Higher Education Attainment
The Higher Education Attainment spoke focuses on increasing participation and completion rates of all women in Utah, including at the certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate levels. This also includes a specific focus on women from marginalized populations. Although increasing the rates of postsecondary attainment is important for all residents—including men—it is critical to consider future initiatives and initiatives by gender. This spoke will include affiliates and participants across the state with all institutions of higher learning. It will also include additional voices, initiatives, and organizations that focus on increasing rates of women attending immediately after high school (particularly women of color), retaining female students, removing barriers, supporting completion, encouraging reengagement, and increasing aspirations for graduate education among Utah women and girls.
Spoke Leaders
Julie Hartley-Moore
Associate Commissioner, USHE
LinkedIn Profile
Julie Hartley-Moore is the Associate Commissioner of Academic Education at the Utah System of Higher Education. Prior to joining USHE, she was a faculty member, dean, and then a campus director at various institutions in Utah, Illinois, Michigan, and New York.
Laís Martinez
Assistant Commissioner, USHE
LinkedIn Profile
Laís Martinez is the Assistant Commissioner for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Utah System of Higher Education. She leads the Utah Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Commissioner in increased EDI awareness and training.
Bold Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Higher Education Attainment spoke leaders, affiliates, and participants are currently working to craft bold goals for 2026 and 2030. These goals will be linked to measurable outcomes, connected to visual dashboards, and will be posted in June of 2023. Through finding, collecting, and visualizing data for this spoke, changes over time can be tracked and utilized to create momentum for additional changes.
Partners & Affiliates
- Center for Non-Traditional Student Services – Southern Utah University
- University of Utah: Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
- Utah State University
- Utah System of Higher Education
- Utah Valley University Women's Council
- Utah Women's Centers Coalition - Utah Valley University
- Women's Center – Weber State University
- Women's Resource Center – University of Utah
- Women's Resource Center– Utah Tech University
- Women's Services and Resources – Brigham Young University
- Women's Success Center – Utah Valley University
Single Mothers Working Group
- Lead: Emily Martin (LDS Philanthropies)
Women’s Centers Working Group
- Co-Lead: Rachel Lund (Utah Valley University)