President
Brian K. Ashton
Brian K. Ashton was appointed by the Board of Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the second president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide in 2021. He served as the organization's first vice president of field operations from 2018 to his appointment.
President Ashton previously led an EdTech start-up. He received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Harvard University.
From 2015 to 2019, he served as Second Counselor in the Church’s Sunday School General Presidency. He has also been a president of the Texas Houston South Mission, bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, and missionary in the Peru Lima Mission. He and his wife, Melinda, are the parents of seven children.
executiveoffice@byupathway.org
BYU-Pathway Administration
Associate Administrator of Instruction, Seminaries and Institutes of Religion
Rory Bigelow
Rory Bigelow earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Brigham Young University. He has worked for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion (S&I) for over 25 years in various teaching and administrative assignments. He has overseen programs in South America and the United States. He currently supervises human resources, curriculum services, online learning programs, and training services for S&I.
Vice President of Curriculum
Milton Camargo
Milton Camargo earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Instituto Militar De Engenharia and an MBA from Brigham Young University. He has previously worked as the CEO of Universidad Tecnologica de Mexico (Unitec), part of Laureate International Universities, and the president of AOL Brasil. In April 2019, he was called to serve in the Sunday School General Presidency.
System Liaison Officer
Ryan Carstens
Ryan Carstens earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. He earned a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He has worked as a college president in two different states, a faculty member for over 36 years, and a leader serving in administrative and executive roles in two colleges. He has designed online and campus systems that span the entire student life cycle and has supported college efforts to improve student success.
Chief Information Officer
Troy Davis
Troy Davis received a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in information systems management from Brigham Young University. He has worked for Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and the Church in various IT positions, including director of technology for the Missionary Department and director of international area IT operations.
Vice President of Advancement
Matt Eyring
Matt Eyring graduated from Harvard Business School. He has worked as the chief strategy and innovation officer of Vivint Smart Home and a managing partner of Innosight, a global strategy and innovation consulting firm. As BYU-Pathway’s first vice president of advancement, he leads career development efforts to help students improve their employment.
Executive Office Coordinator
Lauri Grier
Lauri Grier graduated from the University of Redlands with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has served in the office of multiple university presidents such as the presidents of the University of Rochester and the University of Redlands. She has spent over 20 years in administration within higher education.
Vice President of Administration
J.D. Griffith
J.D. Griffith earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Utah State University, followed by a doctoral degree from Northcentral University. He has worked at BYU-Idaho as a faculty member in the College of Business and as an administrator in the Division of Continuing Education. He also worked in the athletics department at Utah State and Washington State University as the director of sports marketing. As the first-ever BYU-Pathway employee, he has assisted with the creation of the original program.
Vice President of Curriculum
Eric Karl
Eric Karl graduated from Brigham Young University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering. He earned a doctorate in instructional design from Idaho State University. He spent 20 years as a faculty member and administrator at BYU-Idaho. Additionally, he worked in several technical leadership positions at Intel Corp, General Electric, and TRW.
Vice President of Global Engagement and Operations
Todd Miner
Todd Miner earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He began his career in systems and management consulting, working for various technology companies in Silicon Valley. He then served with his wife, Andrea, as mission leaders of the Cameroon Yaoundé Mission. In his current role, he works closely with Welfare and Self-Reliance, area presidencies, and local priesthood leadership throughout the world.
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Morrin
Jeff Morrin graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration. He worked as the university resources vice president at BYU-Idaho. He has worked as the CFO of Vivint Smart Home, Inc. In addition, he worked for Ford Motor Company, Honeywell, Multilink Technology Corporation, Black & Decker, and Insight Health.
Rion Needs
Rion Needs graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He spent 30 years as a senior executive and CEO in the financial services industry. He has also worked for the Missionary Department, helping with strategic development, process improvement, data analysis and management, and reporting and product development. Needs oversees BYU-Pathway’s work with friends of the church, and coordinates with the Missionary Department.
Vice President of Student Success
Ben Packer
Ben Packer received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate from the University of Arizona. He has worked as the managing director of student services at BYU-Idaho. Additionally, Packer has worked in administrative positions at the University of Kansas and the University of Arizona and as executive vice president for student affairs at Erie Community College.
BYU-Idaho Online Vice President
Kendall Peck
Kendall Peck received an associate degree from Ricks College and bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in chemistry from the University of Utah. He previously worked as a BYU-Idaho faculty member in the Department of Chemistry. In his current role, Peck helps maintain a close connection between BYU-Idaho’s and BYU-Pathway’s online curricula.
Executive Office Chief of Staff
Nathan Relken
Nathan Relken earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, a master’s degree in higher education administration, and a doctoral degree in education. He has served in various college administration roles for over 20 years.
Director of Human Resources
Brittany Shipp
Brittany Shipp earned a bachelor’s degree from BYU-Idaho and a master’s degree in human resources at Utah State University. She started her career in human resources at BYU-Idaho, helping with the first Pathway program job posting in 2010. In 2017, she accepted the invitation to move to Salt Lake City to assist in the creation of BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
Ensign College Online Vice President
Alan Young
Alan Young received undergraduate degrees from Ricks College and Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Utah State University. He has worked for two decades in university administration, focusing on online education, first at BYU-Idaho and now at Ensign College in partnership with BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
executiveoffice@byupathway.org