The following is a news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. SALT LAKE CITY – The Board of Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has appointed Brian K. Ashton as the new president of Brigham Young University–Pathway Worldwide, effective August 1. Ashton will succeed Clark G. Gilbert, […]
Franklin County native and a former president of Brigham Young University-Idaho died last week.Â
Joe Christensen, the 12th president of then Ricks College, died on May 18. He was 91 years old.
Joe Christensen served as the collegeâs president from 1985-1989. He was born on July 21, 1929 and grew up in Banida, Idaho. He attended elementary school in Banida s one-room school, then graduated from Preston High School in 1946. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then served as an officer in the Air Force.Â
×
Advertisement
A funeral service was held for Christensen on Saturday in Salt Lake City. During the service, his six children, Amy Poulton, Susan Jones, Stephen Christensen, Linda Evans, Douglas Christensen and Spencer Christensen recounted their most memorable moments with their father.
The Board of Education of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has appointed Brian K. Ashton as the new president of BYU–Pathway Worldwide (BYU–PW), effective August 1, 2021.
Brian K. Ashton, then of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Sunday School general presidency, waves after speaking during a campus devotional at BYU in Provo, Utah, on Dec. 5, 2017. Ashton will become the second president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide on Aug. 1, 2021.
Gabriel Mayberry/Deseret News
Brian K. Ashton will become the second president of fast-growing BYU-Pathway Worldwide, headquartered in Salt Lake City. He will succeed Elder Clark G. Gilbert, who will be the new commissioner of education for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
Both appointments begin Aug. 1 and were made by the church’s Board of Education, which includes the First Presidency.