Connie joined the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing in fall 2021. She has many years of experience in public health, with much of it being tied to substance abuse prevention. Prior to this position she was at the University of Utah as the Director of Community Outreach with the Program of Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge and Advocacy. She is a co-investigator for the HRSA Addiction Medicine Fellowship program at the University of Utah. She taught Public Health full-time as an assistant professor at two colleges. Dr. Kitchens has been the leader for many grants and programs throughout her career. She loves the outdoor opportunities in Utah hiking, skiing, and paddleboarding.