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StaffChristopher Thomas, Executive Director
Christopher is the staff contact for general media inquiries, or specific questions about EnergySolutions' Utah nuclear waste dump, nuclear power, Utah legislation, regulatory matters, and whistleblowers. He can be reached at christopher@healutah.org or at (801) 364-5110.
Sophia Nicholas, Development Director
She is also a proud graduate of Olympus High School-- go Titans! Sophia is the staff contact for foundations, business sponsorship inquiries, and events. You can reach her at sophia@healutah.org
Matt Pacenza, Policy Director
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Christopher Thomas joined the HEAL Utah staff in September, 2006, as Policy Director and held that role for four years before becoming Executive Director in December, 2010. In that time, he has made numerous presentations to the Utah Radiation Control Board and Utah Legislative Committees. He has been invited to participate in national meetings held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In the Fall of 2010, he was invited to participate on a subcommittee of Utah Governor Gary Herbert's Energy Task Force. Christopher graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell College in Iowa with degrees in English and Biology and received the English department’s top honor, the Beulah Bennett-Loring Prize for Excellence in English. He is also a computer and information systems consultant.
Sophia works to increase the organizational resources of HEAL Utah through cultivating alliances with foundations and individuals, writing grants, and planning events. Her job involves building funding networks and interest in HEAL’s efforts to protect the public health from nuclear and toxic waste, and she particularly enjoys helping create the base from which HEAL can implement its "eUtah" energy plan. Prior to joining HEAL Utah, Sophia graduated cum laude in Political Science from Wellesley College in 2006. She also spent a semester traveling around the world studying indigenous cultures and the environment; worked with the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club on several campaigns; and lived in Bristol, England where she was employed at the UK government’s Office for Standards in Education.
Matt joined HEAL in Feb. 2011. His job is to manage our policy agenda on nuclear waste and energy policy issues. He works with the State Legislature, the Utah Radiation Control Board, the Utah Division of Radiation Control, and other state agencies and boards to advocate for the protection of Utah's health and environment. Other responsibilities include media relations, research, developing educational materials, community outreach and more. Matt has a BA from Cornell University in Environmental Policy and an MA from New York University in Journalism. Prior to working at HEAL, he worked in magazine and newspaper journalism and in advocacy and campaigns for health, environmental, theatre and human rights organizations. A native of upstate New York, he has lived and worked in Guatemala, New Orleans, New York City and Albany, N.Y. He now lives in the Sugarhood with his wife and two young sons.
Making a cleaner future for our state work in dollars and cents has been Arthur's mission since joining our staff in 2009. Working toward a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Russian, Arthur did research into the economic costs of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and brings strong analytical tools to our team. 
