Utah’s Senate leadership chose not to hold a vote on whether to reappoint a University of Utah trustee — who had been criticized by some Republican lawmakers for her use of the word “equity” — effectively letting her term quietly run out instead.
As a result, Maria Garciaz, a prominent Latina in the Salt Lake Valley community and a U. alumnus, attended her final board meeting last week and is now forced to step down from the role she had served in for four years.
“The Legislature got it wrong,” said then-fellow trustee David Parkin, in a rare rebuke, during the meeting. Parkin also stepped down last week, but by his own choice after serving two terms, the traditional tenure most trustees serve.
Garciaz thanked him and the others on the board for their support.
“It has been an honor to serve alongside such thoughtful individuals,” she said.
(University of Utah) Maria Garciaz, in red at center, stands next to David Parkin, to her right, as both are commended for their service as university trustees during their last meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Garciaz’s nomination to serve a second term came during the Utah Legislature’s recent push against diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts, particularly in higher education. The Republican-dominated state House and Senate both voted in 2024 to pass HB261, which eradicated those types of measures across the eight public colleges and universities here.
Schools are not allowed to have centers or scholarships that cater to a specific identity, such as a Black student center or a scholarship for women. All initiatives must be equally open to all students.
HB261 also prohibited schools from having offices or staff members with the words “diversity, equity or inclusion” in their titles.
Garciaz had originally been appointed to serve as a U. trustee by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in 2021. Last fall, Cox moved to reappoint her for a second term.
But those appointments are subject to state Senate approval.
In September, the Senate Education Committee held hearings spread over two days for Garciaz and 16 other trustee candidates from schools across the state. The body’s conservative majority voted not to favorably recommend her based on her comments about inclusion in higher education.
She was the only one not to receive that official support.
“You used ‘equity’ and ‘inclusion’,” said Sen. Chris Wilson, R-Logan, referring to Garciaz’s opening remarks to the committee about why she believed she should be reappointed.
Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, similarly added, “I did hear you mention ‘equity’ twice in the presentation.”
Garciaz was also the only woman of color among the group of candidates. And she was the only one asked about her position on equity when it comes to race and gender, as well as her past posts on social media about recent protests.
Three of the conservative lawmakers on the education confirmation committee — all of whom voted for HB261 — appeared to interpret Garciaz’s comments as support for DEI, though Garciaz never explicitly said she favored those efforts. She repeated several times that she wanted to improve access for all students from all backgrounds.
Garciaz spoke briefly about her own experience while a U. student, which included trying to balance her education with working full-time. She said that “instilled in me a lifelong empathy for students who need extra support.”
And she talked about her work as the former CEO of NeighborWorks Salt Lake, a nonprofit that focuses on empowering local kids and revitalizing communities, particularly on the capital’s more diverse west side.
“Student success and access, affordability, mental health, equity — supporting first-gen and working students. The community connection, I think, is critical," she said.
Sen. Wilson homed in on Garciaz’s mention of equity, though, and asked her: “What do you feel should be the role race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation play in the admissions process?”
She responded by saying when she was in school, in the 1970s, federal affirmative action policies created opportunities for her. Garciaz later added: “What I’ve seen with the University of Utah is to make sure that, despite race and gender, that all students feel like they belong and they have equal opportunity.”
Then Sen. Heidi Balderree, R-Saratoga Springs, said she had looked through Garciaz’s social media posts and that she and other colleagues in the Senate had concerns that Garciaz might want the U. to be “be “elevating one group or minority above one another.” Balderree did not say what led her to her concern.
At the time, Garciaz told The Salt Lake Tribune that she found the senators’ comments “perplexing” and hoped her appointment would still go forward. The decision not to recommend her didn’t technically end her chance at another term; the usual process would be for her nomination to get a hearing by the full Senate.
But Senate President Stuart Adams, who presides over the body and decides what matters get heard, never put her nomination on the calendar in the final months of 2025. And without formal action, her term just ends.
Adams’ office did not respond to a request by The Tribune for comment on this story.
Now, Gov. Cox will be tasked with nominating another individual for the spot on the U.’s board, which will remain vacant until then.
During her final meeting, other members of the U.’s board of trustees commended Garciaz and her work.
Katie Eccles, the board chair, said there wasn’t a ribbon cutting at the U. that Garciaz didn’t attend. She also called her a “bridge builder.”
(Screenshot) University of Utah President Taylor Randall, front left, commends Maria Garciaz, front right, for her service as a university trustee during Garciaz's last meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Randy Shumway, another trustee, thanked Garciaz for her “kind humanity” and for giving “voice to the vulnerable.”
“You make sure we don’t talk about students in the abstract, but as valued individuals with real potential,” he said, that included “those who are less represented and unfortunately too often overlooked.”
U. President Taylor Randall said he will miss the late-night phone calls from Garciaz about “hard issues” she wanted to fix at the university. “It’s rare that I get those phone calls that are so thoughtful and so poignant,” he added.
At the end of her recognition, the audience in the board room stood in applause and cheers for Garciaz.