Alvin F. Meredith III became the 18th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho on August 1, 2023. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021, and continues to serve in that role today.

Prior to his call as a General Authority, President Meredith served as president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. He also served as an Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Asia Areas, and in a number of other Church callings, including as a full-time missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.

In his professional career, President Meredith worked as a senior executive of Asurion in Tennessee, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He also worked for The Boston Consulting Group and GE Capital.

President Meredith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

This Devotional address with Max Bartschi was delivered on April 1st at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Max Bartschi lives in Moody, Idaho. He has worked at BYU-Idaho for 23 years. Max and his wife, Marinda, have been married for 26 years. They have four children, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, and one granddaughter. Max enjoys spending time with family and being outdoors. He especially likes to fish and hunt.

This Devotional address with Scott Burton was delivered on March 25th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Scott Burton is a computer science faculty member and the program director of the online software development program offered through BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Brigham Young University, where his research combined machine learning and health science. Scott also earned a master’s degree from Utah State University, a bachelor’s degree from BYU, and an associate degree from Snow College. Prior to his time at BYU-Idaho, he worked as a software engineer, where he led teams in developing custom software and web applications for clients.

In addition to his work in computer science, Scott enjoys running, cycling, and hiking. He has served in the Church in a number of capacities, including many years with the young men in the Aaronic Priesthood quorums. His favorite calling has been teaching the Sunbeams with his wife. Scott is married to Amber Lee Burton, and they are the parents of four children.

This Devotional address with Elder Jorge M. Alvarado was delivered on March 18th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Elder Jorge M. Alvarado was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 6, 2019, at age 48. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a high councilor. He has served as a counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency and is currently serving at Church Headquarters in various councils and committees.

Elder Alvarado has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission, ward mission leader, branch president, district council member, mission executive secretary, stake president, Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Caribbean Areas, president of the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, and counselor in a bishopric.

Elder Alvarado studied management at the University of Puerto Rico in 1992. He has worked as a manager for Sam’s Club, regional training manager for Walmart Puerto Rico Inc., and Organizational Development manager/Partner and Senior Consultant for Franklin Covey. Most recently, he worked as an international manager for Self-Reliance Services at Church headquarters.

Jorge Miguel Alvarado Pazo was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on November 21, 1970. He married Cari Lu Rios in 1992. They are the parents of three children.

This Devotional address with Elder David A. and Sister Susan K. Bednar was delivered on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. David A. Bednar was ordained and set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 7, 2004.

Prior to his call, Elder Bednar served as an Area Authority Seventy, as an Area Authority, as a Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop. Elder Bednar was born on June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California. He served as a full-time missionary in Southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also received a doctoral degree in organizational behavior from Purdue University.

After completing his education, Elder Bednar was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and at the University of Arkansas. He then served as the president of BYU-Idaho from 1997-2004. Elder and Sister Bednar were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and they are the parents of three sons.

Susan Kae Robinson Bednar was born and reared in Afton, Wyoming. She is the daughter of Kay and Nyla Clement Robinson.

Sister Bednar graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade for two years and was involved with institutions of higher education with her husband at Texas Tech University, the University of Arkansas, and BYU-Idaho.

In the Church Sister Bednar has served as Primary president, Primary chorister, Young Women president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and ward organist.

Diantha Smith Hopkins teaches English at BYU-Idaho, specializing in rhetoric and composition, rhetorical theory, and children’s literature. She is also fascinated by the history and politics of the Middle East and Asia. She lived and studied in Damascus, Syria and served a mission in Seoul, Korea. Diantha and her husband, Mark, have been married for almost five years. She is a stepmom to five children and biological mom to one. When she's not chasing around a three-year-old boy, playing board and card games with her step-kids, hiking with her husband, answering emails, or meeting with students, Diantha likes to make mixed-media art and write.

Jenet Jacob Erickson is an associate professor in Religious Education at Brigham Young University, where she teaches the Eternal Family course as well as the Introduction to Family Process course for the School of Family Life. She received a PhD in family social science from the University of Minnesota, after completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and master’s degree in linguistics -TESOL at BYU. She is a research fellow of both the BYU Wheatley Institute and the Institute for Family Studies, and has been a columnist on family issues for the Deseret News since 2013. She met and married her husband, Michael, when they were both 34 years old. Their two children, LaDawn and Peter, provide them unending opportunities for learning and joy.

Jason Reeder is from Idaho Falls and served in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida mission, speaking in the Spanish language. He graduated from BYU-Idaho in communication with an emphasis in advertising. He also has a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication from West Virginia University. Jason has held various marketing communication positions and has worked at BYU-Idaho for 14 years in Admissions, Alumni, Student Life Communications, University Relations and now as a faculty member in the Communication department. Jason and his wife, Tevya, will hit 20 years of marriage in April, and they have four children. His hobbies include trail running and racing in ultra-marathons, skateboarding, snowboarding, and spending time with friends and family. Jason’s most recent callings include being a counselor in two bishoprics, high councilor, bishop, counselor in a stake Young Men’s presidency, and he currently serves as second counselor in a stake presidency.

Sister Kristin M. Yee was born in Sacramento, California, to Ryan R. Yee and Jaydean Fox McKay. Sister Yee received a bachelor’s degree in illustration and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. Sister Yee currently works as a Publishing Services special projects manager for the Church. Prior to working at the Church, she worked with Disney Interactive Studios for 13 years. Her Church assignments have included the Primary General Advisory Council, stake Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, temple ordinance worker, and in various callings in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Sunday School organizations. Sister Yee loves hiking, being in the outdoors, traveling, painting, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Joshua Figueira was born to Kevin and Sherry Figueira. His family hails from Kailua, Oahu in Hawaii, but he was raised primarily in Bountiful, Utah. Josh served in the South Korea Seoul West Mission. He holds a B.A in English language from Brigham Young University, a Master of Religion in Contemporary Society from King’s College London, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. Josh worked as BYU-Idaho legal counsel for seven years. Prior to that, he practiced First Amendment law with an emphasis on religious organizations. Josh is married to his wife Elsie Smith Figueira, and is father to three active, precocious children. He is currently serving as stake Young Men’s secretary. His hobbies include reading, writing, soccer, ukulele, and restoring and playing drums.