Katherine Potter was appointed by Governor Spencer Cox in July 2026 to serve as Commissioner of Utah’s Department of Cultural & Community Engagement. Prior to her appointment as commissioner, she served for more than six years as a deputy commissioner, helping to lead CCE's nine divisions - the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, Utah STEM Action Center, Utah State Library Division, Utah Historical Society, Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, Utah Division of Indian Affairs, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission, Utah State Historic Preservation Office and UServeUtah. Her work has included strategic planning, performance metrics, budget and resource management, legislative coordination and leadership support across the department.

Kat has more than 25 years of experience in management and consulting roles with cultural, nonprofit, education and government organizations. Before joining CCE, she worked as a nonprofit management consultant and served as associate director of admission at Rowland Hall. She also played a key role in the development, fundraising, marketing and opening of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater in 2016. Earlier in her career, Potter held leadership and management roles with arts organizations in New York City and Chicago.

Kat has served on the Salt Lake City Arts Council Board and the University of Utah College of Fine Arts Advisory Board. She holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, Colin, and their two sons.