Nina R. Barnes is a respected community leader, educator, and policy advocate with a lifelong commitment to Southern Utah. Her work is grounded in a strong belief in the transformative power of higher and post-secondary education, gender equity and representation, civic engagement, and creating meaningful opportunities for underserved populations to achieve their full potential.

She currently serves as a board member of Envision Utah, The Policy Project, Utah Women Run, Southern Utah Mindfulness Center, and the Southern Utah Tribune Advisory Board, and as an adjunct professor of political science at Southern Utah University. Her previous leadership roles include Vice Chair of the Utah Board of Regents, Bolder Way Forward Spoke Leader for Political and Civic Engagement, Trustee for Southern Utah University, and member of the Cedar City Council from 2005 to 2013.

Barnes has held numerous statewide and community leadership positions, including with the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority, the Utah Federation of Republican Women (Vice Chair), the Southern Utah Foundation, and the Anne & Dixie Leavitt Foundation. She has served as Co-Chair of the Southern Utah Presidential Search Committee and participated in twelve Utah university presidential searches.

In addition to her public service, Barnes is an entrepreneur and business owner who operates K&N Investments and has engaged in international teaching and service. She is a longtime Rotarian and has served on boards including the Utah Summer Games Board of Commissioners, the Governor’s Mansion Awards Committee, Park Discovery, and the Cedar City Children’s Justice Center.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling, reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family. She is married to her best friend, Keith, a district court judge, and is the proud mother of five children, a son-in-law, and a cherished granddaughter.