Samuel Elzinga
Samuel Elzinga is a current sophomore at Utah Valley University studying political science, national security, and Russian. Samuel has participated in a variety of UN initiative’s, including presenting at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July of 2018 and the 2018 International Day of the Mountains Celebration in December 2018. Samuel is currently on the youth committee for the UN-DGC NGO conference that will be held in Salt Lake City in August of 2019. Samuel has published in a variety of academic journals on campus and hopes to pursue a career relating to South and Central Asian international security affairs.
President of the UIMF 2017-2018: Christian Jensen
Christian was born in Alberta Canada but moved to Utah as an infant. He spent most of his childhood in Irvine, California, but also spent some time living in various parts of Utah and Ohio. He attended Pleasant Grove High School where he graduated in 2011. He served a 2 year LDS mission in Comayaguela, Honduras. While in Honduras, Christian became fluent in Spanish as well as served the local people. He met his wife Capria shortly after coming home, and they were married in January 2016. He is currently a Political Science major at UVU with an emphasis in World Politics. He currently serves as the President of the Foreign Affairs Club, Vice President of the UIMF, and Vice President of the History Club. Christian is focused on Sustainable mountain development, and promoting positivity to help others and to make the world a better place. He enjoys playing hockey, and soccer. When he isn’t on the ice or the soccer field, you can find him in the mountains skiing and exploring. He loves the outdoors and going on adventures with his wife.
President of the UIMF 2015 – 2017: Tony Medina
Tony is a Utah native, born and raised in the Salt Lake valley. He attended Bingham High School, where after graduation he enlisted into the U.S. Army as an Infantryman. He was initially stationed to Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, where his new unit was deploying to Mosul, Iraq. After a 16 month deployment, he came down on orders to FT. Riley, Kansas in 2007. That is where he met and married his wife Stacy. After a year in Kansas, he reenlisted to go back to Alaska. He did two more deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan respectively. In 2012, after his last deployment, he was diagnosed with a herniated disc at his L5-S1 vertebra. After surgery, he was functionally unfit for military duty. He was honorably discharged in October of 2012 and set out to begin his civilian life again. Tony is currently a Political Science major at UVU, working towards a Bachelor’s of Arts in World Politics. He enjoys fly fishing, backpacking, building truck motors, and trying all of the local restaurants and coffee shops he can find.
President of the UIMF 2014 – 2015: Jesler Molina
Jesler Molina is a senior at Utah Valley University from Caracas, Venezuela. Jesler currently serves as the President of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), the President Model UN Club, and the President of the International Student Council, where he promotes sustainable mountain development, political engagement, and student engagement and involvement. Jesler has contributed to the advocacy of the Sustainable Mountain Development agenda of the United Nations by coordinating Utah High School Essay Contests on different topics of the United Nations during 2012-2014, contributing research on the Mexican Sierra Madre ranges for the 2012 Report on Sustainable Mountain Development in North America for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO+20), and participated in the first gathering to establish a North American regional hub for the Mountain Partnership under F.A.O.-U.N. in Aspen Colorado in 2012. Jesler has also made a statement at the United Nations Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals in December 2013. He will graduate in spring 2015 with a bachelor of arts in Political Science degree with a dual concentration on International Relations and American Government, and with minors in Spanish and Peace and Justice Studies.
