Senate committee recommends Mara Carabello for Salt Lake Community College board

A Utah State Senate committee on Nov. 10 voted by voice to recommend Mara Carabello to the full Senate for a seat on the Salt Lake Community College board of trustees.

Carabello, the governor's nominee, told the committee she has led the Exoro Group, a public policy firm, for 23 years and has represented nonprofit, quasi-governmental and corporate clients on infrastructure, transportation, water and planning. She said those experiences shaped her interest in the SLCC board and in aligning the college's programs with employer needs.

"It is open enrollment. Everyone is welcome," Carabello said, describing SLCC's role in offering general-education pathways and technical degrees. She told the committee she wants to help the college "prioritiz[e] connecting the workforce and the needs of the workforce with the technical work we're doing." She also cited the Kempsey Gardner report, saying it projects that about 70% of the workforce by 2030 will need some level of postsecondary education.

Committee members asked Carabello how she would contribute during an eight-year term. She said she would focus on identifying where institutional growth is needed, establishing performance metrics, ensuring responsiveness across SLCC locations and prioritizing access for rural students and those with differing technology needs. She described her approach as "entrepreneurial" and said she believes in showing up, preparing and measuring results.

There were no public speakers on the nomination. Senator Reidy moved that the committee recommend Carabello to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation; the chair called for a voice vote and announced approval.

The committee also approved the meeting minutes earlier in the session and later adjourned by voice vote.

The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration; the committee record shows the recommendation passed by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded.