2023-2024 Student Alumni Executive Board
President
Emma Rae Francis
Emma Rae Francis is a senior studying Human Resource Management and is preparing to pursue a PhD after graduation. Emma Rae is the third of ten children and grew up in Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah. She served in the Hungary/Romania Mission and spends her summers hiking and working in New Mexico. Her family currently lives in Okinawa, Japan, and her favorite things to do with them are snorkel, swim, and play at the beach. She has enjoyed all of her experiences at BYU with many student groups across campus and is excited to serve the students of BYU by building connections between students and alumni. Go Cougs!
Executive Vice President
Tess Mix
Tess was born in Arizona and raised to love BYU. She is a senior studying Experience Design and Management. She is passionate about what she studies and could not be more thrilled to be doing it at her dream school. She is pursuing a career as a creative event designer and finds so much fulfillment in creating meaningful experiences for others. She served a mission in Atlanta, Georgia and has spent her college summers working in Provo Canyon. Tess's love for BYU comes from the profound experiences she has had, the lifelong friends she has made, and the wonderful opportunities she has had to be involved in the Cougar Nation. She is stoked to help students and alumni alike, connect to BYU and find their own excitement in being forever cougars!
Vice President of Traditions
Celeste Ashdown
Celeste grew up moving all over the Western United States as the caboose of seven children. She is a senior in the Experience Design and Management Program with a special love for Korea that made her decide to also minor in Asian Studies. Celeste served a full time mission for the Church in Newport Beach California, learning to love the West Coast and its perfect weather while she was there. Moving around so many times greatly influenced her love for people getting to know and share their unique stories. This love and her passion for music have influenced her decision to pursue a career in large event planning and what originally drew her to the mission of Student Alumni. Celeste's time at BYU has been defined by various activities on campus including concerts, sports, volunteer service, and her many on-campus jobs. She wasn't raised to come to BYU, but she still remembers the moment she began to bleed Blue during her first BYU Women's Volleyball game. She is thrilled to be able to be helping connect students and alumni to BYU through Tradition Events this upcoming year.
Vice President of Philanthropy
Kate Lindsay
Kate Lindsay is a senior studying Political Science: Global Development with a minor in Business. She grew up in Missoula, Montana and is the oldest of ten children (all girls except for eight of them). Because of global experiences in Nepal, Japan, England, and India, and a mission in Bakerfield, California, she is especially passionate about alleviating the refugee crisis, empowering students through education, and creating partnerships to build sustainability. At BYU, she has enjoyed working and serving with the Honors Program, YServe Refugee, Record Linking Lab, Ballard Center for Social Impact, and especially with Student Alumni. Outside of school, she loves pickleball, tennis, running, reading biographies, and traveling. She is thrilled to work with her fellow board members on Cougstival, Choose2Give, and being #ConnectedforGood at BYU!
Vice President of Marketing
Sage Payne
Sage Payne was raised in the desert of Las Cruces, New Mexico where she gained a love for green chiles and breakfast burritos. She is currently studying Public Health, Health Promotion and minoring in Global and Community Impact, with the hope someday to "go forth to serve" by improving immigrant health in the nonprofit sector. She served a mission during the COVID-19 pandemic--and was fortunate to be able to meet and love people in both Salem, Oregon and Santiago, Chile. Sage has been involved with the BYU Alumni Association since 2019 and is grateful for the opportunity this year to get involved and serve her fellow students as part of the Student Alumni Executive board. She loves getting to know people, especially when it involves going outside, trying something new, and getting out of her comfort zone. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, running, and laughing until her stomach hurts.
Vice President of Connections
Rayelle Poulsen
Rayelle grew up in Mesa, Arizona and is the youngest of four children. She served a mission for the Church where she found a greater love for the Savior and for the Spanish language. She is currently studying Spanish at BYU and figuring out life while creating new experiences and adventures. Some of her favorite things to do include spending time with God, meeting new people, laughing, playing pickleball, and baking. Serving others is one of the greatest joys in Rayelle's life and she's looking forward to planning events that serve BYU and the community around us. Being a part of Student Alumni is something Rayelle had never imagined she would have participated in when she started her education at BYU, but there's nothing she would change in how she's been involved in this organization. She's very excited to go forth and serve in this new position!