Presenter Profiles

Dean E. Barley is a licensed psychologist and serves as the associate director of Clinical Services at the Brigham Young University Comprehensive Clinic. Dr. Barley received a bachelors degree in psychology from BYU, a master of social work degree from the University of Utah, and a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from Brigham Young University. He has coauthored articles on outcomes in psychotherapy and overcoming negative family influences. Dr. Barley has served in a variety of Church callings, including bishoprics, as a stake high councilor, as an elders quorum president, and in various teaching positions; he has served for many years in the Young Men and Scouting programs. He and his wife, Karren, have seven children and one grandchild.

Ronald E. Bartholomew is a full-time instructor in the Religion Department at Brigham Young University, and over the years he has taught for a variety of Church Education System programs, including seminary, institute, Especially For Youth, Best of Especially For Youth, and Education Week.  After completing his two-year rotation assignment in the Department of Ancient Scripture, he will return to his position at the Orem Institute of Religion beginning July 2009. He is currently serving in the Church as the 16- to 18-year-old Sunday School teacher and a high priest group instructor.  After serving a mission to Pusan, Korea, Ron received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU and a doctorate in the sociology of education from the University of Buckingham in London, England.  He and his wife, Kristen, are the parents of seven children, ages 7–23.  Ron enjoys walking with his wife and biking.

Stephen F. Duncan, Ph.D., CFLE, is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. He serves as director of content development for the highly regarded BYU television series Real Families, Real Answers. Dr. Duncan specializes in strengthening marriages and families through outreach family life education. He is the author of numerous publications for professional and general audiences. He has served in numerous Church callings, including as a bishop. He and his wife of 26 years, Barbara, live in Provo, Utah, and are parents of five children.

James M. Harper, a professor at Brigham Young University, is a licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist. He has worked directly with children, couples, and families and has lobbied in behalf of family interests in government decision–making bodies for over 25 years. Author of two books, Uncovering Shame: Integrating Individuals with Their Family Systems and Birth Order Roles and Sibling Position in Individual and Family Therapy, he has also published numerous research and magazine articles. His recent research interest has focused on older marriages and parents’ relationships with their adult children. He is a fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Harper and his wife, Colleen, are the parents of five children. He served as president of the Korea Pusan Mission and as president of the BYU 21^st Stake; he is currently a Gospel Doctrine teacher in the Timpanogos Park Second Ward.

Alan J. Hawkins is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. He received his doctorate (PhD) from Pennsylvania State University in human development and family studies in 1990 and has been teaching and researching about family life since then. His recent research interests include interventions and policies to strengthen marriage as the fundamental unit of society. He was a visiting scholar in 2003–2004 with the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, helping with the federal government’s healthy marriage initiative. He is chair of the Utah Commission on Marriage. Dr. Hawkins and his wife, Lisa, are approaching their 33^rd wedding anniversary.

E. Jeffrey Hill is an associate professor of family life at Brigham Young University. He received a master’s degree in organizational behavior from BYU in 1984 and a doctoral degree in family and human development at Utah State University in 1995. Before coming to BYU in 1998, Dr. Hill worked for IBM for more than 20 years as a researcher and expert in work and family issues. He helped pioneer telecommuting and other flexible work arrangements at IBM in the early 1990s. Dr. Hill has published more than 40 scholarly articles and book chapters and has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences on work and family. He and his wife, Tammy, are blending a family of 12 children and 9 grandchildren. Dr. Hills’ first wife passed away in 2005. He has served in the Church as a bishop, high councilor, ward mission leader, and Young Men president and in many other callings.

Jenet Irene Jacob is an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Her research focuses on the well–being of mothers, particularly in the experience of work and family life. Before coming to BYU, she completed a doctorate in family social science at the University of Minnesota and a fellowship with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., where she studied nonmaternal child care. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in Linguistics–TESOL. She is the fifth child in a family of 11 children and an aunt to 37 nieces and nephews.

JeaNette G. Smith is a licensed marriage and family therapist (L.M.F.T.) practicing in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the author of three books, including Unsteady: What Every Parent Absolutely Must Know About Teenage Romance (Covenant Communications, 2008.) She taught seminary and institute for seven years and is currently teaching gospel doctrine. JeaNette and Bret have been married for 27 years and are the parents of four children.

Elder Gordon T. Watts, released Seventy, is a graduate of Weber State University and Utah State University. He served in the U.S. Army and is a retired sales executive with Ford Motor Company. A returned missionary (Hawaiian Islands), Elder Watts has been a bishop and a stake president twice, and he has also served as a regional representative, president of the Philippines Quezon City Mission, a General Authority on the Young Men General Board, and president of the Ogden Utah Temple. He currently serves as a temple sealer and is on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America of Northern Utah. Elder Watts is married to Connie Welling, and they are the parents of two sons and two daughters and have 19 grandchildren.