Dr. Susan Madsen and the Utah Women & Leadership Project released a new study today about women’s leadership roles in the 29 county governments in Utah. The study was underwritten by Utah Valley University.

“Utah Valley University’s support of this study underlines our commitment to inclusion and women’s success, especially relating to opening doors for women to serve successfully in Utah’s government,” said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez. “The voices and experiences of women matter. The face of government—at all levels—should mirror the people it represents. This will help us build a stronger and more resilient state.”

Named “The Status of Women Leaders in Government — Utah Counties,” the study creates a baseline of the number and percentage of women in leadership roles within Utah’s counties. It will be used to encourage women to participate in the political and governmental processes at the county level, and document their progress and success.

“Organizations with diverse leadership teams, including both men and women, have proven to be more innovative and resilient,” said Madsen. “They make better strategic decisions and have an increased capacity for problem-solving.”

Madsen oversaw and guided the study, and Dr. April Townsend, a leadership consultant and research fellow at the Utah Women & Leadership Project, served as the lead researcher. It is the second in a series that quantifies female leaders who work in Utah’s public sector. The first study looked at women’s involvement in state government, and a third will look at their involvement in Utah’s municipalities.

Read more about the study here.