April 25, 2024
With graduation around the corner, we want to take a moment and highlight the eight students from the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences who have been named valedictorians for 2024 graduation services.
These students represent each department in the college and are selected based on GPA, professor recommendations, and department involvement. Further details about each of the valedictorians is provided below.
Here are a few details graduates need to keep in mind concerning the festivities:
Commencement will take place April 25 at 10 a.m. in the Marriott Center. For in-person attendees, the Marriott Center has adopted a NO BAG policy. If you’re unable to attend the event in person, commencement will be broadcasted on BYUtv, BYU Radio, and Classical 89 KBYU-FM. For more information, visit the commencement website.
Convocations will take place April 25–26, with varying times and locations depending on your college and major. Find the specific time and location for your graduate here.
To attend the commencement ceremony, all guests require a ticket. Each graduate may request up to three guest tickets. Tickets for guests can be requested in the portal no sooner than 24 hours after an application for graduation has been submitted. Tickets will be distributed electronically the week of commencement. Graduates will not personally need a ticket for commencement. The ticket portal will close on Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. Order tickets here.
For graduates, if you haven’t ordered a cap and gown, you can do so in-person at Last Chance, the week of commencement in the Hinckley Center on April 23–24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also purchase just the accessories (tassel and stoles). Only credit and debit cards are accepted. In-person payments by cash, Apple Pay, tap-to-pay, and Venmo are not accepted. If you have any questions please visit the website or reach out to capsandgowns@byu.edu.
Congratulations to all 2024 graduates — we’re proud of you!
Valedictorians
Anthropology: Jenna Norris
Jenna Norris is an anthropology major with an emphasis in archaeology. She had several unique opportunities because of her major including the chance to analyze ancient Egyptian textiles as part of an internship with Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, excavate sites in Egypt and Jordan, as well as her current work as a Registrar at BYU’s Museum of Peoples and Cultures.
Though Jenna Norris was hesitant at first, her decision to choose anthropology as her major has greatly blessed her life. From Orem, Utah, Norris was interested in archaeology from a young age, leading to her choosing it as her emphasis in college.
After all these years, Norris is grateful for how this program pushed her to learn new things and she feels indebted to the professors that have helped her get to this point. She’s now pursuing a PhD in Middle Eastern art and archaeology, something she couldn’t have done without the growth from her experiences as a student.
Economics: Allen Coulson Otterstrom
In Fall of 2018, Allen Otterstrom’s childhood dream of one day attending BYU came true. A Provo, Utah native, Otterstrom took an academic break to serve a two-year mission from 2019–2021. After returning, he declared his major in economics, alongside mathematics and global studies.
Keeping up with his studies was difficult, yet fulfilling, especially when his son was born during Allen’s junior year. During his time as a student, he was able to be a research assistant for Dr. Joe Price as well as a teaching assistant for Dr. Brigham Frandsen—opportunities that he enjoyed immensely.
Now, married to his eternal companion and ready to graduate, Allen plans to work as a Research Professional at the University of Chicago for two years before pursuing a PhD in economics.
Family Life: Emily Burdette
After serving a mission, Emily Burdette returned home to Saratoga Springs, Utah shortly before getting to BYU and declaring herself a family and consumer sciences education major.
Burdette enjoys working with students as they learn to find their own passions and explore the opportunities that lie ahead of them.
Besides her professional ambitions, Burdette also enjoys spending time with loved ones, baking, quilting, and upholstery.
Burdette is grateful for all the mentors that have been able to make her dreams come true, whether it was her professors, supervisors at the Upholstery shop, or the food lab on campus. With her degree, she plans to launch a career teaching full-time in the Fall.
Geography: Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller, from Eagle, Idaho, majored in geography with an emphasis in geospatial science and technology. Born deaf, the majority of Miller’s hearing comes from a cochlear implant he received at age three.
For the past year, Miller has worked in the Geospatial Services and Training Lab at the Harold B. Lee Library and has completed several geographic information system (GIS) related internships.
Miller believes maps hold great value in the way that they can provide a perspective on the world that can’t be seen any other way and have useful application in every discipline.
In his free time, Miller likes to play sports and exercise. He hopes, from the skills he’s developed in school, to make a lasting positive impact on the world.
History: Emma Griffin
Emma Griffin, a history major from Andover, Massachusetts, has enjoyed learning about the history of different peoples across the world while at BYU. Her studies have included a focus on the early modern Atlantic world, the history of slavery, and the empire of the Caribbean.
Griffin has spent time working as a research, teaching, and editorial assistant for professors in the History Department, as well as an editor for BYU's undergraduate historical journal the Thetean. Griffin also worked as the President of BYU's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, a national History Honor Society.
The next step in her academic career will be at NYU next fall, where she will pursue a PhD in Atlantic History. Griffin’s grateful for all the professors who’ve helped her accomplish her dreams, but she’s especially appreciative to her family and friends for all their support.
Political Science: Julia Chatterley
After becoming an avid fan of the political drama TV series “The West Wing,” Julia Chatterley decided to major in political science, with a minor in statistics and legal studies.
Chatterley grew up as an army brat and moved locations often, living in locations such as Arizona, Colorado, and Germany. Once she got to BYU, Chatterley’s passion for research took her to Morocco, Spain, and Malaysia, focusing on comparative and international politics.
Chatterley also worked as the co-president of the BYU Political Affairs Society, co-president of Students for International Development, and editor of BYU’s politics newspaper The Political Review. She’s thankful for how mentors, professors, and family supported her time as a student.
Psychology: Dantzel Lily Petersen-Hancey
Dantzel Lily Petersen-Hancey, a psychology major from Moxcee, Washington, is passionate about advocating for societally disadvantaged individuals, including immigrants.
While at BYU, Pertersen-Hancey worked with several professors and organizations, including extensive mentoring with Dr. Bean on his MORE project, working with the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Biofeedback lab, and being an advocate for the mental health awareness club NAMI.
Her education at BYU has continued to foster her love of Christ and covenants, as well as running, health, and violin. She looks forward to pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology this fall.
Sociology: Tatum Anderson
Tatum Anderson, a sociology major with minors in global women’s studies and communications, became interested in these studies through local social movements and volunteerism back in her home in Mebane, North Carolina.
Anderson participated in research aimed at improving the experiences of underserved communities including first-generation college students and immigrant adolescents. While at BYU, she interned abroad in Poland and the Czech Republic, which solidified her interest in quantitative research and policy analysis.
After graduating, Anderson plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy, hoping to address social inequalities through policy research. She’s thankful for the help she received from the sociology faculty, family, and friends.