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Interim UGS director outlines personnel changes, outreach push and strategic planning
Summary
Darlene Patashian, serving as interim director, introduced new staff, noted retirements and promotions, and proposed a strategic planning process to align UGS's mission, staffing and funding priorities.
At the Utah Geological Survey Board meeting on April 16, Acting Director Darlene Patashian summarized personnel changes, recognition items and a proposed strategic planning process.
Staffing and recognition: Darlene introduced Jessica Stern, the new wetlands coordinator who joined UGS two weeks earlier. She noted Phil Hughes retired effective March 31 and that the appointment process for a new permanent director is underway. Longtime hydrogeologist Lucy Jordan moved to an on-call vendor arrangement after relocating out of state, and Janae Wallace, a senior staffer with 35 years of service, is expected to retire later this year. Darlene also recognized staff promotions for long-serving administrative leads, and acknowledged Mark Milligan for legislative liaison work and other staff for publications and awards — including staff authorship on a peer-reviewed paleontology paper and a new estimate of lithium, magnesium and potassium in Great Salt Lake brine.
Outreach and visibility: Darlene said UGS will increase engagement with industry and other state agencies to raise the survey’s profile and better demonstrate how UGS data underpins energy and minerals work. She noted a recent trade mission to Canada that highlighted opportunities for a Utah critical-minerals strategic plan and cited increased outreach through the public-information role assigned part-time to contracts analyst Ben Delin.
Strategic planning: Darlene proposed a phased strategic-planning process beginning with program managers in May, then midlevel staff and finally board involvement. The stated goals are to “return to mission,” realign staffing with statutory priorities, and ensure funding matches program priorities. She asked the board for input on increased visibility efforts and suggested program managers present updates at future meetings.
Other items: Darlene announced a plan to support two paid high-school interns for an eight-day summer program and emphasized that UGS will continue to emphasize internal financial housekeeping and grant cost-share clarity as part of its preparation for FY26.
