Pamela J. Atkinson has been named an Advisor to Gov. Spencer Cox, a role she has had with three previous Utah governors. She currently serves on the State Homeless Coordinating Committee, Envision Utah, Utah Coalition Against Pornography and the State Refugee Advisory Board. Atkinson was appointed to the State Board of Regents for 10 years and also served on the State Board of Education and the Utah College of Applied Technology Board.  

Atkinson received a B.S. from the University of California, and a M.A. from the University of Washington, and over the years, she has held a variety of positions in health care. She works directly with homeless families and individuals, refugees and low-income people, and collaborates with a variety of nonprofit and governmental organizations as well as agencies who serve these populations. She assists people in finding opportunities to volunteer in a variety of settings and in collecting bedding, clothing, food and other essentials for families who are making the transition from homelessness to having homes of their own. She also explores ways to prevent homelessness. Additionally, Atkinson likes to work with women who are single parents trying to get off welfare and advocates for children wherever and whenever there is a need.

Atkinson was instrumental in initiating the Lincoln Family Health Center, which operates in a low-income school, the Intermountain Neighborhood Clinic and the Rose Park Family Health Center, another clinic in a low-income school.  Additionally, Atkinson strongly believes that we should never underestimate the powerful impact on people from even a small amount of giving and caring! She has three children and 10 grandchildren.