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Lighting the Spark in Every Student: Dawan Coombs, New Associate Dean of General Education

Dawan Coombs has always understood the life-changing power of a good teacher. Throughout her experiences in teaching, research, and mentoring, many teachers have influenced her desire to help students thrive. That same aspiration is shaping her newest role as she steps in as Brigham Young University’s General Education associate dean, bringing with her a deep commitment to help every student succeed.

Undergraduate Education programs

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News around Undergraduate Education

BYU prof whose research touches lives across Pacific, honored as Big 12 Conference Faculty of the Year

February 11, 2026 11:23 AM
Biology professor Rick Gill is the second BYU faculty to receive the honor. BYU biology professor Rick Gill bleeds blue. He’s the very definition of “all in.” In fact, you could say his heart and soul are forever connected to BYU and Cougar athletics.


Shaping the Future: Christian Barker 2025 Fulbright Scholar

By Malia Jensen February 09, 2026 12:32 PM
Christian Barker graduated from BYU in April 2025, with a degree in microbiology from at the College of Life Sciences. During the summer of 2024, Barker had the opportunity to intern at the University of Melbourne in Australia. His main focus was researching blood cancers. This sparked his interest in applying for the Fulbright.

Shaping the Future: Peter Demars, 2025 Fulbright Scholar

By Malia Jensen January 30, 2026 12:25 PM
Peter Demars has always found languages interesting. Before receiving his bachelor’s in linguistics and Portuguese from BYU’s College of Humanities in 2024, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Curitiba, Brazil for several months. After returning home due to the COVID pandemic, Demars was reassigned to Boston, Massachusetts for the remainder of his mission speaking Portuguese. Demars’ mission experiences helped to prepare him for the Fulbright Scholarship.