Dean's Office Staff

Dean

Richard Osguthorpe

801-422-0634
301 MCKB

In many ways, Richard Osguthorpe grew up in the McKay School, and education is practically a family business. His mother, Lolly, taught in Provo-area schools for many years, and his father, Russell, was a distinguished McKay School professor prior to his retirement in 2013. Osguthorpe himself worked as a French teacher following his own graduation from BYU, but even as an undergraduate, he was drawn to the research side of education and what he calls “the joy of seeking.” He received master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan, then spent nearly 15 years at Boise State University, preparing teachers and exploring (among other topics) his major research interest, the moral work of education. He eventually served as dean of BSU’s College of Education. Osguthorpe brought that leadership, influence, and perspective to the McKay School in 2019, continuing his research, teaching an influential undergraduate education class, and indulging his bone-deep devotion to BYU sports. He misses his regular access to rafting Idaho’s Payette River but continues to seek time on flowing water wherever he finds it. He and his wife, Gwen, also a BYU graduate, have four children.

Associate Dean

Tina Taylor

tina_taylor@byu.edu

801-422-5045
301 MCKB

Tina Taylor is a professor of special education at Brigham Young University who currently serves as an associate dean in the McKay School of Education. Professor Taylor earned her doctoral, master's, and undergraduate degrees at Illinois State University, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University, respectively.

She has worked with individuals with disabilities and their families for more than 30 years as a special educator, consultant, professor, and administrator. Her academic interests include adaptation of families raising children with disabilities, children’s literature that includes characters with disabilities, and provision of appropriate services to students with disabilities. She has published over 50 book chapters and refereed articles, coauthored several books, and made over 180 professional presentations on topics related to students with disabilities. Professor Taylor likes to ride bikes, snowboard, play games, and travel with family.

Associate Dean

Lynnette Erickson

lynnette_erickson@byu.edu

801-422-4809
301 MCKB

Lynnette B. Erickson, associate dean of the David O. McKay School of Education, has worked at Brigham Young University for a total of 26 years. Professor Erickson graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and worked as an elementary and junior high school teacher for six years. She returned to BYU for a master’s degree in teaching and learning and subsequently served as an instructor and a BYU–Public School Partnership liaison from 1986 to 1991. She left BYU in 1991 to earn a PhD from Arizona State University, returning again to BYU in 1996. As a professor, she taught social studies methods and democracy in education courses. Her research focuses on teacher preparation, program accreditation, social studies education and pedagogy, and democracy in the classroom. She has authored and coauthored numerous articles, chapters, and books on these subjects.

Professor Erickson considers herself “cougar blue through and through.” She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, quilting, and dreaming of fulfilling all the items on her bucket list.

Assistant Dean of External Relations

Michael Leonard

michael.leonard@byu.edu

801-422-8562
301 MCKB

Michael Leonard joined the McKay School of Education in 2019. He leads the external relations team with responsibilities for outreach initiatives including donor, alumni, and public relations, recruitment, mentoring, and data/website development. He has spent the majority of his career in education, most recently serving as Executive Director for the nonprofit Launching Leaders Worldwide, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at the University of Northern Colorado, and Director of External Relations at the University of Northern Colorado’s Monfort College of Business.

Michael received a bachelor’s degree in communications, and a juris doctor degree, both from BYU. He loves all things BYU, especially his family, who are also all BYU blue. Go Cougs!

Assistant to the Dean

Jeanna Nichols

jeanna_nichols@byu.edu

801-422-3695
301 MCKB

Jeanna Nichols earned her bachelor’s in English from Brigham Young University as a nontraditional student in 2008. She worked at Intermountain Healthcare for 10 years as a quality assurance specialist in transcription, which involved mentoring and training new employees and maintaining the quality of medical documents.

Jeanna has been with the Dean’s Office of Education at BYU since April 2011. She is married and has two children, who can both attest that Jeanna’s favorite thing to do is read.

Executive Secretary

Karen Strange

karen_strange@byu.edu

801-422-0634
301 MCKB

Karen Strange earned her bachelor’s in Clothing and Textiles,(emphasis construction), from Brigham Young University in 1994. She worked at SecurityMetrics for 6 years as a project manager for the product team as well as the audit group. Before SecurityMetrics, she was a stay-home mom. Prior to staying home, she worked at Talbot’s for 6 years as a training store manager, a position where she trained new store management and staff, on operations, human resource, inventory management, payroll, and merchandising.

Karen joined the Dean’s office the latter part of 2018. She is married and has 3 children and a “one-eyed” dog named Cinna. Karen loves to spend time with her family and friends, traveling, cooking, sewing, and reading any book on nutrition science and fitness.