Stephen Lisonbee has been appointed to serve as Senior Advisor for Rural Affairs. Stephen has been involved in community, economic and workforce development throughout Utah for the past 20 years. He is currently the Assistant Vice President of the Office of Regional Services at Southern Utah University where he oversees departments and centers focusing on community, economic and workforce developments programs and partnerships. In a first-of-its-kind partnership, he will continue in this role in addition to his Senior Advisor position. Prior to his work at SUU, Stephen worked as Division Director for Utah’s Workforce Development Division where he was tasked with administering federal and state programs to fuel Utah’s economic engine and sustainable workforce through a career and educational approach. Stephen was raised in Delta, Utah where he attributes learning the value of work, voluntarism and community involvement. 

He received an MBA from Southern Utah University (SUU) where met his wife, Pamela Hendrickson of Toquerville. Stephen has resided in rural Utah since completing his education, living in Cedar City, Kanab and LaVerkin. He is also a graduate of Utah’s Certified Public Managers program and has served on the Executive Committee for the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board. Stephen and Pamela have four children who are spread across four different schools ranging from kindergarten to college. He enjoys anything that includes his family, gardening and is always planning some trip to see the wonders of Utah and the world.