The Hinckley Institute Team
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Director
Jason Perry, JD
Jason Perry, JD
Director
Jason Perry is the Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Vice President for Government Relations for the University of Utah. Jason brings more than 25 years of experience working in the public sector, where he has worked extensively with policy makers at the local, state, and federal levels. Previously, Jason served as the Chief of Staff to Governor Gary Herbert, and was the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development under Jon Huntsman where Jason was honored as CEO of the Year by Utah Business Magazine. Jason also worked in the Attorney General’s office and was an intern and later, a staff member to Senator Orrin Hatch. Jason is a graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he now teaches law students the role of ethics and politics in creating legislation.
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Associate Director
Morgan Lyon Cotti, PhD
Morgan Lyon Cotti, PhD
Associate Director
Morgan serves as the associate director of the Hinckley and manages the local and legislative internships. She also contributes to the Hinckley’s political analysis and research. Morgan is a former Hinckley intern and holds a PhD in Political Science from George Washington University.
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Associate Director, Government Relations, The University of Utah
Natalie Tippets, MS
Natalie Tippets, MS
Associate Director, Government Relations, The University of Utah
Natalie has been with The University of Utah since 2008 and joined the Hinckley team in 2016. Natalie coordinates media requests for the Institute, serves as a producer of The Hinckley Report, and is a member of The Hinckley Poll, the Hinckley Institute's political polling group.
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Managing Director of National Internships & Development Officer
Gina Shipley, MPA
Gina Shipley, MPA
Managing Director of National Internships & Development Officer
Gina Shipley has been with the Hinckley Institute as the National Program Director since 2014. She oversees the national and DC internship programs. Gina also manages development and alumni relations.
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Managing Director of Global Internships
Jean Oh, M. Ed.
Jean Oh, M. Ed.
Managing Director of Global Internships
Jean Oh joined the University of Utah in 2013 and served as the first Director of UAC Student Services and Main Campus Operations until 2017 when she joined the Hinckley Institute of Politics as the Managing Director of the Global Internship Program.
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Managing Director of Community Engagement
Nick Cockrell
Nick Cockrell
Managing Director of Community Engagement
Nick returned to the Hinckley Institute in November of 2021. A graduate from the University of Utah, Nick will coordinate our forum series, support special events, and manage our office's budget and scholarship programs.
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Director of Marketing
Brooke Doner
Brooke Doner
Director of Marketing
Brooke joined the Hinckley Institute as the Director of Marketing in January 2018. A graduate of the University of Colorado, she previously worked as an art director in both San Francisco and New Zealand's advertising industries.
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Outreach Coordinator
Ann Lopez
Ann Lopez
Outreach Coordinator
Ann joined the Hinckley Institute in July 2021. She holds a B.S. in Political Science and a B.F.A. in Acting. Ann oversees the student ambassador program and coordinates outreach efforts across campus.
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Administrative Program Coordinator
Alex MacFarlane, MSc
Alex MacFarlane, MSc
Administrative Program Coordinator
Alex joined the Hinckley Institute in November 2021. She earned a MSc in International Relations of the Middle East from the University of Edinburgh. Alex provides administrative support for internship programs and oversees Andrew Goodman Foundation ambassadors and HIP Talks.
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Student Staff
Sheely Edwards
Sheely Edwards
Student Staff
Sheely is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in political science and sociology. She has completed two Hinckely internships, one with the Utah legislature and one with Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C. She is interested in getting involved in politics to improve electoral processes and representation.
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Student Staff
Aya Hibben
Aya Hibben
Student Staff
Aya is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in political science and history. She has completed one Hinckley internship working for Greg Skordas in his 2020 run for Utah's Attorney General. She is interested in getting involved in politics to work in victim's advocacy.
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Student Staff
Nahum Tadesse
Nahum Tadesse
Student Staff
Nahum is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in Political Science and International Studies. He has completed four Hinckley internships: with the Governor’s Office, the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans, and two with the SLC Mayor’s Office. He is interested in public service and politics as they relate to immigration and foreign policy and hopes to one day make a change in both realms.
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Student Staff
Gabriela Villalobos
Gabriela Villalobos
Student Staff
Gabriela is a senior at the University of Utah studying communications and economics. She has completed one Hinckley internship with the Ibarra Strategy Group in Washington D.C. She is interested in getting involved with politics that improve public policy and leadership at a national level.