The Wonder of Scripture

John B. White is a Research Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU. He previously taught theology and ethics at Baylor University and earned his PhD from the University of Edinburgh. John also co-founded the Faith & Sports Institute and the BYU Y-Sport Program. His research focuses on how faith and ethics connect to areas like sports, medicine, and business, as well as topics such as character, morality, faith, and personal growth.

Laura Bridgewater is the Dean of the College of Life Sciences at BYU. She grew up in American Fork, Utah, and studied Microbiology at BYU. She later earned a PhD in genetics and returned to BYU as a professor. One of her main research focuses is nBMP2 and how it affects the body, including muscles and memory. Laura also studies how gut bacteria can affect physical and mental health and explores ways to use viruses to reduce harmful bacteria in the gut.

Clinton Whipple is a professor in the Biology Department at BYU. He earned his PhD from UC San Diego and completed a postdoc at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. His research focuses on the evolution and genetics of plant development, and he teaches about plant diversity and development.

Ryan Sharp is an associate professor and associate department chair in Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, where he focuses on the Book of Mormon, Isaiah, ancient scripture, and scripture teaching. His work spans both religious education and organizational behavior, with a focus on the intersection of religion, spirituality, and workplace dynamics.

Tyler Gardner graduated from BYU with a BA in English and continued on to earn his MA and PhD in English. He now works in the BYU Research and Writing Center. His research focuses on collaborative learning and peer writing support. He is interested in how writing shapes the way people see the world. Tyler helps students from different backgrounds work together and focuses on improving writing through collaboration.

Jenny Pulsipher is a professor of History at BYU. She specializes in early American and Native American history. She earned her PhD in American History from Brandeis University and has taught at BYU since 1998. Jenny's research focuses on Native American history, race, and religion, and she has written several books about Native American and colonial history.

Spencer Fluhman is an associate professor and chair of the History Department at BYU. He previously served as the executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. He graduated from BYU in Near Eastern Studies and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in History from the University of Wisconsin Madison. His research focuses on Latter day Saint history, and he has written several books and articles. Dr. Fluhman has also received multiple teaching and research awards.

Steve Harper is a Visiting Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU. He is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at BYU and the executive editor of The Wilford Woodruff Papers. He previously worked on The Joseph Smith Papers and Saints. Dr. Harper has taught at BYU, BYU Hawaii, and the Jerusalem Center. He studies early American religion and culture, as well as revelation, conversion, and apostasy. He has received multiple research and writing awards.

Michalyn Steele has taught at the BYU Law School since 2011. In 2021, she became the associate dean for Research and Academic Affairs and was named the Marion G. Romney Professor of Law in 2022. She teaches Constitutional Law, Civil Rights, Federal Indian Law, and Law and Leadership. After earning her law degree from Georgetown University, she worked as a trial attorney for the US Department of Justice. She has received multiple awards for her legal work.

Alexandra Mackenzie Johns is a playwright, director, scholar, and educator at BYU. She leads playwriting in Theatre Arts Studies and studies theatre, religion, and how stories shape communities. She has taught and worked with artists around the world and has presented research on religious theatre nationally and internationally. Alexandra’s research focuses on religious theatre and spirituality. She is interested in site specific and verbatim theatre and researches how theatre and performance connect to faith and identity.

Frederick O. Akinbo is an Associate Professor, Medical Educator, and Researcher at the BYU School of Medicine. He previously served as a professor, teaching biomedical science courses and parasitology at the University of Benin, Nigeria. He had his PhD from the University of Benin, Nigeria. His research focuses on infectious diseases among different populations in underserved communities.

Kim Matheson is a Research Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. She researches Book of Mormon theology and Christian religious practices. Kim earned her PhD in Theology from Loyola University Chicago and is the author of Helaman: A Brief Theological Introduction. Kim serves on the boards of the Book of Mormon Studies Association and the Latter day Saint Theology Seminar.