Emily Bell McCormick is founder of The Policy Project — a non-profit that creates movements in order to forward healthy, long-term policy at a state and national level with a focus on women, girls and other groups that have historically been overlooked or adversely impacted by policy.

Through her leadership of the "The Period Project," her team successfully negotiated a public-private partnership that mandated period products be provided in every Utah public and charter school girl and all-gender bathroom, grade K-12 — effecting an immediate change for more than 330K girls.

Additionally, through “The Teen Center Project,” $18M was raised to create physical spaces in 60 high schools in the state of Utah to meet the physiological and social needs (e.g., showers, laundry facilities, food, etc) of students.

Prior to her venture into the world of policy, Emily founded and sold a clothing company (Shabby Apple), was an editor and occasional host of Utah’s NBC morning show, KSL Studio 5, and worked as a communication strategy consultant in a myriad of industries including policy, NGOs, REITs, tech and fashion. Emily has a master’s degree in communication from The Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University. When she’s not campaigning for a new idea, she is spending time with her five wild kids or attempting to sneak in some brownies and a walk in a beautiful neighborhood.

Mary Catherine Perry is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs at The Policy Project. At The Policy Project, Mary Catherine helped draft, advocate for, and unanimously pass historic legislation as part of The Period Project – a public/private partnership with the Utah Legislature to offer free period products in all of Utah’s K-12 public and charter schools. She also played a critical role on the Teen Center Project where she helped secure a $15 million legislative appropriation to create spaces inside Utah high schools to offer vulnerable and at-risk students access to laundry facilities, showers, and a food pantry. Mary Catherine received a B.A. in English and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University where she developed a love of advocacy and sound policy. Mary Catherine began her career with the Utah Legislature at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel where she worked analyzing policy, conducting research, and drafting legislation.

Mary Catherine has spent 25 years volunteering in public schools and on nonprofit boards dedicated to helping women and children in the community including with Utah Women Run, The Junior League of Salt Lake City, Tanner Dance at the University of Utah, and she was recently appointed by Governor Cox to serve on the Utah Marriage Commission. Mary Catherine and her husband, Jason Perry, reside in Salt Lake City with their four children.

Mary Catherine has spent 25 years volunteering in public schools and on nonprofit boards dedicated to helping women and children in the community including with The Junior League of Salt Lake City, Tanner Dance at the University of Utah, and she was recently appointed by Governor Cox to serve on the Utah Marriage Commission. She also serves as a board member of Utah Women Run. Mary Catherine and her husband, Jason Perry, reside in Salt Lake City with their four children.

Kristin Andrus is a community champion who advocates for women, children, and vulnerable populations within and beyond Utah. With 100,000 combined followers on Instagram and YouTube, she empowers others to show up and give back in their communities through advocacy work. As head of the Andrus Family Foundation, Kristin integrates the roles of philanthropist and boots-on-the-ground volunteer to maximize her impact. Known for her supernatural ability to get stuff done, Kristin is Utah’s go-to board member, event host, and bridge builder for nonprofit causes.

Kristin is recognized nationally for her work on period poverty, an unheeded challenge and barrier to opportunity for women and girls. In partnership with The Policy Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, Kristin was instrumental in the 2022 passage of HB162, a state bill requiring Utah’s K-12 schools to provide free period products in restrooms. To accelerate the rollout, Kristin partnered with Utah philanthropist Gail Miller to install and stock period product dispensers in schools statewide. More than 365,000 kids in need now have access to period products, and the momentum has inspired Governor Spencer Cox to provide free period products in all state buildings.

In 2023, Kristin raised $3 million in private donations and helped secure $15 million in state funding for The Teen Center Project, an initiative by The Policy Project, to provide spaces in schools where teens can access food, shelter, showers, and trusted adults. The centers are a vital resource for the more than 15,000 Utah students who face housing insecurity and the one-third of Utah students who qualify for free or discounted lunch.

Kristin serves as a board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area and for UnDEfeated, an organization serving underprivileged youth and single mothers in Uganda, Saprea Foundation, and the First Lady of Utah foundation.. In addition, she holds advisory roles with the Neighborhood House, Utah Valley University, the National Advisory Council at BYU and Women Who Succeed.

Before her work as a policy advocate, Kristin founded SisterGoods, a grassroots initiative that distributes over 3 million period products per year through the Utah Food Bank. When she’s not championing community causes, Kristin serves as Chief Culture Officer to her husband and six children.

Brooke Gledhill Wood is the Chief of Staff at The Policy Project. After receiving a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and Management from the Marriott School of Business, she pivoted from therapist to lawyer in pursuit of a career in social impact and policy. Brooke graduated cum laude from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School where she served as the President of BYU Women in Law and was awarded the BYU Law Leadership Fellowship. Prior to joining The Policy Project as a founding board member, Brooke worked with the nonprofits Suyo, And Justice for All, Ohio Legal Help, and Encircle. With an educational background spanning law, business, and psychology, Brooke is dedicated to solving community problems with a focus on long-term solutions that address root issues.

Jayden Davis is the Community Engagement Manager at The Policy Project. She recently graduated from Brigham Young University, where she studied public health and social impact. Working with multiple mission-driven organizations has fueled her obsession for doing data-centric good in the world. Toward the end of her undergraduate career, she got involved in local advocacy work and realized that policy can be an effective vehicle for addressing social issues from a systemic, population-based level. With a newfound passion for policy, she completed an internship as a policy analyst with the Utah Department of Commerce, where she crafted research-based policy recommendations to address the mental health crisis in Utah. Overall, The Policy Project’s work perfectly aligns with her areas of interest — policy work, local initiatives, and startup organizations. In a few years, she plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration to supplement her knowledge and open up more doors to make an impact.

Jane Clayton serves as The Policy Project’s Student Ambassador Program Director. After initially organizing events, Jane saw how the Period Project positively impacted students’ lives and turned her focus to creating a program that would benefit students by teaching them skills to get involved in their communities. Student Ambassadors contribute directly to The Policy Project’s success. Ambassadors develop meaningful leadership skills, learn about advocacy and the democratic process, enjoy and share mentoring, build community through service, and learn to articulate and discuss issues with people in authority.

Jane received her B.A. from Brigham Young University in Fashion Merchandising with minors in Business Management and Family Science. Near her graduation from BYU she went to Africa on a Choice Humanitarian trip and her heart was changed forever. She turned her time and attention to the nonprofit sector and has worked for non-profits in Salt Lake, D.C., and southern Utah.

Jane has spent years volunteering in public schools and on nonprofit boards dedicated to helping families and improving the lives and educational environments for children in the community including multiple Community Council Boards, PTA presidencies, and the Iron County Care and Share Emergency Shelter and Food Pantry. Jane Clayton and her husband Whitney reside in Salt Lake City with their four children.

Alex Peterson began her career working for a United States Congressman before serving as the National Director of Donor Relations and personal aide to Ann Romney during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.

Most recently, Alex served as a researcher and data analyst for the Utah Women and Leadership Project and led corporate relations for doTERRA International.

Alex has ardently championed social justice and child abuse prevention initiatives in Utah and strongly believes effective policy catalyzes the well-being and stability of families, communities, and nations.

Alex graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with honors, followed by an M.Ed. Policy from Harvard University. Alex and her husband Ben reside in Lehi with their four children.