Salt Lake City, UT – Utah Domestic Violence Coalition and the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC) Board are pleased to announce Jen Campbell as the executive director of the Coalition, beginning Monday, November 29.
Director of Finance & Operations Chris Davies and Director of Programs Selina Gorst have served as interim co-directors since September 2020 and worked in tandem with the UDVC Board on a comprehensive recruitment process. Led by an outside agency specializing in non-profit organizations, the recruitment process involved meeting with victim services member providers, stakeholders, and community members to obtain feedback that informed hiring priorities.
“It was an honor to represent rural service providers and to serve on Utah Domestic Violence Coalition’s hiring committee. I appreciate their effort to make an informed decision with plenty of representation at the table because this is a big job and each member programs’ experiences and needs differ widely,” said Abigail Taylor, executive director of Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center in Moab. “Jennifer Campbell has been a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to the humor, diplomacy, and humility she will bring to our statewide team in this leadership role. This is a natural progress given her background at South Valley Services and I trust that she will hit the ground running.”
Campbell is excited to join the Coalition and to promote statewide advocacy, collaboration, and education specific to domestic and intimate partner violence. Initial priorities include an audit of the team and community partners, expanding board representation, partner and stakeholder relations, identifying initiatives and creating a strategic plan, and focusing on policy and budget—just in time for the 2022 General Session of the Utah State Legislature.
“In the 14 years I’ve worked on the frontline of victim services, I’ve loved working with survivors and navigating my team through crisis response. During this time, I’ve had the privilege of learning about resilience and the impact of community-based services for victims, as well as the importance of collaboration towards ending violence,” said Jen Campbell, executive director of Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. “I am honored to represent the member programs and, as UDVC executive director, I intend to increase and stabilize funding for services, enhance public awareness, and advocate for policies that both prevent and stop violence.”
Campbell began her career in victim services a decade ago, volunteering at South Valley Services in Salt Lake County. Her volunteer experience, combined with her Master of Public Administration and a strong desire to improve outcomes for those experiencing domestic and intimate partner violence, resulted in an 11-year career with South Valley Services; most recently, as the executive director.