Honored Alumna Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson: "Smile More and Other Bad Advice"

Lt. Gov. Deidre M. Henderson (BA ’21) is serving her second term as Utah’s 9th lieutenant
governor. She has dedicated her time in public office to promoting civic responsibility,
advancing an accountable and effective government, and making elections secure,
transparent, and accessible to Utah voters. Her educational and career paths were
anything but traditional. After 13 years as a stay-at-home mom, she re-entered the
workforce as a political volunteer and went on to manage a congressional campaign. In
2012, Utah County voters elected Henderson to the Utah State Senate, where she served
eight years before being elected lieutenant governor.

Lt. Gov. Henderson took office in 2021 and completed her bachelor’s degree later that year.
She walked in BYU’s April 2022 commencement ceremony alongside her son, who was
also graduating. Inspired by her own experiences, she spearheaded Return Utah, an
initiative to help others re-enter the workforce after extended absences. Lt. Gov.
Henderson and her husband, Gabe, have five children and three grandchildren