Name: Kelly Jensen
BYU employee since: 1983
My job at BYU is… an admissions coordinator. I help students apply to the university and help others who are assisting them as well, coordinating with Enrollment Services to make sure that applicants have accurate and timely responses to their questions and concerns.
I’m currently working on… ways to help first-generation college students find the assistance they need to apply to the university.
I’m currently reading… so many things! Eric Foner’s "The Second Founding," Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s "The Cost of Discipleship" and Robin DiAngelo’s "White Fragility."
The biggest challenge I’ve faced was... losing my mother to cancer.
Being a first-generation college student myself... sparked my interest in my field. I want to help all students find the very real personal value of education.
My dream car is... actually a 2021 Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide touring bike.
Students don’t think I notice… when they have unasked questions, but I do. Trying to get them to open up and let me know what their real concerns are is important.
My advice to incoming freshmen is… if a professor mentions a book in passing or something they are reading — pick it up yourself to see why.
My go-to BYU Creamery ice cream flavor is… Bronco’s Cocoa Bean, but I haven’t seen it for awhile.
My most cherished memory at BYU is… sitting in a physical science class and realizing that, although I am terrible at math and science, the lives and experiences of the scientists themselves were fascinating to me. I wanted to know more about why they decided to pursue the things that they did. I decided right then to major in history.
On Saturday mornings you’ll find me… at the Provo Temple as an ordinance worker.
My go-to comfort food is… tacos!
The title of my autobiography would be… So Many Books, So Little Time.
I’m most looking forward to… a very long ride on the Harley with my husband. There is nothing like a long ride to clear my head.
One item on my bucket list is… to visit all the national parks on the Harley.
If I could travel anywhere... I would go to Yellowstone because it’s my happy place.
My fondest memory from my childhood is when… when my older sisters taught me to read when I was very young. It opened my world.
My most embarrassing moment was when… I conducted a meeting only to find out later that I had a giant pink stripe of strawberry yogurt in my very long hair.
The best advice I’ve ever got about teaching is… let your passion for the subject come through.
