Tuesday, March 12 -Thursday, March 14

Hosted by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Hinckley Institute, and the David Eccles School of Business.

Ethics Week

What’s Your Hot Take? Students Respond to NIL

Tuesday, March 12
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
 Spencer Eccles Fox Business Building (Lobby) and Carolyn and Kem Gardner Commons, The Hinckley Institute, Suite 2018

Keynote Speaker

Ethical Playbook: An Ethical Journey Through the NIL

Wednesday, March 13 Noon–1 p.m. Spencer Eccles Fox Business Building, Child Hall (7th floor)

Keynote Speaker: Eric Neff, Director of Admissions Advisement and Recruitment, Dumke College of Health Professions, Weber State University

Panel Discussion

The Sport of Ethics: Understanding the Ethical Landscape of NIL

Thursday, March 14
Noon –1 p.m.
Kem Gardner Commons, The Hinckley Institute, Suite 2018

Moderator: Eric Neff

Speaker Panel: Gavin Van Wagoner, Bret Eden, Ashley West

What is Ethics Week?

Ethics Week is a weeklong series of events surrounding a trending issue or topic. Student activities, expert led lectures, and panels provide an open forum to exchange ideas for both students and experts alike. Ethics is about empowering students to actively participate in the conversation and contribute their voices to the discourse.

2024 Topic:
Ethics and Name, Image, and Licencing. Should student athletes be paid?

Activities

Our student activity, “What’s Your Hot Take? Students Respond to NIL,” attendees will have the chance to share their thoughts, perspectives, and insights on the intersection of ethics and college athletics. Students will not only bolster their communication skills but also cultivate a sense of agency and advocacy, empowering them to become ethical leaders and changemakers in their communities and beyond.

Our keynote speaker and panelists are authorities in the realm of ethics and athletics and will offer invaluable perspectives and guidance on navigating the complexities of NIL. This diverse range of voices—from athletes to academics to industry professionals—will provide attendees with various perspectives surrounding this contentious issue.

By participating in these discussions, students will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, challenge their preconceptions, and emerge with a deeper appreciation for the ethical dimensions of NIL.

Previous year’s Ethics Week.

Speakers & Panelists

Director of Admission Advisement and Recruitment

Eric Neff
Gavin Van Wagoner
Assistant Athletics Director for NIL and Major Gifts

Gavin Van Wagoner
Director of Business Development

Brett Eden
Ashley West
Volleyball Athlete

Ashley West
Director of Admission Advisement and Recruitment

Eric Neff

Eric Neff is the Director of Admission Advisement and Recruitment for the Dumke College of Health Professions at Weber State University.

Assistant Athletics Director for NIL and Major Gifts

Gavin Van Wagoner

Gavin Van Wagoner is the Director of Major Gifts for Utah Athletics. His responsibilities include growing the athletics fundraising efforts by identifying, cultivating and maintaining major gift donor relationships, and ensuring that donors and fans have an amazing customer experience. Van Wagoner has worked on the $85 million Ken Garff Red Zone Rice-Eccles Stadium expansion, the $3 million Dave Layton Golf Academy, and other Utah fundraising initiatives.

Before joining Utah Athletics, Van Wagoner worked in the financial services industry as a creative business leader managing all aspects of product innovation, customer experience, strategy, and business development. Van Wagoner’s professional journey started as an entrepreneur, creating his first marketing company during his final year in college while working in the founder’s home office. Van Wagoner has been awarded six patents for his inventions.

Van Wagoner has always loved being around sports. He played college baseball for two years, and as a kid, Van Wagoner was a batboy for the Salt Lake City Trappers, a minor league baseball team.

Van Wagoner graduated from the University of Utah with a political science degree and an MBA from the David Eccles School of Business. He has also attended executive education courses focused on innovation and customer experience at Stanford’s d.School and Harvard Business School. Van Wagoner and his wife, Marianne, have 3 children.

Director of Business Development

Brett Eden

Brett is the Director of Business Development at the University of Utah. He oversees the trademark licensing program for the entire university, centralized business development enterprises, and student media.

Volleyball Athlete

Ashley West

Ashley West is a University of Utah women’s volleyball team athlete. Ashley is part of a sports legacy – her father is a former NFL football player, her mother played softball at Nebraska, and her sister Jordan currently plays on the Colorado State Softball team. Ashley is a National Honors Society member and has served in the MMP, a first-year mentor program.