The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

🚨 Attention ALL University of Utah Undergrads!🚨

The Gardner Institute is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Ivory Experiences! This program provides undergraduate students a unique opportunity to interact and learn from Utah’s preeminent public policy institute and prominent business and community leaders. Each semester, 20 undergraduate students are selected and attend community lunches with business leaders and policymakers in a small, intimate setting. Students can ask questions and get a first-hand look at the local and state business community. They will also have the opportunity to convene on Capitol Hill, where they will meet with members of the governor’s staff and legislative analysts who offer a behind-the-scenes look at state government.

We invite all our Ivory Experience students to attend our regular Institute events, which include forums and training with prominent members of the business and political communities.

If you or someone you know is a UofU undergrad looking for a chance to connect with Utah decision-makers, check out the link in our bio to learn more and submit your application!

Nearly all Americans agree that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, but most believe that value is missing from public life, according to a new national report released today by UNITE in partnership with the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.

Dignity in America builds on findings from the 2026 Dignity Barometer, a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 U.S. adults, to examine the gap between Americans’ widely shared value of dignity and their perceptions of how people—including themselves—treat one another. Rather than simply documenting these gaps, the report draws on behavioral science, social norms research, and related scholarly work to explore why they exist, what keeps them in place, and how they might be narrowed. It also examines how educational experiences, practical tools, and cultural change efforts can help people recognize and reduce the gap between their values and their actions.

Learn more and read the full report on our website now: Gardner.Utah.edu

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and David Eccles School of Business today announced the retirement of Jim Wood, Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow, following more than 50 years of distinguished service to the university and the state of Utah. Jim’s research helped shape the state’s understanding of housing affordability, residential construction cycles, apartment markets, homelessness, foreclosure trends, and the broader relationship between economic growth and quality of life.

In retirement, Jim leaves a legacy of rigorous scholarship, public-minded leadership, and generous mentorship. His decades of work have strengthened Utah’s economic research infrastructure and provided decision-makers with objective, data-driven insight during periods of extraordinary growth and change.

Visit the link in our bio to view the full announcement. We wish you all the best, Jim!

Finding the right data, research, or publication just got easier!

We’re excited to introduce “Kembot,” the new virtual assistant from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Whether you’re looking for economic data, demographic insights, public policy research, or one of our many publications, Kembot can help you quickly find the information you need and point you in the right direction.

Try it out now on our website, Gardner.Utah.edu, and see how Kembot can help you explore the Institute’s work in a whole new way!

Congratulations to Gardner Institute Director Natalie Gochnour on receiving the United Star Award from the Salt Lake Chamber at the “Under One Sky: America 250 Utah Awards Gala.” The award “Honors an individual who brings people together to solve complex challenges with balance, fairness and respect. By listening to all voices, building consensus and prioritizing the greater good, this leader strengthens the community and advances shared solutions.”

The Gardner team is deeply grateful for Natalie’s leadership and service. Thank you to our partners and colleagues at the Salt Lake Chamber for this recognition, and for recognizing other extraordinary leaders from across Utah that help our great state prosper!

Each year, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recognizes individuals and entities that work, often behind the scenes and with little fanfare, to help our community prosper. We call them “Informed Decision Makers” and select them based on criteria consistent with the Institute’s committable core values: Responsibility to the community, research integrity and relevance, accountability, collaboration, positivity, and passion. 
 
We are honored to recognize the following individuals and organizations with the 2026 “Informed Decision Maker of the Year” Award:
 
Stephanie Benally (Utah Foster Care), Bill Crim (United Way of Salt Lake and Utah’s Promise), Sarah Wright (Utah Clean Energy), Rancho Markets, and Waste Less Solutions

Congratulations to you all, and thank you for all that you do for our great state! Visit our website to learn more about the work of these exceptional individuals and organizations!

Congratulations to all 2026 graduates!

And a special congratulations to the Gardner Institute Class of 2026! We are so grateful for the exceptional work of our graduating interns, graduate assistants, and staff this past year:

-Parker Banta, Master of Public Policy
-Marina Berlin, Master of Public Policy
-Anika Boyden, Honors Bachelors, Political Science
-Gabriella Grover, Bachelors, Economics
-Ethan Hepworth, Bachelors, Political Science, Economics
-Ruben Ramos-Avina, Master of City & Metropolitan Planning
-Elizabeth Thomas, Master of Public Policy

We wish you ALL the best of luck in your future endeavors! 📚🏆🎓

Data centers are rapidly becoming a vital component of modern economies, driving stock market valuations, innovations in artificial intelligence, and tech industry growth both in Utah and around the world. As technology advances, the demand for data centers has surged. These facilities provide crucial infrastructure support for emerging technologies, providing economic benefits and enhancing energy efficiency. In Utah, this burgeoning industry supports the state’s role in the global technology landscape, fostering economic development and positioning the state as a hub of innovation.

For our April Newsmaker Breakfast, we were joined by Dr. Shon Hiatt, director of the Zage Business of Energy Initiative at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hiatt’s expertise lies in the intersection of energy, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on sustainability and global strategy. Dr. Hiatt was joined by industry and policy thought leaders who shared expertise on the economic, energy, and community impacts of data centers, providing insights into how these technological shifts will shape the future of energy infrastructure in Utah and the United States.

Check out the link in our bio to view the data shared at today’s event! 🔗