Our Team

Paul Mero is a director of Western Governor’s University (WGU) External Affairs team. In this role he works to increase access to affordable, quality education for working adults in collaboration with policymakers and allies. Paul has a four-decade career in politics, public policy, and nonprofit institutions. He began his career with the United States House of Representatives, beginning as a press secretary and finishing his ten-year service as a chief of staff. Paul then merged his nonprofit organization, Projects for America, with the newly established Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society located in Rockford, Illinois, where he served as executive vice-president, before moving on to become long-time president of Sutherland Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, a nonprofit state-based think tank. He then founded Next Generation Freedom Fund focusing on intergenerational poverty solutions in Utah. Throughout his career, Paul has authored several books, numerous national op-eds and academic journal articles, and delivered too many public speeches. Paul joined WGU in April 2019. He has B.A in Public Policy from Brigham Young University and an M.S. in Management and Leadership from WGU. Paul and his wife, Sally, have been married 46 years, they have six children and 21 grandchildren.

Rosie M. Connor, Ph.D., serves as the Director of Public Policy for WGU. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, she began work in the nonprofit sector in Southern California. Her professional career has been dedicated to furthering the efforts of nonprofits in education and healthcare. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah. Her research interests and volunteer involvement include local, national, and global causes affecting underserved and marginalized communities.

Hailing from the great state of Minnesota, Patrick helps lead and execute a nationwide state government relations strategy that creates pathways to opportunity by partnering with elected officials, political appointees, business partners and communities of interest to ensure WGU lives up to its credo of being built by states, for states. Prior to his role at WGU, Patrick served as Vice President & Director of Government and Institutional Affairs for Greater Mankato Growth, his hometown regional Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization. Patrick was also fortunate to work for the National Governors Association in Washington, D.C. where he served in the Office of Federal Relations. Patrick graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., with a B.A. in Political Science and holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys road tripping with his wife Claire, being a dad to his beautiful daughters Eliza and Greta, and spending time with friends and family, especially if it’s at a brewery, winery or around a bonfire.

Allen has been with Western Governors University since 2005 in both faculty and administrative roles. He works to increase access to affordable, quality education for students in collaboration with policymakers, institutions, and businesses. Beyond access to education, Allen emphasizes the credibility of workforce-aligned degree programs to change the lives not only of students but also their families and communities. Prior to his time at WGU, Allen was a Latin, Public Speaking, and Computer Science teacher, taught graduate-level Technology Management and Emerging Technologies, and pursued extensive research in and practiced digital forensics, investigation, user rights, and law enforcement methods. Allen received a B.A. in Classical Studies and Philosophy and an M.S in Technology Management from Marshall University, and J.D. and M.J. degrees from Michigan State University College of Law. He also holds certificates from Christ Church College, Oxford, and Humboldt Universität, Berlin. Allen and his wife have four children who remind him on a regular basis that, at the end of the day, being a dad is the highest title to which he can aspire.

Dr. Rarkimm Fields is a socialpreneur with over twenty years of successful leadership experience in the service based, higher education, and nonprofit industries. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Fields attained his PhD in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University. Dr. Fields dissertation was titled “The Ferguson Effect: Impact on Police Officers’ Culture and Perceptions in Local Police Departments”. Rarkimm also holds an MBA and MSML degrees from Western Governors University, MS in the Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in Political Science from Brooklyn College.

Rarkimm is a community advocate, educator, and social change agent as evidenced by his 15+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership as an Executive Director of Waste Not Want Not Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that focuses on mitigating waste and increasing awareness to food insecurity in the Metro Phoenix area, where he oversaw the government relations department and served as a business program faculty member at Western Governors University, assisting students reach their academic potential and educational goals through undergraduate degree attainment. 

Dr. Fields is an active member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) where he volunteers, promotes, and supports social change initiatives through public administration at the Federal, State, and Local levels of government. Rarkimm’ s research interests include Policing, Social Justice & Sustainability Studies, and Education Policy Initiatives. To unwind Rarkimm is an avid traveler as well as book reader. He enjoys spending time with his wife of 28 years and their three grandsons. His favorite quote is “If you had FUN you WON”!

In her role, Lyn works on behalf of WGU students, faculty, and employees to advance WGU’s mission and goals with elected officials at all levels of state government, agency personnel as well as, business and community thought leaders.  

Prior to joining WGU, Lyn served as Director of External Affairs for CMOC Mining Corporation,  Clark Hill Law Firm, and Freeport McMoRan Mining Co, where for nearly two decades she served as the company’s Government Relations Director. In her public affairs roles, Lyn facilitated numerous public policy accomplishments. In addition, she has served on numerous associations, boards, and commissions.  

She has extensive expertise in government affairs and management at the local, state, and federal levels of government. In addition, she has a wide range of experience in civic,  community, and political activities. She is a graduate of Arizona State University. Lyn enjoys spending time with friends and family. She lives in Arizona with her husband Tim, son Dylan, and daughters Danyelle and Robyn.

Emma Salomon is a Government Relations Director for Western Governors University, where she advocates for states to diversify their higher education options. She has spent over a decade working in state legislatures focusing on education policy. Outside of WGU, Emma serves on the board of non-profits that advance global connectedness and free market economies.