Since 2015, Utah Valley University has equipped and supported students dedicated to
building religious diversity across campus and the Utah Valley community. The UVU
Interfaith Student Council Alumni are diverse, intelligent, and motivated individuals,
who are utilizing their interfaith skill set and knowledgebase to grow the interfaith
movement in many sectors including education, legal, business, and nonprofit. We are
proud of the work they accomplished on campus and pluralism they are growing across
the country.
Tayler Fearn is studying bioinformatics at UVU. In addition to her passion for biology, she has a passion for inclusion and interfaith. She considers herself an agnostic animist. Her passion for interfaith came from growing up in the diverse city of Vancouver, Canada. Growing up, Tayler was surrounded by individuals from a variety of worldviews, ethnicities, and cultures. She had friends who were Sikh, Atheist, Non-Denominational Christian, and Muslim. She learned that they had a lot of common values and felt inspired by their faith. This is the perspective she has brought with her to Utah. Tayler agrees with Saint Francis when he said, “All that we do is a preparation for love.” For her, there isn’t anything more meaningful than the relationships with her loved ones. This preparation to truly love others involves connecting over common values and learning to peaceably acknowledge the differences. This connecting and acknowledging is something Tayler learned while growing up in Vancouver. She hopes to help others learn this and learn how others do that here in Utah.
Hannah Briceño is a Junior at UVU majoring in Digital Marketing with an emphasis in Data Analysis. She grew up in Orem and loves UVU. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a church mission in Spain. Outside of interfaith, she participates in the Presidential Internship with the Marketing and Communications department at UVU.
Hannah has always had a passion for Interfaith work. It really started when she made multiple friends with different faiths and/or having different secular beliefs. She believes that a group of people who disagree and still care for each other is the highest form of love. She joined interfaith so she could help create and foster a space on campus where people can feel safe to “agree to disagree” and still be friends. Off campus you can find Hannah binging reality tv shows, taking film photos or listening to music.
Aaron Stanger was born and raised in West Point, Utah. He was baptized into and identifies as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a 2-year mission in the Philippines from 2017-2019. He is a senior studying Psychology and has always been interested in dialogue about differences of all kinds. In his free time, he loves to play any sport, hike, run, read, and listen to podcasts. His interfaith interests stemmed from a class he took from Professor Brian Birch in the Fall 2021 semester which led to him attending the SCRIPPS 2022 conference where he was involved in the development of different small interfaith initiatives. It opened his eyes to the impact interfaith work can have.
Maren grew up in a family that was mixed in many ways: biological and step, religious, agnostic, and atheist, miracle whip and mayonnaise. There was a lot to disagree on, but her family learned how to have conversations that celebrated differences while embracing commonalities. Although this was sometimes inconvenient (like making room for both miracle whip and mayo in the fridge), in Maren's experience it has always been worth it. Maren currently identifies as progressive LDS and is excited to be a part of the interfaith council and to utilize these conversations to discover more peace with her sometimes conflicting identities. She believes in compassionate relationality and has been trained in Systems Thinking. She hopes to pursue a career as a Social Impact Consultant, applying these principles as well as her academic pursuits in Social Work and Peace and Justice Studies. Maren believes that from condiments to critical questions, we must all learn to see in others "the part of [ourselves] we do not yet know", and engage in respect and curiosity toward ourselves and those we may perceive as different from us.
Sara Groesbeck is a senior at Utah Valley University studying Strategic Comm and Public Relations. She has had the opportunity to be involved in many organizations on campus including UVUSA, Clubs and now the Interfaith Student Council. She loves UVU and getting to know the student body. Sara identifies as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and considers her faith to be a driving force in her life. She decided to join interfaith because she believes we can all can learn more from one another. She is excited to get to know more about other world views and help create safe spaces for these conversations to happen.
Asmaa Alsharif is a data science major and a tutor at the writing center. Her faith and worldview is Islam. Asmaa was born in the Muslim-majority country of Libya. When she moved to America at the age of 5 years old, she suddenly found herself in the minority. She was often asked questions about her hijab and her religion by her peers. Asmaa loves interfaith because it bridges the gap between people and cultivates goodwill and friendship. She has many friends from various religious backgrounds, and she has always found it interesting to hear them share their worldview. It's important to Asmaa that we find a way to relate through our similarities, but also recognize and respect our differences. In her leisure time, she enjoys hitting the gym, eating Ben and Jerry's chunky monkey flavored ice cream, and playing Gartic Phone.
Simone Anderson is a dual major in elementary education and philosophy. They hope to utilize this unique combination in their careers as an elementary teacher to facilitate and build a classroom culture of thoughtful and respectful discussion. With this eventual goal of career, they are excited to be placed in an environment of interfaith dialogue, where these goals of respectful and thoughtful discussions are mainstays.
Although Simone identifies under the banner of secularism, their worldview can be greater defined with a sympathy to twentieth century existentialism and a strong belief in the innate good intent of humanity. These beliefs help inform their action and focus on community building and political projects with the secular student alliance and the progressive student alliance.
Lizzy Jensen is a junior in UVU's Theatre Arts BFA program with an emphasis in Musical Theatre and a minor in Religious Studies. She was raised in Gilbert, Arizona as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Lizzy served an eighteen-month mission in Detroit, Michigan and is profoundly grateful for her time there. She believes that those experiences awakened her passion for religious studies and taught her the depth of human goodness. Since coming home from Detroit, Lizzy has moved away from traditional LDS orthodoxy and likes to define herself as "Mormon-ish," hoping that will express her fondness for the LDS community and the greater umbrella of Mormon theology while still honoring her personal schisms from traditional beliefs held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith transition ignited her passion for interfaith work, and she hopes to be a force for good in her religious community, encouraging more widespread love, respect, and acceptance of religious diversity.
Lizzy is also a Foundations Ambassador and the Vice President for the resident "drama club" on campus, the Theatre Arts Guild (come play with us!). Lizzy loves UVU and credits her participation in the Honors program for enabling her passion for religious studies and interfaith work. When she isn't singing, acting, or reading about Mormon history, Lizzy enjoys tweeting, running, watching sitcoms, and spending quality time with her friends.
Miranda is a senior working on a degree in English with an emphasis in Literary Studies. Her love for literature is evident as she works at UVU’s Fulton Library, publishes her poetry and essays in UVU’s literary and academic journals, and acts as the 2022-2023 Editor-in-Chief for the Honors Program’s mulitmedia journal: Untold. Miranda’s interest in interfaith work was sparked in the conversations she had with people of varying faiths as an LDS missionary in Oregon. In the years since, she has found joy and excitement in exploring religious and ethical views. Still on a journey of creating and understanding her own world view, Miranda turns to literature, nature, and the people around her as she expands her beliefs. Regarding the importance of differences in Interfaith work, Miranda thinks Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel, The Left Hand of Darkness states her experiences perfectly: “It was from the difference between us, not from the affinities and likenesses, but from the difference, that love came: and it was itself the bridge, the only bridge, across what divided us.
Dylan is a senior in Exercise Science at UVU. He has been involved with several organizations on campus including UVUSA as a senator, working with UVU Athletics, and now participating as a UVU Interfaith Student Council member. Dylan grew up in Utah County, and then served a two year Latter-Day Saint mission in Jamaica and the Bahamas from 2016-2018. In his free time he likes to hang out at the park, play pickleball, and most of all play soccer. Dylan joined interfaith work because he believes that there is a peaceful and productive way to unify all groups of people. He works at developing relationships and finding common ground with others to achive a positive goal.
Gabriel Toscano graduated from Utah Valley University with a B.S. in Philosophy and a B.A. in Integrated Studies with emphases on Religious Studies and Spanish. Now pursuing an B.A.S in Software Development, he is interested in the intersection of philosophy and science.
As an undergrad, volunteering at the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions provided a unique opportunity to engage with religious diverse outside of the classroom. From then on, he has been a recurring member of UVU's Interfaith Student Council as well as a coach for Interfaith Youth Core--a national organization promoting interfaith leadership on college campuses. Seeing the need for pluralistic approaches to interreligious dialogue and harmonious societies, he advocates for understanding and collaboration across lines of difference. During his free time, Gabriel likes to hike, mountain bike, play guitar and piano, as well as cook and share food from around the world.
Owen Clapp is a Sophomore at UVU majoring in Spanish, serving on the Interfaith Forum Committee. Outside of Interfaith Student Council, Owen is involved in the UVU/BYU Airforce ROTC program,doing the Honor Guard auxiliary program. He identifies as a Latter-day Saint who believes all scripture that inspires one to draw closer to God is from Him. Owen enjoys running, making Native American beadwork, watching anime/cartoons, video games and reading about/discussing religion with people in his free time. He has had a journey of self-discovery, having been a part of four official religions along with identifying as syncretic for a short time. Through these changes, Owen has met various people of faith and had discussions with them while sharing and differing in worldview. These conversations and the appreciation for different faiths, along with better understanding the spectrum of belief, has led him to Interfaith work.
Kyle is a senior in UVU's Aviation Management program. He also serves as a member of the Utah Naitonal Guard and is working towards a flight comission post-graduation. Kyle's interest and growing passion for Interfaith started from relationships with friends from countries and faiths acoss the world through missionary work and military travel. Kyle hopes that conversations about faith as a common value among diverse people and groups can be used to better our local and global communities.
Outside of school Kyle loves being outdoors; whether on walks with his wife, skiing, moutain biking or backpacking with family. He also loves a good book, cooking and sharing Korean food, and movies that make you cry.
Tayler grew up in Vancouver, Canada in a family that identified as members of the
church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. When she was 11 years old her parents
divorced causing her to turn to God amidst that difficulty. When high school came
around she found herself to be the only person of her faith in her high school of
1,300 students. She soon developed friendships with those who were faithful to their
own religious tradition. This was an eye-opening experience where she saw first hand
how interfaith can enrich and strengthen your own religious identity.
Tayler is here at UVU majoring in biotechnology. She plans on going to medical school
and becoming a pediatric opthalmologist. In her free time she loves running, reading
books and eating crumble
Emerson is a Junior at UVU studying Biology whose life’s passion is the study and practice of nonduality, particularly as expressed in the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. His primary academic, professional and personal motivation is to understand the nature of consciousness, to gain experiential insight into the essential relationship between self and other, and to share that knowledge with others.
Emerson fell in love with Hindu and Buddhist spirituality as a child in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. After spending some time in Mongolia, he and his family moved to Utah, where he has continued his education at UVU. He joined the Interfaith Student Council because he believes our superficial differences are underlined by a common goodness, and that learning to recognize that goodness, especially when it appears in unfamiliar ways, is the highest form our education can take.
Brodie is a Junior at UVU majoring in Philosophy and Anthropology while also minoring in Religious Studies. Brodie’s current philosophical obsessions include the experience of religious conversion, the tug of war practitioners of faith perform between their secular identity(s) and their religious ones, and how religious communities challenge secular notions of what a community is.
As far as belief goes, Brodie was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but has been inactive in the church for two years now. Outside of being raised in the LDS Church, Brodie has found appreciation, or holy envy, for Zen Buddhist meditation, the Jewish belief that human beings have a responsibility to repair the world, and the animist belief that all living things have a soul of some kind. While on the council, Brodie hopes to find more things to be envious of in other faith traditions as he engages more religious communities.
Tori is a senior at UVU, double majoring in Exercise Science and Biology. Tori is from Potomac Falls, Viriginia, where her family still resides. Tori is a part of many organizations here on campus: Presidential Interns, Honors Program, Excellence and Innovation Initiative, Wolverine Fund, and LEAD. Tori loves to play sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickle ball. She also enjoys reading, and being outdoors.
Tori joined interfaith for the opportunity to connect and learn from individuals of similar and different faiths. She values the diversity of thought and persons when it comes to worldview and belief, because there is beauty is coming together even when views differ.
Lily Prunty is a freshman at UVU, currently undeclared in my major but actively exploring
career options while completing generals. In my free time she likes to spend time
with friends and family and play pickleball. She became a part of the Interfaith Student
Council to work to create a safe space to talk about religion and normalize religious
dialogue. Our worldviews impact large parts of our lives and my objective is to work
toward a pluralistic campus to be able to express ourselves freely. She identifies
as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and wants to foster
an inclusive and inviting campus for people of all world views.
Melanie Wolfe is a senior at UVU majoring in Family Science and will go into Social Work. Outside of the Interfaith Council, Melanie is a member of the Multicultural Student Council, Family Science Club President, and Presidential Intern. She identifies as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is second generation in this religion since both her parents converted when they were in their teens. Melanie has been a member of this church her entire life but had her own experiences of following this path for herself through her church mission.
She joined Interfaith because she believes that understanding different world views is essential for progress. Coming together dispite our difference is very important to her, and Interfaith embodies that. In her spare time, Melanie loves to watch horror movies, documentaries, go dancing, and hang out with her husband and her pup Blu.
My name is Payden Alder. I am a philosophy major. I hope to be a graduating senior this year. I abhor small talk and love boring people to death with philosophical conversation. The more controversial the topic the better, but I'll put controversies aside for my commitment to pluralism. I do interfaith work because I want to maximize human flourishing for the most people we can. I believe that through learning, respect, and commitment to shared values we can work across lines of difference to improve our communities.
Hello, my name is Brylee Bromley! I am in my final year at UVU studying Art & Design and Digital Media. I am a lactose intolerant chocolate milk addict. I love being outside, trying new hobbies, and hiking. I always say I am passionate about people because I am! I love hearing others' stories and what drives them to do what they do. You can learn something from everyone if you take the time to listen. I have learned we are all so different, yet when it comes down to it, we are all oh so similar.
I believe it is crucial that we surround ourselves with people who have different views than ourselves and it is imperative that we learn how to have conversations about our differences in a way of learning rather than converting. I hope to meet you at one of our events this year so we can learn from each other and make a difference in our community together!
My name is Kadee Allred and I'm from Springville, Utah. I am a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in History. I love school and learning about different perspectives and world views. Throughout my time at UVU I have learned so much about listening to other people and how important it is to understand and value beliefs that may be different from my own. I am so excited to be part of the interfaith council and the work they are doing!
My name is Spencer Board. I am a senior studying philosophy and psychology. I am an existentialist, in other words, I place all value on the fact that I merely exist. I love interfaith because it allows me to catch a glimpse into the values that others choose to place on their lives. It's near impossible to truly understand each other, but having a pluralistic mindset is a good first step. Also, I sneeze in sets of six.
I am a junior of Philosophy and Art History here at Utah Valley University. Being raised in the US Army exposed me to a diversity of cultures, faiths, and perspectives from a very early age and impressed upon the notion that difference can be a strength. I am motivated to do interfaith work because I believe that to learn about and appreciate the differences of our neighbors can lead to a more peaceful community, and ultimately a more peaceful world. I believe that engagement and appreciative knowledge of others can help combat the fear that is incited by unfamiliarity. I am truly honored to work alongside other dedicated students and faculty advisors in facilitating interfaith dialogue here at UVU.
I am a senior at Utah Valley University majoring in Human Resource Management. I have always loved experiencing various cultures in the world around me. I enjoy learning about others' values, beliefs, and what makes them unique. I enjoy engaging in interfaith work and conversation. Interfaith is an amazing way to find who you are and get to know the world on a whole new level. Interfaith work is important to me because I truly believe we are "better together" despite our differences.
I am an undergraduate student at Utah Valley University studying Community Health Administration. I engage in interfaith work because I believe it is important for individuals to construct deeper understandings of other beliefs to help build strong communities and individually grow. Growing up, participating in a specific belief was not something I was raised doing. At age 21, I had a spiritual experience that has led me to engage in spiritual practices. As a result, I have come to understand by enriching my knowledge of others and their beliefs my devotional life increases.
I am a husband and a father of four. I grew up without much exposure to other religions or other cultures. After living out of Utah for two years I began to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for varied cultures. While building a business for 7 years I broadened my network even more. With this increased understanding I found a desire to learn more about those of other faiths, especially beyond the borders of my Christian upbringing. I feel that we have a duty as people together on earth to better understand one another. While raising our children we want to expose them to as many different cultures and beliefs as we can. We enjoy traveling with our children and this helps us to get them outside their comfort zone and into a world that is bigger than our local neighborhood
