The Healthy Humans Project began within Aubrey-Dawn, Sydney and Rian long before the three of them ever met. Throughout their individual life experiences, each gained a burning passion and desire to learn all they could about how to have a healthy self, home, and family. While at Brigham Young University, the three teamed up for a group project, and it was there that the Healthy Humans Project was born.
Founders
Rian Gordon
Rian Nicole Gordon is from Orem, Utah. Rian graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life and Human Development. She is married to her best friend Mark, and they have one son and a daughter on the way. Apart from her full-time job as a stay-at-home mom, she is currently pursuing an MS degree in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University. Rian loves people and is passionate about relationships and healthy sexuality. She also enjoys singing, acting, drawing, yoga, crochet, animals, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.
Aubrey-Dawn Palmer
Aubrey-Dawn Palmer was born and raised in Farmington, New Mexico, and she has a bachelor’s degree in family studies from Brigham Young University. She has two younger brothers and is married to her best friend, Richard, who she knew (but did not date) in high school. Aubrey-Dawn loves to dance, camp and hike, and loves researching relationships, human attachment, and healthy sexuality just as much. In addition to her research, Aubrey-Dawn volunteers with her husband as a teacher for the Strengthening Families Program, is a research director for a counseling center, and works as a home counselor at a residential treatment center.
Sydney Tittle
Sydney Tittle is also an Orem, Utah native. She has a passion for family life, social innovation, and anything creative. She is the second of five children, and loves spending time with friends and family. While currently unmarried, Sydney looks forward with great excitement to someday having a husband and family of her own. Her other favorite pastimes include singing, photography, design, teaching, rollerblading, and adventure-seeking. In August of 2017, she graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in family studies.
Writers
Allie Barnes
Allie Barnes graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies, earned a certificate in Substance Use Disorder Counseling from Utah Valley University, and studied writing throughout her undergraduate career. In every professional role she’s filled since then, her focus remains the same: People.
McKay Strong
McKay Strong is from Texas. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life. A super experienced wife of a year, McKay works full-time at a local nonprofit and has more side hustles than she should (she still doesn’t know what she’s doing with her life). She is a proud Ravenclaw and an even more proud cat mom. McKay is passionate about self-love, body positivity, healthy sexuality, and breaking the stigma against mental illnesses. Also, Harry Potter.
Anasteece Smith
Anasteece Smith is a Utah Native with dreams of becoming a Texas girl. She is the oldest of seven children and married her sweetheart in 2018 who happened to have her same last name. She recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life. In her free time, Anasteece likes to read, paint, swim, hike, camp, hammock, and do graphic design. She is passionate about mental health, healthy sexuality, family resilience, feminism, religion, and research on shame, vulnerability, and perfectionism.
Dray Salcido
Dray Salcido is from Elkridge, Utah. She is the youngest of seven and enjoys close relationships with her siblings. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Utah Valley University. She works at a law firm and volunteers with various populations. She enjoys researching and writing about the human experience, and hopes to make that her creative, life’s work.
Emma Smith
Emma Smith is from San Diego, California. Emma is currently a Family Life major with an emphasis in social work at BYU. She met her best friend and husband Dallin at BYU her first semester home from her mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoys horseback riding, swimming, reading, painting, and anything outdoors. In everything she does, she has one goal; to help others.
Katrina Voorhees
Katrina Louise Voorhees is an undergraduate student at Brigham Young University where she studies relationships, family and art. She has a beautiful family and an outstanding extended family. She recently married her best friend, Paul Voorhees, who makes her laugh every day. Besides writing and romance she is also crazy about painting, singing, deep conversations, good books and ice cream.
Alyssa Carroll
Alyssa Carroll is from Highland, Utah. She is an undergraduate student at BYU studying Human Development and Family Studies. She enjoys learning about sexual mindfulness and healthy communication in dating and marriage relationships. She is passionate about helping emerging adults develop a healthy attitude towards sex and sexuality, and she strives to be an advocate for mental health. In her spare time, she loves reading, watching movies, and going out to eat.
Research
Sedric Jacobsen
Sedric Jacobsen is a student at Brigham Young University, majoring in Psychology. He served a mission in Federal Way, Washington for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He met his wife at Denny’s and they were married in April 2020. They excitedly look forward to having their own little family someday. Sedric finds every opportunity to read and is continually fascinated by the unique life story of each individual. He cares about treating people with respect, finding humor in the routine of life, and learning healthy principles from the articles he researches.
