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Faculty Farewells

"Congratulations! What a wonderful accomplishment to graduate from BYU. This is a rigorous university with a veritable load of expectations. We hope that you have been challenged, become more resilient, and that your faith has been strengthened along the way. Go forth to serve, be happy, earn lots of money, and return dividends to BYU, in particular addiction research ;-). Never let school get in the way of your education!" - Scott Steffensen

"Congratulations! You've worked hard and adapted to the unique situations of your graduating class. I wish you luck as you use your BYU Psychology degree to do good in our world." - Melissa Jones

"Hey Psych grads. What a crazy time in history to be graduating. Congrats on enduring to the end. It was my pleasure to work with some of you. Extra congrats to those who survived my Psych Stats class, and even more for those who actually enjoyed it! Good luck with your future. Represent the Y. Keep in touch." - Sam Hardy

"Thank you for your good work and you many contributions to the academic program in the Psychology Department at Brigham Young University. May you be richly blessed as you now go forth to serve." - Bruce Brown

"Great job and best of luck!" - Patrick Steffen

"Congratulations! It has been a pleasure to work with you all. I am excited for what the future holds for you!" - Michael Larson

"If the world stays as crazy as it is now, as we expect, I'm glad you the ones to take it on. Stay strong. Make life better for those around you. Remember that God loves you, and everyone. And wash your hands often." - Mikle South

"Congratulations to each of our Psychology Department Graduates! We wish you well as you begin your professional lives or go on to further training. It has been an honor to serve as mentors to you during your BYU careers." - Chad Jensen

"Congratulations and my very best to the next greatest generation. Think of it; March came in like a lion (albeit a microscopic one) and you will surely have a hand in ushering it out like a lamb... soon OK. I have enjoyed learning from you and leaning on you. The highest compliment that I could pay you is to say that I now have many more friends. I will leave the porch light on for ya..." - Ben Hill

"Congratulations! Best wishes as you start the next phase of your life. I've enjoyed getting to know many of you and wish I had the chance to know more of you. Good luck -- we're cheering for you!" - Scott Baldwin

"I feel sincere joy thinking about you moving forward and making the world a better place. Congratulations on all the hard work you've devoted to your educational and personal development! May the beauty you love be what you do!" - Jared Warren

"It's almost over! (not really). Everything really starts now. You can do this!" - Shawn D. Gale

"Congratulations, you made it! It has been a pleasure to be able to be part of your undergraduate education and I look forward to the great things you'll do moving forward!" - Kat Green

"Congratulations! This is such an exciting time for you! What a memorable time to be graduating when so many things in the world are up in the air and the future is so uncertain. I can't think of any other graduates in the world who will be better prepared to face an unknown future than Psychology graduates from BYU! You will leave here with a well-deserved and hard-earned knowledge of how to understand human behavior, health, and well-being, but in light of the eternal perspective that only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring. It has been my pleasure to get to know you and work with you. I continue to learn so much from the Psychology students at BYU. You are bright, talented, and incredibly driven to succeed. Keep your heads up and look to the future with hope and brightness and help all that you can along your way through life. You have done great things and you will accomplish many more amazing things in your future. Take care of your health and focus your priorities on what matters the most and I know you will be blessed, happy, successful, and change the world for the better!" - Blake Jones

"Words alone are not enough to show how excited I am for you. I have learned so much from you, and I know you have much more to offer to society and the community at large. Chase your dreams. Never stop trying. Never stop learning. Live life to the fullest and give it nothing but your best! Please receive my heartfelt congratulations on your graduation." - Niwako Yamawaki

"Congratulations! You've shown that you can work hard. I wish you all the best as you apply what you've learned and become on the next stage of your life's journey." - Tricia Merkley

"Congratulations graduates! It has been such a pleasure to have you in class, and to be able to work with you. You are the ones who will make a difference in this crazy upside-down world. I'm cheering you on! Best of luck!" - Wendy Birmingham

"You are graduating with pandemic-inflected distinction. Heartier congratulations, therefore! May what was lost by forfeiting pomp and circumstance be fuel for fortitude and good fortune in parlaying your psychology degree. Here's to the arc of your good works and good will in an ailing world!" - Hal Miller

"Congratulations on becoming a BYU Psychology graduate! It has been a pleasure to get to know you in classes, labs and informally! I hope you will join us in a future graduation." - Gary Burlingame

"Congratulations on your graduation! It has been a joy to teach and work with so many of you through my various courses, and as teaching and research assistants. The passionate discussions about deep philosophical, theological, and scientific issues with you in and out of the classroom are by far the best part of my job as a professor here at BYU. I love your enthusiasm, your energy for learning, and your commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have truly missed being with you in person during this latter part of the semester. I will be excited to hear about the things you do in your lives after BYU. I am sure that you will accomplish many great and wonderful things. I sincerely hope and pray that you were able to take something from my classes that will prove valuable for you going forward in life. I can assure you that you have enriched my life, deepened my understanding, and strengthened my testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Bless you all!" - Ed Gantt

"Congratulations on graduating. It has been my honor to take part in your education. I wish you well on your continued journey as you take your knowledge to new heights. Few in the world are better positioned to influence the world for good. Your futures are bright and we are routing for you." - Daniel Kay

"I am so proud of you. I know finishing a degree is very hard work. I hope that, as you look back at your knowledge base and skill set at the beginning of your freshman year, you find you have grown in many ways. What an unsettling semester this has been for many of you, but the future looks bright because of you!" - Becky Lundwall

"Congratulations! BYU was better for having you here... you as individuals and you as a group. But since "the world is our campus" that will continue to be true. I'm excited for the world to have you out in it!" - Rebekka Matheson

"Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. This is just the beginning and many great things are yet to come. With so many opportunities in front of you, be optimistic and enthusiastic for the future. Enjoy and celebrate your accomplishments." - Mona Hopkins

"Congratulations on your graduation! I genuinely love attending graduation ceremonies and seeing the brightest, shiniest version of you. Although we're missing the pomp and ceremony this year, know that we're still cheering for you and with you all the best in your future endeavors. Go forth and continue to make us proud." - Brock Kirwan

"Wishing you all the best as you move on for exciting new life adventures grads. It has been wonderful teaching and mentoring many of you. We are all amazed at your brilliance, commitment, and energy for making the world a better place. Continue to serve and keep in touch!" - Derin Cobia

"I have very much enjoyed my time associating with you fine students in the graduate program. What bright, committed, talented individuals you are! As you “go forth to serve” with your psychology degree in hand, keep in mind the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.”" - Lisa Norton

"Congratulations, Class of 2020! As BYU graduates, you will now draw on a educated intellect in your continued efforts to magnify not only what you KNOW but also what you DO and, ultimately, who you ARE. We are so proud of your accomplishments! As you go forth to serve, please continue to utilize your enhanced spiritual understanding and heightened secular awareness to benefit those around you by exercising an added measure of compassion and sensitivity as the Spirit directs. Your stalwart voices are needed and your spiritual and intellectual insights will be valued by many in this ever-changing, uncertain world. Be the good, wherever you reside, always remembering that we can and must do better. All the best in your future endeavors!" - Dawn-Marie Wood

"Congratulations on this great accomplishment! I'm thankful to have gotten to know many of you and hope that you will reflect on your time here with fondness. I hope we have met the aims of a BYU education and have helped you become persons of faith, intellect, and character with a desire to continue learning and to be of service to others. If so, then your time here has been well spent. We salute you!" - Bob Ridge

"Congratulations for your hard work and perseverance during all the semesters it took to graduate. Your diligence has paid off and you have earned your degree. You are setting out post-graduation into a changed world, and the spiritual progression as well as the academic progression you have made will serve you well under these new conditions. Hold fast to your faith and do what you can to make this world a better place." - Dianne Tice