Hinckley Institute

March 2024 | Vlada Yaremenko

Vlada Yaremenko is excited to begin a career in international development, having recently graduated with her master’s degree from the London School of Economics. Prior to graduate school, Yaremenko was a student at the University of Utah, and her many Hinckley Institute experiences helped set her on the right professional path. During her time at […]

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February 2024 | John Deeds

John Deeds has spent nearly 15 years working as an attorney, specializing in state and local tax. Throughout his career, he has helped craft tax policy, combining his tax expertise with his passion for policy. His interest in policy began as an undergraduate student completing a legislative internship through the Hinckley Institute at the U. […]

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January 2024 | Kendahl Mordini

Kendahl Mordini truly made the most of her time at the University of Utah and participated in nearly every opportunity that the Hinckley Institute has to offer. As an undergrad, Mordini completed 2 local internships (one with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the other with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce), a DC […]

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December 2023 | Douglas Monson

Douglas Monson has had an impressive 41 year career working as an attorney. As a young University of Utah student, he took advantage of the great internship opportunities at the Hinckley Institute and utilized those experiences to help launch his career. Monson completed three Hinckley internships during his time at the U. He first worked […]

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November 2023 | Conor Lyne

Conor Lyne has accomplished a great deal thus far in his relatively short professional career. His strong work ethic and determination has served him well in his career and has led to impressive accomplishments in his personal life as well.  He is no stranger to dedication and hard work and while studying as an undergraduate […]

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October 2023 | Juan Guerrero

In his various roles working for state governments and non-profit organizations, Juan Carlos Guerrero has had to navigate diverse political climates and work with people from various backgrounds and of differing political beliefs. His ability to do this stems from his undergraduate experiences with the Hinckley Institute.  Guerrero was introduced to the Hinckley through the […]

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September 2023 | Susie Christensen

When Susie Christensen began college at the U as an English major, she did not envision herself working in government. However, her experience in Washington, D.C. changed her focus and career path. Christensen’s D.C. Hinckley Institute Internship truly changed her entire career trajectory and she has spent nearly 20 years building an impressive career working […]

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August 2023 | Paul Moxley

Paul Moxley was eager to learn more about politics during his undergraduate college years. In pursuit of this interest, he participated in a DC Internship through the Hinckley Institute in 1969. He secured a prestigious internship in nation’s capitol with the United States Senate working for the Senator from Utah Frank E. Moss. As he […]

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July 2023 | Frank Pignanelli

Frank Pignanelli found a passion for politics and campaigns at the Hinckley Institute while studying at the University of Utah. In addition to attending numerous Hinckley forums and taking a Hinckley class taught by former Governor Scott Matheson, Pignanelli participated in several campaign internships, including a 1979 city council campaign and a 1980 US Senate […]

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June 2023 | Todd Allen

Todd Allen has enjoyed an impressive career in the medical field for almost 30 years. His Hinckley internship during his undergraduate experience at the U was instrumental in setting him on the right path as it helped him understand how science and policy intersect and solidified his determination to attend medical school. Allen remembers attending […]

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May 2023 | Sara Ward

The Hinckley Institute brought opportunities for travel and new experiences to Sara Parry Ward’s life. The chance to participate in an internship in Washington, DC meant a chance to explore an intellectually and socially stimulating world outside her hometown. In the fall of 2000, Ward participated in the Hinckley’s National Internship Program. She landed a […]

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April 2023 | Steve Owens

Steve Owens spent a lot of time at the Hinckley Institute during his undergraduate experience at the U. He often attended the midday forums and remembers the free pizza – always appreciated by students and their wallets. He also recalls loving the election season debates that the Hinckley Institute sponsored and held in the Union […]

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March 2023 | Sophie Draayer

Sophie Draayer wasted no time at the University of Utah. Prior to graduating from the U at just 18 years old, Draayer participated in just about every experience and class that the Hinckley Institute has to offer! In addition to completing three internships, she took the Campaign Management course (working on Governor Cox’s gubernatorial campaign), […]

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February 2023 | Chris Herman

When Chris Herman started at the U, he knew he wanted to study international affairs, but was unsure of how that would translate into a future career. Luckily, Herman found the Hinckley Institute and was able to partake in numerous experiences that helped set him on the right path for his future career. During his […]

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January 2023 | Dave Davis

Dave Davis’ thirst for politics can be traced back to his experiences with the Hinckley Institute. During his time at the U, Davis served on the Hinckley Institute of Politics Student Advisory Committee, completed two internships and took a government class taught by Ted Wilson and Dan Jones. Davis completed his first internship, in Washington, […]

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December 2022 | Whitney DeVries

Whitney DeVries currently works at her dream job – as a Multimedia Manager and Correspondent for Diplomatic Courier in Washington, DC. The firm is a global affairs media network that connects the global public to leaders in international affairs, diplomacy, social good, technology, business, and more. DeVries’ introduction to this dynamic company came through her […]

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November 2022 | Darin Gilson

When Darin Gilson reflects back on his time at the University of Utah, his experiences with the Hinckley Institute immediately stand out. Since graduating over 30 years ago now, I don’t remember too much at this point about the various classes I took, but I have distinct and fond memories of my Hinckley experiences. During […]

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October 2022 | Hunter Howe

Hunter Howe still remembers receiving her very own business cards after being accepted into the National Internship Program at the Hinckley Institute. Those business cards represented the culmination of hard work and determination as the Hinckley Institute was one of the main reasons Howe decided to attend the University of Utah in the first place. […]

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September 2022 | Aaron Whitehead

  Aaron Whitehead developed an interest in practicing law while still in high school. Given his career aspirations, majoring in Political Science at the U seemed like the logical choice. After taking an anniversary trip to Boston with his wife and exploring the Freedom Trail, Whitehead quickly declared History as a minor. Given his areas […]

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August 2022 | Jana Baldwin

After making the transition from nursing student to speech communications student, Jana Baldwin was eager to find opportunities that would enrich her academic experience and help prepare her for the future. During the summer of 2002, Baldwin visited her best friend in Washington, DC, who was completing a Hinckley internship at the time, and fell […]

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July 2022 | Aaron Hildreth

Aaron Hildreth entered the University of Utah as a political science student with the hope of one day working in a political office or attending law school. Despite his political aspirations, Hildreth did not end up working in the world of politics. However, Hildreth’s time at the U and his experiences with the Hinckley Institute […]

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June 2022 | Yvette Romero

Yvette Romero’s path to a life of public service began long before her time as a University of Utah student. While growing up, Romero saw firsthand the hardships and limited resources available to immigrant and first-generation Mexican American relatives and neighbors. Their experiences…are a constant reminder of my responsibility to ensure that generations to follow […]

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May 2022 | Patrick Reimherr

Patrick Reimherr has always been drawn to the world of politics. However, growing up, the political realm seemed out of reach until Reimherr discovered the Hinckley Institute while studying at the University of Utah. Reimherr, who had a love of all things political, found the Hinckley Institute to be instrumental in helping to define his […]

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April 2022 | Elise Scott

Elise Scott did not always envision herself pursuing a career in politics and public service, but she found this path at the University of Utah. Scott chose to study political science and communications because she wanted degrees that would help her define her core values, advocate for solutions based on those values, and provide her […]

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March 2022 | Valerie Rasmussen

Between waiting tables, working as a ski instructor and answering phones as a law firm receptionist, Valerie Rasmussen stayed incredibly busy outside the classroom during her time as an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. While studying Political Science, Rasmussen discovered the Hinckley Institute on campus and found the perfect solution to combine her […]

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February 2022 | Natalie Gochnour

  The name Natalie Gochnour carries gravitas and lends credibility and prestige to every project she is involved in. But before she was a leading expert on all things Utah, she was an eager student finding her way at the University of Utah. During her time at the university, Gochnour actively sought out experiences that […]

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January 2022 | Mark Paul

Mark Paul graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 1987. He made the most of his time as a student, actively engaging in a number of programs and activities, including serving as the ASUU Student Body President, Sigma Chi Fraternity President, and President of the Young Republicans. Former […]

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December 2021 | Paige Meek

Paige Meek graduated from the University of Utah in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Through her involvement with the Hinckley Institute, she gained valuable professional experience that prepared her for a career in healthcare. She also experienced firsthand the value a Hinckley internship can offer to students […]

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November 2021 | Michael Dillman

Michael Dillman completed his undergraduate education at the University of Utah in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2021, he completed his Master’s in Public Administration and then jumped into the political science Ph.D. program at the University of Utah. Throughout his university experience, Dillman enriched his student life with Hinckley Institute […]

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October 2021 | Ciriac Alvarez Valle

Ciriac Alvarez Valle graduated from the University of Utah in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Sociology. As an undergraduate student, Alvarez Valle enriched her college experience through a national Hinckley internship with Ibarra Strategy Group (ISG). Alvarez Valle’s Hinckley internship developed valuable work experience and empowered her […]

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September 2021 | Matt Dimick

Matt Dimick graduated from the University of Utah in 1997 with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science. His involvement with the Hinckley Institute shaped his educational and professional trajectory. Looking back at his college experience, Dimick now says, “My Hinckley Internship was definitely the highlight of my educational experience at the University of Utah.” […]

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August 2021 | Rachel Wootton

Rachel Wootton graduated from the University of Utah in 2015 with a major in political science and minor in earth science. As a student at the U, Wootton was involved in many of the different Hinckley Institute opportunities available to students including classes, forums, and internships. Wootton also worked closely with the Hinckley Institute’s voter […]

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July 2021 | Neela Pack

Neela Pack graduated from the University of Utah in 2013 with degrees in economics and political science, as well as a campaign management minor through the Hinckley Institute. Pack took full advantage of Hinckley programs during her time as an undergraduate, completing several Hinckley courses and an internship in Washington, DC. These experiences complemented her […]

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