CVRTI Core Staff

Nuria Anderson
Executive Assistant
(801) 587-9514 | nuria.anderson@utah.edu

Nuria Anderson is an Executive Assistant at CVRTI. She joined the team in March 2024 and has extensive administrative experience in various industries. Nuria assists CVRTI Leadership and coordinates the weekly CVRTI Seminar Series and recruitment visits.

Kat Cannon
Administrative Manager
(801) 587-9508 | Kat.Cannon@utah.edu

As the Administration Manager at the CVRTI, Kat ensures efficient operations by supporting research labs and leadership with their administrative needs. She also oversees HR-related matters and serves as the institute’s hiring manager. Additionally, Kat supervises day-to-day activities of the Core staff, ensuring effective coordination and productivity.

With extensive experience in higher education and healthcare settings, she excels in streamlining processes and fostering collaboration across the CVRTI and multiple university departments. Outside of work, Kat has been a volunteer Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind since 2020.

Coby Leavitt
Lab Specialist
(801) 587-pending | Coby.Leavitt@utah.edu

Coby joined CVRTI in June 2022 as a laboratory specialist. He oversees management of the operating room and associated facilities that investigators and their teams perform studies in. With over a decade of experience working in the veterinary field, Coby is extremely well versed about the needs of a dynamic and fast-paced surgical suite, as well as keeping the teams that use them happy.

Outside of work, Coby is an avid video game enthusiast and music festival attendee. His usual self-care routine involves squeezing in a quick game or two when he can spare a few minutes and listening to the newest releases in his favorite genres of music, typically EDM or metal.

Stefanie Lehman
Administrative Project Specialist
(801) 581-8183 | stefanie.lehman@utah.edu

Stefanie joined the CVRTI as an Administrative Project Lead in March 2024. She works closely with the Associate Director and Administrative Manager to plan, coordinate, and lead administrative projects within the organization. She collaborates and supports other Core Staff members in the event of absences, assists in the development of institute budgets and forecasts, and compiles data to assist in accounting processes and preparing financial reports and transactions.

Stefanie recently moved to Utah from Montana, where she’d established a 10 + year career in teaching as well as many years in the customer service industry. She is passionate about personal and professional growth and overall health and wellbeing. Stefanie enjoys spending time with her partner hiking, traveling, playing pinball, and finding new recipes to cook.

Anja Petrovic
Grants and Contracts Officer
(801) 587-9508 | anja.petrovic@utah.edu

Anja Petrovic is a Grants and Contracts Officer at the CVRTI. She works closely with the Operations Director, Administrative Manager and Principal Investigators. She has recently joined CVRTI in July 2023, previously working at University of Utah Campus-Purchasing as an Auditor for 4 years. She has over 10 years of experience in customer service, administration support and finance. She has been at the University of Utah since 2013.

Outside of work, Anja enjoys reading, learning about art and spending time with her family and her 3 dogs. When she isn’t spending time with family or reading, she is working on home renovations and gardening.

Megan Woodard
Administrative Assistant

(801) 581-5834 | megan.woodard@utah.edu

Megan Woodard is an Administrative Assistant at the CVRTI. She works closely with the Administrative Manager, the Operations Director, Grants team, Principal Investigators and their labs providing administrative support. She just recently joined the team in October 2022 after five years of management experience and is looking forward to advancing her career in academic administration.

Megan oversees the Institute’s Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, lab and Institute purchasing, and organizes events such as board meetings and social gathering.

Haonan Yang, MS
Network Admin
(801) 587-9524 | Haonan.Yang@utah.edu

Haonan is an IT Specialist with eight years of experience working in the higher education industry. He works with lab staff, trainees, and Investigators,resolving IT issues and educating them on various software and networks.

Additionally, Haonan specializes in programming and networks and website development technology for the Institute. He is a tech-savvy, easy-going and positive person. Haonan received his Bachelor of Science in Information System and his Master of Science in Information System from the University of Utah. In his free time, he likes to hike, explore the world, and hang out with his family.