Patricia Jones Horton

Retired, Former CEO, Women's Leadership Institute

Patricia Jones Horton is the retired CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute in Utah, an organization focused on elevating the leadership status of women in the state. She was the co-founder and former president of Dan Jones Associates for 35 years, a polling company based in Utah that conducts market research, economic analysis and strategy consulting for a variety of well-known national companies and organizations. Jones also served in the Utah legislature for 14 years, serving in leadership positions 12 of those years.  She was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2000-2006 and was elected to the Utah Senate in 2006-2014, serving eight years there, including serving as the first female leader in either party and in either House. Jones currently is a member of the Utah Board of Regents, the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Chamber, the Intermountain Healthcare Community Care Foundation, and a member of the National Advisory Board of the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Jones has served on the boards of United Way of Salt Lake, Utah Symphony and Opera, St. Mark’s Hospital, Hale Centre Theatre, Columbus Community Center, University of Utah Alumni Association, Coalition for People with Disabilities, This is the Place State Park, Coalition for the Understanding of Substance Abuse Disease, and Zions Bank Women’s Financial Group. She is a communications graduate from the University of Utah.

Geoffrey Landward

Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education

Geoffrey Landward was appointed commissioner of the Utah Board of Higher Education in March 2024 after having served as interim commissioner since September 2023. He previously served as deputy commissioner and secretary to the Utah Board of Higher Education. In addition to over a decade of public policy work, he has extensive executive leadership experience and 20 years of legal expertise in administrative law, education law, and employment law. He is a graduate of the Brigham Young University (BYU) J. Reuben Clark Law School.

Landward also engages in freelance writing and editing. He recently started using only one space after periods, which has had astonishingly little impact on his life.

He has four children, including two who are applying to college this year, and three cats who mistakenly believe they can pay rent with dead mice and unending looks of disdain.

Ann Millner *

WICHE Chair, Senator, Utah State Legislature

Senator F. Ann Millner represents Senate District 5, encompassing parts of Davis, Morgan and Weber counties in Utah. Elected to the Senate in 2015, she serves as chair of the Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, School Security Task Force, and Senate Ethics Committee. Additionally, Senator Millner contributes her leadership and expertise to several legislative collaborative organizations across the nation, including the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She is a distinguished member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Commission, Education Commission of the States (ECS) Commission, ExcelinEd Policy Leaders Network member, and chair of the NCSL Higher Education Task Force.

Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, Senator Millner’s academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, and a doctorate from Brigham Young University. She is distinguished as a regents professor of health administration and served as president of Weber State University from 2002 to 2012. Under President Millner’s leadership, Weber State University expanded into a multi-campus institution, saw a nearly 40% rise in enrollment, and strengthened its community partnerships.

Senator Millner’s legislative efforts are driven by a deep commitment to enhancing Utah’s education system and fostering economic development. She has championed policy aimed at strengthening workforce preparation, improving public and higher education, bolstering our aerospace defense industries, and expanding access to affordable healthcare.

Michael McKell

Senator, Utah State Legislature

Ann Millner *

WICHE Chair, Senator, Utah State Legislature

Senator F. Ann Millner represents Senate District 5, encompassing parts of Davis, Morgan and Weber counties in Utah. Elected to the Senate in 2015, she serves as chair of the Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, School Security Task Force, and Senate Ethics Committee. Additionally, Senator Millner contributes her leadership and expertise to several legislative collaborative organizations across the nation, including the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She is a distinguished member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Commission, Education Commission of the States (ECS) Commission, ExcelinEd Policy Leaders Network member, and chair of the NCSL Higher Education Task Force.

Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, Senator Millner’s academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, and a doctorate from Brigham Young University. She is distinguished as a regents professor of health administration and served as president of Weber State University from 2002 to 2012. Under President Millner’s leadership, Weber State University expanded into a multi-campus institution, saw a nearly 40% rise in enrollment, and strengthened its community partnerships.

Senator Millner’s legislative efforts are driven by a deep commitment to enhancing Utah’s education system and fostering economic development. She has championed policy aimed at strengthening workforce preparation, improving public and higher education, bolstering our aerospace defense industries, and expanding access to affordable healthcare.

Karen Peterson

Representative, Utah State Legislature

Neil Walter

Representative, Utah State Legislature