Professor Susan R. Madsen is considered one of the top global thought leaders on the topic of women and leadership. Her research has been featured in the News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes. She is a sought-after global speaker and trainer and has presented at United Nations NGO sessions, The New York Times, the U.S. State Department, USAID, the Argentina Parliament Palace, the House of Commons in England, the Lithuanian President’s Palace, and in many other countries around the world. In past years she has conducted research in China, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe and has facilitated women’s leadership development programs and seminars with women leaders from over 40 countries.

Dr. Madsen founded the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) Women and Leadership Affinity Group and the Academy of Human Resource Development’s Leadership Special Interest Group. In 2013 and 2015 she chaired a global women and leadership conference for the ILAShe and colleagues also lead discussions globally to help more women’s leadership scholars understand and get involved with public policy. Dr. Madsen has also been an advisor and/or trainer on women’s leadership to national organizations and associations like the American Council on Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Association of University Women, and others.

Dr. Madsen thrives on being a change agent. In 2009, she created the Utah Women and Education Initiative and led a research team to investigate what might be done to get more Utah women to attend college and then graduate. In 2011-2012, she worked with the Utah governor and his staff to create the Utah Women’s College Taskforce that resulted in a report to the state calling for change. Dr. Madsen also founded the Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN) in 2010 and was recently recognized with special honors as she moved off the board in early 2019. In 2013, Dr. Madsen founded the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP), which is focused on strengthening the impact of Utah girls and women through encouraging, developing, and advancing women in leadership. As part of that work, she has overseen the production and release of public research (accessible to the general population as well as policy makers, educators, and other stakeholders). She and her team also hosts or co-sponsors 20-30 events annually, each focused on engaging and instructing girls and women in a variety of ways and on numerous subjects, all with the end goal of inspiring and encouraging enhanced educational goals and leadership aspirations. Professor Madsen’s efforts reach and influence tens of thousands in Utah annually. She also serves on or advises many Utah nonprofit and community boards, including Envision Utah, Silicon Slopes, Real Women Run, United Way of Utah County, Better Days 2020, Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, South Davis Communities that Care, and the Utah Governor’s One Utah Roadmap Team. She has also been an advisor or trainer on women’s leadership to national organizations and associations like the American Council on Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Association of University Women, and others.

Dr. Madsen received her doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota in Work, Community, and Family Education with a specialization in human resource development. She has other degrees in exercise science/wellness and speech communication education, and she started her career many years ago as a middle school speech and debate teacher. She and her husband Greg have four adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys golf, snowshoeing, hiking, and traveling.

Professor Moore is a scholar of foreign relations law, international law, international human rights, and international development. Professor Moore has taught international law, international human rights, U.S. foreign relations law, civil procedure, legal scholarship, a plenary powers colloquium, and an international religious freedom clinic. As a teacher, he has been recognized with the University's R. Wayne Hansen Teaching and Learning Fellowship, the BYU Law Alumni Association Teacher of the Year Award, and the Student Bar Association First Year Professor of the Year Award. He is a member of the American Law Institute. As a human rights expert, Professor Moore serves on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Moscow Mechanism. In 2020, he was elected to a brief term on the Human Rights Committee, a body of independent experts that oversees states’ compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Professor Moore also serves as an Associate Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, which seeks to secure the blessings of religious freedom and belief for everyone. Between 2017 and 2019, Professor Moore served, variously, as the Acting Deputy Administrator and General Counsel of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the federal government’s lead agency for international development and humanitarian assistance. From 2016 to 2017, he was the Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs at Brigham Young University Law School. He was a Visiting Professor at the George Washington University Law School from 2008 to 2009. Before joining BYU, Professor Moore clerked for Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. during the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2007 Term. From 2003 to 2007, Professor Moore was an assistant and then associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law. He arrived at the University of Kentucky after researching and teaching at the University of Chicago Law School as an Olin Fellow from 2001 to 2003. From 2000 to 2001, Professor Moore clerked for Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 1996 to 2000, he was an Honor Program trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch. Professor Moore is a summa cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University Law School, where he served as Editor in Chief of the Law Review and graduated first in his class. He received his BA from Brigham Young University, where he was a Benson scholar and graduated summa cum laude, with University Honors, and as co-valedictorian of his college. He and his wife Natalie are the parents of seven wonderful children

We at Latter Day Lives just feel especially grateful this week.

Randy Rigby is the former President of the Utah Jazz basketball team as well as former President of the Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Group. In the episode we talk about growing up in Northern Utah, how he developed his lifelong love of sports, his mission to Italy, gaining a strong testimony through an experience with his Mother, his time at BYU, meeting his wife, getting into business, dealing with the murder of his friend and business partner, going to work for the Utah Jazz, and eventually running the organization as the President. Randy has led an amazing life. He is so smart and yet so humble. You will love his story.

Jessica Williams is a very popular and respected recipe developer and food photographer. She has well over 800,000 followers on Facebook alone. In the episode we talk about her very difficult younger years, dealing with family issues, leaving home as a teenager, becoming an emancipated minor, finding the gospel, getting married, having her own family, starting a couponing blog, getting into recipe development and food photography, building a huge online following and so much more. Jessica is an amazing example of faith triumphing over adversity. You will love her story.

https://butterwithasideofbread.com

Del Parson is an artist whose art has been seen by millions. From his portraits of Christ to historical figures such as Joseph and Hyrum Smith, his works hang in chapels, temples, and church sites around the world.

Del grew up in Rexburg, Idaho where his father was an art professor at Ricks College and his mother taught second grade. His father often took his nine children on painting excursion campouts. He found his father’s love of art to be contagious, as did two of his brothers, who became artists as well.

After earning his MFA from BrighamYoung University, Parson became a gallery and portrait artist. In 1978, a tragedy changed his life. His wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. He felt the Spirit of God helping him through the tough times and began to paint religious subjects to give others the sense of hope that he found and to share with them his love of life.

Parson now lives in Utah with his wife and six children. His paintings of Christ evoke a strong emotional response from viewers, and both his religious and historical paintings have received numerous regional and national awards. Parson’s work has been exhibited at the Allied Artists of America, National Academy of Design, Knickerbocker Artist, American Artists Professional League, and the Amarillo Rotary Show.

www.delparson.com

Lizzy Jensen is the founder and CEO of The Small Seed, a Christian company looking to make a difference in people's lives. In the episode, we talk about her life growing up in St. George, Utah, her time at BYU, serving a mission to Croatia, getting married, moving to Connecticut, graduating law school and how reading a Clayton Christensen book moved her to start her company. Lizzy is so inspiring. She shares the gospel in a way that makes it accessible to all. You will love her story.

https://www.thesmallseed.com/

Ryan Evans started using drugs at a very young age. This led to crime and a life in the criminal justice system. Eventually, Ryan ended up in prison after a fight ended up with a friend passing away. Eventually Ryan, found the Lord, the church and a whole new life.

Doug Wright is a Utah native, proud of pioneer roots that go back to the 1840s. He was raised by a devoted single Mother. He spent over forty years as one of the leading voices on KSL Radio and is still the host of The KSL Movie Show. Raised in the Sugarhouse area, Doug began his broadcast career while still in high school. Married for over 30 years to his wife D., they are the parents of three children. Doug shares with us amazing stories of growing up, as well and gives us an insider's look into his amazing broadcasting career.

Sorry friends. Shawn has a really bad cold. No new episode this week.