SALT LAKE CITY (February 11, 2025) – Sutherland Institute announced today an elevated focus on upward mobility policies, led by Nic Dunn in a new role as vice president of strategy and senior fellow.

“This change represents an enhanced and elevated policy focus for Sutherland on work, opportunity, and upward mobility – recognizing the crucial role they play for Utah and the nation’s prosperity,” said Rick Larsen, Sutherland president and CEO. “Sutherland will continue to benefit from Nic’s experience as a leading voice on social safety net reform, workforce issues, and upward mobility broadly speaking, to advance policy solutions to challenges facing Utah and the nation.”

In his capacity as senior fellow, Dunn will lead Sutherland’s policy research and content creation, coalition building, and public advocacy related to Sutherland’s pursuit of policies that strengthen upward mobility in Utah and the nation. He will also lead Sutherland’s Work & Opportunity Initiative, alongside other growing policy areas such as workforce issues and the well-being of men and boys. His role as vice president of strategy will focus on overseeing content strategy, rollout, and impact of Sutherland’s written and multimedia policy content across all issue areas. He will continue to direct and host Sutherland’s popular podcast, Defending Ideas, and continue to serve as the Institute’s chief press contact and spokesman.

“There is no better place than Utah, and no better institution within the state than Sutherland Institute, to successfully advance bold ideas that restore work and opportunity to the heart of what America offers to all her citizens,” said Dunn. “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity, and eager to leverage this new role to build on Utah’s and Sutherland’s successes in advancing policy reforms that help our fellow Americans achieve a better life.”

For more information on Sutherland’s Work & Opportunity Initiative, click here. For more information about Sutherland’s podcast, Defending Ideas, click here.

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