President
Amanda Kimball grew up in rural, south-central Utah and is a farm girl at heart. As a first-generation college student, she graduated from Snow College with her Associate of Arts, Utah Valley University with her Bachelor of Music, and Utah Valley University with her Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership. She has been involved in the UVU UWHEN Chapter since 2021 in the roles of Event Coordinator of Logistics and Planning and as Chief of Staff. As the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, she is the program admin for Wolverine Connect, leads the Student Alumni Ambassadors, and partners with student resource and student success areas on campus to foster alumni participation and an attitude of students seeing themselves as “Forever Wolverines.”
During her graduate degree, she discovered a deep resolve to create awareness and find solutions for first-generation, rural, female-identified, low socio-economic, and transfer students. This passion for research has expanded into the topic of the first-generation professional as well. She has seen the positive generational effects of education first-hand and loves to pay it forward so others can have opportunities in education and the workplace.
Amanda’s professional background includes event and project management, marketing, and business development. She began volunteering with the alumni association as the co-founder of the Alumni Music Society and was later honored for her efforts with the 2019 UVU Young Alumni Award. When not at work, Amanda loves to cook and has a goal to try one new recipe per week. She looks forward to any moment in Hawaii, loves being with family, and can turn heads at karaoke when singing a Whitney Houston song.
President's Statement
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Coming Soon |
President-Elect
Sabine Berlin returned to UVU in 2010 after being a stay-at-home mom for eleven years. Since then, she has earned her BA in History, a CP in Editing and Document Design, and a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership. She has worked at UVU for over ten years helping in university wide curriculum, assessment, and accreditation and now is the Director of Healthcare Curriculum, Accreditation, and Assessment in the College of Health and Public Service where she works with amazing women leaders who inspire her to grow and learn. Sabine loves to read and write and is excited to be leading this year’s book club. She loves to travel with her husband and three kids, watch Kdramas, and spend time with the world’s best chocolate lab.
Past President
Dr. Vasilevska is a professor at the Department of Mathematics. She previously served as the UWHEN UVU Chapter Events Coordinator for Logistics. She was born and raised in Republic of North Macedonia and received her doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. After working for a few years at the University of South Dakota, she joined the Department of Mathematics at Utah Valley University in 2010.
She is passionate about teaching; and in her classes, she implements various active learning, student-centered approaches and cultivates an inclusive, interactive, and engaged environment.
Her research interests are diverse, ranging from topics in pure mathematics to topics in math education. She enjoys mentoring students through undergraduate research. Since 2007, she has been leading and participating in various outreach programs that popularize mathematics, especially ones that encourage and support women in mathematics. As a result, she has been involved and interested in researching the effect of after school math programs on the high school women’s attitude towards mathematics through her outreach program Math Girls Rock!.
Dr. Vasilevska has received several awards recognizing her teaching excellence, such as Faculty Senate Excellent Award (2020, 2015) and Intermountain MAA Outstanding Teaching Award (2017). Furthermore, she has received several awards and recognitions for her outreach efforts that include 2016 Champion of Inclusion Award for a Faculty Member and 2014 Wolverine Achievement Award (Distinguished Volunteer Service). Among her hobbies are her love for Origami, reading, and traveling to learn about different cultures.
Chief of Staff
Erin holds a dual master's degree in Philanthropic Studies and Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs.
As a passionate advocate of bringing people together to achieve shared goals, she
has leveraged her fundraising and leadership background toward advancing initiatives
involving higher education, collaborative public policy, campaign outreach, voter
access, social services for immigrants and refugees, sustainable housing, public art,
and women's rights.
A Utah native, Erin is thrilled to be back in the mountains, and during her free time
enjoys going on adventures with her niece and nephew, reading, listening to podcasts,
thrift shopping, taking personality tests, and attending community events.
Treasurer
Dr. Marcy Hehnly joined the Criminal Justice Department at UVU in 2014 after completing her doctorate at Capella University. She teaches a broad range of classes in her department to include Introduction to Policing, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Domestic Multicultural Experiences in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and many more classes. Marcy is a first-generation graduate in her family. Prior to her career in education, Marcy was a police officer for the Cobb County Police Department and is also a United States Army Veteran. Professionally, she continues to work in the law enforcement community with her research and advocacy focused on mental wellness of first responders. She is the Vice-President of a non-profit organization, Project Overwatch. She is one of three cofounders for Women First Responder Lift, Inspire, Focus and Empower (LIFE) mental wellness retreats which are hosted multiple times a year and involve women police, firefighters, and veterans from all over the United States. In her spare time, Marcy enjoys the outdoors and traveling with her dogs.
book club Coordinator
Iriadna Tori Lara was born in Puebla, Mexico and moved to Utah in her teenage years. She fell in love with the mountains and beautiful seasons. She obtained an Associate’s Degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from our beautiful Utah Valley University. Iriadna worked in the hospitality industry for many years as the Assistant Controller. She transitioned to the Provo City School District as the Facilities Administrative Assistant; Iriadna joined Utah Valley University as the Facilities Accountant in the summer of 2023.
Iriadna has been recognized multiple times for her integrity, professionalism, and dedication during her professional career. She has the ability to connect with individuals in a positive manner, resulting in great team collaboration and optimal results.
Her interests include cooking, painting, crafting, dancing, traveling, music and reading. She participates in a diversity of groups where these activities are taught and/or practiced. Iriadna finds inspiration in most everyone she comes across.
marketing coordinator
Gwenaley works in the Office of Education Abroad as an Admin for Budgeting. Gwenaley earned her BA degree from Utah State University in 1993, majoring in Human Resource Management and minoring in Spanish and Economics. She completed a Master's degree from Utah State University in 2018 in Human Resource Management. She worked as an Academic & Transfer Advisor/Tutor Coordinator for eight years at a Jr. College and also taught Intercultural Communication as an adjunct professor. Although she currently works with numbers, her real passion lies in working with students, helping them work towards and acheive their academic and career goals. She also really enjoys teaching.
Gwenaley is proud to be a member of the UVU UWHEN Board and is passionate about exploring solutions to women’s issues and challenges as they pursue their life and workplace goals. In her personal time, Gwenaley loves spending time with family, boating/waterskiing at Lake Powell, reading, quilting, playing board games, volleyball, socializing, and traveling.
engagement coordinator
Jennyfer has worked for Utah Valley University since July 2016. She is currently the Assistant to the Dean (Finance Manager) for the College of Health and Public Service. Jennyfer earned her bachelor's degree from Utah Valley University in 2018 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Inclusion. Her interests include gardening, American Sign Language, and spending time with family and friends.
Event Coordinator - Programming
Margaret Mittelman is a Professor in the Department of Emergency Services at Utah Valley University. She has worked in the capacity of teaching Emergency Management as well as for 20 + years was the Program Coordinator for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) & Advanced EMT for the university. During her tenure she along with adjuncts, and students created the Utah Valley Emergency Response Team (ERT). ERT is our EMS Response unit for main campus faculty, staff & students in Orem, Utah. From 1993-2015 Margaret was the Proctor for the Emergency Service Psychomotor Exam for the Bureau of EMS in Utah. As a paramedic she has worked with Payson EMS and continues to do their training, Levan EMS as their training officer, and many other Utah EMS agencies training as well as teaching at EMS conferences across the nation. She has reviewed and contributed to EMS related textbooks for Emergency Medicine as well as a few peer reviewed journals. Margaret holds an Associate in General Studies, a bachelor’s in behavioral science, a bachelor’s in emergency management and a Master’s in Educational Technology from Utah State University.
Event Coordinator - Logistics
Kristen Hornberger is the Director of Academic Tutoring at Utah Valley University. Kristen is an alum of Utah Valley University, where she double majored and received a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and Criminal Justice. She worked as a high school math teacher in the Granite and Nebo school districts while simultaneously completing her Master of Education degree in Secondary Education before returning to UVU as the Math Lab Coordinator in 2017. She received the Staff Award of Excellence from University College while in that position. She has held her current director role since 2022.
Kristen is passionate about women’s issues and challenges they face in and out of the workplace and is excited to be a part of the UWHEN organization. In her personal time, Kristen enjoys reading all types of genres, creating all sorts of projects, and spending time with her husband, two adorable children, and one ridiculous dog. She loves all things Halloween and is always planning on how to make the next holiday bigger and better.
Ambassador to Full time Faculty
Dr. Yu-Ya Liang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Utah Valley University. Born and raised in Taiwan, she received her doctorate degree in Plant Breeding from Texas A&M University. Her research interests include disease resistance breeding, abiotic stress response, and plant genomics. Currently, her research focuses on virus disease resistance in mustard plants and drought tolerance in tomatoes. In her spare time, Yu-Ya enjoys the outdoors, watching movies, and traveling.
Ambassador to staff
Jennifer Agla is a Payroll Analyst in the Payroll department here at Utah Valley University. She started at UVU in People and Culture in 2008 and moved to Payroll in 2010. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis of Psychology from Utah Valley University.
Jennifer lives in Vineyard with her husband and three children. She loves to learn, read, “Netflix and Chill," and spending time with her family.
Jennifer has had many associations with staff all over campus and enjoys interacting with all the employees here at Utah Valley University. She loves to listen to others, make a difference, and serve as a voice for the female staff of UVU.
Ambassador to adjunct faculty
I completed my BA at Brigham Young University in English Teaching and then spent several years in the secondary classroom. My career began in Spanish Fork, UT teaching 7th grade and then I moved to Mesa, AZ teaching 10-12 English. I completed a Master's in Education from Northern Arizona University in 2015. I then completed by PhD at Arizona State University in English Education in 2019. I am a current assistant professor for the English Education program, preparing future English teachers for the field and reading and “teaching" Young Adult Literature.
campus advisor
Jessica Ballard is an Event Professional with over fifteen years of experience in the education, non-profit and performing arts industries. She is a Professional in Residence Faculty Member at Utah Valley University (UVU) in the Woodbury School of Business teaching Event Planning/Management and other related courses for the Event and Hospitality Management Program.
Jessica previously worked as the Senior Director of Executive Events at UVU planning events for the institution such as galas, ceremonies, ribbon-cuttings, and other major celebrations. Prior to UVU, she has managed events for the American Red Cross of Utah, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Westminster College. Jessica currently serves as a board member on the Young Leaders Advisory Board for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and as Past President of the UVU Chapter of the Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN), and previously served as Chair of Utah Event Tribe.
Jessica has a Master of Professional Communication Degree from Westminster College of Salt Lake City. She is also a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) and Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). She has been recognized as a Fellow by the Higher Education Academy. Award recognitions include the UVU Dean’s Award of Excellence in Service (2021), Presidential Award of Excellence for Effectiveness (2014) and a UVU Divisional Award of Excellence (2013).
campus advisor
Dr. Heather Wilson-Ashworth earned her Ph.D. in Zoology at Brigham Young University. She teaches Human Physiology, Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, College Biology and General Biology. Her research interests include developing a better understanding the issues influencing UVU student success, retention and motivation with an emphasis on understanding the complexities that underrepresented students including women, minorities and non-traditional students face. Her other research interests include the development and assessment of process skills in active learning classrooms and effective mentoring strategies in undergraduate research. Currently, she is a co-investigator for National Science Foundation Grant: Faculty-Mentored Experiences for Improving Undergraduate Biology Student Outcomes (NSF- 1833880). Her recent awards include a national award, POGIL Early Career Achievement Award (2020), UVU Student Advocate Award (2019), UVU Design of a UVU Online Course, 3rd place (2019) and UVU Presidential Award of Excellence in Engagement (2018).
executive Liaison
Dr. Rasha Qudisat is the Chief Officer - Engagement and Effectiveness at UVU, External Evaluator for the National Science Foundation Projects at UVU, External Reviewer for the National Science Foundation for other institutions, and Evaluation and Measurement Consultant. In 2016, she served as the director of Engaged Curriculum, and in 2017, as the director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Work at UVU.
State UWHEN Representative
(non-voting UWHEN - UVU Chapter Board member)
