The Utah Senate Education Confirmation Committee on Friday unanimously recommended appointment or reappointment of four nominees to the Utah Valley University board of trustees, including new nominee Shauna Smith, following committee remarks that acknowledged a recent violent incident on the UVU campus.

The committee voted to forward Shauna Smith, a business owner and longtime UVU supporter, and reappointments of Justin Olsen, Jeanette Bennett and Blake Modrzycki to the full Senate with favorable recommendations. Committee members opened the session with statements of sorrow for the family, students and staff affected by what Senate chair called a hard time for the campus.

The confirmations matter because UVU is a large, regional institution that graduates students who remain in Utah and feed the local workforce. Smith told senators she would bring private-sector experience and a focus on student completion: "If entrusted with this role, I will bring business and leadership experience, helping UVU strengthen its strategic vision, pursue smart growth, and align with workforce needs," she said. Smith also noted that she and her husband have built more than 100 restaurants in Utah.

Senators asked nominees about retention and student support. Senator McHale, referencing the committee’s priorities, said, "If you really wanna impress, help us find a way to complete students and provide that ROI for our students." Justin Olsen, who was recommended for reappointment, said his top goal would be graduate success and rapid placement into meaningful employment after graduation.

Jeanette Bennett, the first vice chair of the UVU board of trustees and a longtime community leader who received an honorary doctorate from the university, told the committee she will continue to promote UVU as a place to build professional networks and strengthen local ties. Blake Modrzycki, a venture investor and UVU donor involved in first-generation scholarships, said he wants to help students graduate and begin careers: "You can have a career by completing your degree," he said.

The committee made each recommendation in separate motions and recorded unanimous approval for Smith, Olsen, Bennett and Modrzycki. The nominations will now go to the full Senate for confirmation votes.

The senators and nominees also paused to acknowledge recent events at UVU, urging the university community to condemn violence and to support students, faculty and staff as the campus recovers. Several senators and nominees linked trustee responsibilities to student welfare, campus safety and the institution’s role preparing the state’s workforce.