As Kim Hood became president of ARCS Utah in 2025, the chapter’s partner university was also experiencing significant change.

“All of us are new. There’s a new president of the University of Utah. I’m the new ARCS president. We have a new dean of the College of Engineering, and we have a new CEO and president of the Moran Eye Institute,” she says.

With so much change occurring simultaneously, Hood and the chapter entered what she describes as a “refresh” mode.

Hood was intentional about honoring the chapter’s foundation while also positioning it for the future.

“I was brand new and searching for the bylaws, the incorporation papers, and all the founding documents,” she says. “I wanted to think as if it were a brand-new organization. Let’s refresh everything.”

She adds that the chapter has developed a strong draft work plan that blends the founders’ original vision with current needs.

“We’ve got a good draft work plan laid out for us. We incorporated ideas from the founders along with ideas that reflect where we are today,” she elaborated.

Hood also met with the university’s new leadership to revisit and formalize partnerships.

“The goal was to have it in writing and on our website—to say, ‘Here’s what we do, and here are our agreements,’” she says. “It’s actually working out wonderfully.”

One of the chapter’s key successes has been maintaining strong institutional partnerships during this period of transition. Both colleges within the university agreed to continue the Utah ARCS funding model. The Dean of the College of Engineering recommitted to the long-standing financial matching relationship with the chapter.

“In fact, it’s a better relationship than what we had before,” Hood says.

The partnership with the Moran Eye Institute has also been renewed and strengthened.

“We’ve refreshed that relationship as well,” Hood notes. “We’ve added a second Scholar this year due to one of our outstanding donors who is very active with the Moran Eye Institute and the University of Utah’s health sciences.”

The Utah ARCS chapter provides $15,000 for each Scholar, with the university matching between $30,000 and $50,000, guaranteeing that each Scholar receives a minimum of $45,000 in funding.

To keep members connected and informed, the chapter hosts a monthly Speaker Series luncheon focused on scientific research and innovation at the University of Utah. These events are also open to prospective members, and current members are encouraged to invite friends from their various social groups as a way of introducing them to the ARCS Foundation.

Recent speakers have addressed topics such as artificial intelligence and regenerative AI, exploring their impact across fields including healthcare, engineering, and sports medicine.

In April, Scholars and alumni will join members and prospective members at the Annual Awards Luncheon, which is the Utah Chapter’s premier event of the year.

Learn more about the Utah ARCS Chapter here.