Graduate Studies Summit

Christopher A. Mattson

Christopher A. Mattson
BYU Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Christopher A. Mattson is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering with expertise in product development, engineering design, multidisciplinary design and optimization, and engineering for global development. He earned a PhD in from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2003), was a mechanical design engineer (1996-2000) and the global director of engineering (2004-2006) at ATL Technology. He is an NSF CAREER awardee and received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE) from Barack Obama in 2012. He was a Fulbright Fellow at the Loughborough Design School in England. He holds multiple US patents and is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Jayme Slaughter, Program Coordinator

Jayme Slaughter, Program Coordinator
BYU Outdoors Unlimited

Jayme is the program coordinator at BYU Outdoors Unlimited. Her job is to take you all on awesome adventures! She loves being outside, movies, baking, cooking, and napping. A wildflower enthusiast to the core, she uses them an excuse to pause while hiking uphill. 😉 Feel free to use that excuse as well.

Tiffany Turley Bowcut

Tiffany Turley Bowcut
Assistant Athletic Director

Tiffany Turley Bowcut is an Assistant Athletic Director at Brigham Young University, with responsibility for the Athletics Department’s employee experience efforts. Prior to serving in the Athletics department, Tiffany served as the university’s Title IX Coordinator, a role in which she oversaw all sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment cases at the university. Tiffany served in that position for over six years, and when she left, she was amongst the longest-tenured Title IX coordinators in the entire United States.

A native of Salt Lake, Tiffany earned her bachelor’s degree from BYU and her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Westminster College. Prior to working at BYU, Tiffany worked for the State of Utah for ten years in varying capacities, including the Governor’s Office, the legislature, and with the Department of Workforce Services.

Tiffany is a passionate advocate for women, families, and education and over the years has spent countless hours volunteering and serving with programs, charities, and organizations that specifically support and empower victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. She previously served as an ambassador for the Utah Women in Leadership Project and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for South Valley Services. In 2018, Tiffany was recognized by Utah Valley Magazine as one of their “Fabulous 40” people of the year for her work in ending sexual violence in Utah. Tiffany is married to her best friend and the love of her life, Tom, and they have three children.

Tom & Gayle Holdman

Tom & Gayle Holdman
Holdman Studios

For over 33 years, Tom and Gayle Holdman and their team at Holdman Studios have created renowned art glass in all 50 states and 40 countries, including over 150 temples for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their Roots of Knowledge windows at UVU, hailed as one of the greatest stained glass works of the past century, celebrate human progress. Tom, who overcame a severe stutter through art, founded Holdman Studios at 21, funding his dream by going door to door. Studying European masterpieces deepened his commitment to creating monumental works that inspire worldwide. Gayle, a designer, best-selling author, and certified Applied Positive Psychology specialist, brings vision and meaning to their projects. Together, they lead a global team pushing the boundaries of glass art—but their proudest creations remain their children, who carry on their legacy of uplifting the world.