Contributors

Brent Andrewsen

Brent is the chairman of Sutherland Institute Board of Directors, an independent research and educational institution and think tank, whose mission is to advance civility, sound ideas, and principled public policy supporting faith, family and free enterprise. Brent also serves as the chairman of Skyline Research Institute and is the former chairman of the Board of Directors at Kirton McConkie. He has an AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized as one of Utah's Legal Elite for estate planning, a Mountain States Super Lawyer for estate planning and non-profits, and a Best Lawyer for trusts/estates and non-profits/charities. He was also honored by Utah Business magazine as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star. Brent earned his B.A. in political science from BYU and a J.D. cum laude from the Washington & Lee University Law School.

Carol Rice

Carol is the Director of Community Engagement at Thanksgiving Point Foundation, and previously served as the Director of Communications for Public Square Magazine. She has a career in sales, marketing and outreach and has provided specialized direction in training and using the power of story for non-profits, including non-governmental organizations at the United Nations. She has helped thousands of individuals and organizations share their stories. For over ten years Carol ran her own successful online publishing company and has worked with prestigious storytelling organizations; as Finance Chair for National Storytelling Network, Outreach Executive Director for Timpanogos Storytelling Institute and in Business Relations with the International Storytelling Center. She has a bachelor's degree in marriage and family relations with an emphasis in family advocacy from BYU-I and holds a master's degree in communications.

Angela Fallentine

Angela teaches at BYU-Idaho and brings more than a decade of experience in family research, international policy, and diplomacy at the United Nations, with particular expertise in the Middle East and North Africa. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Utah State University and a master’s degree from Harvard University, where her research focused on strengthening families in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings. While at Harvard, she developed a family literacy framework to help the rising generation understand, analyze, and articulate the essential role of the family in society and public life. This new family literacy framework serves as the foundation for Skyline Research Institute’s emerging Family and Public Life Initiative.

Loren Marks, PhD

Loren is a professor in Brigham Young University's School of Family Life. His research interests have included racial minority families as well as religion and families. He has authored about 150 scholarly works, including three books, Sacred Matters: Religion and Spirituality in Families (2012), Religion and Families (2017), and Strengths in Diverse Families of Faith (2020).

Edwin E. Gantt, PhD

Ed is a professor of applied social psychology and clinical psychology at Brigham Young University and a visiting fellow of the Wheatley Institution. He received his doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Duquesne University, where he focused on existential-phenomenological psychology and qualitative research methods. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. He is currently at work on a book examining the impact of scientism in psychology. He teaches courses in the history and philosophy of psychology, personality theory, qualitative research methods, psychology of religion, and (his favorite) Latter-day Saint perspectives and psychology. He and his wife, Anita, are the proud parents of four sons.

Bruce Chang, PhD

Bruce has spent much of his career teaching and leading within the Church Educational System. He served as an Institute director in San Diego and has worked extensively with young adults through Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. He also teaches through BYU Continuing Education.

Bruce holds a doctorate in organizational leadership, with research focused on Gen Z’s leadership preferences and learning styles on how to teach and connect with rising generations. Born in Asia and later moved to the United States, he brings an international perspective to his work. He has also appeared as a guest on several podcasts and contributed to Deseret Book’s Seek course.

Alan Neves

Alan is the Broadcast News Lab Operations Coordinator for the School of Communications at BYU. He is a Southern Utah University graduate in broadcast journalism and has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Utah, where he studied film and media arts, with an emphasis in documentary production. He comes from KSL Television where he worked for 23 years in a variety of assignments in storytelling, television news production, satellite truck operations, and others. Before that, he worked at KUTV News. He is a 3 time Emmy winning photojournalist, and has covered news and documentary assignments in many places all over the world. He has had a role in 30+ documentaries over the years for KSL, and others as part of freelance efforts. His favorite shooting location has been Jerusalem, with its unique religious influence and culture, past and present.

Daniel Frost, PhD

Daniel is an assistant teaching professor and Director of the Integrative Writing Program in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. He has published articles in academic journals as well as in popular outlets such as Deseret News, National Review, Public Discourse, and First Things, among others. His interests include religious liberty, sexual morality, marriage, human personhood, and U.S. constitutional law. He holds a BA in Philosophy from BYU and an MA and PhD in Politics from Princeton University.

Autumn Foster Cook

Autumn is a freelance writer who traveled the world in her youth with her Air Force family. She holds a degree in Journalism from Brigham Young University, where her interest in family issues was kindled by her work with law professor Richard Wilkins and the World Family Policy Center (WFPC), a branch of the J. Rueben Clark Law School (1999–2008). She competed with BYU's award-winning Model United Nations team and interned with the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute at the United Nations in New York. She has organized, led and worked with grassroots organizations in family advocacy and education in Nebraska and Utah.

Jon Wright

Jon brings expertise in sound engineering and video and podcast production. He worked with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help create the "Mormon Messages" videos, along with various podcasts, commercials and training videos. Jon is also an accomplished pianist, having composed music for the Church and for an Off-Broadway National Tour. Jon earned degrees in recording from the prestigious Full Sail University, as well as a B.A. in music from Brigham Young University-Idaho. He and his wife Rivkah live in New York.

Teresa Clark

Teresa is a passionate storytelling artist who has dedicated her life to help strengthen, heal and protect the family. A national award-winning storyteller and published author, her story work involves performance, education, production, and advocacy. She has served on numerous boards including co-founder and Executive Director of the Storytelling Guild of Eastern Idaho; Western Region Representative, and board Co-chair of the National Storytelling Network; and co-founder of Story@Home.

Megan Cook

Megan has spent the last 10 years in professional teaching and youth development. She served as the state executive director for a large national non-profit youth leadership organization centering on career and leadership development for high school and college students. In this capacity, she served on the organization's foundation board of directors, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities to students. Megan holds a B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.A. in Education with an emphasis in adult learning. She has been a contributor to multiple courses of published curriculum, and recently initiated and led a national curriculum development project.

Amanda Davis

Amanda began her career working for an international delegation during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, which included appearances and interviews on the Today Show and KSL. She has worked for various public relations firms and as a liaison, meeting with ambassadors and delegates at the United Nations about policy issues regarding the family on the international and community level. Amanda has served on the board of The Child and Family Support Center, a non-profit with the mission of strengthening at-risk children and families. Her primary research focus is on the importance of strengthening the family unit and the direct role it plays in society. She graduated from Utah State University with a dual major in Public Relations and Sociology and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sociology.

Ashlynn Fletcher

Ashlyn is a graduate of Brigham Young University's political science department. During her time at BYU, she participated in a mentored research program in the United Kingdom and received a scholarship as a fellow for the Political and Economic Development Lab. She is currently a full-time mother and one of our young adult advisors.

Linda Hill

Linda is the co-host of our Raising Family podcast and brings with her decades of experience in marriage, family life, and teaching youth and young adults. She earned a degree in Family Science from Brigham Young University and has utilized this degree in her role as a mother, business owner, community volunteer and advocate for the family.

Ryan Neuhaus

Ryan is currently serving as a policy staffer in the United States Senate, working on a portfolio that focuses on healthcare, education, labor, welfare, pension reform, and values issues. Ryan has prior experience working for various think tanks and non-profits, focusing on research and advocacy for the family, foundational principles of Conservatism, and religious liberty. Ryan's work has led him to be a guest on multiple radio shows, featured on television interviews, and has had his work published in The Washington Examiner, The Daily Signal, Townhall, and more. Ryan graduated with a BA from Brigham Young University and an Master's in Public Policy from the Helm School of Government at Liberty University.

Jelaire Richardson

Jelaire is a writer, speaker, graphic designer, and mother with a background in sociology and social work. She has written for Latter-day Saint Women Stand and spoken at BYU–Idaho Education Week, the Middle East Women’s Conference, and local and regional gatherings, with a particular focus on women, youth, family, and interfaith relationships.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from BYU–Idaho and a master’s degree in social work from BYU. Before starting her family, she worked as a therapist with court-ordered teens and adults struggling with substance use. Jelaire currently lives in the Middle East with her husband, Nathan, and their children, bringing both professional training and lived international experience to her work.

Nathan Richardson

Nathan is a book designer and has worked for multiple publishing houses including the BYU Religious Studies Center, as well as a document design business. Nathan has presented at multiple family history expos BYU-I Education Week, and at local and regional events. He received a bachelor's in English and a master's in communication disorders from BYU and currently lives in the Middle East.

David Steele

David is the co-host of our Raising Family podcast and brings expertise in digital marketing and production.

Whitney Steele

Whitney brings expertise in social media marketing, communications and public relations. Whitney is also a graduate of Brigham Young University where she specialized in public relations and worked for BYU's Communications Department.

Rivkah Wright

Rivkah is a family and children advocate with experience with international organizations such as Birthright, a non-profit organization that has provided love and support for women facing unplanned pregnancies and the prevention of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Rivkah is an accomplished vocal performer and teacher who works with her husband, Jon, on the audio and podcast production elements of this site. She earned a degree in Arts from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is pursuing a degree in Marriage and Family Studies. She and her husband Jon live in New York.

Jeffrey L. Thane, PhD

Jeffrey is an associate professor of psychology at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He graduated from BYU in April 2009 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and again in 2012 with a master's degree in psychology. He completed his PhD in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University. He is passionate about education, learning, statistics, philosophy, movies, and books.