Staff

Laura Dupuy,
Executive Director
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Laura Dupuy has served as Executive Director of the UCCD since 1999. Prior to joining the UCCD she was an auditor with KPMG. She holds a BA in International Studies from the Western College of Miami University, a BS in Accounting from Idaho State University, and an MBA from Westminster College. She has lived in South Korea and Hong Kong.

She currently serves on the board of the National Council for International Visitors, the University of Utah International Center Board, the Utah Arts Council Cultural Diplomacy Advisory Board, and was recently appointed by Mayor Ralph Becker on the Salt Lake City Arts Council.

Jennifer Hefti,
Director of Communications & Community Outreach
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Jennifer Hefti completed a Master’s Degree in Communication at the University of Washington in December 2006. Upon graduation, she served as a Graduate Intern at the World Affairs Council of Seattle. During her six-month internship, she worked in the Global Classroom program, organized statewide teacher workshops, and spearheaded the 2007 World Citizen Essay Contest. Since moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, she pursues her passions – international relations and communications – by serving as Director of Communications & Community Outreach at the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy (UCCD).

Ms. Hefti works diligently to promote the organization’s mission and programs to UCCD members and the community at large. She recently served on the Governor’s International Education Summit Planning Committee and contributed to creating the Utah Language Roadmap, an aggressive education plan that will prepare generations of Utah students to enter a changing global economy. She currently participates in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, International Coordinating Committee Meeting, which coordinates international programs and activities in Utah. She also serves on the PRSA Greater Salt Lake Board as Ethics & Advocacy Officer and is working towards the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR). Ms. Hefti is a dual citizen (Swiss/American), speaks fluent French, conversational Italian and German, and is a graduate of the University of Geneva, Switzerland.


Audrey Anderson,
Program Director
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A native of Utah, Audrey recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University Chicago, with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Islamic World Studies.

Audrey lived in Amman, Jordan where she studied Arabic language, culture, and politics for 5 months. Her travels through Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Israel served to deepen her interest and passion for cross-cultural understanding. Audrey is committed to furthering her knowledge of foreign affairs and applying her experiences to create high-quality programs for the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Erica Schoenefeld,
Program Associate
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Erica Schoenefeld serves as Program Associate in the International Visitor Leadership Program. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in International Business from Westminster College in December 2009.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Erica loves to spend her free time seeing the world with her husband, who is a German citizen. In addition to traveling in Utah and the U.S., they visit Germany at least once a year to spend time with their family. Erica likes to listen to music, watch movies, and try different foods with her friends.

Interns

Mark Mackay,
Communications Intern
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Mark Mackay graduated in August 2009 with honors from Utah Valley University with a degree in Communication. While attending college, he completed an internship with Congressman Rob Bishop in Washington DC. The internship provided him with in-depth knowledge of our country’s government, as well as an insider’s perspective of Capitol Hill. He was featured in a daily newspaper on Capitol Hill, as intern of the week.

As the manager of a local movie theater since 2005, Mark orchestrates a team of over 30 individuals who handle the theatre’s day-to-day operations, as well as some of the industries’ largest blockbuster openings.

As an intern at the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, Mark hopes to increase public awareness of UCCD’s mission and programs, as well as learn more about public relations and nonprofit communication, while applying his life’s motto: Remember to dig in with some elbow grease when times get tough, don’t forget to laugh when life throws us something unexpected.

Michelle Brown,
Program Associate Intern
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Michelle Brown recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University. Having focused her studies on U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East, she is interested in applying her knowledge to increase respect and understanding of this region of the world.

Originally from Maine, she has lived on both the East and West coasts of the United States. While traveling in Uruguay during high school, Michelle learned firsthand the importance of understanding international cultures and issues. This experience fueled her commitment to promote dialogue as a way to facilitate peaceful international relations.

As a Program Associate Intern, Michelle hopes to further UCCD’s mission of promoting global understanding and respect between the people of Utah and other nations, while enhancing her skills and abilities to engage citizens in diplomacy and build peace.

David Mursener-Gonzales,
Program Associate Intern
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David Mursener-Gonzales was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is currently a senior at Westminster College majoring in International Business and Economics. He completed a semester abroad, studying Mandarin at Nankai University in Tianjin, China in the fall of 2009. As a member of the Westminster Honors program, David has been involved in many campus organizations promoting diversity and global awareness. In 2008, he founded the Westminster Chinese Club, which invites students to gain meaningful extracurricular experience and knowledge of China.

As a Program Associate Intern at the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, David wishes to continue his work fostering greater international understanding between International Visitors and the citizens of the United States.