Jeanelle Carden and Savannah Heath are the two new staff for the BYU Marriott School of Business MPA program. In their respective roles, each brings fresh perspectives and expertise to help grow the MPA community and increase its impact in the world.
In her role as the recruiting and events manager, Heath draws on her skill and passion for helping people achieve their educational goals. Heath graduated from BYU in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, which became a springboard for new opportunities. “I started working for BYU–Pathway in marketing,” she explains. “It was really neat to help people who wanted to provide for their family and get a better education but didn’t know that BYU–Pathway could help them do that.”
Heath’s experience with BYU–Pathway sparked her interest in working at BYU Marriott. She realized that she could use her recruiting and marketing skills to help people who are interested in public service careers get the education they need. One way Heath raises awareness of the MPA program to prospective students is by reaching out to nonprofits and public agencies to find out if employees in their organizations are interested in enhancing their careers through a master’s degree.
Heath also organizes events that allow students to connect with one another and with the broader MPA community. New student orientation, which includes a rafting and canyoneering experience, is just one of the events that helps create belonging and forges bonds between students.
Through recruiting new students and planning events, Heath’s number one goal is to help launch and support public servants. She clarifies, “I’m really excited to help people learn about the resources available to them so they can learn and make an impact in the world.”
While Heath focuses on recruiting and welcoming new students, Carden’s role as alumni relations manager centers on growing and nurturing the alumni community, and she brings a wealth of work and life experience to that effort. After graduating from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Carden spent nearly 17 years working internationally.
Carden was drawn to BYU Marriott because of its distinct presence. “BYU Marriott is doing amazing work in the world, and now I get to support them and our future leaders,” she notes. Carden looks forward to hearing from alumni and learning about the unique impact each graduate is making. “I want to be able to get to know them so they feel comfortable with me and can share stories with me,” she explains.
The journeys of the MPA alumni continue to impress and inspire Carden, so she’s working on showcasing more of their stories. “We want to highlight all the wonderful things they’re doing because we know they’re out there changing the world,” she says. Carden knows there are many alums she has yet to meet, so she encourages all “to share their stories or to tattle on a friend,” she jokes.
Carden and Heath look forward to putting their skills into practice for the Romney Institute. Whether they’re guiding new students to the program or reconnecting with past students as they become alums, Carden and Heath hope to advance the school’s vision, mission, and values. As they do, Carden hopes to capitalize on the program’s positive environment and ensure each student and alum feels supported. Carden says, “That’s the number one priority—that they feel valued and cherished.”
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Written by Nicholas Day