(801) 412-3223
arts@sslc.gov
Cherie Wood
South Salt Lake Mayor
Cherie Wood is a lifelong resident of the City of South Salt Lake, and began her career with the City 24 years ago. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management and Business Administration, and was elected as South Salt Lake’s first female Mayor in 2009. She was named one of “30 Women to Watch” by Utah Business Magazine, and chosen by the University of Phoenix for their 2011 National Icon Campaign. She was selected as “Best of State, Elected Official” in both 2012 and 2013. In 2013 Cherie was re-elected for a second term as Mayor.
In 2016 Mayor Wood has been selected by the National After School Association as Most Influential in Local Government. Additionally, this past May she was named one of United Way of Salt Lake’s 2016 United for Change award honorees. As a ‘Changemaker’ Mayor Wood has set into motion the Promise South Salt Lake initiative, which has become a local institution and a national model for results. As a mother of three boys, Cherie has a passion for her city and believes that every South Salt Lake resident deserves a safe, healthy home and community, and the opportunity to prosper. Mayor Wood has assembled an impressive team and has set in motion
Lesly Allen
South Salt Lake Arts Council Executive Director
Lesly Allen is a life long resident of Salt Lake County and has been involved in the arts in one way or another since her youth. Lesly developed a passion for photography as a teenager and majored in Photography as an undergraduate. Lesly spent many years volunteering with the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. Lesly has a Masters degree in Community Leadership with an emphasis in Arts Administration from Westminster College. Lesly has a passion for public art and using art as a way to unite and revitalize communities. Lesly has four daughters, and enjoys skiing, cycling, traveling to France and riding her motorcycle.
Natalie Pinkney
South Salt Lake City Council
Natalie Pinkney was first elected in 2019, and is serving her first term as an At-Large representative on the South Salt Lake City Council. Originally hailing from Las Vegas, Natalie holds a BA in
Psychology from Marquette University, and a M.Ed of Educatoinal Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. She moved to
the city in 2018, and currently works at the University of Utah.
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Beyond her work with the U and the Council, Natalie also sits on the South Salt Lake Arts Council and the Salt Lake County Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and serves as Associate
Director for a nonprofit that is focused on removing financial barriers for college-bound students. Additionally, she is a member of the U of U’s Prison Education Program and works with severalother area nonprofits. In her free time, Natalie enjoys playing tennis, writing and spending quality time with her three cats.
