UIT’s Jan Lovett retires after 27 years of service

Many university colleagues, including longtime peers from across campus, gathered at 102 Tower on July 29, 2026, to celebrate Jan Lovett, who retired on July 31 after nearly 27 years at the University of Utah.

At her retirement party, Lovett recalled that Corey Winn, systems administrator V for UIT UMail & Collaboration, referred her for a job as a service coordinator for UIT Netcom under Syndi Haywood, who also retired this year. Lovett later became an account executive, information services consultant for UIT Solution Planning and Design, and then an auxiliary product manager, most recently for the HR Auxiliary team in UIT University Support Services (USS). In that role, she worked with campus stakeholders, vendors, and various teams to design, evaluate, and manage enterprise software applications.

“Having been here for 10 years, it is amazing, the work that we accomplish here. Our workers are such good quality workers, and I think Jan stands out at the top,” said Gary Carter, director for the Finance & Auxiliary Product Management team. “Thank you, Jan, for everything you’ve done, and I wish you the best of luck for the next 50-some-odd years.”

Lovett chuckled, saying she wasn’t sure about 50 years. Though anyone who knows her knows that she isn’t likely to slow down. During her tenure, Lovett served on the U’s Staff Council, U’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, UIT’s Kevin Taylor Memorial Service Award committee, USS Hope for Holidays committee, and DCIO Smells Like Team Spirit Committee.

As part of the U’s Staff Council, Lovett participated in several subcommittees, including ones that spearheaded successful initiatives for parental leave and a tobacco-free campus. In 2014, she was named chair for the General Administration district for the U’s Staff Excellence Awards, and in 2016-2017, she served as president of the Staff Council.

“I’ve been around campus a little bit, and some of the really enjoyable things that I hope, especially the young people will take advantage of, are things that I was able to do, like Staff Council,” she said. “We made some changes for all of our campus community, and parental leave was one of them, and that was a huge accomplishment. Being on Staff Council was a big highlight of my life.”

Lovett also encouraged partygoers to participate in the Alternative Breaks program through the Bennion Center.

“You get to take students on a service trip. I went to Seattle with 11 students, and we had a blast serving the community. My life is a lot about service, and I love that. I will continue that when I retire,” said Lovett, who volunteers with Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness and the American Red Cross. “But I will be vacationing a lot, too. Isn’t that what retirement’s for?”

Her USS colleagues sent her off in style, with a new suitcase for her cruise to Alaska. Up next: a cruise to Norway.

“I really appreciate everybody showing up and making this special for me,” Lovett said. “It’s been great working with everybody here, and I hope you'll keep in touch.”

Bon voyage, Jan!

 

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