Name: Jenet Erickson
BYU employee since: 1999 (on and off, full-time)
My job at BYU is… a professor of religion and family science (associate professor in Religious Education).
Currently, I’m working on… understanding the role of religion in adolescent mental health, and what factors influence continued commitment to religion across adolescence and young adulthood.
I’m currently reading… "The Awakened Brain: The Psychology of Spirituality and Our Search for Meaning" by Lisa Miller.
I get most excited about my work when… I see consistency between the truths revealed by God and the witness of good social science capturing the human experience.
Attending a remarkable international conference on the influence of the family sparked my interest in my field.
My go-to comfort food is… a really fruity green drink!
Three things that are always found in my refrigerator are… milk (for our son who never gets enough!), spinach and leftovers. 😊
Listening to others share their experiences always change(s) the way I view family life because I get a window into people’s realities.
My most cherished memory at BYU was… playing the harp with wonderful musicians including Men’s Chorus.
On Saturday mornings you’ll find me… making crepes!
When I have 30 minutes of free time, you can find me… reading aloud to my children.
My advice to incoming freshmen is… engage in the full BYU experience and its purpose of educating your whole soul.
My advice to graduating seniors is… stay close to the Lord. He will guide your path into beautiful and deepening places.
I became a BYU fan when… I was born.
My go-to BYU Creamery ice cream flavor is… Pope’s Post Game Snack!
My favorite BYU tradition is… Tuesday Devotionals, because they have been powerful sources of light and truth in my life.
When I tell people I work for BYU, they often say… "what a privilege!"
Students don’t think I notice… when they are distracted on their devices during class. 😊
My favorite Cougar athlete is… too many to name from my childhood…Devin Durrant, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer.
I chose to come to BYU because... I love learning and teaching in a place bathed with the light of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What makes teaching the greatest job in the world is… the incredible minds and hearts of the students, my fellow brothers and sisters.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten about teaching is… ask questions that invite students to think and act, enabling them to receive a personal witness of truth from the Holy Ghost.
You’ll never find me without… a yearning for more light and peace in this world.
My favorite lecture to teach is… every lecture! Too hard to choose!
I’m most looking forward to… being with my entire extended family in one place with unlimited time.
My favorite quote is… by George Matheson, "O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be."
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to.... Israel because I don’t ever think I can get enough of experiencing the places where all that matters was made possible.
My fondest memory from my childhood was when… my family of 11 children made multiple trips to see Church and American history sites across the United States.
My most embarrassing moment was when… my swimsuit fell off at my high school senior night swim party.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced was... taking such a long time to find my husband!
