The Graduate's Grind: Brigham Young University- Idaho

A Man Who Cares About the Individual: Professor Scott Samuelson
By. Danielle Adams

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Professor Scott Samuelson, an English professor at Brigham Young University Idaho, is a man who believes in finding a connection between the mind, body, and spirit, who genuinely cares about his students and wants to see them excel, and who enjoys different forms of the arts and wants to share that love with others. As he teaches his students, his aim is not just to help them improve their writing skills, although that is certainly part of it; he wants to create better people, to cause his students to think and evaluate their lives and determine what they can do to become better students and better people.

 Some of Professor Samuelson’s ideas on learning and the role of the student is outlined in his essay, “How to be a Good Student.” In his essay, Professor Samuelson suggests that students need to alter their perception of school. He urges students to view assignments as a means of learning, of preparation “to enter the real world, the world of work.” He also advises students to have faith, as he believes it is the key proponent of being a good student. He states, “In school, as in so much else, attitude determines…Believe that you can succeed. Believe that this institution, including its teachers, exists to help you prosper.”

 Professor Samuelson earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He continued on to earn his doctorate from the University of California-Irvine, where he would also teach for four years. He then took a teaching position at the Air Force Preparatory School for five years. Professor Samuelson has been teaching at Brigham Young University Idaho for twenty-nine years. While teaching there, he was awarded with the Exemplary Faculty Award in 1998. He’s also had the opportunity to teach some of the beginning level sculpture classes on campus. His love for the arts extends to writing poetry, attending the theater, and painting. His watercolor portraits of the Rexburg Temple (titled “For a Sanctuary”) were displayed on campus, and a few can still be found in Rigby Hall. Some of his other collections include “Crane Dance” and “Oxford St. Ives.” Links for his artwork can be found at www.scottsamuelson.blogspot.com. 


Source: Samuelson, Scott. “How to Be a Good Student.” Web. 9 Nov. 2009.


Brother Ross Baron
By. Aubrey Kirkham

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“Brothers and Sisters! Welcome. I’m Brother Baron, and this is New Testament.” Brother Baron welcomes his students to another unique BYU-I experience. A teacher, a jokester, and a friend, Brother Ross Baron changes the lives of his students by requiring them to raise their educational bars. Taking one of Brother Baron’s classes is like catching a glimpse of your potential, and all to which you could rise.

 Brother Baron teaches religion and philosophy classes—including all four scripture-based courses, Hebrew, Ethics, and a capstone foundations course—most often in the Taylor building. His classes are informative and invigorating. Having served as a regional CES representative, a Los Angeles bishop, and as a missionary in Buenos Aires, Brother Baron is always ready with an enlightening and applicable experience. Ask him about the domestic abuse hostage situation, the missionary lost in Alabama, or the time seventy Baptist pastors showed up to a “What do Mormons believe?” Question and Answer session with Brigham Young quotes loaded on their laptops. Another popular story favorite is Brother Baron’s conversion story from Judaism.

 On a mercenary level, the workload in Brother Baron’s classes is medium, but feels lighter. The assignments help his students to explore personal goals while pushing them to deeper education. He knows all of his students by name, and works to keep his classroom “a safe learning atmosphere.” Perfectly balancing work and play, Brother Baron shares his guitar, piano, and percussion skills in class. The next time you hear “Free Fallin” by Tom Petty or “Jewish Book of Mormon Stories,” drop by and listen. The class is well worth the time. 




Brother Shane Ruebush
by: Rachel Cox

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Shane Ruebush has been teaching at BYU-Idaho for one year. He is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He met his wife at college when they were both at Utah State University. He holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from Utah State, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University. Before coming to BYU-Idaho, he was researching the work of cofactors in enzymes for hydrogen production at Montana State University.

Doctor Ruebush teaches three classes on campus: biochemistry, general chemistry lab, and Issues in Energy (a Science Foundations class). Despite the strict tradition of lecture and lab in chemistry classes, he tries to bring in new things to illustrate concepts for students and liven up the class. Once he even dared to take a poem into his biochemistry class.

 One message he hopes his students receive from his class is, “People care that they succeed.” He believes that in addition to teaching and pushing students, teachers should care about them, and wish them success He takes a personal interest in his students, enjoying how they develop and grow in his classes.

 To incoming freshmen, he says, “Don’t be afraid to work. I mean, education is not showing up; it requires work. Expect to come in and take notes, but also expect to work outside of class. A full-time employee works approximately 40 hours a week. Think about a full-time student; you should expect that same amount of time, including classes and homework.”

As Dr. Ruebush teaches, he applies both of these in his different classes. He cares about his students, learning about them, but also pushing them to learn and grow. He faces each new class as a challenge both to teach and help. 



Brother Rex Butterfield
by: Jennika Snider

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Bro. Rex Butterfield is a religion teacher here at BYU-Idaho. He has been employed at BYU-I for 3 years and before that he was a seminary teacher in Utah for 16 years. He attained his Bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University in English, Graduate degree in English at Idaho State University, and his Doctorate degree in Education Leadership. His teaching philosophy is centered around the scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 42:12-14 which states that he will, “teach the fullness of the gospel…and shall be directed by the Spirit… and if ye receive not the Spirit you shall not teach.” He has taught eight different religion classes some of them including, Doctrine & Covenants, New and Old Testament, Family Foundations, and Book of Mormon.  He is married to a wonderful wife with whom he has four children under the age of 11. They have one cat named Lacy and it’s Bro. Butterfield’s job is to clean the litter box. He claims it’s easier to clean it himself than to have to clean it up after his six year old son tries to clean it. His favorite piece of literature is Milton’s Paradise Lost, and TheLord of the Rings Trilogy and It’s a Wonderful Life are some of his favorites movies.  He enjoys running and playing racquetball, but most of all he enjoys being a daddy.