Lead Team
Gary Lacock
Executive Director
Born in Montana, raised in Seattle Wa., earned his BA Ed. from CWU and began teaching in Washington state. He met his wife Patricia at BYU while she was completing her BA and he his MA Ed. Patricia is originally from Ecuador and raised in NJ. They live in Provo and are the parents of 5. An educator for over 30 years with teaching experience in the K-12 and Higher Education systems. Gary was a Teens Act board member before becoming the ED. He has spent his career working to support students who are "under resourced". |
Claudia Soto Saavedra 
Associate Director
Born and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, earned her BS in Sociology from BYU and currently working on her MS in Sociology at BYU as well. Claudia has worked as a Teens Act mentor and now Associate Director. She has worked as a marketing intern for Simple Citizen, as a research and teaching assistant at BYU, and an instructor at BYU. Claudia is fluent in Spanish and English and has advanced Italian language skills. She is passionate about education development. She believes every student has infinite potential and can take the next step in their education if given the right resources. |
Teens Act Lead Mentor Teachers
Provo High School Lead Mentor Teacher
Taylor Fagan is from California and most recently has lived in Arizona. Experience in previous positions has prepared her for her role as a Lead Mentor Teacher
Big Brothers, Big Sisters mentor
A respite-care provider to children with disabilities
A mentor for a teen business camp
A missionary to Bolivia
Proficient in Spanish
Most recently a masonry worker
Currently worker on her Bachelors degree at BYU
Timpview High School Lead Mentor Teacher
Elsie Pulupuna is from Tonga but has lived in Utah over the last few years. Elsie brings a number of work and educational experience.to her role as a Lead Mentor Teacher
A Bachelors in Political Science from BYU
Teacher at the Missionary Training Center in Provo
A missionary to Paris France
Proficient in French
Judicial Assistant, Teacher's Assistant, Research Assistant
A Masters of Public Administration in Non-Profit Management from BYU
Most recently a Student Life Mentor and Therapist Assistant
Currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work from the U of U
Elsie Pulupuna is from Tonga but has lived in Utah over the last few years. Elsie brings a number of work and educational experience.to her role as a Lead Mentor Teacher
A Bachelors in Political Science from BYU
Teacher at the Missionary Training Center in Provo
A missionary to Paris France
Proficient in French
Judicial Assistant, Teacher's Assistant, Research Assistant
A Masters of Public Administration in Non-Profit Management from BYU
Most recently a Student Life Mentor and Therapist Assistant
Currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work from the U of U
Teens Act Mentors
Intern
Jenessa Vincent is a Junior at BYU majoring in Psychology
She has been a Youth Camp Leader at Girl’s Camp
Helped at Home Inc. as a Personal Caregiver
A Missionary to Fortaleza, Brazil
An intramural Supervisor at BYU
Has done volunteer work at Community Action and Services Food Bank and Utah State Mental Hospital
Intern
Tamisen Deetz and her husband live in Provo Utah. She is a Junior at BYU majoring in Family Life
She is a Certified Nursing Assistant and has worked in that capacity in various states
She has also been a Youth Program Educator
While in home state of South Dakota she provided Cashier/Customer and maintenance services
She has been involved in a number of clubs and associations including; Gerontology Club, The School of Family Life Student Association, Women in Business, Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) , Pre-Management Association, Volunteer Income Tax Association, University Chorale, Family History Club, Psych Association, Random Acts of Kindness Club, Photography and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Mentor
Brooke Goold is a Senior at Utah Valley University completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with the goal of being a counselor to help students gain skills and feel confident setting goals for their life
Brooke is from St. George Utah
For the last several months Brooke has been working as a Student Career Lab Peer mentoring 10-15 peers each week, assisting with resume and cover letter compositions. As part of her responsibilities she approves on average 80 jobs daily for students at UVU to apply to on Handshake.com
She wants to make a difference in the lives of people and Teens Act is a beneficiary of her wonderful work
Mentor -translator/interpreter
Emily Qualls is a Sophomore at UVU majoring in Spanish
She is the oldest of nine children, originally from California but has lived for a number of years in Syracuse, Utah
Emily plays the piano and while in high school she was a piano teacher
Emily served a mission in Ecuador
Over the course of her year and a half mission she developed a love for the Spanish culture and language, as a result she changed her major from Music to be Spanish Education shortly after returning home
She has served on various committees for the UVU Institute of religion for one and one-half years
Emily plans to be certified to teach English as a second language and possibly teach English in other countries
In addition to being a Spanish teacher, she would like to teach piano lessons to members of the Spanish community.
Emily is learning Portuguese on her own and wants to become fluent in that language as well
Emily currently works as a Spanish Customer Service agent
She loves the outdoors, being with friends and family, and learning as much as she can at work and at school
Emily Qualls is a Sophomore at UVU majoring in Spanish
She is the oldest of nine children, originally from California but has lived for a number of years in Syracuse, Utah
Emily plays the piano and while in high school she was a piano teacher
Emily served a mission in Ecuador
Over the course of her year and a half mission she developed a love for the Spanish culture and language, as a result she changed her major from Music to be Spanish Education shortly after returning home
She has served on various committees for the UVU Institute of religion for one and one-half years
Emily plans to be certified to teach English as a second language and possibly teach English in other countries
In addition to being a Spanish teacher, she would like to teach piano lessons to members of the Spanish community.
Emily is learning Portuguese on her own and wants to become fluent in that language as well
Emily currently works as a Spanish Customer Service agent
She loves the outdoors, being with friends and family, and learning as much as she can at work and at school
Mentor
Shaine Taylor lives in Provo Utah and is a Junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Communication with an emphasis in Communication Studies at UVU
She is a Research Assistant in the Communication Department at UVU
Shaine has been a Career Peer at the Career Development Center at UVU
She was a Sales Associate in Portland, OR
She is a Research Assistant in the Communication Department at UVU
Shaine has been a Career Peer at the Career Development Center at UVU
She was a Sales Associate in Portland, OR
Mentor
Nathan Cole grew up in rural Idaho without the slightest idea that he would one day attend BYU to major in biostatistics and mathematics with a minor in molecular biology. He has worked as a research assistant in statistics and biology at both BYU and the Harvard Medical School. Nolan hopes to help students lift their vision and utilize available resources to pursue higher education. In his free time, you can find Nolan cycling or trying a new recipe.
UVU Coordinator
Emma Wilkinson is from Saratoga Springs, Utah and is a Junior at UVU
Emma attended High School at Marian Baker School in San Jose, Costa Rica and Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, Utah
She has been an Administrative Assistant, Customer Service Agent, a Mentor and Trainer
A missionary to Madrid Spain
Volunteered at Special Needs Classroom at Westlake High School
Emma has advanced knowledge of Spanish
She has attended leadership conferences in Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala
Emma attended High School at Marian Baker School in San Jose, Costa Rica and Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, Utah
She has been an Administrative Assistant, Customer Service Agent, a Mentor and Trainer
A missionary to Madrid Spain
Volunteered at Special Needs Classroom at Westlake High School
Emma has advanced knowledge of Spanish
She has attended leadership conferences in Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala
"Education is more than preparation for life. It is life itself."