Join us as we welcome Steve Smith on March 24th. Steve is the Director of Student Counseling and Psychological Services at BYU, a campus where being LGBTQ can be particularly challenging. Over the years, Steve has worked to help make BYU a more inclusive place for all students, including reaching out to those in the LGBTQ community. In 2017 he served as a moderator for a first of it's kind, school-sanctioned LGBTQ Mental Health Forum discussion on the BYU campus, where four students on a panel were asked "how has your mental health been affected as an LGBTQ student?" Steve shared that "after 25 years of working with students, many of whom identified as gay or lesbian, he believes it is important to raise awareness of the LGBTQ student population. The panelists shared their stuggles with depression and loneliness, the acceptance or rejection they have felt from family, the need for campus-based resources and ways in which straight students could be more welcoming." 

We look forward to having Steve join us at the Hearth and sharing more about his efforts to build support and awareness for LGBTQ students. 

Steve Smith is the executive director of Student Development Services and director of Counseling and Psychological Services at BYU (Provo, UT), where he has worked for the past 27 years. Steve received his bachelor’s degree in Special Education and his master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from BYU. He received his doctorate in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Prior to coming to BYU, Steve worked in counseling centers at the University of Minnesota and University of Utah. At BYU Steve has been fortunate to serve students in many ways. In addition to counseling and therapy, he has served as an instructor for student development classes and as an adjunct faculty member in the Counseling Psychology Doctoral program. When not at work, Steve can be found exploring the canyons and trails of Southern Utah with his family. Steve and his wife Klyss have three children and five grandchildren. His greatest accomplishment is that he can still make Klyss laugh after 37 years of marriage