Faculty and Staff Profiles
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Dana M. Pike |
Dana M. Pike is a professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He currently serves as the publications director of the Religious Studies Center (RSC) and as the editor of the Religious Educator. He has oversight on all aspects of the RSC, including soliciting articles and manuscripts, reviewing each submission, assigning reviewers, and communicating with authors on the status of projects before any editorial work begins. Born in Boston and raised in New Hampshire, Dana joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was twelve years old. Dana earned a BS in archaeology from BYU, and a PhD in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Since coming to BYU two decades ago, Dana has taught two years at the BYU Jerusalem Center, has worked as one of the International Editors of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and has been involved in researching and publishing about the Bible and the Book of Mormon. He recently finished seven years of service as the coordinator of BYU’s interdepartmental Ancient Near Eastern Studies major. He regularly teaches courses on the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the history and culture of ancient Israel. Dana is married to Jane Allis-Pike. They reside in Mapleton, Utah, and have three children and four grandchildren.
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Joan Pinegar |
Joany is originally from Minnesota. She graduated from BYU with a degree in elementary education. She taught first grade for a time and loved teaching elementary children. She also traveled across the U.S., training library personnel to use library automation software. Joany likes to read, hike, travel, and go camping. She also loves to spend time with her seven beautiful children and eight incredibly adorable grandbabies!
In her duties for the RSC, Joany works closely with the publications director, executive editor, production manager, and great student employees with all RSC publications. She also assists with travel, budgeting, media relations, special projects, and other office management responsibilities. Joany could also be called communications director since all communication addressed to the RSC goes through Joany to be recorded and processed. Anything sent any other way or through any other person runs the risk of being undocumented and lost. Submissions, return for edits, and reviews come to Joany and then are sent to the publications director for processing.
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R. Devan Jensen |
With an MA in English from BYU, Devan earned his editing spurs at Deseret Book, the LDS Church Curriculum Department, and the Ensign magazine. At the Religious Studies Center, Devan supervises a talented team of students who edit, check sources, and proofread the Religious Educator journal, the BYU Religious Education Review magazine, and about ten books a year. Three of those books won Mormon History Association awards:
- 2010—Geraldine McBride Woodward Award for Best Publication in International Mormon History for Roger P. Minert, In Harm’s Way: East German Latter-day Saints in World War II.
- 2009—Geraldine McBride Woodward Award for Best Publication in International Mormon History for Mark L. Grover, A Land of Promise and Prophecy: Elder A. Theodore Tuttle in South America, 1960–1965.
- 2006—Steven F. Christensen Best Documentary Award for Donald G. Godfrey and Kenneth W. Godfrey, eds., The Diaries of Charles Ora Card: The Utah Years, 1871–1886.
Devan has taught editing and Book of Mormon at BYU and business writing at Utah Valley University. He is an Eagle Scout, a National Merit Scholar, a songwriter, and author of God’s Greatest Gifts: 10 Reasons to Rejoice (Cedar Fort, 2010). From 2011 to 2012, Devan chaired BYU’s Administrative Advisory Committee, which handles staff and administrative awards and suggestions from around campus. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and performing magic tricks. He and his wife, Patty, live in Orem, Utah, and have four children.
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Brent R. Nordgren |
Brent R. Nordgren is the managing editor of the Religious Education Review magazine and is the production supervisor, marketing director, and a photographer for the Religious Studies Center (RSC) at BYU. As such, he oversees the design, production, and marketing, including printing, distribution, advertising, and publicity of all the RSC books, journals, and magazines. Brent is also the RSC website administrator. As such he supervises its design and facilitates the content found throughout the site. He is also the publicity coordinator for the college of Religious Education. In this capacity he maintains and creates awareness and disseminates news and information to the public and within the college. He also generates awareness for the RSC. Each year he also facilitates the coordination and implementation of the BYU Church History Symposium and the BYU Easter Conference.
At the Religious Studies Center, Brent supervises a talented team of students who design about ten books a year. Two of the books designed by his team won Mormon History Association awards:
- 2010—Geraldine McBride Woodward Award for Best Publication in International Mormon History for Roger P. Minert, In Harm’s Way: East German Latter-day Saints in World War II.
- 2009—Geraldine McBride Woodward Award for Best Publication in International Mormon History for Mark L. Grover, A Land of Promise and Prophecy: Elder A. Theodore Tuttle in South America, 1960–1965.
Brent has an entrepreneurial spirit and has owned and operated a number of businesses throughout his career. Brent received an AS degree from Utah Valley University, his BS from Brigham Young University, and an MBA from Utah State University. As a youth he received the prestigious Eagle Scout Award. He enjoys reading, writing, participating in sports, national politics, and traveling. He and his wife, Annette, live in Provo, Utah, and have four children and six grandchildren.