Mark O. Jarvis received his doctoral degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to Salt Lake Community College, he taught courses at a number of colleges/universities around the country, including Penn State, Western Washington University, the University of Texas, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley State College (now Utah Valley University).

He is the current president of the Utah Council on Family Relations and hosted the Council’s annual conference at SLCC in 2017. He also serves on the governor’s Utah Marriage Commission and runs a series of free marriage/relationship education workshops that is funded by the Commission and is open to the community.

Mark is also a licensed attorney (though not currently practicing), having received his Juris Doctorate from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. He practiced in the areas of criminal and family law prior to coming to Salt Lake Community College.

Though not from Utah, Mark is married to a Utah native and is happy to now call Utah home. He and his wife have been married for over twenty years and have four children. In his free time, Mark enjoys family time, jogging, books, movies, art/illustration, computers, and all things chocolate.

Sharlie is an assistant professor in the Family and Human Studies department. Sharlie spent many years immersed in the Early Childhood Care and Education workforce. She spent over ten years of her career teaching in classrooms of children ages 18 months to 6 years. She provided leadership to the Early Childhood Center at the Jewish Community Center as an assistant director and then director. She spent eight years as the Manager of the Eccles Early Childhood Development Lab School here at SLCC. Having 25 + years’ experience in the field allows her to offer unique, real world, insights while teaching her courses.

Sharlie was born in Arizona and raised primarily in the Salt Lake valley. She is married with four delightful children. She enjoys most activities outdoors and Nana time with her amazing grandchildren.

Education

• Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction – Emphasis of Early Childhood Education, Arizona State University
• Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, University of Utah
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Utah

Expertise

Sharlie is immersed in the community to support Early Childhood issues in many ways. She is the chair of the TEACH Early Childhood Utah advisory board. This scholarship program, sponsored by UEAYC, supports current Early Childhood teachers to complete their associate degree. She also was a leader on the writing committee of USBE to update Utah Early Learning Core Standards. She is a longtime member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s largest professional organization to promote high quality learning for all young children.

Course Coordinator

• FHS 2600 Introduction to Early Childhood Education
• FHS 2610 Child Guidance
• FHS 2500 Child Development Birth to 8
• FHS 2620 Creative Learning
• FHS 2300 Administration of Early Childhood Programs
• FHS 2550 Infant and Toddler Development
• FHS 2180 Home, School & Community Relations
• FHS 2645 Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum

Denise has a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Utah, with certification in marriage and family counseling and licensure in school social work. Her Bachelor's degree, from Brigham Young University, was in Child Development and Family Relations, with a minor in Sociology.

She worked as a school social worker and counselor for nine years in both Davis and Granite School Districts here in Utah. She took a few years off for some "real time" experience raising her own four children, then worked for a few years as a substitute teacher. She started teaching here at SLCC in 2005 as adjunct faculty, and has taught FHS 2400, FHS 2570, and FHS 1500 at different times.

Denise grew up back east in New Jersey and Vermont, then also lived in Utah, Oregon, and Wisconsin before settling here in Utah after graduate school. She met her husband on a blind date and they married the following year. They have four children, all married now, and eight adorable grandchildren. She loves to go walking in the morning, be out in nature on a hike, or read a good book (especially on the beach). Most of all, family is her priority - both being with her own family and teaching her students about family.

Robin McConkie-Ward has been teaching for 44 years from elementary school to college. Robin received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University, her Master of Science from the University of Utah, and math and Secondary Education certifications from Utah State University.

Robin grew up in many places, as her father was in the Air Force. Staying in Utah after college, she is happy here. She has seven children, eleven grandchildren, and the very kindest husband ever.

Adrienne Pahnke has been in education for 14 years, teaching both elementary school and college level courses. Adrienne received her BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Utah, her M.Ed. In Reading and Literacy from the University of Utah, and is currently in the final year of her Ph.D in Reading and Literacy from the University of Utah. Her research interests include teacher preparation programs, and student literacy and engagement in the early grades.

Adrienne was born and raised in Salt Lake City, and currently lives in Bountiful with her husband and their baby boy. She enjoys reading, biking, skiing, baking, and spending time with family and friends.