Staff

Teresa works with west side Salt Lake residents in different capacities. Her research interests are community practice, mental health and substance use. The intersectionality of these fields gives her insights on the protective and risk factors for individuals and families in Utah. She has conducted impact and empowerment evaluation for the Westside Leadership Institute, and volunteered as an instructor for refugee and immigrant background community-based organizations. She helps grow local residents’ organization capacity to respond to their own cultural and linguistic strengths and needs. As Associate Director at University Neighborhood Partners, her mission is to nurture the development of UNP’s community capacity and wellbeing, education pathways, and community leadership supported-partnerships. Teresa has an appointment as assistant professor/lecturer at the College of Social Work and works closely on Community Capacity and Wellbeing partnerships, in conjunction with Latino Behavioral Health Services, NAMI, URLEND, University of Utah Health, and Hartland Community 4 Youth & Families. Teresa earned her PhD and MSW degrees from the University of Utah; her MBA degree from Lake Superior State University; and her BS in Economics at UNAM, Mexico.

Faduma is the Hartland Partnership Center Coordinator at UNP. She previously worked with UNP as a community resource navigator on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Working with community members who were struggling with rent payment and debt relief during the economic hardships of the pandemic. Working on the ERAP program aligned with her work with refugee communities here in Utah. She has worked with two non-profit humanitarian organizations, whose work revolved around providing displaced individuals from around the world a new home. She is a recent graduate from the University of Utah, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology. Faduma who is originally from Somaliland and Somalia, grew up in Egypt and moved with her family to Utah in 2006. She enjoys reading about current events, listening to the radio, and growing plants in hydroponics.

Saolo Betham joined UNP in January 2018 as a Community Leadership Partnership Manager, and works to strengthen the skills and opportunities for west side resident leaders. She studied Urban, Rural, and City Planning from BYU as well as International Affairs at the University of Utah. Previously, she worked as an Academic Advisor for the College of Architecture + Planning, as well as the Coordinator for the Five Parks Community Action Center in West Valley. Her passion for community building comes from volunteering with Pacific Islander youth development programs in various academic, athletic, and religious spaces. Originally from Hawaii, Saolo now calls Utah home and enjoys Korean BBQ restaurants, playing volleyball, & traveling.

Prior to joining UNP, Melissa served as a copywriter and editor for the Provo City School District, Instructure, and other local Utah businesses. She received her undergraduate degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Utah Valley University. Her talents center around creative design and storytelling. Since starting at UNP she has supported the UNP Scholarship Awards as both a co-facilitator and co-fundraiser. She is passionate about building support systems for many first-generation college students as a way towards eliminating barriers to higher education. She’s a Utah transplant from San Diego, California, so winters are always rough with the significant drop in temperature. You’ll find her bundled up in the winter for peak coziness. Dance has been a key role in her early childhood into adulthood through classes and performances that were offered by the local after school program. She now attends a technical ballet class to upkeep her progress and sustain a healthy routine.

Arturo Canela has a rich background in public administration, working in education for the last 10+ years. Originally from Southern California, he has called Salt Lake City home for the past six years. As a Division-1 athlete, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Southern Utah University. He is currently a fifth-year PhD student in the Education, Culture, and Society program at the University of Utah, with an anticipated graduation in 2027. His research centers on the creation of supportive educational spaces for students from non-traditional backgrounds as they navigate the K–12 educational system. In his role at UNP, Arturo is committed to strengthening community partnerships and advancing the University of Utah’s mission of fostering positive societal impact across the state of Utah. He is passionate about cultivating collaborative relationships that empower individuals and communities to thrive as active global citizens.

Aside from his professional and academic work, Arturo is a devoted pet parent to an 11-year-old Australian shepherd and a 17-year-old red-eared turtle. He loves traveling with his partner and finds joy in being by the ocean, indulging in a breathtaking sunset.

Erick D. Garcia has been with University Neighborhood Partners (UNP) since May 2021, serving nearly four years as a Partnership Manager before becoming Administrative Officer. In this role, he supports internal communications, event coordination, office management, and partner engagement as part of the administrative team that keeps UNP’s programs and partnerships running smoothly. Erick continues to support UNP’s work in West Valley City and serves as Chair of the Healthy West Valley Coalition and on the Development Board of Magna Communities That Care, where he helps align cross-sector efforts and amplify local voices to build a thriving, connected West Valley. Born in California and raised in Utah, Erick earned his B.S. in Information Systems from the University of Utah and is preparing to begin his master’s degree to deepen his impact in education and community development. Outside of work, you’ll find Erick gaming, traveling, and treasure hunting at yard sales and swap meets. He is especially motivated to simplify the path to higher education for his four younger siblings.

Jimena recently graduated and is passionate about increasing access to mental health services among underserved communities, particularly the Latinx community in Utah. She earned both her undergraduate and social work master's degrees from the University of Utah. With experience in various settings, including private practice, university counseling centers, and nonprofit organizations, she has previously provided therapeutic services, facilitated groups, and workshops to help empower individuals and communities. She loves learning and working alongside the communities she has worked with, and is looking forward to continuing to do so. She is currently focused on developing culturally responsive programs and teaching the Spanish Case Management class. When she's not working, Jimena enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring new restaurants as a self-proclaimed foodie, indulging in good books, and soaking up the sun at the beach whenever possible.

Jorge is the Education Pathways Coordinator at UNP. He is passionate about community work, dedicated to supporting the neighborhood in any capacity he can. Jorge grew up in the Salt Lake valley, worked at Glendale Middle School, Glendale Community Learning Center, as well as Salt Lake County’s Centro de La Familia. Jorge is a father to a cat and a dog, and attended the university of Utah to study Political Science. He loves to hike and cook, as well as just about any other hobby he can get into.

Wisam Khudhair is the Community Capacity and Wellbeing Partnership Manager. He works with UNP's partners and team to advance community capacity. Wisam earned a B.S in Banking and Finance at Mustansiriyah University and a master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Utah. Previously, Wisam worked in refugee services for seven years where he supported hundreds of newly arrived refugees to Utah in achieving self-sufficiency; he also worked with Salt Lake County as a Business and Economic Development Coordinator. He served at the Salt Lake City Human rights commission for three years. In 2010, Wisam moved to Utah with his family from Iraq. He enjoys hiking, camping, sports, and learning about people's cultures.

Tacos are life! But so are the inspiring young people and school communities that Jarred has had the privilege to work with across the SLC valley for many years now. Homegrown in Kearns and SLC, a Chicanx, hip-hop head with family roots that spread throughout the southwest and northern Mexico, he comes from a family legacy of migrant farm work. Jarred spent two years in Chicago earning a Master’s degree in Youth Development, while also building a network of connections to many organizations and people dedicated to youth resistance and critical literacy. Now, as a partnership manager with the UNP familia since October 2018, he’s been able to continue working on building bridges between other people locally who have a passion for critical & creative youth work in schools and community. Sometimes he gets free by writing poems and performing, occasionally hosting open mics or doing workshops with the Truth Cypher collective, otherwise he is probably hanging out in the mountains or jamming out to cumbias. Did we mention, he also loves eating tacos?

Ofa was appointed to UPIHC (Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition) Fall of 2023 as the Executive Director. In addition, Ofa is the Environmental Partnership Manager for University of Utah’s Neighborhood Partners. Her esteemed record of ongoing advocacy and community-building have been great assets to the mission-driven programs she directs. Prior to her current roles, Ofa served with Utah Clean Energy and has 10+ years working in SSA law, Estate Planning and higher education. She brings a wealth of experience and practical expertise to the roles she served in, as demonstrated through over a decade of servant leadership with organizations like the Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, YWCA of Salt Lake, the Salt Lake County Planning Commission, Tracy Aviary, and the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander State Caucus. She is a strong proponent of civic engagement and actively supports efforts that empower women to run for elected office. As such, she is also a former candidate of the Utah House of Representatives HD33 in West Valley City and in the future will seek office again. At this time Ofa currently serves as a member on Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Community Advisory Board, NeighborWorks of Salt Lake Community Engagement Steering Committee, and as a Westside Leadership Institute Fundamentals Course Instructor.

In her role as Administrative Program Coordinator, Jewel is often the front line for communications with the board, residents, and community partners. She provides a broad range of support that also includes general office management for the UNP “House”, event coordination and support, social media management, and other administrative functions. Jewel has an Associate’s Degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Anthropology & Social Science, and completed the Venture Course in the Humanities through Utah Humanities and Westminster College. Outside of UNP Jewel enjoys spending time with family and friends. When she can, she loves hiking, travel, reading, and describes herself as a movie junkie.

Tek is originally from a hilly village in Eastern Bhutan. He began schooling at 11 and had to cross a river and hills to attend. In grade 5 he became school captain, a student leadership position he’d been nominated for. After completing primary school he attended a senior high school three days from his home village. He attended for four years but had to leave before the final exams as his family was evicted from Bhutan when the Royal Government imposed an ethnic cleansing policy. They lived in a refugee camp in Jhapa, Nepal for years. In spite of this, Tek continued his education through National Open School, in India. He obtained a Master’s Degree from North Bengal University, a Bachelor’s Degree of Education from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, and privately studied Public Administration. He faced many challenges both financially and from the restrictions of the refugee camp. While in the camp, Tek married and had three children of his own. They resettled in Salt Lake City in 2013. He completed the Case Management Certificate program and Westside Leadership Institute – both partnership offerings that supplemented his studies here, where his has obtained his Master’s of Social Work and is pursuing his MBA. Through his life he has held many titles. Among these are translator, teacher, assistant headmaster, custodian, project coordinator, contact tracer, afterschool specialist, family outreach liaison, and more. He was a Community Resource Navigator at UNP. He has written news articles to advocate for long term solutions for.

Bruce is the Manager of Accounting and Finance for University Neighborhood Partners. He has a Master’s of accounting and has been with the U for over 18 years. Before coming to UNP he worked in the U of U’s Advancement Office as an accountant. Previously, he worked as a corporate accountant in property and nursing home management. He enjoys working with people and numbers to align organizational goals with budgeting and finances. He spends his free time volunteering for Hartland Community 4 Youth & Families (HC4YF), cooking from scratch, gardening, camping, hiking with family, playing with the kids, and rock climbing.

Growing up in the mountains and desert of Utah, Julianne enjoys a deep connection with the land and community and is inspired by the resilience and adaptive capacity of the place and people. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and passionate about culturally responsive, community centered practice. Julianne has been the Clinical Director since 2014. She supports social work student field education, convenes health partners, and provides trauma informed mental health support to individuals and families in the community both through the Bridge Training Clinic and the Hartland Free Mental Health Clinic. An avid gardener, Julianne loves to grow, cook, and share her harvests, spend time with her family and continues to wander in the mountains and desert.

Sileiologa FredaLeutaafale Sauni-Leniu is UNP’s Community Leadership Partnership Coordinator. She previously held the dual role of the Hartland Youth Center and Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) Coordinator. She was raised by her grandparents in Lautuanuu Apia Samoa. They planted a seed of love, respect, and humanity in her life as a Tamaitai Samoan. She is the eighth of fifteen siblings. Freda went to Luatuanauu Primary School and graduated from Church College of Western Samoa. She has successfully received certificates from a nursing school and the BYU Pathway Worldwide program. Freda is a lifelong learner and is currently enrolled with the WLI Startups course and studying at BYU Idaho online for a degree in Family History. In addition to her work at UNP, she is also an assistant manager at the drive-in theater and swap meet for the past 13 years. In the past she has worked as a cashier, a security guard officer, and she completed an 18 month mission for her church. She recently co-founded a nonprofit organization called “Breathe 4 Trees.” She is deeply passionate about the mission as is dedicated to seeing it grow. Freda enjoys include dancing, sewing, crafting, cooking, and hanging out with family. She loves to volunteer her time, money, and energy to serve and support others. Giving back to her community and family is her natural passion and mission here.

Kimberly considers herself a daughter of the plains of North Dakota, where a Ukrainian, historian grandmother and others helped her learn the value of knowing one’s roots, the power of asking good questions, and the many lessons the land can teach. After years as a dancer, choreographer, and dance company administrator, she moved into the field of alternative education, directing Higher Ground Learning, and starting Spy Hop Productions’ first all youth radio show, Loud and Clear. In 2004, while working on her master’s degree in Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah, Kimberly joined UNP. Her initial focus was working with resident leaders to start the Hartland Partnership Center. Since then, she has held many UNP positions, helping her to better understand and apply the processes needed to create equitable partnerships that are rooted in authentic relationships and move towards systemic change. In 2017, asked by local immigrant leaders to help support their families and communities in their home countries, Kimberly worked with partners local and abroad to establish the international collective, Bridging Borders. She occasionally teaches for the U and she runs her own company, Olive Branch Community Partnerships, consulting for the Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, various departments at the U, and community groups living at the margins both locally and abroad. Kimberly lives in Salt Lake City with her daughter and partner, Ron. She loves the work she does with the UNP family and is honored to be on this shared journey.

Growing up in the Salt Lake Valley, with his grandparents immigrating from Mexico to Corrine City, Utah has always been home to Miguel. Due to the sacrifices of his family, he has had the privilege of attending public schools and later higher education in the state; Miguel has spent his career finding ways to promote access for others to do the same. From volunteering for after school programs, working in and with public schools, to conducting state level research, Miguel understands the various systems that impact a student’s education. During his MSW program with the University of Utah, Miguel spent time at UNP as a student, carrying the model of community partnership wherever he went. Community, and the impact of mutual empowerment, helped to inform his practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, program coordinator, and later researcher. Having graduated with a PhD in Social Work, he now holds a dual position with UNP and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah's College of Education. Miguel practices from the belief that everyone can learn and everyone has something to teach. He looks forward to working alongside the UNP staff, the community, faculty, and all those who want to see our communities thrive.

As an Education Pathways Partnership Manager and Community Organizer, Alma spends most of her time working side by side with the community. More specifically, working with parents of students who are involved in UNP’s partnerships; she supports west side families in becoming involved in educational opportunities as well as their children’s school. Alma is a graduate of The Venture Course in the Humanities through the Utah Humanities Council, is working on obtaining a social work degree, and plans to further her education in human behavior. She graduated from the University of Utah’s Parent Advocate Training where she learned to become a leader in her own community and an advocate for her family within the school system. A west side resident herself, Alma has been teaching a community advocate class for 16 years, where she helps other parents to understand their rights concerning their schoolchildren. Alma was raised in Laredo, Texas and has been living in Utah for over thirty years. She is the mother of five and now has eight grandchildren. She spends her free time with her family. Alma enjoys reading, doing DIY projects, time in the outdoors, and camping.