Governor Gary R. Herbert has appointed Shawn Newell to represent District 10 on the Utah State School Board of Education. Newell currently serves on the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, the NAACP Salt Lake Branch as its Vice President, and the Board of Trustees for Salt Lake Community College.
Newell has been a constant asset for diversity and inclusion and is a strong advocate for community engagement. Annually, Newell helps host the MLK Commissions’ King Conversation Series, supports Utah’s youth through the Utah Office of Multicultural Affairs’ youth programs, and works with law enforcement officers in furthering their community goals.
Here is the full announcement from Governor Herbert’s office:
SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 11, 2019) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Shawn Newell to represent District 10 on the Utah State School Board of Education. District 10 encompasses the Canyons School District, which has over 34,000 students and includes portions of Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Sandy and Draper.
“I very much look forward to having Shawn serve on the Board of Education. He will bring depth of thought and experience as well as a strong business background to the board. His ingenuity and perspective will help better connect our public and higher education systems, and he will be a strong voice for students, teachers and parents.”
Newell is currently vice president of business development at Industrial Supply, a Utah company he has been with for more than 30 years. He attended the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to serving the state, students, and educators,” said Newell. “I’ll work hard to continue to support and improve public education in Utah.”
Newell will fill the vacancy created when Kathleen Riebe was elected to the Utah Senate with two years left to serve on her term. This appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.