Advisory Board

Advisory Board Members

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University envisions a Utah that values its shared resources to provide a high quality of life for its citizens. We guide policy by connecting decision-makers with high-quality research. We serve at the intersection of the public, private and academic sectors, bringing diverse perspectives into critical problem-solving.

Our Advisory Board represents experts from public, private and academic sectors. We rely on our board members for support in several areas:

  • Strategic guidance: Advising on ways to expand the Institute’s impact and success.
  • Trust-building: Serving as ambassadors to enhance the institute’s reputation within USU and externally in the community.
  • Partnerships: Identifying new prospective partners for community investments, research collaborations and opportunities to serve.
  • Expertise: Sharing expert perspectives from industry, government and academic research to better inform our work.
Name Title Organization
Harold Thomas Associate Director for Colorado River Program Business for Water Stewardship Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Nate McDonald Director of Government and Community Relations Clyde Companies, Inc.
James Leavitt Legislative Director Office of Representative Celeste Maloy
Luz Escamilla Senator Utah State Legislature
David Hinkins Senator Utah State Legislature
Evan Vickers Senator Utah State Legislature
Doug Owens Representative Utah State Legislature
Casey Snider Representative Utah State Legislature
Lorie Fowlke State Director Office of U.S. Senator John Curtis
Quinn Bennion City Manager Vernal
Neil Abercrombie Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs and Policy State of Utah Governor's Office
Laura Hanson Senior Advisor for Long Range Planning State of Utah Governor's Office
Joel Ferry Executive Director Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Jamie Barnes Director Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, DNR
Candace Hasenyager Director Utah Division of Water Resources, DNR
Mick Thomas Director Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, DNR
Tim Davis Executive Director Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Bryce Bird Director Division of Air Quality, DEQ
Nathan Lunstad Director Division of Water Quality, DEQ
Kelly Pherson Executive Director Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Ted Knowlton Deputy Director Wasatch Front Regional Council
Jaana Syme Policy Advisor Congressional Western Caucus
Brad Parry Tribal Council Vice Chairman Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
Tammy Pearson Commissioner Beaver County
Beth Holbrook Trustee Utah Transit Authority
Ellen Rossi Director Janet Quinney Lawson Foundation
Wayne Bradshaw Government Relations Manager Rio Tinto Kennecott
Rocky Edelman President Big West Oil, LLC
Arikka Von Advisor for Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Affairs Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Salt Lake Refinery
Michael Orton Manager of Energy Efficiency Enbridge (Dominion Energy)
Thomas Carter Vice President of Government Affairs Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)
Mary Catherine Perry Vice President of Policy Salt Lake Chamber
Jason Brown Interim Executive Director Envision Utah
Megan Nelson Director, External Affairs and Policy The Nature Conservancy
Spencer Gibbons Chief Executive Officer Utah Farm Bureau Federation
Josh Craft Government and Corporate Relations Manager Utah Clean Energy
Justin Lee Deputy Director Utah League of Cities and Towns
Josh Brown Senior Director Utah Manufacturers Association
Lindsie Smith Executive Director Great Salt Lake Alliance
Matt Anderson Utah Coordinator Property and Environment Research Center
Shawn Teigen President Utah Foundation
Tim Hawkes Chairman of the Board Brine Shrimp Cooperative
Jennifer Robinson Chief of Staff Kem C. Gardner Institute, University of Utah
Jon Cox Board Member Utah System of Higher Education
Rebecca Ivans President Student Chapter, USU Institute of Land, Water, and Air
Devin Wiser Vice President of Government & External Relations Utah State University
Jacey Skinner Trustee Board of Trustees, Utah State University
Lisa Berreau Vice President for Research Utah State University
Matt White Vice President of Advancement Utah State University
John O'Neil Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Utah State University
James Taylor Vice President of Regional Campuses Utah State University
Joe Ward Dean College of Arts and Sciences, Utah State University
David Jones Dean College of Engineering, Utah State University
Grant Cardon Interim Dean Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Utah State University
Paul Barr Vice Provost Utah State University
Jennifer Seelig Director of the Institute of Government and Politics Utah State University
Karah Altman Senior Director of Advancement Utah State University
Geoff Landward Commissioner Utah System of Higher Education