Darin’s nomination letter noted his excellence in the eight CRITERIA values as follows: Darin Oviatt’s educational background, business acumen, and university experience in BYU Travel Services (5 years) and BYU Continuing Education (25 years) have provided him with opportunities to extend the services and spirit of BYU in extensive and significant ways. In his current service as Associate Dean, his wisdom and skill directly influences the success of Continuing Education programs such as BYU Education Week, BYU Women’s Conference, BYU Evening Classes and the Salt Lake Center, Especially for Youth (EFY), and others.
Perhaps most notably, since 2018, Darin has been the driving and guiding force behind the adopting of the traditional EFY program by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to become the general youth conferencing experience (FSY-For the Strength of Youth) for the Church throughout the world. Darin represents BYU as its point-of-first-contact with the Church for all aspects of FSY. In addition, Darin filled an extremely critical role in the design, construction, and now the maintenance of the Caroline Hemenway Harman Building. His stewardships allow him opportunities to regularly partner with campus entities such as BYU Housing, Dining Services, Physical Facilities, General Counsel, Financial Services, Purchasing and Travel, as well as many of the university’s academic colleges and departments.
Darin shows extreme teamwork by chairing the university’s committee for out-of-state activities (OSAC). This brings together representatives from General Counsel, Payroll, Regulatory Accounting, Continuing Education, and other entities as necessary to ensure compliance as the university conducts business outside the state of Utah. He also leads weekly meetings with key stakeholders from the Priesthood and Family Department of the Church, along with personnel from across several service areas within Continuing Education, to organize and facilitate the successful operation of the FSY program across all of North America.
Darin also exemplifies the responsible use of sacred resources and acountability by being the point person for BYU with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for all things having to do with FSY. As such, Darin works with and accounts to leadership in the Priesthood and Family Department (PFD) regarding all aspects of the program, beginning first and foremost with the youth participants to assure the mission and objectives of the program are accomplished. His responsibilities also include coordinating with local ecclesiastical units (branches, wards, and stakes) and PFD. Doing so successfully requires a high degree of emotional maturity, competency, and understanding of university and Church organizational structures, and an ability to work with leadership, computer systems and other technologies, and other skills. His responsibilities include accountability to PFD for the efficient and very effective use of sacred resources (financial, personnel, program content, etc) to reach program objectives.