Governing Board
President
Steven Peterson became a member of the MPS Governing Board in January 2009. Steven and his wife,
Julie, have eight children. Their children include college graduates, Westwood High graduates and
currently enrolled MPS students. An accountant, Steven earned his master’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University.
Steven has lived in Mesa for six years, during which he has been an active
volunteer at Westwood High as an assistant cross country coach and
member of the school’s parent group. Steven has served as a member of a
Grand Canyon Council Committee for the Boy Scouts of America and as a
youth leader in Venture Scouts. He also coaches youth soccer and is the
Block Watch captain for his neighborhood. Steven's MPS Governing Board term expires Dec. 31, 2012.
Clerk
Mike Nichols joined the MPS Governing Board in January
2009. Mike and his wife, Nancy, have three children, including a Dobson
High graduate and two students who attend Mesa schools.
He retired from the military and has been an active community volunteer serving the schools. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and associate’s degrees in liberal arts and welding technology from West Hills College in California.
He was president of the Pomeroy Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization for four years and served as the co-chairman of Mesa Parent Advocates for Quality Schools for three years. Mike was a committee member of the Family-to-Family initiative and coached basketball and T-ball. His term on the MPS Governing Board ends Dec. 31, 2012.
Mike Hughes has been a member of the MPS Governing Board since January 1994. Mike and his wife, Mary Margaret, have five children. Mike has been president and chief executive officer of A New Leaf since 1983. Before that, he was executive director of Helaman House Inc. and worked as a special education director in MPS for two years.
Mike earned a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in education from Nova University. Mike serves on the Board of Directors of the Mesa Arts Academy, Mesa United Way, ASU Lodestar Center Leadership Council and Family Life Center. Mike is also on the Foundation Board of the East Valley Institute of Technology. His MPS Governing Board term expires Dec. 31, 2014.
Michelle Udall joined the Governing Board in January 2011. Michelle and her husband, Jesse, have three children – two in elementary school and one toddler. Michelle is a bookkeeper, and a math and science tutor.
Born in Mesa, she is an alumna of Lindbergh and Eisenhower elementaries, Kino Junior High and Westwood High. After attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Arizona State University.
Michelle has served on the Mesa Parks and Recreation Board and the district’s Community Curriculum Advisory Panel. She is a member of her children’s parent-teacher organizations, Mesa Parent Advocates for Quality Schools, Mesa Supporters of the Gifted and Talented and Mesa Republican Women. Michelle’s term expires in December 2014.
Dr. Ben Whiting became an MPS Governing Board member in January 2009. He and his wife, Sherri, are Mesa natives, and both graduated from Mesa schools. They have six children — four current students and two future ones. Ben, a Mesa dentist, attended Mesa Community College and Arizona State University before graduating from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry.
Ben is active in the community, serving as a board member for the Mesa United Way and, an Eagle Scout himself, as scoutmaster and troop committee chairman for the Boy Scouts of America. Ben also volunteers as a dental provider for Save the Family. Ben's term expires Dec. 31, 2012.