Headlines Workgroup
Donlu Thayer
Senior Fellow
Donlu DeWitt Thayer, following her retirement from Brigham Young University on December 31, 2019, has assumed a role as Senior Fellow for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, where she was most recently Publications Director. During her more than ten years with the Center Donlu oversaw print and electronic publications, including the building and management of the Center’s websites — the ICLRS website and its companion database, Religlaw, and the website and case table of the Strasbourg Consortium, which tracks the freedom-of-religion-or-belief jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Most recently she has developed the Center’s blog, Talk About: Law and Religion. As Senior Fellow, Donlu will continue to manage the blog, and also to oversee the Strasbourg table and Law and Religion Headlines, a project she developed in 2012 and since has sent regularly to subscribers worldwide. She also continues to serve as an Associate Editor of the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion.
Blythe Shupe
Communications Specialist
Blythe Shupe joined the International Center for Law and Religion Studies in September 2015 as a Communications Specialist. In this role she manages the Center’s social media outlets and works on the ICLRS website and has responsibility for media and documentation at major Center conferences, including the Annual Symposium, the Religious Freedom Annual Review, and the international G20 Interfaith Forums. She has charge of the Center’s Annual Reports and other publications featuring the Center. Before coming to the Center, she had spent the previous ten years as an account manager in the world of pre-employment screening. In this position, she worked closely with Human Resources, Compliance Departments, and Security Departments of large companies setting up and monitoring background screening programs for new hires to ensure the client was hiring the best possible candidate while operating within federal, state, and local laws. More …
Hayden Rowberry
Electronic Media Consultant
Hayden Rowberry began working with the International Center for Law and Religion Studies in 2011 as a web developer. Hayden has always enjoyed working with technology and has been grateful for the opportunity to use his talents to benefit others. After serving a 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indianapolis, Indiana, he returned to assist the Center to manage their websites and other technical needs. He continued to consult for the Center while studying Computer Engineering at Brigham Young University, receiving both BS and MS degrees, graduating with his Master’s Degree in December 2019.
Jordan Pendergrass
Headlines Lead
Jordan Pendergrass is a paralegal for a government agency. He has a Master’s Degree in International Law and Politics (Georgetown University) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography (Brigham Young University). Jordan is married and has five children. Jordan began to volunteer for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies in 2010. He has performed a variety of tasks for the Center including: writing country reports; assisting with website maintenance; tracking law and religion headlines; and reporting on the Annual International Law and Religion Symposium. In mid 2020 he took over primary reponsibility for assembling and disseminating the International Law and Religion Headlines digests.
Madeline Bretzing
Headlines Assistant
Madeline Bretzing is currently studying Nursing at Brigham Young University. She started working with the Headlines team in July 2020 after returning from a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sacramento, California. She grew up moving all around the United States, but graduated high school in Vancouver, Washington, where she considers home. As a food enthusiast and nature lover, you can find Maddie in the mountains or at the best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in town when she’s not in class or posting headlines.
Neal Hillam
Neal Hillam is a senior from Midway, Utah. He wrote a paper on international trademark laws for BYU’s undergraduate law review and was selected to serve as a law review board member the following year. Following his 2-year stint on BYU’s undergraduate law review, Neal joined the Religious Freedom Institute as an intern. Neal worked with the Religious Freedom Institute‘s North American Action Team. Outside of his passion for religious freedom, Neal enjoys playing sports, watching sports, and talking about sports.
Boyd Bauer
Global Engagement Specialist (Volunteer)
Dr. Boyd Bauer is a Global Engagement Specialist, an independent consultant specializing in international education and business development. Throughout his professional life he has worked, taught, lectured, and traveled in numerous countries. He is an innovative thinker dedicated to building bridges of understanding between individuals and diverse groups in the United States as well as other locations around the world. He has been a keynote speaker for economic conferences and community organizations, speaking on a wide range of topics including but not limited to understanding the American healthcare puzzle, strategic planning, and motivational topics. More …