1964 | Thomas G. Alexander (’64, BS Utah State University ’60, MS Utah State University ’61, PhD University of California ’65; Marilyn Johns [MA ’68, BS ’86]; Provo) published Edward Hunter Snow, a biography on the role Snow played in developing southern Utah and growing the Church. S. Floyd Mori (BA ’64, BA ’64, MS ’65; Irene Mano [’62]; Arlington, Va.) received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, presented by the Japanese ambassador to the United States for Mori’s work as executive director and president of the Japanese American Citizens League.
Gary Blackburn
1968 | Gary L. Blackburn (BS ’68; Patricia Hansen [’60]; Brea, Calif.) published book two of his young adult trilogy, Pickerel Lake, a story of a monster fish and a possible murder-mystery connection. Catherine Hunt Ellis (BS ’68; David H. [BS ’69]; Oracle, Ariz.) received the Barry M. Goldwater Award at the Arizona History Convention. Another of Ellis’s articles, “‘Arizona Has Been Good to Me’: Routes and Recollections of Latter-day Saint Settlement in Arizona,” was published in The Journal of Arizona History.
1970 | Jim L. Dandy (AA ’70, BS ’74, BA Weber State University ’74; Betty; Blanding, Utah) published Navajo Tradition, Mormon Life, an autobiography that reflects on his two cultures.
1971 | Judeen Call Brewer (BA ’71; Terry B. [BA ’73]; South Jordan, Utah), with her coauthor husband, won a Best Indie Book Award in the children’s category for The Protector of Central Park. Linda Stringer Shaw (BS ’71; Stephen W. [BA ’75]; Sanford, Maine) has completed training to be a certified residential medication aide with Waban, an organization that serves children and adults with disabilities.
1972 | G. Herb Macey (BA ’72; Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) was presented the Lena Angel Award by the Cancer Association of Havasu. A survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Macey was honored for sharing his knowledge and encouraging cancer patients to be strong and healthy.
1973 | Terry B. Brewer (BA ’73; Judeen Call [BA ’71]; South Jordan, Utah), with his coauthor wife, won a Best Indie Book Award in the children’s category for The Protector of Central Park. Don M. Cheney (BFA ’73, MS University of Redlands ’03; Catherine; Simi Valley, Calif.) was named assistant manager of the Application Development and Engineering Division
at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. He continues to serve
as JPL’s web manager.
1975 | Kristine Wardle Frederickson
(BA ’75, MA ’99, PhD University of Utah ’08; A. Reid [BS ’75]; Orem, Utah) published the book Extraordinary Courage: Women Empowered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Frederickson also teaches in the religion and history departments at BYU and Utah Valley University and writes for Mormon Times in the Deseret News. Cherie Stoddard Twyman (BA ’75, MA ’78; H. Leon [BS ’72, MA ’79]; Lindon, Utah) received the Teacher of the Year Award from the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University. Twyman teaches written business communication.
1977 | Steven C. Morrison (BS ’77; Tami; Oakley, Utah), an airline captain based in Denver, completed upgrade training at United Airlines on the Boeing 757/767. Kirk D. Mosley (BS ’77, DDS University of the Pacific ’81; Karen Peterson [BS ’77]; Tucson, Ariz.) volunteered to create and implement a new oral-hygiene program for University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) clinics in Chengdu, China. He also taught seven courses at UESTC as part of the BYU China Teachers Program. Donald S. Smurthwaite (BA ’77; Shannon McClary [AA ’78]; Meridian, Idaho) published Road to Bountiful, a novel that follows the journey
of a young man and his elderly relative as they travel from North Dakota to Utah.
1978| Deborah K. Jones (BA ’78, MS National Defense University ’98; Colonial Heights, Va.) was appointed U.S. ambassador to Libya by President Barack Obama. Shannon McClary Smurthwaite (AA ’78; Donald S. [BA ’77]; Meridian, Idaho) published Mormon Mama Italian Cookbook: From My Nona Rosa’s Table
to Yours.
1981 | Terryl L. Givens (BA ’81, PhD University of North Carolina ’88; Fiona Bulbeck [’83]; Montpelier, Va.) published an updated edition of The Viper on the Hearth, which provides insight into American culture and LDS identity.
1982 | John G. Peters (BA ’82, BA ’82, MA ’84, MA Columbia University ’88, PhD Pennsylvania State University ’96; Deanna; Denton, Texas) was promoted to distinguished research professor at the University of North Texas. He published Joseph Conrad’s Critical Reception and edited volume two of Joseph Conrad: The Contemporary Reviews. He received a 2013 Literature Fellowship for Translation from the National Endowment for the Arts to translate the Japanese poet Takamura Kôtarô’s book of poems Dôtei (Journey).
1985 | Brent A. Duncan (BA ’85, MMgt University of Phoenix ’99, MA Fielding Graduate University ’10, PhD Fielding Graduate University ’13; Penny; Okinawa, Japan) completed a PhD in human development with an emphasis on adult development in higher education. Duncan was appointed college chair for the University of Phoenix School of Business Asia-Pacific military program, where he administers programs on U.S. military bases throughout Japan, Korea, and Guam. P. Brad Westwood (BA ’85, MS University of Pennsylvania ’94; Virlie Vincent [’89]; Springville, Utah) was appointed director of the Utah Division of State History and also serves as president of Utah Westerners. Westwood is the former chair of BYU’s L. Tom Perry Special Collections.
1986 | David C. Fullmer (BM ’86, MM ’90, PhD University of Washington ’03; Natalie Dutson [BFA ’88]; Orem, Utah) was appointed director of bands at Utah Valley University.
1987 | Russ E. Johnson (BA ’87, MBA American Graduate School of International Management ’88; Cheris Cooper [BS ’94]; Ephraim, Utah) published Quick Student Engagement Ideas for Busy Teachers, which is packed with creative ideas and activities to engage students.
1988 | Rhonda S. Powell (BS ’88, MAcc ’88; Issaquah, Wash.) is the new director of tax at Moss Adams. Powell will work with the firm’s committees to strengthen tax practice and risk management as well as implement strategic tax initiatives.
1990 | Michael T. Benson (BA ’90, PhD Oxford University ’95, MNA University of Notre Dame ’11; Debi; Richmond, Ky.), former president of Southern Utah University, has been named president of Eastern Kentucky University, where he also has an appointment as professor in the Department of Government.
Shalyn Nelson
1991 | Rebecca Latimer Jamison (BA ’91, MA ’96; Eric V. [BA ’93]; West Jordan, Utah) has published her second novel, Emma: A Latter-day Tale, a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Robert V. Ledenko (’91; Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) runs a company that manufactures specialized cameras for the security industry. Ledenko played football at BYU during the 1983–85 seasons. Shalyn D. Nelson (BA ’91; Sharon; Enterprise, Utah) received a 2013 James Madison Memorial Fellowship. An AP history teacher for 20 years, he will use the fellowship to complete a master’s in American history and government from Ashland University.
Benjamin Warner
1992 | J. Benjamin Warner (BS ’92; Jacksonville, Fla.), president and CEO of Jacksonville Community Council, was invited to speak by German chancellor Angela Merkel at the first International German Forum in Berlin. The forum topic is on quality of life and community indicators.
1994 | Dawn Nelson Meehan (MA ’94; David; South Jordan, Utah) made it to the final three on the TV show Survivor: Caramoan—Fans vs. Favorites. Meehan teaches in BYU’s Department of English.
1996 | Suzanne Benson Gillies (BS ’96; Shawn A. [BS ’96]; Maple Valley, Wash.) founded African Promise Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports women and children in Uganda. Proceeds from selling jewelry made by Ugandan women are returned to their communities in the form of orphan care and school sponsor-ship. Reid L. Neilson (BA ’96, MA ’01, MBA ’02, PhD University of North Carolina ’06; Shelly; Bountiful, Utah) published To the Peripheries of Mormondom, which delves into the account of apostle David O. McKay’s 1920–21 journey around the world.
1997| Eric T. Gibbons (BS ’97; Nikki Sever [BS ’96]; Elko, Nev.) is working for Barrick Gold Corporation as a commodities specialist. He earned his MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno, focusing on international business and supply chain.
Christian Baker
1998 | Christian M. Baker (BM ’98, MM Florida State University ’00, DM Florida State University ’05; Michelle Bailey [BM ’99]; Fort Collins, Colo.) was an Arts Partner violinist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, performing with the Rockefeller Quartet and traveling with the educational outreach program. Baker is beginning graduate studies in occupational therapy at Colorado State University. Valerie Bailey Hamaker (BA ’98; Nathan C. [BS ’99]; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), with her husband and daughters, attended the Discovery Girls magazine Tween Summit. Their daughters, Mia and Rachel, were two of 36 girls chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to participate in the summit.
Tyler Banks
1999 | Tyler E. Banks (BS ’99, MBA San Diego State University ’01; Jerriann Irvin [BS ’02]; Huntington Beach, Calif.) has been appointed national practice leader and CEO of Willis Personal Lines. Banks will focus on driving growth and aligning resources to deliver solutions to the firm’s insurance clients. Nathan C. Hamaker (BS ’99; Valerie Bailey [BA ’98]; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), with his wife and daughters, attended the Discovery Girls magazine Tween Summit. Their daughters, Mia and Rachel, were two of 36 girls chosen from more than 8,000 applicants to participate in the summit.
2000| Carl D. LeSueur (BA ’00, JD University of Chicago ’04; Athelia; New York) was elected by Phillips Nizer to the position of counsel in the litigation and real estate law departments. LeSueur handles a variety of complex commercial litigation matters. T. Bart Stratton (BS ’00; Shanna; Arlington, Va.) was admitted as a tax partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C. Stratton specializes in corporate domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions as well as general corporate and consolidated return matters. Emily Johnson Streeter (BS ’00; Geoffrey S. [BS ’02]; Gilbert, Ariz.) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First.
2001 | David J. Bateman (’01; Amanda; Orem, Utah) was a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Award in the Utah Region. Rosalyn Collings Eves (BA ’01; Daniel; Cedar City, Utah) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First. Abbie F. Smith (BS ’01, BS ’12; Gilbert, Ariz.) cocreated LDS Temple Passport, an app that gives temple-goers the ability to look up temple info and record and share personal experiences.
2002 | Nathan F. Christensen (BA ’02; Emily; Owasso, Okla.) has earned one of three spots in the prestigious Eugene O’Neill Theater Center National Music Theater Conference. His musical Broadcast was chosen to receive two weeks of intensive development and New York theater exposure. Megan Hendershot Guderian (BS ’02; Erik D. [BS ’02]; Gilbert, Ariz.) cocreated the app LDS Temple Passport, which allows users to track temple visits, take pictures, share information through social media, and maintain a journal. Becca Findlay Lloyd (BA ’02, MA ’04; Shane [BA ’04]; New Haven, Conn.) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First.
2003 | Brett T. Abbott (BA ’03, JD Western State University ’06; Rebecca Olson [BA ’03]; Visalia, Calif.) was named a partner at Gubler & Abbott, where he focuses on employment law and commercial litigation, emphasizing in collections. Lani Roundy Axman (BA ’03; Reid K. [BS ’03, EdS ’06]; Laveen, Ariz.) created a website (theyremember.org) where people can share pre-birth experiences. She is also coauthor of The Gift of Giving Life: Rediscovering the Divine Nature of Pregnancy and Birth. Sarah Jensen Clayton (BA ’03, MEd Harvard University; William; New York) and Lori Rasmussen Davis (BA ’03; Andrew J. [BS ’05]; Munich) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First.
2004 | Lia Suttner Collings (BA ’04; Justin M. [BA ’06]; Hamden, Conn.) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First. Travis G. Lundell (BS ’04; Krista Carlson [BA ’05]; Kansas City, Mo.), a graduate student at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, won the Sheridan National Allied Health Scholarship for anesthesiologist assistant students.
2005 | Jill Spongberg Tanner (BS ’05; Paul E. [BS ’05]; Fountain Valley, Calif.) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First.
2007 | Adney M. Reid (BS ’07, MSW ’09; Eagle Mountain, Utah) and his wife,
Tina Fonoimoana (BA ’07), are owners of Redwood Therapy and Youth Services, a foster and proctor placement agency that helps at-risk youth in state custody.
2009| Allie Winegar Duzett (BS ’09; Carl R. [BA ’09]; Gaithersburg, Md.) published The Body Electric, a young adult fantasy novel. Elizabeth Vernon Taylor (BA ’09; Seth R. [BS ’08]; New Haven, Conn.) contributed to the book Choosing Motherhood: Stories of Successful Women Who Put Family First.
2010| Samuel A. Dodge (BA ’10, MA University of Massachusetts ’13; Taylorsville, Utah) coedited Exploring the First Vision, a book that explores viewpoints of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.
2012| Jacob A. Glenn (BA ’12; Provo) received the 2013 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Glenn plans to attend Georgetown University.
