity to become involved in the local public administration community, enhance your professional development, and advance your career.
OUR
MISSION
The Utah Chapter of ASPA strives to bring public administrators together to discuss important issues. We have a diverse group of members from a wide range of public and nonprofit organizations working to achieve our mission.
The American Society for Public Administration is the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration. It is dedicated to advancing the art, science, teaching and practice of public and non-profit administration.
ASPA is the leading interdisciplinary public service organization that:
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Advances the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and non-profit administration.
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Promotes the value of joining and elevating the public service profession.
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Builds bridges among all who pursue public purposes at home and internationally.
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Provides networking and professional development opportunities to those committed to public service values.
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Achieves innovative solutions to the challenges of governance.
ASPA’s four core values are:
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Accountability and Performance
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Professionalism
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Ethics and
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Social Equity
Our Commitment
Utah ASPA Commitments to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Utah ASPA Chapter is committed to recognizing, prioritizing, and promoting the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) among our council and members, which are composed of public and nonprofit administrators. We have begun this change by providing education in our yearly programs and applying the values in board discussions and decisions.
We are committed to expanding the diversity of our council membership and ensuring diverse council members' voices are heard and heeded. Our emphasis will be to advocate for the application of a lens of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in public administration programs, policies, and practices throughout Utah organizations.
JUSTICE:
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It is our responsibility to educate those in our field, especially our members, on the historic race and gender based injustices that public administration has contributed to since its inception. Additionally, we must work to dismantle the current injustices that still exist in our systems by having continuous open dialogue and action.
EQUITY:
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As a public administration focused association, equity is paramount to our field. Yet only in the last 25 years was equity added as the fourth pillar of public administration by the National Academy of Public Administration (Norman-Major, 2011). The Utah Chapter of ASPA recognizes, though equity is a widely taught pillar of public administration, there is room to improve on the amount of attention and intention that is invested across the sector, specifically in Utah.
DIVERSITY:
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We recognize a lack of diversity and representativeness in the Utah ASPA council board. Diversity is crucial in all fields, but especially in public administration where sociodemographic differences catalyze policy change that is representative of traditionally marginalized groups.
INCLUSION:
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We have a responsibility to empower participation in our membership, resources, and events by creating a culture and environment of belonging, specifically for the traditionally marginalized. We understand that the perspectives of our members represent a greater diversity and proximity to JEDI issues than those of the council, and commit to putting those perspectives into practice. This requires us to assess our current culture, make crucial changes, and keep a continuous critical eye on the environment for our members.
The Utah ASPA Chapter has identified and continues to develop actionable steps to put these principles into practice. To learn more about our current priorities, and to help us co-create strategies, please contact us at utah.aspa@gmail.com.
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Michelle Hoon, PresidentMichelle has worked to end poverty and homelessness in the Salt Lake community for more than a decade, serving in a variety of government and non-profit positions. Michelle currently serves as the Project and Policy Manager for Salt Lake City’s Homeless Engagement and Response Team, which focuses on crafting responses to unsheltered homelessness and fosters positive neighborhood integration for SLC’s two new Homeless Resource Centers. Previous to this role, she worked for The Road Home, most recently overseeing programming and community support at the Midvale Family Center. Michelle has taken on active leadership roles with the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, focusing on drafting system operating standards, and managing shelter-to-housing system outflow. Michelle earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah in August 2018.
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Alexandra Allen, President-ElectAlexandra Allen is the Assistant Director of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform for Salt Lake County. Previously Alex worked as the Assistant Director and Victim Advocate at Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic (UCVLC) where she had dedicated her career to protecting victims of crime for twelve years. Alex has been active in legislative groups. She has served on many policy groups, and has worked to pass legislation to enhance victim services. Alex co hosts a podcast called Utah Survivors featuring episodes dedicated to victims’ stories and resources in the community, which currently has 59 episodes. Alex has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Weber State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah. In her free time, Alex enjoys scuba diving, and motherhood. Alex is a certified cave diver, but mostly enjoys warm ocean diving. Alex is a mother to one son who is currently 9, and loves break dancing.
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Jasmine Walton, SecretaryJasmine is originally from Dallas, Texas, and moved to Salt Lake City with her mom when she was 13 years old. When Jasmine first moved to Salt Lake City, she lived in the Poplar Grove neighborhood with her mom and brothers. Jasmine attended West High school before going on to graduate from the University of Utah in 2017 with a BA in Communications and a minor in Political Science. Jasmine currently works for NeighborWorks Salt Lake as their Director of Community Initiatives and Marketing, where she helps keep communities connected and engaged.
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Andrea De Paz, Deputy SecretaryAndrea De Paz (she/her) is currently employed with Salt Lake County as the onboard and retention specialist with the Parks and Recreation human resources department. She is also an ambassador for the County’s I.D.E.A (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiative, focusing on creating a more equitable and inclusive culture. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s in psychology, and a minor in political science; currently, she’s pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Utah. Born in El Salvador, she and her family moved to Utah when she was just 8 years old. Knowing firsthand the many different, and often difficult, experiences that come with being an immigrant, she is passionate about working for and with communities who have had similar journeys. She’s looking forward to expanding her knowledge and contributing to her community as a member of the ASPA Council and through future opportunities. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two cute kids, exploring all the bookstores, and taking road trips.
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Hannah Gorski, TreasurerHannah Gorski began her career in public service advocating for public employees while working for a nonprofit labor organization. This opportunity led her to pursue a degree in public administration, graduating with her MPA in 2022. Through her past work and education, Hannah became passionate about effective government communications and analyzing policies across various topics. She brings both interests together in her current role as Communications and Policy Advisor for the Utah House of Representatives Minority Caucus. In her free time, Hannah enjoys exploring Utah’s mountains and reading.
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Emily Paskett, Deputy TreasurerEmily is a dedicated environmental leader who has worked for several years with environmental non-profits and local government organizations throughout Salt Lake County, gaining a deep understanding of the intricate relationship between ecological and cultural factors that influence the quality of life for Utah residents. Her primary objective is to collaborate closely with communities, particularly at-risk populations, to ensure safe and healthy environments for all. Currently serving as the Environmental Program Manager for Salt Lake County, Emily oversees a wide range of environmental initiatives across different portfolios. She leads projects and implements policies that benefit communities throughout the region. By engaging intergovernmental and non-governmental stakeholders, Emily fosters collaboration to promote initiatives such as enhanced air quality monitoring, increased adoption of renewable energy, sustainable land use development, cleaner transportation alternatives, and improved energy efficiency. Emily is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Utah and is expected to graduate in the Fall of 2024. When not at work or school you can find her mountain biking, exploring local farmers' markets, or listening to live music.
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Natsumi Alvarez, Member-at-largeNatsumi Alvarez is the Senior Manager of Equity and Inclusion at Waterford.org, an early education non-profit organization with a mission of universal literacy. Borrowing a term from Dr. Bettina Love, Natsumi strives every day to be a "co-conspirator" in the pursuit of liberation and holds social justice, community building, and accessible, transformative learning as core pillars of her work. In addition to her contributions to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Natsumi has previously served as a member of the Waterford Government Relations, National Events, and Community Engagement and Outreach teams. Prior to her career in the non-profit sector, Natsumi was a high school foreign language educator, teaching French and Spanish in Draper, Utah, and English in Vienne, France. This past December, Natsumi received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Utah. When the workday ends, Natsumi enjoys fueling her love of world languages, spending time with family (especially back home in Guadalajara, Mexico), and expanding her ever-growing meme collection.
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Kathryn Calderon, Member-at-largeKathryn graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Communication and two minors, in Political Science and Spanish. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah with an anticipated graduation date of 2024. Kathryn has worked on various campaigns, nonprofits, and governmental organizations at the local, national, and international levels. During her time as a student, she focused on GOTV-related outreach, assisted with campaign communications, interned with a local nonprofit during the legislative session, spent a semester working in Washington D.C., and spent her final summer before graduation interning for a Member of Parliament at the British Parliament in London. Upon graduation, Kathryn spent two years working at a local nonprofit focused on advocacy and civic engagement efforts, and later transitioned to her role as Campaign Manager for Dr. Suzanne Harrison’s race for the Salt Lake County Council. She now works as the Senior Policy Advisor for Councilmember Suzanne Harrison at the Salt Lake County Council.
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Mamta Chaudhari, Member-at-largeMamta Chaudhari (she/her) currently works within local government at Salt Lake County Health Department as an Environmental Health Scientist. She hopes to leverage her work to support ASPA's ongoing efforts of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. She works directly with the public which has allowed her to become familiar with the community and identify deficiencies in healthcare access. She served on a committee within the health department to lead strategic planning initiatives around health equity. She has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with a local non-profit group to increase food security for Utahns which allowed her to understand existing systems and safety-net programs the problems with them. Mamta has a Master of Public Health Degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Westminster College. In her free time, she enjoys joining the community at festivals and events and trying new food.
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Krissie Jones, Member-at-largeKrissie Jones (she/her) is a Local Administrative Associate with Five County Association of Government. With a focus on policy analytics, local government, higher education, and artificial intelligence, she is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to drive positive change. Her journey in public administration and academia has been marked by a commitment to helping non-profits thrive, crafting innovative programs, and evaluating their impact. Beyond the numbers, her favorite part of research comes from devising strategies that foster tangible, lasting improvements for individuals and organizations alike. As a big supporter of collaboration, Krissie is passionate about working together to create a more inclusive and productive world. In her free time, she enjoys activities like running, hiking with her family, and diving into a good book. Since her return to Utah in 2022, she and her family have settled down in Eagle Mountain and they love it here!
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Rachel Black, MPA, LEHS, Past-PresidentRachel Black earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Utah in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Utah State University in 2000. During her master’s degree studies, Rachel worked under the direction of Dr. Jesus Valero at the University of Utah to develop a year-long curriculum for "Startups" a nonprofit startup incubator through the Westside Leadership Institute and the University of Utah; Rachel and Dr. Valero are now the instructors for their year-long course. Rachel partnered with Dr. Jesus Valero and Dr. Marina Saitgalina at Old Dominion University to conduct a national survey on nonprofit incubators from 2018-2019. They presented their work at ARNOVA’s Conference in San Diego and ANSER Conference in Vancouver B.C. in 2019. Their work on “Measuring Outcomes and Social Impact of Nonprofit Incubators in Fostering Local Community Startups and Entrepreneurs” was formally published in The Journal of Social Entrepreneurship in 2021. In 2019, Rachel worked with University of Utah Professors Dr. Jesus Valero and Dr. Lena Svedin on the development of the Utah Statewide Strategic Plan on Homelessness. Since 2014, Rachel has worked in local government as an Environmental Health Scientist for Salt Lake County. In her free time, Rachel enjoys gardening and visits on her patio with family and friends. Rachel especially enjoys the connections she makes in the community through serving as a coach and mentor for the private and nonprofit entrepreneurs building diverse and meaningful organizations in Utah.
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Matthew Dumont, Advisor, Past-PresidentChief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Matt Dumont is a twenty-three year member of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and currently serves as Chief Deputy for the Corrections Bureau. He is happy to return as the ASPA Utah Chapter President, a position he also held in 2009-2010. He earned his Masters of Public Administration from the University of Utah in 2003. Matt has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He enjoys spending time with family, traveling and spending time outdoors.
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Dr. Jennifer Maurine Seelig, AdvisorJennifer Maurine Seelig has been involved in politics and public service for more than two decades at a policy-making and leadership level. She was a policy and research analyst for the Salt Lake City Council between 1995 and 2000. She served as a policy and research analyst for Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson between 2000 and 2001, with primary responsibility for the Americans with Disabilities Act and for a broad range of policy issues that required thoughtful evaluation and review before being presented to the Mayor for action. She additionally served as the communication and legislative policy analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, which acts as an advocate for issues vital to residential communities across the state. From 2003 to April of 2014, Jennifer worked for 1-800 CONTACTS as their Associate Director of Governmental Relations. Between January of 2016 and January of 2020, Jennifer served the City of Salt Lake in Mayor Biskupski's office as a Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Community Empowerment. Currently Jennifer teaches public administration classes at the University of Utah and serves as the Director of Community Partnerships within the Institute of Government and Politics and Utah State University. Jennifer was elected by District 23 residents in November of 2006 to serve in the Utah House of Representatives. In 2012, her peers in the Utah House Democrat Caucus elected her into the leadership position of Democratic Leader. She is the first woman to serve in this role. Prior to holding this position, Jennifer served in the capacities of Utah House Democratic Caucus Manager and Caucus Whip. Jennifer retired from elected service in 2014 in order to finish her PhD - which was completed in the fall of 2018 from the University of Utah. Her research interests include civic engagement, neighborhood-based governance, and women's political empowerment. She has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Utah and a B.A. in English from the University of Louisville.
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Dr. J. Steven Ott, AdvisorSteven Ott is Professor Emeritus of Political Science/Public Administration and former Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science, Director of the Master of Public Administration Program, Interim Director of the MS program in International Affairs and Global Enterprise, and Director of the University of Utah’s Institute of Public and International Affairs – all at the University of Utah. He teaches and has written extensively about organization theory and organizational behavior in the public and nonprofit sectors. He has been actively involved in advancing public administration education in the U.S. and internationally. Prior to the University of Utah, he was at the University of Maine and the University of Colorado at Denver. His Ph.D. is from the University of Colorado, M.S. from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University.
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JUSTICEIt is our responsibility to educate those in our field, especially our members, on the historic race and gender based injustices that public administration has contributed to since its inception. Additionally, we must work to dismantle the current injustices that still exist in our systems by having continuous open dialogue and action.
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EQUITYAs a public administration focused association, equity is paramount to our field. Yet only in the last 25 years was equity added as the fourth pillar of public administration by the National Academy of Public Administration (Norman-Major, 2011). The Utah Chapter of ASPA recognizes, though equity is a widely taught pillar of public administration, there is room to improve on the amount of attention and intention that is invested across the sector, specifically in Utah.
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DIVERSITYWe recognize a lack of diversity and representativeness in the Utah ASPA council board. Diversity is crucial in all fields, but especially in public administration where sociodemographic differences catalyze policy change that is representative of traditionally marginalized groups.
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INCLUSIONWe have a responsibility to empower participation in our membership, resources, and events by creating a culture and environment of belonging, specifically for the traditionally marginalized. We understand that the perspectives of our members represent a greater diversity and proximity to JEDI issues than those of the council, and commit to putting those perspectives into practice. This requires us to assess our current culture, make crucial changes, and keep a continuous critical eye on the environment for our members.
Meet Our Utah ASPA Council
Utah Public Service Awards 2024
We recognized five individuals in four categories in 2024:
Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Administration
Distinguished Service Award for an Appointed Official
Distinguished Service Award for an Elected Official
Distinguished Service Award for Excellence
The Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Administration honors publicly-engaged individuals who have made significant contributions to the academic field or practice of public administration in Utah. This award is intended to recognize for, for example, K-12 and post-secondary educators, merit government employees, leaders in the nonprofit sector, and other often unnoticed individuals who have helped make Utah a better place to live and work
The Distinguished Service Award for an Appointed Official recognizes and honors appointed public officials who have played significant leadership roles in the implementation of government policies and programs. This award is intended for appointed officials at the national, tribal, state, and local level (including counties, cities, towns and service districts) who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and integrity in their service.
The Distinguished Service Award for Excellence recognizes and honors organizations, boards, commissions, or other groups that have contributed to improving the lives of people in Utah with an emphasis of advancing the circumstances of underrepresented populations. Awardees advance the common good through inclusive leadership, public participation, and community engagement.
2024 Award Winners:
Senator Luz Escamillo,
Utah Senator
Distinguished Service Award
Lean Doran Lobato, Director at Utah Department of Workforce Services
Outstanding Contributions to
Public Administration
Dr. Jose Enriquez,
Special Recognition for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Shirlee Draper, Director of Operations, Cherish Families Org
Distinguished Service Award for Excellence
Laura Briefer, Director of Public Utilities, Salt Lake City Corporation
Distinguished Service Award
