Dr. Richard M. Houseman has been the dean of BYU Continuing Education since 2023, overseeing programs that provide flexible university and high school credits for students worldwide and host conferences and workshops for youth and adults both on- and off-campus. He holds a BS (’93) in Biology-Secondary Education and MS (’96) in Zoology from Brigham Young University. He received a PhD (‘99) and did postdoctoral work in Entomology at Texas A&M University. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserve. He joined the faculty at the University of Missouri (‘00) and became a tenured professor of urban and medical entomology and later the entomology program chair. He received various awards for his research, teaching and outreach. His research examined the landscape ecology of termite, ant and mosquito communities, with a focus on the spatial distribution of foraging activity of subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes. He has conducted international research in Central America, Africa, and Asia. He served as a mission president in the Brazil Recife Mission and was employed as the manager of In-Field Services in the Church’s Missionary Department. He supervised day-to-day support for the security, health, and safety of missionaries and mission leaders in more than 400 missions and 10 missionary training centers worldwide. He and his wife Lori have six children and soon-to-be nine grandchildren. He loves spending time with his family.

Jeffrey F. Ringer is an associate international vice president and previously served as director of the BYU’s David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies (2002–16). Prior to joining the Kennedy Center as associate director in 1992, Ringer was a visiting instructor of political science at BYU. His primary research and writing interests are in the field of U.S. and Asian relations. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and international relations, respectively, from BYU and did doctoral work in political science at the University of Colorado.

Stan Benfell currently serves as an associate international Vice President and as director of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies. Benfell is a professor of comparative literature. He received PhD and MA degrees in comparative literature from New York University, and a BA from BYU. His research focuses on European literature from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, and he is the author of numerous studies concerning Italian, French, and English literatures. His previous assignments include chair of the department of Comparative Arts & Letters, coordinator of the European Studies program, and associate director of the Kennedy Center. He has co-directed or directed five Study Abroad programs at BYU’s London Centre.

Landes Holbrook is the senior manager over global security, health, and safety for Brigham Young University. Holbrook is active professionally with colleagues across the country in research and publication/presentation of global security issues and practices in education abroad programming. He is the university’s key contact for government, nongovernment, and other professional organizations working with international security, safety, travel, and health issues. Currently, he serves under invitation from the U.S. Secretary of State as one of thirty Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) committee members. Previously, he served as national co-chair of the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) Health and Safety Committee in Education Abroad, Academic Dean of the NAFSA Health and Safety in EA Workshop, and founding member of the Academia Working Group and PULSE (University international security professionals). Holbrook provides international security assessments of international security, safety, and health risks, provides analysis for university administration regarding travel policy and procedures, and conducts program security advance work, crisis management, and implements training programs for BYU students, faculty, and staff. He received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature from the University of Utah, master’s degrees in linguistics and public administration from Brigham Young University and studied abroad at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City and Cuernavaca. Currently, he is an adjunct teacher for Teacher Education and the Alpine School District. He has directed over 600 BYU student interns abroad and has led BYU education abroad group programs to Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.