Meet Boyd Petersen
Deep Roots in Utah Valley
Boyd Petersen is a fifth-generation Provo resident. Some of his great grandparents were among the first pioneers in Provo. He was born in the Utah Valley Regional Hospital, attended and graduated from Utah valley schools, and grew up with a deep connectedness to Utah valley, borne of his pioneer roots and a love for the valley’s beauty. That love was nourished while fishing in Utah lakes, hunting in Utah’s mountains, and exploring Utah’s scenic byways.
Educated
Boyd graduated with a degree in French and International Relations from Brigham Young University, earned an M.A. from the University of Maryland, and a PhD from the University of Utah (don’t worry; he’s still a Cougars fan). Boyd teaches at Utah Valley State College and for the Honors Program at BYU. He was awarded a Faculty Excellence Award from the college of Humanities at UVSC. Boyd is the author of the award-winning biography, Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life, and has served on the boards of directors for the Association of Mormon Letters, Mormon Scholars in the Humanities, and the literary journal Segullah.
Experienced
Boyd worked as an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives, as non-partisan staff for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and as a Senior Information Specialist for the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. At CRS, Boyd proved his ability to work with members of Congress and their staff from both sides of the aisle, and received two Special Service Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, and a letter of appreciation from the Librarian of Congress.
Committed to Family and Service
Boyd is married to Zina Nibley Petersen, daughter of Phyllis and the late Hugh Nibley. Boyd and Zina are the parents of four children, Mary, Christian, Nathanael, and Andrew. He served an LDS mission to Paris, France and has served in many teaching and leadership positions in his church.
Want to know more about Boyd? Read his speech announcing his candidacy.