President

Industry Expert

Electronic Transactions Association, Washington, DC

Director of Government and Industry Relations

AAUW

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Southern Utah University is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences. With more than 145 undergraduate programs* and 18 graduate and certificate programs across six academic colleges, SUU proudly offers world-class, project-based learning opportunities where students gain professional experience before entering the job market.

Located in the world’s best backyard, SUU is the University of the Parks thanks to its close proximity to several outdoor recreational areas and its educational partnerships with the National Park Service. SUU’s safe, residential campus allows students - more than 10,000 - to create lifelong friendships along with once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventures in conjunction with innovative academic endeavors.

Southern Utah University

Mary Weaver Bennett is the director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University. She is a specialist in legislative and regulatory policy matters for the financial services industry, specializing in electronic payments, fintech, government relations, advocacy and communications. 

Before moving to southern Utah, Bennett was the director of government and industry relations for the Electronic Transactions Association in Washington, DC, where she led federal and state public affairs strategy, lobbying and outreach initiatives. Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, The Washington Campus and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board under the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bennett is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She most recently served as president of Red Ridge Consulting, LLC, and as an expert advisor for Blackline Advisory Group in Nashville, TN.

Utah Political Candidates

Utah Legislative Body

Political Communication

Congressional Campaigns

Regulatory Policy for Financial Industries

Lobbying

Strategic Planning

Government Relations

Legislative and Regulatory Policy

Outreach Education

Public Affairs

Political Education Programs

Legislation for Financial Industries

Auditing Public Companies

Securities and Exchange Commission

Utah Politics

Political Associations

Women in Public Service

Leavitt Center Executive Council 

SUU Leavitt Center

Daylight Saving Time is one of the top constituent complaints, but the Utah State Legislature won’t hear a bill

Mitt Romney visits with Southern Utah University Students

SUU names new director of Leavitt Center for Politics

Southern Utah University's Leavitt Center announces new director

A Battered Acquiring Industry Seeks New Political Survival Strategies

Mary Bennett, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service and Southern Utah University’s expert on current political trends, offers her predictions on what to expect in Washington in 2018. 

2018: What's Next in Washington?

With a new year, commentators from around the country are offering their predictions for American politics in 2018. From the border wall to healthcare, the world is wondering what 2018 has in store for Washington and the United States.

Mary Bennett, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service and Southern Utah University’s expert on current political trends, offers her predictions on what to expect for this year.

“Nationally, I predict we will see a tectonic shift in the composition of Congress as a result of the midterm elections. Currently, 37 US House Republicans have announced resignation, retirement, or are running for another office in 2018 -- and it’s only January. By comparison, 16 US House Democrats fill these categories.”

Bennett emphasizes that this high number of departures of experienced legislators constitutes a tremendous loss of institutional knowledge and history.

“The group of departing Republican members includes eight House committee chairs. Committees are where all the work gets done in Congress, and the loss of Republican leadership in nearly every major policy area will be difficult to replicate with newly elected members.”

Locally, Bennett predicts that Utah will see an exciting election year.

“Each of the current US House members will have at least one serious challenger, and incumbents will be asked to articulate their support or opposition to Trump administration policies. With the resignation of Sen. Orrin Hatch, there will be an open race for US Senate, a phenomenon that does not occur often in Utah.”

According to Bennett, the Utah Senate race will receive national media attention for a number of reasons.

“One reason will be the potential candidacy of Mitt Romney, the former Republican nominee for president. Another reason for national interest will be the uniqueness of Utah’s vote in the 2016 presidential election. Utah had the strongest turnout in the nation (21%) for a third party candidate. There will be a strong temptation for the national media to use the Utah Senate race as a bellwether for gauging the popular success of the president’s policies.”

Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, The Washington Campus and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

Political Trends - What's Next in Washington? 

Provo • Hours after announcing his campaign for U.S. Senate, Mitt Romney spent his first speech as a candidate making the case to a roomful of Republicans that he is conservative enough and Utahn enough — just maybe not as young as they might think. 

Mitt Romney Outlines Policies to Cap his First Day of Campaigning for Utah’s Soon-to-be-Open U.S. Senate Seat

Mitt Romney, a long time political favorite in Utah, announced last week that his future would include a campaign for the Utah Senate seat being vacated by Senator Orrin Hatch. Previously the 2012 Republican Party nominee for President, Romney also served as the Governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007. 

Sending out the announcement on social media, Romney said he is running for United States Senate to serve the people of Utah. He believes that “Utah is admired not only for its beauty but the character of its people. Utahns are known for hard work, innovation, and our can-do pioneering spirit. But more than these, we are known as people who serve, who care, and who rise to any occasion… I believe I can help bring Utah’s values and Utah’s lessons to Washington.”

Mary Bennett, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service and Southern Utah University’s expert on Utah politics, sees this as “an exciting political year for Utah, distinguished by the rare statewide open race for the United States Senate. Utah has changed substantially since the last open Senate race. Today, two of the state’s top three fastest growing counties are in southern Utah.” 

“Governor Romney’s candidacy for US Senate will likely produce continued national media coverage throughout the year, given his previous speeches about and interactions with President Trump.” 

President Trump and Romney have had “rollercoaster relationship” in past years and President Trump’s endorsement of Romney’s Senate campaign may have come as a surprise. Through Twitter, President Trump endorsed Romney on February 19, saying “he will make a great Senator and worthy successor to Orrin Hatch and has my full support and endorsement!”

In reply, Romney thanked the President for his support and said: “I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.” 

Bennett and the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics & Public Service look forward to welcoming all US Senate candidates to campus to meet students, witness the beauty of the University of the Parks, and learn about the great economic potential and workforce that resides in Southern Utah.

Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the US House of Representatives, and the US Senate. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

Mitt Romney Announces Campaign for Utah Senate

Don’t wait until it’s too late. There are several ways to register to vote, but there are also a few eligibility requirements you will need to know. The following pages will assist you with the information you need to be ready.

Iron County Election Information

Hosted by Southern Utah University’s Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, the candidates for Iron County Attorney, Iron County Commission seats A and B, Iron County Sheriff, and State House 71 gathered in the Great Hall on June 6 to discuss current issues and the future of Iron County. 

The night began with a candidate meet-and-greet, allowing attendees to learn more about each person and their platform. Each candidate was given time for a brief statement on stage, most of which were full of ideas for preparing Iron County for the future. 

Mary Weaver Bennett, Director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service and Southern Utah University’s expert on Utah politics, shares her thoughts on the forum with the Iron County primary candidates.

“There was a tremendous turnout, over 100 members of community came to hear the candidates’ pitches,” said Bennett. “I’m excited to see this level of interest in our local elections. The evening was structured to allow audience members unlimited time to interact with the candidates and to get every question answered. It was the way politics should be - full of good fellowship and mutual respect.”

Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the US House of Representatives, and the US Senate. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

Iron County Candidates Forum with Mary Weaver Bennett

Join Senator Evan Vickers & Regent Nina Barnes at an event for women in Cedar City and Iron County to learn about opportunities to engage in community and public service. Featuring local officials, including Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson, whose experience can help guide those looking to get involved in their community. Free event, RVSP.

Even It Up: Ways for Women to Get into Public Service

Utah Senator Evan Vickers and Utah Board of Regents Vice Chair Nina Barnes are hosting an event at Southern Utah University geared to inform women in Cedar City and Iron county about opportunities to engage in community and public service. The event features local officials whose experience can help guide those looking to get involved in their community.

Panelists include Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson Edwards, Cedar City Councilmember Scott Phillips, Iron County School District Board member Michelle Lambert, Enoch City Councilmember Jolene Lee, and Cedar City Planning Commission member Jennie Hendricks.

Donna Law, executive director of development and government relations at Southern Utah University, believes that it is in the interest of all of us to have more women involved in all aspects of community and public service. 

“This event is intended to help inform women about the local opportunities that are available and ways to get involved. Our panelists will share their experiences of getting engaged, running for office and in general, making a difference in our communities.”
Mary Weaver Bennett directs the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, an interdisciplinary hub for leadership opportunities, experiential learning, citizenship education, humanitarian service, and public policy research on SUU’s campus. 

“We are delighted to be able to highlight the service of impressive and capable women in the Iron County area. This is the first of multiple events we will sponsor to cultivate interest in public service, encourage civic action, and guide those who seek to serve in public office.”

This event is co-sponsored by the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, SUU Alumni & Community Relations, Real Women Run at the YWCA, a collaborative nonpartisan initiative of YWCA Utah to empower women to participate fully in public life and civic leadership, and the Three Corners Women’s Giving Circle, a community of women who fund projects and programs to support women and girls in the “three corners” region: southern Utah, northwest Arizona, and Mesquite, Nevada.

The event will be held Thursday, September 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Southern Utah University Alumni House (300 West and University BLVD). Please RSVP at suu.edu/leavittcenter.

Even It Up - Women in Public Service

Mary Bennett, Director of the Leavitt Center

Director, Michael O. Leavitt Center

Mary Bennett

suu-receives-silver-seal-for-excellence-in-student-voter-engagement

Director of the Micheal O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service

Presented by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Southern Utah University has been honored with a silver seal for achieving a student voting rate of 35.9% in the 2018 midterm elections. “The Leavitt Center is proud to receive this national recognition on behalf of SUU,” said Mary Bennett, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics &amp; Public Service at SUU. “We will continue our efforts to inspire faculty, staff, and students to participate in the 2020 election. We are committed to reduce voter apathy, increase engagement, and graduate civic-minded students prepared to solve the country’s, and the world’s, most pressing challenges.”Overall student participation in elections has increased from the 2014 midterm election to the recent 2018 midterm election. And according to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, voter turnout at the more than 1,000 institutions participating in the study increased by 21 points from 19% to 40%. At SUU, the voter rate increased by 18.7 points between 2014 and 2018. Led by Bennett, the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics &amp; Public Service works to increase the civic engagement of students at SUU. Through an action plan to increase civic engagement, the Leavitt Center is working to increase voter turnout rates. The first long-term goal of the Leavitt Center is to increase voter turnout by 10% in the 2020 election. Voter turnout numbers are considerably higher during the national elections, so in 2018 the focus was to increase voter education and engagement with state and local elections. To support this goal, the Leavitt Center hosts at least two state or local candidates each semester and has at least one event that covers local politics. “We are excited to honor SUU with an ALL IN Challenge silver seal,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “Institutions like SUU are changing the culture on campus by institutionalizing nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that are resulting in the incredible student voter turnout rates that we’ve seen across the country.”The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on their campus. More than 560 campuses, enrolling more than 6.2 million students, have joined the Challenge since its launch in summer 2016.Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the US House of Representatives, and the US Senate. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

SUU Receives Silver Seal for Excellence in Student Voter Engagement

midterm-elections-the-day-after

Professor of Political Science and International Relations

Associate Professor of Political Science

The day after … with Democrats taking the House and Republicans stronger in the Senate – what can we expect for the next two years?It was a night most pundits expected – a DNC surge in Congress, as voters held the Trump administration to account. High voter turnout led to a long night and many close races across the country.Surprisingly, the Republicans bolstered their position in the Senate, giving them enough wiggle room now with a comfortable four seat majority.But what can Americans expect moving forward? A Democratic House could see DNC controlled committees putting forward an army of subpoenas from everything including the Russia investigation, to the President’s tax returns and all things in between. A Republican Senate now has a clear and simple path for appointments and nominations.But now that it is over, will the two houses be able to work together to pass legislation and budgets? For the good of the country and for the sake of progress will much needed cooperation and compromise be an opportunity to over come America’s great political divide?Or will this be two years of chaos, bickering and a country stuck between political divisions?What lies ahead is not an easy question – and that’s where the political experts from Southern Utah University can help.Mary Weaver Bennett is the director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University. She spent over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions and specializes in U.S. midterm elections and American politics.Dr. G. Michael Stathis is a professor of political science and an expert in the fields of American Government international relations.Donna Law is the Executive Director of Development and Government Relations at Southern Utah University and can speak about the impacts of government and higher education in Utah and across America.Douglas F. Bennett joined Southern Utah University in 2014 after a long and successful career in Washington D.C. He now chairs the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at SUU and is an expert in trade, global relations and political organization.Dr. Angela Pool-Funai is director of the Master of Public Administration program at Southern Utah University and an assistant professor of political science and public administration. She is an expert in the areas of taxation and tax policy.All of these experts are available to speak with media – simply click on any of their icons to arrange an interview today.

Midterm Elections - The Day After

even-it-up-women-in-public-service

Utah Senator Evan Vickers and Utah Board of Regents Vice Chair Nina Barnes are hosting an event at Southern Utah University geared to inform women in Cedar City and Iron county about opportunities to engage in community and public service. The event features local officials whose experience can help guide those looking to get involved in their community.Panelists include Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson Edwards, Cedar City Councilmember Scott Phillips, Iron County School District Board member Michelle Lambert, Enoch City Councilmember Jolene Lee, and Cedar City Planning Commission member Jennie Hendricks.Donna Law, executive director of development and government relations at Southern Utah University, believes that it is in the interest of all of us to have more women involved in all aspects of community and public service. “This event is intended to help inform women about the local opportunities that are available and ways to get involved. Our panelists will share their experiences of getting engaged, running for office and in general, making a difference in our communities.”Mary Weaver Bennett directs the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, an interdisciplinary hub for leadership opportunities, experiential learning, citizenship education, humanitarian service, and public policy research on SUU’s campus. “We are delighted to be able to highlight the service of impressive and capable women in the Iron County area. This is the first of multiple events we will sponsor to cultivate interest in public service, encourage civic action, and guide those who seek to serve in public office.”This event is co-sponsored by the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, SUU Alumni &amp; Community Relations, Real Women Run at the YWCA, a collaborative nonpartisan initiative of YWCA Utah to empower women to participate fully in public life and civic leadership, and the Three Corners Women’s Giving Circle, a community of women who fund projects and programs to support women and girls in the “three corners” region: southern Utah, northwest Arizona, and Mesquite, Nevada.The event will be held Thursday, September 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Southern Utah University Alumni House (300 West and University BLVD). Please RSVP at suu.edu/leavittcenter.Source:

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