BYU Studies
Since 1959

John W. Welch was educated at Brigham Young University (B.A. history 1970; M.A. Latin and Greek 1970), studied Greek philosophy at Oxford University (St. Edmund Hall 1970–72) and law at Duke University (J.D. 1975). He is the Robert K. Thomas Professor of Law at the BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he teaches tax classes and also courses on law in the ancient Near East, the Old and New Testaments, and the Book of Mormon, and a seminar on Joseph Smith and the law. He is the author of many books and articles, and his editing experiences include: Articles Editor of the Duke Law Journal (1974–75), series editor and editor of several volumes in the Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, one of the editors of Macmillan's Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1988–92), and editor of BYU Studies since 1991. Founder of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (in 1979) and Director of Special Projects in the BYU Religious Studies Center (1986-88), he has been involved in numerous research projects dealing with LDS scripture, history, culture, and thought, including chiasmus in the Book of Mormon and volumes on Isaiah, King Benjamin's speech, Lehi's Jerusalem, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the Sermon on the Mount. He has served twice as a bishop and also as a counselor in the BYU 14th Stake presidency. He is married to Jeannie Sutton; they have four children and eight grandchildren.

Roger joined the BYU Studies team in June 2006 after serving seven years as a senior editor at the Ensign and the Liahona. Prior to that he was, as his wife likes to put it, self-unemployed (running his own business, the funcompany, but not making much money). In a former life, he taught for nine years at BYU's Marriott School of Management and edited the school's alumni magazine. Roger earned a BA in German and an MBA, both from BYU. He likes to write books in his dwindling spare time. Four have been published—two fiction, two nonfiction. The rest are waiting to be discovered. He is married to Sheri Peterson, and they have four children, two currently studying at BYU. Roger enjoys playing basketball (at an ever-slower pace), reading everything from cosmology to economics, watching way too many athletic events, teaching, playing piano and guitar, writing letters to the editor, eating chocolate, and watching his kids do yard work.

Before his position at BYU Studies, James Summerhays was New Media Editor at Deseret Book and most recently an Administrator in the Continuing Education Department at BYU. Having been involved in the publishing world in some capacity since the time he was sixteen, he has always been fascinated with different mediums of communicating ideas. "Communication, whether it be in art, music, or the written word has always been my passion. The challenge of expressing a lofty idea with clarity and persuasion has always intrigued me. I never tire of it. If there were a way to perfectly capture the true essence of the Restoration through a symphony, or if there were a way that the clever turn of a phrase could powerfully capture the reality of some exalted principle, then I am interested in that way." James has published numerous articles and has recently produced the documentary Witness the Restoration: The Smith Family Artifacts and Their Story. James and his wife Mary have five children, and he enjoys golf, composition, art, basketball (at least back when he could jump), and reading 'till all hours of the night.

Jennifer Hurlbut is a managing editor at BYU Studies. She received a B.A. in international relations from BYU. Introduced to BYU Studies by her parents' subscription and by her friends Annette and Eric Samuelsen, she started as a volunteer in 1994 and never left. She is grateful for the training she received from Doris Dant, Nancy Lund, and Angela Ashurst-McGee. Jennifer enjoys editing the BYU Studies journals and books: her favorite projects to date are BYU Studies special issues on Masada and on Islam and the book Educating Zion. She is married to Jesse Hurlbut, Associate Professor of French at BYU; they are the parents of four children. Before settling in Utah, they lived in France, California, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Heather Seferovich earned an M.A. in American social history BYU. In addition to winning state grants and writing lesson plans for elementary and secondary students, she has published encyclopedia and magazine articles, textbook modules, family histories, and tourist brochures. She originally was hired at BYU to work on The Story of Masada and The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibitions. As Coordinator of Public Programs at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, she team taught museum practices classes, trained docents, and oversaw public relations efforts. In 1999 she accepted an editing position at BYU Studies, where she worked on publications for the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History. Since that time she has edited over fifty books on Mormon history. Currently, as Senior Executive Editor at BYU Studies, she splits her time between duties on the Joseph Smith Papers project and the journal.

Robert Spencer got his start at BYU Studies in March 1999, after graduating from BYU with a B.A. in English. He is the production editor for all BYU Studies journals. He has overseen the desktop publishing for more than 12 issues of BYU Studies and many other projects during his four years. Some of those major projects include Trial Furnace Art Belief Meaning, Homeward to Zion, Nauvoo, the Church Archive DVDs, and several dissertations. Robert's passions include classical and folk music, soccer, international peoples and cultures, his wife, Alison Hill Spencer, and their two sons.

Annette Samuelsen is the office/subscription manager for BYU Studies. She started at BYU Studies in 1995 by handling all financial matters. Currently she deals with orders and subscriptions, hiring, payroll, and billing. Annette enjoys working with and helping the subscribers and customers. She also likes to read the personal essays in the journal. Annette, her husband, Eric Samuelsen—a member of BYU Studies editorial board—and their four children reside in Provo, Utah.

Liza Olsen started at BYU Studies in February of 2003. Her work includes tracking article submissions and book reviews, handling contracts, facilitating editorial boards, and assisting in the organization of the BYU Studies Academy. This group functions in an advisory capacity to the editors and the editorial boards of the journal and is comprised of scholars and experts in many fields. These men and women bring ideas for issues and articles, books to be reviewed, special projects, and support for the overall future of BYU Studies. Liza enjoys the outstanding people with whom she comes in contact at BYU Studies. She studied English at BYU, speaks German and loves food and traveling. Liza and her husband, Michael Olsen, have six children.

Eden Rasmussen was hired in September 2000 as a writer for BYU Studies' LDSFAQ website (specially made for the Winter 2002 Olympics), which attempts to answer frequently asked questions about the Church. Upon receiving her B.A. in humanities, Eden became the full-time web editor for BYU Studies. Now Eden maintains several websites and provides computer support for BYU Studies. Her most recent projects include the Charles Rich DVD Library, the CD for the latest Spencer W. Kimball biography titled Lengthen Your Stride, as well the Joseph Smith Chronology website. One of the first projects she worked on at BYU Studies was the production of a two-volume set of DVDs: Selected Collections from the Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before working for BYU Studies, Eden worked as an editorial intern for FARMs and a compiler for Bookcraft. She is the owner of a small business called Eden's Garden of Flowers and enjoys reading and traveling; she is a connoisseur of fine art and dark chocolate.