I was born in Orem and spent the first year of my life in Springville while my dad finished his final year at BYU, where he graduated with a degree in Computer Science. We then moved to West Jordan, Utah, where I grew up and graduated from West Jordan High School.
At the time, I was unsure about serving a mission and struggled with homesickness more than I would have liked. I was really interested in criminal justice, so I attended Salt Lake Community College for a semester before moving away from home for the first time to attend Weber State University for another semester. That experience gave me an opportunity to explore the criminal justice field while also helping me become more comfortable living away from home and better preparing me for my mission in Oklahoma City.
When I returned home, I was admitted to UVU and declared Communications as my major. I commuted from Salt Lake County to UVU for a year before eventually moving to Provo. It was around that time that I really began settling into what would become my career in higher education.
I started working in various campus positions at UVU, moving from New Student Orientation to the Office of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, then to Graduation, and eventually to Retention and Leave of Absence. While working in Retention and Leave of Absence, I completed my master's degree in Higher Education Leadership. After graduating, I transitioned into academic advising, working just down the hall from my own former communications advisor. I worked with students majoring in Psychology, Public Relations, and Sociology, helping them navigate their academic journeys through graduation.
After 10 years of working in a variety of roles and offices at UVU, I've made the move to BYU. I'm excited to get involved, meet new people, and learn about a whole new institution.
Outside of work, I love being a dog dad and spending time outdoors with him. I'm also a bit of a homebody and enjoy relaxing with a good TV show or movie, or watching the Utah Jazz and BYU Cougars compete. I grew up loving LEGO, and over time, I've translated that interest into woodworking as an occasional hobby. I'm also a bit of a tech nerd and enjoy keeping up with new developments and advancements in technology.
I'm looking forward to becoming part of this awesome BYU community and being part of the experience!