Our Team

Shawn Teigen, President

Shawn has worked for the Utah Foundation for over a decade — researching a broad swath of public policy issues. He also teaches a public policy course at the University of Utah. Shawn has worked as a housing policy analyst, a consultant to early-stage businesses, and a founder of an organization focused on foreign investment-related economic development. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Utah. He serves as a board member for several public-sector, private-sector and non-profit organizations. Shawn has always been active in volunteering, including having spent two years in Kazakhstan with the U.S. Peace Corps.

Phone: (801) 355-1400, ext. 1
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Christopher Collard, Senior Analyst

Christopher’s infographics and research have been recognized with national awards. That work is driven by two aspirations: to compose nuanced research that captures multiple points of view and deconstruct large datasets into understandable details in order to inform decisions. Christopher’s concentrations at BYU in international relations, Portuguese, Arabic and math culminated in a Master of Public Policy degree at the University of Utah. His curiosity tends to make him something of a serial hobbyist with current interests in astronomy and book binding.

Phone: (801) 355-1400, ext. 2
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Ashley Marshall-Cantor, Research Analyst

Ashley earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Utah and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. The combination of her critical thinking skills, writing skills, and character ensures that our research remains focused upon the individuals and communities that our work is designed to help while also providing a fantastic unifying force for the Utah Foundation team. Ashley also has ample experience working in the child welfare sphere and as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Through that work she became exceptionally passionate about policy and creating dialogue among communities to create lasting and meaningful societal change.

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John Salevurakis, Research Analyst

John comes to us from academia where he spent nearly two decades at The American University in Cairo, Egypt most recently as a tenured Associate Professor researching international development, food security and political upheaval, financial stability, labor migration, and environmental economics. He has taught graduate level courses focused upon international development and research methods while offering undergraduate courses in labor economics, the history of economic thought, and macroeconomic theory. He earned a B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A. from Westminster College along with a Ph.D. from the University of Utah Department of Economics after having written his dissertation (2003) on the efficacy of federally funded job training programs in the United States. He is the author of several academic articles, monographs, book chapters, and popular press articles all of which he found positively augmented by his love for travel, history, and politics.

Phone: (801) 355-1400, ext. 5
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Meg Luther, Outreach Coordinator

Meg has spend the past decade in event management and fund-raising, having worked in both the nonprofit sector and the hotel industry. Her recent experience includes event management positions at Boston University and Partners HealthCare in Somerville, Mass. She also has worked as a realtor. She holds a BA in Art History and Communications from Merrimack College. She holds a professional fundraising certificate from Boston University and is a certified meeting professional (Convention Industry Council).

Phone: (801) 355-1400, ext. 4
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Josh Wright, Research Intern

Josh graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Molecular Biology in 2024. During his time as an undergraduate, Josh focused on medical research and spent his summers at Mass General Hospital in Boston, working on teams seeking to develop new techniques for organ preservation and treatments for rare bone diseases. Alongside his science background, Josh is passionate about understanding how the intersection of medicine and public policy impacts the health of individuals and communities.

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Ella Sjoblom, Research Intern

Ella Sjoblom is a senior at the University of Utah studying Economics and Political Science. She grew up in Salt Lake City and loves learning about her home state through data-driven research. Previously, she worked on economic and policy research in Utah and completed an internship with a federal agency in Washington DC. In the future, Ella hopes to pursue a graduate degree in economics, finance, or public policy and become a research analyst in her chosen field.

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Kyler Zarate, Research Intern

Kyler is currently entering his senior year as an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, where he is studying finance and quantitative analysis with a minor in information systems. With plans to pursue graduate school as well, Kyler has a strong interest in working with data and communicating insights to the public. Through his work and research experience, Kyler has gained skills in programming and data analysis which he hopes to use in his career. In his free time, Kyler enjoys hiking and playing chess.

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Trevor Eckhoff, Research Volunteer

Trevor arrived in Utah after two years in Silicon Valley politics, organizing field campaigns and conducting policy research for the Mayor of San Jose, California. He led the Mayor’s public safety platform and advised City officials on behavioral health, homelessness and drought resilience recommendations. Previously, he spent two years assisting the American Red Cross with its COVID-19 response and wildfire recovery initiatives in Washington State. Trevor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Washington State University, concentrating in diplomatic studies and public policy. His experience with intergovernmental relations impassions him to bring stakeholders together with data-driven approaches to pressing community challenges.