Cougar Queries is a series profiling BYU employees by asking them questions about their work, interests and life.
BYU employee since: Oct 2024 (but was a BYU employee from June 1997 to June 2018 before that).
My job at BYU is… information technology vice president and CES CIO. In that role, I help guide technology strategy across BYU and the broader Church Educational System.
I’m currently working on…
- AI projects and learning to help establish best practices and ensure continued availability across campus.
- Coordinating systems across CES institutions.
- Connecting technology efforts to Becoming BYU by focusing on service, simplifying and strengthening.
I’m currently reading… whatever AI articles and publications that I get my hands on, and “Learning the Great Fundamentals” by President Dallin H. Oaks.
I get most excited about my work when…. I can connect my efforts to blessing students, faculty and staff. And when I work with students.
Typing in code from magazines when I was a young kid and troubleshooting anything that wasn’t working as I had hoped... sparked my interest in my field.
When I tell people I work for BYU, they often say… what classes do you teach? Then I tell them that I work with the technology needs behind the scenes, and they say, " That sounds like a lot of work."
My biggest professional accomplishment is… helping bring missionaries home during COVID.
I became a BYU fan when… I came to BYU as a youth for an EFY conference as a youth group from California.
My go-to BYU Creamery ice cream flavor is… Graham Canyon.
I’ve hiked Y Mountain... two times.
My favorite spot on campus is… Brigham Square because I get to see so many students walking around and many talking to each other.
I chose to come to BYU because... I love being around the students and those who serve the students because they love them so much.
My most cherished memory at BYU is… meeting my wife here, she was my sister’s roommate at BYU before my sister got married, and we had football tickets with my sister, her husband, my wife, and me (even before I really knew her, but because of my sister, and parents pushing for it).
On Saturday mornings you’ll find me…. At home working in the yard.
My go-to comfort food is… pizza.
A daily habit that has changed my life is… morning reflection on the day, goals, blessings that I have, etc.
Three things that are always found in my refrigerator are… Orange Sauce, jalapenos and cheese.
The title of my autobiography would be…. Led by the Savior.
I’m most looking forward to…. traveling and spending time with my wife.
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to... England because… I have never been there, and many of my ancestors are from there.
