Experience Design and Management News 

Nicole Utley keeps her office stocked with herbal teas and Pop-Tarts. Whenever she’s in the office, students in the experience design and management program can stop by for a treat and to chat. As the ExDM student experience administrator, Utley views “tea and tarts” as a way to help students develop clarity, competence, and confidence: clarity to see what’s possible, competence in their field of study, and confidence to take it out into the world.

Almost every part of a fan’s experience at a professional sports event—from the time they enter the parking lot until long after they’ve returned home—is designed to optimize their emotional connection to the sport. As part of a team that specializes in sports sponsorships at Keurig Dr Pepper, experience design and management alum McKade Peterson carefully considers the factors that maximize sports fans’ experiences around the globe.

Ten BYU Marriott School of Business student volunteers headed to the World Experience Summit in London with a full agenda, including setting up chairs and hosting rooms for dozens of sessions featuring CEOs and experience design professionals. By the end of the first day, though, one more item was added to the students’ itinerary: presenting a panel about their experiences in BYU Marriott’s experience design and management program.

Connor Ross, a graduate of the BYU Marriott School of Business, has aspired to break records on the track since seventh grade, when he first set his sights on beating the 400-meter race record at his middle school. What started as a teenager’s goal to crush track records has since evolved into a career in collegiate sports management, where Ross’s drive to set new goals has propelled him every step of the way.

In its April 2025 awards ceremony, the BYU Marriott School of Business recognized selected faculty, staff, and administrators for exemplifying the college’s vision, mission, values, and guiding principle in both classroom and administrative work.

Sydney Rasmussen began the experience design and management program eager to make an impact—she just wasn’t sure how her skills fit into that vision. Now in her final semester at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Rasmussen has built confidence in her ability to make the world a better place by aligning her individual strengths with real-world needs.

In March the BYU Marriott School of Business administration recognized a graduating student from each undergraduate program with the Bateman Award for their exemplary dedication to the BYU Marriott values, commitment to academic excellence, and profound drive to serve others.

Gabrielle Sorensen’s entrepreneurial journey has centered on blending creativity with meaningful client relationships. Sorensen, a 2019 BYU Marriott School of Business alumna, is the founder of her own floral design company, Fleur Gabrielle, where she strives to craft unforgettable experiences for her clients using the skills she gained as a student in the experience design and management program.

Swimming with sharks isn’t typically a precursor to entering a program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, but for Aleia Allen, a field study adventure in the Caribbean spurred her into her first semester in the experience design and management program.

Last May, students from the Department of Experience Design and Management at the BYU Marriott School of Business showcased innovative, experience-focused product demos to FamilySearch executives, garnering high praise and paving the way for a promising long-term collaboration.

At the start of the fall semester, Brigitte Madrian, dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business, welcomed 11 new faculty members to the college. “At BYU Marriott, our faculty are dedicated teachers, exceptional scholars, and transformative role models. We are thrilled to welcome these new professors and know that their insights and experience will greatly enhance the educational experience of our students.”

Among almost 300 experience design professionals gathered at the second annual World Experience Summit, BYU Marriott's ExDM students and faculty stood out for their research-driven understanding of experience design theory.

BYU Marriott School of Business dean Brigitte Madrian has announced the appointment of Mat Duerden as the new chair of the Department of Experience Design and Management. Duerden succeeds Neil Lundberg, the previous department chair, on July 1, 2024.

Each fall Peter Ward, associate professor of experience design and management (ExDM), leads his students as they climb Rock Canyon’s rugged walls. So whether in rock-climbing classes amidst breathtaking scenery or ExDM research classes within the walls of the BYU Marriott School of Business, Ward teaches students how to interlace academic and spiritual studies.

Macy LeCheminant began college in Arizona with plans to become a professional vocalist, but a challenging medical condition altered those plans. Now at the BYU Marriott School of Business studying experience design and management, LeCheminant allows her optimism to shape her opportunities.

A growing body of research shows that a student’s sense of belonging can have a significant positive impact on academic performance, retention and mental health. With that in mind, professors at BYU and Texas A&M recently asked BYU students how they anticipated their experiences on campus would impact their feelings of connectedness to BYU.

In his first semester at Brigham Young University, Aaron Scribner sustained severe facial injuries in a grisly zip-lining accident. He then overcame a steep recovery and found a renewed drive to positively impact others.

This past summer a group of ExDM students and faculty from BYU Marriott traveled through the Alaskan frontier. For two weeks, the class camped across the state to learn how exposure to nature and practicing grit can help them improve quality of life.

Katelyn Bell, a senior in the ExDM program at BYU Marriott, helped plan the launch for the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership, which included a zipline across Brigham Square on campus.

With the goal to enrich belonging on campus, the Experience Design Society (ExDS) and the Marriott Inclusion Business Society (MIBS) co-hosted "Sit with Me," an event focused on practicing collaborative dialogue.