REBECCA L. UTZ portrait
  • Professor, Sociology Department
  • Co-Director, Consortium for Families & Health Research
  • Adjunct Professor, Family And Consumer Studies
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, College Of Nursing
  • Faculty Associate, Center on Aging
  • Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education, College of Social and Behavioral Science

Professional Service

  • Journal of Marriage and Family. Editorial Board. 01/2022 - present
  • National Institute on Aging. Study section, grant reviewer. 10/2021 - present
  • National Academy of State Health Policy. Technical assistance and training re: medicaid Family caregiving. Member of Utah cohort (invited to participate by UT Dept of Health). 04/2021 - 03/2022
  • ARCH National Respite Network. Committee to Advance Respite Research. 01/2021 - present
  • International Short Break Association - Break Exchange. Steering Committee. 01/01/2021 - present
  • Social Science Research. Editorial Board. 01/2020 - 12/2023
  • The Gerontologist. Editorial Board. 11/01/2016 - present
  • Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. Editorial Board. 11/01/2016 - present
  • Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Role: Editorial Board. Editorial Board. 11/2011 - 12/2015

Internal Service

  • Search Committee for CSBS Dean. 08/2021 - 03/2022. University service.
  • Academic Appeals and Misconduct Review Committee. 08/2020 - 06/2023. University service.
  • Faculty Workload & Productivity Review Committee (incentive policy). 08/2020 - 06/2022. Department service.
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Committee. 01/2020 - present. Department service.
  • CSBS Strategic Plan Refresh. member, 09/2019 - 07/2020. College service.
  • CSBS Diversity and Inclusion Committee. member, 08/2019 - present. College service.
  • Residence Hall (new Health & Wellness tower) - Programming Committee. member, 08/2019 - 09/2020. University service.
  • Director, Health Society & Policy. 07/01/2017 - 06/2022. College service.
  • Graduate Committee. member, 08/2016 - present. Department service.
  • CSBS Mentoring Committee. member, 08/2015 - present. College service.
  • CSBS Curriculum Committee. member, 08/2015 - 06/2023. College service.
  • Director of Graduate Studies. 07/2015 - 07/2018. Department service.
  • Consortium for Families and Health. Co-Director, 08/2014 - present. University service.
  • Undergraduate Committee, Chair. 08/2013 - 07/2015. Department service.

Community Partnership

  • Utah Special Committee of Family Caregiving - created under the Utah Commission on Aging. 07/2021 - present
  • Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia - State Coordinating Committee (and working group on caregiving). 09/2019 - present

Honors & Awards

  • Foundation Fellows Program. University of Utah, 08/01/2018
  • Distinguished Teaching Award. University of Utah, 04/30/2017
  • Distinguished Mentor Award. University of Utah Graduate School, 05/2016
  • W. Fred Cottrell Distinguished Alumni Award, Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center. 04/2016
  • Presidential Scholar. University of Utah, 07/2015
  • Excellence in Mentoring, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Utah. 04/25/2015
  • Fellow (nominated & elected). Gerontological Society of America, 11/2012
  • Superior Research Award (junior faculty). College of Social and Behavioral Science, 05/2012
  • Superior Teaching Award. College of Social and Behavioral Science, 05/01/2010

In the Media

  • R. Ence, D. Scammon, R. L. Utz. (Dec 2021). Commentary: Acknowledge Essential Family Caregivers Over the Holidays. Salt Lake Tribune. 12/21/2021. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2021/12/21/commentary-acknowledge/ . 12/2021.
  • Family caregivers are the invisible health care workers. 04/09/2020. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/...