Presenter Bios
Keynote Speaker
Faye S. Taxman, Ph.D.
Professor, George Mason University, Criminology, Law and Society Department
Director, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!
Faye S. Taxman, Ph.D. is a University Professor in the Criminology, Law and Society Department at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!. Dr. Taxman is recognized for her work in the development of the seamless systems of care models that link the criminal justice with other service delivery systems, as well as reengineering probation and parole supervision services, and organizational change models. She conducted a multi-level organizational survey of the correctional and drug treatment systems to examine the utilization of evidence-based practice in correctional and drug treatment settings and the factors that affect the adoption of science based processes and interventions. She has several studies that examine the efficacy of various models of technology transfer and processes to integrate treatment and supervision. In one study, she explores the use of contingency management and incentive systems for drug-involved offenders.
Her work covers the breadth of the correctional system from jails and prisons to community corrections and adult and juvenile offenders. She is the PI for the Justice Community Opioid Innovative Network (JCOIN) for the Coordination and Translation Center, working with 11 other research centers to address the issues of service delivery in justice settings. She has had funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Mental Health, National Institute of Justice, National Institute of Corrections and Bureau of Justice Assistance. She has active “laboratories” including Hildalgo County Community Corrections Services Department, Travis County Community Corrections Department, Virginia Department of Corrections, and other agencies. She is the creator for the RNR Simulation Tool (www.gmuace.org) which has been used by over 200 agencies. She is coauthor of Implementing Evidence-based Community Corrections and Addiction Treatment with Steve Belenko. She received the University of Cincinnati award from the American Probation and Parole Association in 2002 for her contributions to the field. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology and a member of the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) of England. The American Society of Criminology’s Division of Sentencing and Corrections recognized her as Senior Scholar twice. She is a fellow of the American Society of Criminology. She has a Ph.D. from Rutgers University-School of Criminal Justice and a B.A., from University of Tulsa.
Complete List of Presenters and Panelists
Chelsie Acosta
Secondary Educator, Salt Lake City School District
Graduate Student, University of Utah, Department of Education, Culture and Society
Chelsie is a secondary educator in Salt Lake City School District. Chelsie teaches ELD and Latinos In Action. She currently serves on the Board of ACLU of Utah, Utah National Association Multicultural Education (NAME) Board, and the Salt Lake Education Association Executive Board. Chelsie is the National Education Association (NEA) Social Justice in Education blogger and the NEA Hispanic Caucus Secretary. Chelsie was a finalist for the NEA Social Justice Activist Educator of the Year 2017. Chelsie is currently a graduate student in the University of Utah, Department of Education, Culture and Society. Her activism is centered but not limited to; the protection of the undocumented community, LGBTQIA+ issues, and the School to Prison Pipeline. Chelsie has presented on Restorative Justice and the importance of such practices in addressing and preventing the School to Prison Pipeline.
Amanda Alkema, M.S.W., LCSW
Juvenile Competency Program Administrator, System of Care, Department of Human Services
Amanda Alkema has worked in the field of social work for the last eleven years in a clinical and administrative role developing and implementing adolescent mental health, substance use, and forensic programs. She was hired by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), Department of Human Services (DHS), to implement the juvenile competency process statewide. Since this time, she has collaborated with national experts and key stakeholders in the state to evaluate and implement effective changes to improve quality in the juvenile competency evaluation and remediation program. Ms. Alkema has worked closely with System of Care within the Department of Human Services to assist youth and their families involved in the juvenile competency process remain in the least restrictive and appropriate setting. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in criminal justice from Weber State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah.
Tiffany D. Baffour, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Program Director, Masters of Social Work (M.S.W.)
University of Utah, College of Social Work
Dr. Tiffany D. Baffour is Associate Professor and Program Director for the Master of Social Work Program at the University of Utah, College of Social Work. Dr. Baffour received her Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University; Master of Social Service Degree (accredited Master of Social Work Program) from Bryn Mawr College and Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Delaware. Baffour has written widely and offered juried presentations on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR,) restorative justice theory, mental health, and Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC). She has previously served as senior researcher and co-principal investigator on the North Carolina DMC Study (2012-13), funded through the NC Governor’s Crime Commission.
Aryana Bryan, M.S.W.
Doctoral Student, Predoctoral Fellow in Social Work Neuroscience
University of Utah, College of Social Work
Graduate Research Assistant, Program in Addiction Recovery Clinical Knowledge and Advocacy (PARCKA)
University of Utah, School of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology
Aryana (Ary) Bryan earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, where she was an Integrated Health Scholar. She is now pursuing a doctorate in Social Work from the University of Utah and received a predoctoral fellowship in Social Work Neuroscience. Ary has been involved in addiction research and treatment delivery since 2011, and plans to continue this work through her doctoral studies as a part of the Program on Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy team within the Division of Epidemiology of the University of Utah School of Medicine.
Jason Burrow-Sanchez, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Utah, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling Psychology
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Utah, Psychology Department
Director, Mountain Plains Region 8 Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC)
Dr. Jason Burrow-Sánchez is a Professor of Counseling Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. He is also the Director of the Mountain Plains Region 8 Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the University of Utah. His research interests include the prevention and treatment of substance use for adolescents in school and community settings. His research has been funded at the local, state, and national levels and has published in numerous articles, chapters and books. He is also a licensed psychologist in the State of Utah.
Darin Carver, M.S.W., LCSW
Associate Clinical Director, Weber Human Services
Darin Carver is an Associate Clinical Director at Weber Human Services. Over the past 25 years, Darin Carver has worked as a therapist, program developer, and administrator in criminal justice and behavioral health settings. His primary focus has been linking clinical research with practice settings. He currently administers several highly recognized juvenile justice treatment programs within the State of Utah and also serves as the Associate Clinical Director for Weber Human Services. Darin has been actively involved in the development and diffusion of evidence-based practice through a variety of private and public entities, including Vanderbilt University, the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, and the University of Utah. His work in this area has brought national attention to the promise and challenges associated with bridging science and service. He has published several professional articles in criminal justice, mental health, and substance abuse journals. Darin is the recipient of the 2011 Utah Governor’s Commission on Crime and Justice Award, the 2010 SAMHSA Science to Service Award, the 2009 Utah Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Award, and the 2006 American Probation and Parole President’s Award.
Jason Castillo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Program Director, Bachelors of Social Work (B.S.W.)
University of Utah, College of Social Work
Dr. Jason Castillo is an Associate Professor with the University of Utah's College of Social Work and the Director of the Bachelors of Social Work Program. Jason received his Ph.D. in Social Work from Arizona State University and his master’s degree in social work from the University of Wyoming. His primary research interests include: fatherhood, fathering, and father involvement; social work education; social welfare policy and poverty; immigration policy and health; behavioral health among Hispanic populations; and substance abuse education and training.
Jennifer Clifton,DNP, FNP, CNE, CCHP
Associate Professor & Clinical Director, University of Utah, College of Nursing
Dr. Jennifer Clifton is an Associate Professor at the University Of Utah College Of Nursing. Dr. Clifton came to the University in 2005 when she began working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Utah’s Juvenile Justice Services. In 2012, she became the Clinical Director of 9 Juvenile Justice clinics in the Salt lake /Ogden area. In 2015, she successfully advocated to the Utah State legislature for funding to support sexual transmitted infection screening and treatment in all 18 juvenile justice clinics statewide. This funding continues and is the Fund source for the project presented today. She is a passionate advocate for the health care of youth of the justice system both in her role as Director through professional service. She is a member of the Medical committee and co-chair of the Youth subcommittee of the Utah Trafficking in Persons Task Force. She is also a member of the National Commission on Correction Health Care Juvenile Committee as well as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner liaison to the NCHHC Board of Directors.
Gerald Cochran, Ph.D.
Director of Research, Program on Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and
Advocacy (PARCKA)
Associate Professor, University of Utah, Internal Medicine Department, Division of Epidemiology
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Gerald Cochran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology at the University of Utah and serves as the Director of Research for the Program on Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy (PARCKA) within the Division of Epidemiology. He possesses bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in social work and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in behavioral pharmacology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Cochran also has an adjunct Associate Professor appointment within the University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and is core faculty with the Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences Center (IDEAS) Center of Innovation within the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. Previous to these appointments in 2018, he was an Associate Professor of Social Work in the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, with a secondary appointment as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry within the School of Medicine, and served as Associate Dean for Research in the School of Social Work. Dr. Cochran has extensive expertise in system- and clinical-level behavioral health services research provided in health care settings/systems, with a specific focus on substance use disorders, opioid use disorder, and opioid overdose. His experience has focused on data analysis, pharmacoepidemiology, and quantitative evaluation of evidence-based policies/practices for addressing opioid-related health conditions and outcomes. He has been PI and Coinvestigator on a number of federally, state, and privately funded research projects studying the opioid epidemic and identifying solutions to address it.
Megan Denver, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Northeastern University, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Megan Denver is an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University. Megan received her Ph.D. from the School of Criminal Justice, University of Albany (SUNY) and master’s degree in sociology from the University of Delaware. Her research interests include criminal record stigma, employment and recidivism, and desistance from crime.
Doug Fawson, B.A.
Victim Coordinator, Utah Department Corrections (UDC), Adult Probation & Parole (AP&P)
Doug Fawson has worked for the Utah Department of Corrections for thirty-five years. He spent nine years working at the Utah State Prison, followed by twelve years with Adult Probation and Parole and has worked in administration since then. His current assignments include UDC coordinator of Victim Services, UDC PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Coordinator, and UDC Peer Support Team Chair. He received his bachelor’s degree in english from the University of Utah.
Shaun Gann, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Boise State University, Department of Criminal Justice
Dr. Shaun Gann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Boise State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. He has also worked as a Parole Officer for the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. His research interests include juvenile court decision-making; juvenile justice policy; correctional programming and policy; developmental criminology; and quantitative analytic methods. His recent work has appeared in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Youth Violence & Juvenile Justice, Journal of Developmental and Life Course Criminology, Journal of Crime and Justice, Journal of Juvenile Justice, and Journal of Criminal Justice Education.
Adam Hanley, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND)
University of Utah, College of Social Work
Dr. Adam Hanley is a Research Assistant Professor at the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND) in the University of Utah College of Social Work. He is also a counseling psychologist, having completed his graduate work at Florida State University. The goal of Adam's research agenda is: 1) to identify novel salutogenic mechanisms of mindfulness interventions that can be leveraged to improve existing behavioral therapies designed to treat addiction and pain; and 2) to develop mindfulness-based interventions that effectively target mechanisms underpinning addiction and pain conditions.
Lish Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, Dixie State University, Department of Applied Sociology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Lish Harris is the chair of the Department of Applied Sociology and Criminal Justice at Dixie State University (DSU). He was the primary architect of DSU's baccalaureate degree in criminal justice and has watched it grow to become one of the largest majors at the university. Lish earned his Ph.D. from the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University after completing a master's degree in sociology at BYU. He has researched prisoner reentry, on-site rehabilitation programs, the home foreclosure crisis, school shootings, and the theoretical integration of dehumanization into gang behavior, among other things. Lish lives in St. George, UT with his wife and three children.
Audrey Hickert, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Audrey Hickert joined the Southern Illinois University faculty in 2019 after completing her Ph.D. at the University at Albany (SUNY). Before that, she conducted program and policy analysis at the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC) at the University of Utah. Her research interests span post-conviction justice interventions, with a focus on understanding the mechanisms that affect the life-course trajectories of individuals.
Gabrielle T. Isaza, M.S.
Research Associate, University of Cincinnati, IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy
Doctoral Candidate, University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice
Gabrielle T. Isaza is a Research Associate for the joint International Association of Chiefs of Police/University of Cincinnati Center for Police Research and Policy as well as a doctoral candidate in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. She previously worked as a Research Associate for the UC Institute of Crime Science. Gabrielle is currently working on her dissertation focused on urban university policing. Her areas of research include situational crime prevention, campus policing, police reform, and police effectiveness. More generally, Gabrielle is interested in fostering the practice of police-academic partnerships, and has worked directly with multiple police agencies. Gabrielle graduated from the University of San Diego in 2011 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and earned her M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati in 2012.
Erin Jemison, M.P.A.
Director of Public Policy, YWCA Utah
Erin Jemison is the Director of Public Policy at YWCA Utah, advocating for Utah women and girls in the areas of economic stability, racial justice and civil rights, and health and safety. She has 20 years of nonprofit, university, and government experience focused on strengthening communities in Montana, Colorado, and Utah. Erin relocated to Utah after leading the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) as their Executive Director from 2009-2014. During that time, she also served as a Victim Advocacy Representative on the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board and was elected Chairperson of the Board. Erin has led multiple successful initiatives to strengthen public policy and ensure that survivors of violence receive comprehensive services and offenders are held appropriately accountable. She has over a decade of experience working directly with survivors of sexual and domestic violence and providing training at state and national conferences regarding individual and systems change strategies. Erin has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from William Smith College and a master’s degree in public administration from Montana State University.
Melissa S. Jones, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University, Department of Sociology
Dr. Melissa S. Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Brigham Young University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in May 2018. She offers expertise in the fields of criminology, gender, family, and general sociology. Her research focuses on gender, crime, and deviance, childhood adversity, intimate partner violence, the incarceration of women, and the impact of both trauma and abuse on criminal behaviors.
Akiko Kamimura, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Utah, Sociology Department
Dr. Akiko Kamimura is Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Utah. She has a broad background in health research, with specific training and expertise in social determinants of health, health disparities, minority and immigrant health, intimate partner violence, health promotion, health education, community-based research, survey research methods, health management and policy, and global health. Her research includes community based-research for underserved populations (e.g., low-income free clinic patients, individuals with refugee background) and global health.
Alysse Loomis, Ph.D., LCSW
Assistant Professor, University of Utah, College of Social Work
Dr. Alysse Loomis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah’s College of Social Work. Her current research explores how early exposure to trauma and other stressors impacts children in early childhood. Alysse is interested in identifying mechanisms through which childhood adversity contributes to educational and health disparities as well as understanding how natural systems of care, such as schools, can be leveraged to prevent future adversity exposure and support child well-being.
Bart MacKay, M.S.
Restorative Dialogue Program Coordinator, Utah Administrative Office of the Courts
Bart MacKay is a Restorative Dialogue Program Coordinator for the Utah Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). In addition to facilitating restorative dialogue in various settings, he is involved in recruiting, training, and mentoring community volunteers to facilitate restorative dialogue in the Utah State Courts’ victim offender and truancy mediation programs. He received a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, along with a certificate in Criminology and Corrections, from the University of Utah. Bart was a juvenile probation officer for 10 years with the Utah Juvenile Courts before joining the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2001. He completed his counseling intern work at the Intermountain Specialized Abuse Treatment (ISAT) Center in St. George, Utah working with domestic violence offenders. Bart is also a member of the Restorative Justice Collaborative of Utah.
Hannah D. McManus, M.S.
Research Associate, University of Cincinnati, IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy
Doctoral Candidate, University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice
Hannah D. McManus is a Research Associate for the IACP/UC Center for Police Research and Policy as well as a doctoral candidate in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Hannah is an active participant in both research and evaluation in the criminal justice field, with a specific focus on police practice. Her past research efforts involved work with a research team in the examination of disproportionate minority contact across the juvenile justice system in Ohio. Her current work includes research in the areas of race and policing, the implementation and evaluation of training for police officers, and police decision-making as it relates to arrest and use of force. Hannah has presented and published work in both academic and practitioner settings, including publications within Justice Quarterly, Race and Justice, Criminal Justice Review, and Police Chief Magazine.
Sam (Cynthia) Mekrut, M.S.
Child Welfare Mediator, Utah Administrative Office of the Courts
Board Chair, Mountain Mediation Center
Sam Mekrut is the chair of the board of Mountain Mediation Center, a community-based nonprofit serving Summit and Wasatch counties in Utah. Mountain Mediation Center uses mediation and restorative practices to provide individuals, organizations and local businesses with the support needed to prevent and resolve disputes and to transform conflict into progress. Sam has been a mediator for more than a decade and has mediated hundreds of cases. She currently works as a Child Welfare Mediator for the State of Utah, bringing understanding and empathy to cases of child abuse and neglect. She is court-qualified to conduct all types of mediation, including divorce, and is trained to conduct truancy and victim-offender mediations through the state’s programs. Prior to becoming a mediator, Sam worked for many years in nonprofits fighting for social justice. She feels passionate about equity in the justice system and has a strong interest in restorative justice.
Heather Melton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Director, Criminology Program
University of Utah, Sociology Department
Dr. Heather C. Melton is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Criminology program at the University of Utah. Her research explores violence against women, specifically intimate partner abuse (IPA), stalking in the context of IPA, and sexual assault. She is particularly interested in the criminal justice response to these problems and the impact on victims. She is currently the researcher/evaluator for the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative for the Utah site.
Derek Mueller, M.S.
Senior Research Analyst, University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC)
Doctoral Candidate, University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice
Derek Mueller is a Senior Research Analyst in the Utah Criminal Justice Center at the University of Utah. He is also currently completing a doctoral degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. He has served as research staff on several federal and state-funded research projects that include work with data and staff from law-enforcement agencies, juvenile courts, and correctional facilities. Most recently, Derek has worked as research staff on a project examining risk assessment implementation and youth outcomes across three states funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Derek was responsible for managing one aspect of the study, which involved conducting youth follow-up surveys and managing the data from completed interviews. Derek is also the research team lead on several state-funded studies in Utah examining various aspects of the criminal justice system including: offender reentry and criminal justice policy and practice. His recent publications have appeared in Justice Quarterly and Journal of Crime and Justice. His primary research interests include: juvenile justice processing and policy; developmental and life course criminology; longitudinal data analysis; and risk and need assessment instruments.
Lindsey North, Ph.D.
Supervisor of Psychology, Competency Outreach Restoration Program and Jail-based Competence Restoration Unit
Utah State Hospital
Lindsey North is the supervisor of psychology for the Competency Outreach Restoration Program and the jail-based Competence Restoration Unit with the Utah State Hospital. She holds a Master's degree and Ph.D. from Sam Houston State University, where she specialized in forensic clinical psychology. Her predoctoral internship training was in forensic evaluation and treatment of adults and adolescents at the Arkansas State Hospital, and her postdoctoral training was at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where she studied the neurobiology of suicidality and neuropsychological testing.
Van Nguyen, Ph.D.
Research Consultant and Policy Analyst
Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ)
Dr. Van Nguyen has been with CCJJ since 2017 where she started as the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Coordinator and since then has transitioned to the role of research consultant and policy analyst. In her current roles, she serves as a member of the research team that supports the office in various projects and leads the legislative tracking on criminal and juvenile justice related policies. She received her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Utah.
Sofia Nystrom, Ph.D.
Policy and Research Director, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ)
Dr. Sofia Nystrom has been with CCJJ since 2014 and currently serves as the Commission's Policy and Research Director. She has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Utah, with an emphasis on applied statistics. Her work focuses on providing accessible studies and reports that center on the implementation, quality, and outcomes connected to the Utah's criminal and juvenile justice reform policies. She also works on broader CCJJ research initiates and manages justice reinvestment related grants.
Rep. Stephanie Pitcher, J.D., M.P.A.
State Representative – House District 40, Utah State Legislature
Representative Stephanie Pitcher works as a Deputy District Attorney and prosecutes a variety of criminal offenses, including financial crimes, drug distribution, theft, burglary, domestic violence, cases involving child abuse, theft, and burglary. She is a proud resident of Sugarhouse and has lived in House District 40 for over nine years. After receiving her M.P.A. she decided to pursue her passion in law, and graduated from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. Stephanie previously worked as an Associate City Prosecutor in Salt Lake City. Throughout her career, Stephanie has been an advocate for innovation and reform in the criminal justice system. Prior to becoming a prosecutor and founding the Utah Women’s Coalition, Stephanie worked as a Fair Housing Advocate with the Disability Law Center, and, before that, was the Immigrants’ Rights Policy Advocate at Comunidades Unidas. She also worked at the Legal Aide Society of Utah, assisting survivors of domestic violence through the court process and interpreting for Spanish-speaking clients.
Jennifer Plumb, MD, M.P.H
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Primary Children’s Hospital
Associate Professor, University of Utah, Department of Pediatrics
Jennifer Plumb, MD, M.P.H. is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician with the University of Utah Department of Pediatrics and at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is also the Medical Director of Utah Naloxone which is an organization focusing on decreasing the impact of the opioid/opiate overdose epidemic by equipping individuals and families with naloxone to reverse an opiate overdose. She is involved in issues surrounding adolescent substance use and abuse and works to increase screening for substance use and abuse in pediatric/adolescent populations. Dr. Plumb educates and trains a variety of providers and individuals on the use of naloxone to save lives including physician and medical groups, those within the recovery community, groups working with the homeless population, governmental entities, first responder and law enforcement agencies, family groups, and active users.
Robbi Poulson, M.S.
Director, Juvenile Justice Implementation Oversight Committee (JJOC), Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ)
Doctoral Candidate, University of Utah, Economics Department
Robbi Poulson leads juvenile justice research efforts for the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) and is a doctoral candidate in the Economics Department at the University of Utah.
Kort Prince, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC), College of Social Work
Dr. Kort Prince is a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology (with a Quantitative focus) from the University of Utah in 2004. Since receiving his PhD, he has worked as a statistical analyst, research methodologist, and program evaluation specialist in medical, epidemiological, and criminal justice research, participating in the design, analysis and reporting for numerous research projects in these fields.
Rep. Angela Romero, M.P.A.
State Representative – House District 26, Utah State Legislature
Representative Angela Romero graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah. In 2012, she won election to represent House District 26 at the Utah Legislature. In 2018, she was re-elected by her colleagues to serve as the House Democratic Assistant Whip. Her upbringing, paired with her education, gives Angela a unique perspective into the needs of Utah’s growing communities. Now just shy of two decades of public service, Angela splits her time between her work of supporting communities throughout Salt Lake City and her legislative duties that impact the whole of the state of Utah. Working with local government, Angela oversees community programs and initiatives in the Division of Youth and Family Programs, including supervising the YouthCity Government Program. At the state legislature, she champions for issues including victim’s rights, preventing sexual assault and domestic violence, and promotes clean energy initiatives that will provide Utah a sustainable and stable future.
Caroline Ross, M.P.A.
Senior Director, Policy Innovation, University of Utah, Sorenson Impact Center
Caroline Ross is a Senior Director of Policy Innovation with the University of Utah’s Sorenson Impact Center within the David Eccles School of Business. Caroline works collaboratively with government and nonprofit partners to advance evidence-based practice and policymaking at the local, state, and national levels through tailored technical assistance. She is passionate about building local capacity and supporting jurisdictions in their efforts to create stronger communities. Prior to joining the Center, Caroline was a research associate at the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. While at Urban, Caroline authored research and evaluation reports and presented nationally on the justice system, health, education, arts and culture, and community development. Caroline holds a B.A. and an M.P.A. in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from New York University.
Christian Sarver, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Lead Senior Research Analyst
University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC)
Dr. Christian Sarver is the Associate Director and Lead Senior Research Analyst at UCJC. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Utah College of Social Work. Her dissertation examined the impact of parole on desistance among a sample of recently-released offenders. She has served as project manager on multiple federal and state-funded research projects examining offender reentry, probation and parole practice, and criminal justice policy. Currently, she is the principal investigator on an evaluation examining the impact of in-reach and medication assisted treatment on recidivism among a sample of dually-diagnosed offenders exiting prison to parole. She is a certified assessor of the Correctional Program Checklist (CPC) and has supervised and conducted CPC assessments in juvenile and adult correctional facilities since 2012.
Gary Scheller, BACJ, CPM
Director, Utah Office for Victims of Crime (UOVC)
Gary Scheller is the Director of the Utah Office for Victims of Crime (UOVC). Gary began his career in victim services in 1992 as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for child victims in Utah’s Second Judicial District and as a victim advocate in the Weber County Attorney’s Office. He became a Reparation Officer in the Utah Office for Victims of Crime (formerly Crime Victim Reparations) in 1998 and was appointed Director of that agency in October, 2012. He has served multiple terms on the boards of directors for the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators and the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards. He currently serves as the President of that National Association. Gary lives in Huntsville, Utah with his wife Kari and sons Brendon and Christian.
Jess Shade, M.Div.
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC), Dept. of Psychiatry
Graduate Student, University of Utah, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program (CMHC)
Jess Shade is a master’s student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at the University of Utah. She is currently employed as a research assistant with both the Utah Criminal Justice Center and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. Jess earned her bachelor’s degree from Elon University in Religious Studies as well as a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She has worked professionally over the past decade in the fields of vocational rehabilitation, wilderness therapy, and community mental health. Jess also serves on the board of the LGBTQ Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah.
Marcela Smid,M.D., M.A., M.S.
Physician, Medical Director of SUPeRAD
University of Utah, School of Medicine
Dr. Smid is a board-certified Maternal Fetal Medicine and Addiction Medicine physician at the University of Utah. She is the medical director of the Substance Use & Pregnancy – Recovery, Addiction, Dependence (SUPeRAD) specialty prenatal clinic. She is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) K12 Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Program scholar. Her research focus is on perinatal addiction, care models for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders, maternal mortality and maternal mental health.
Allison M. Smith, M.S
Education and Outreach Specialist for the Trafficking in Person’s Program
Refugee and Immigrant Center, Asian Association of Utah (RIC-AAU)
Allison M. Smith is an Education and Outreach Specialist for the Trafficking in Person's Program. She has a Master's degree in Human Development and Social Policy and a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She taught courses at the University of Utah and Western Nevada College in Psychology of Infancy and Childhood, Psychology of Adolescence, Parent Child Relations and Human Development across the Life Span. In addition to her teaching, she developed a Life Coaching practice and became the Statewide Coordinator for the Office of Drug Endangered Children for the Nevada Attorney General. Through the course of her work in Nevada, she saw many drug endangered children who became victims of human trafficking. She is now the Education and Outreach Specialist for the Trafficking in Person’s Program at the Refugee & Immigrant Center, Asian Association of Utah where she conducts trainings to educate all organizations (public or private), agencies and communities throughout Utah regarding human trafficking and best practices in supporting survivors of human trafficking.
Paula Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Utah, Department of Educational Leadership & Policy
Interim Associate Vice President, University of Utah, Office of Equity and Diversity
Dr. Paula Smith is a developmental psychologist with expertise in school-based preventive intervention. Her research uses a risk and protective factors framework to understand youth involvement with risky behavior, such as violence, drugs, early sexual debut to prevent their engagement with the juvenile justice system. Her research uses a collaborative framework for working with teachers and school leaders to develop a positive school climate to provide youth with social and emotional support coupled with expectations for academic excellence.
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, J.D.
State Representative – House District 74, Utah State Legislature
Representative Lowry Snow obtained his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University. He is a practicing attorney in St. George, Utah. In 2012 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Utah House of Representatives. He currently serves as Chair of the House Education Standing Committee and he is also a member of the House Judiciary Standing Committee. He has sponsored a number of bills dealing with Juvenile Justice including comprehensive reform in 2017 which provided for a more uniform and fair process, including early-interventions, for young offenders involved in Utah’s juvenile justice system. He currently serves as Chair of Utah’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee and is involved in statewide efforts to implement these reforms. He has sponsored a number of bills dealing with the protection of victims of domestic violence and sexual violence including legislation in 2019 protecting the confidentiality of victim’s statements to victim advocates.
Daniel Strong, J.D.
Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant, Utah Office of the Attorney General
Dan Strong is an Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney for the State of Utah. Dan is currently assigned to the SECURE Section, which prosecute human trafficking, ID fraud, firearms and drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. In this role, Dan has prosecuted more human trafficking cases than any other attorney in the State of Utah. Dan has worked as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, as a Deputy City Prosecutor for West Valley City, Utah, and as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County, California. Dan obtained his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and has a bachelor’s degree in American Politics and Psychology from the University of Virginia. Dan is also a community activist for West Salt Lake City and the chair of the Rose Park Community Council.
Laura Thompson, J.D., CWLS
Assistant Attorney General, Utah Office of the Attorney General
General Counsel, State of Utah, Department of Human Services
Laura Thompson is General Counsel for the Department of Human Services (DHS), overseeing a staff of six employees and attorneys dedicated to DHS. She has been with the Office of the Utah Attorney General for 15 years. She began with the Child Protection Division, prosecuting child abuse and neglect on behalf of the Division of Child and Family Services in Juvenile Court, and is a nationally recognized Child Welfare Law Specialist (CWLS). She served as Section Chief for Northern Utah for nine years, overseeing the work of four prosecutorial offices from Logan to Bountiful. Laura works with the Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health (DSAMH), the Utah State Hospital, Juvenile Justice Services (JJS), and the Office of Forensic Programs for adult and juvenile competency. Her work also extends to statewide system improvement in conjunction with the Utah Governor’s Office of Management and Budget in the area of data sharing, and with the Administrative Office of the Courts with respect to mental health issues impacting the justice system. Prior to coming to the Attorney General’s Office, Laura was in private practice and served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in district and juvenile courts. She was also a public defender for numerous cities in Davis and Weber County, as well as in Utah’s second district and juvenile courts for eight years. Laura has previously served two terms on the Supreme Court’s Ethics & Discipline Committee, hearing complaints against members of the Utah Bar. And she served two terms on the Judicial Council’s Standing Committee on Children and Family Law. She has presented at state, regional and local conferences, providing training to DHS administrators and case managers; medical personnel; mental health professionals and ACOs; law enforcement officers; judges; attorneys; legislators and foster parents on issues including forensic and juvenile competency; civil commitment; prosecutorial collaboration; state and federal privacy laws, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2; informed consent; mental health professional ethics; child welfare law and juvenile court process. To balance her extremely busy professional life, she has been practicing and teaching yoga for 17 years. She has helped bring yoga programs to Ogden area schools, businesses and non-profits, including free classes to a residential substance use disorder program and a family shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Marshall Thompson, J.D.
Director, Utah Sentencing Commission
Marshall Thompson is the director of the Utah Sentencing Commission, which publishes sentencing guidelines and advises all three branches of the Utah government on criminal sentencing policy. Prior to his work at the Sentencing Commission, Marshall worked as an appellate attorney, handling criminal and civil appeals. He is a graduate of the Brigham Young University law school, and he clerked for Judge Gregory K. Orme of the Utah Court of Appeals. Before attending law school, Marshall earned a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from Ohio University with an emphasis in quantitative research and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Utah State University. He worked as a journalist in Utah and Jerusalem, and was a military journalist in Kosovo, South Korea, and Iraq.