Families Alive Lecture Series

Sexuality and Mindfulness in Committed Relationships

Presented by: Chelom Leavitt
When: Sept. 23, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Where: McKay Education Building, Room 327

Lecture and Presenter Information

Mindfulness within a sexual relationship creates connection and greater satisfaction and intimacy. Sexual mindfulness is linked with greater sexual functioning and communication. It is also being tested with couples where one spouse has experienced sexual abuse in childhood to see if greater connection and reduced anxiety is achieved.

Chelom Leavitt is an associate professor in the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University.

Bound by Love, Strengthened by Struggle: Unlocking the Power of Family Resilience

Presented by: Jennie Taylor
When: Oct. 1, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Where: McKay Education Building, Room 010

Lecture and Presenter Information

In this inspiring and heartfelt session, Jennie Taylor explores how families can grow stronger through adversity, loss, change, and everyday challenges. Drawing from personal experience and practical insight, she shares principles that foster connection, resilience, purpose, and hope within the home. Participants will leave encouraged to strengthen family relationships, embrace growth through hardship, and intentionally build a family culture grounded in love, service, and resilience.

Jennie Taylor is the founder of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation, a nonprofit leader, and a speaker whose work focuses on family resilience, faith, and purposeful living. She is completing a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Utah.

Keeping Families Alive: Prevention of Family Violence in Utah

Presented by: Sonia Salari
When: Oct. 20, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Where: McKay Education Building, Room 328

Lecture and Presenter Information

Family violence is a difficult topic to study, because it occurs in the shadows and behind closed doors. Dr. Salari describes the ecological iceberg of family violence and the methods researchers have used to help clarify this social behavior across the life course. We will cover types of perpetration and outcomes of family violence, along with the lethality assessments and other innovative prevention programs to help keep families alive.

Dr. Sonia Salari, PhD, FGSA, is a family sociologist and professor at the University of Utah whose research focuses on preventing family violence, and she is the author of multiple books on family violence, abuse, policy, and prevention.

The Closing of the American Heart: How Young Adults Struggle to Find Love, Why it Matters, and How We Can Help

Presented by: Brad Wilcox
When: Oct. 26, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Where: Virtual lecture on Zoom

Lecture and Presenter Information

In "The Closing of the American Heart,” UVA Professor Brad Wilcox traces the retreat of young Americans from love, marriage, and family — a generation lonelier and less partnered than any in living memory. Drawing on new data, he explains why this matters for human flourishing and the common good, and outlines concrete steps families, schools, churches, and policymakers can take to reopen the American heart.

Brad Wilcox, PhD, is the Melville Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation Distinguished University Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on marriage, fatherhood, and family life, and he is the author of Get Married (2024) and several other books on families in America.

Knowing What You've Got Before It's Gone: The Power of Connection and Grief

Presented by: Ryan Dunn
When: Nov. 17, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: McKay Education Building, Room 331

Lecture and Presenter Information

In this presentation, Dr. Ryan Dunn explores how insights from grief, continuing bonds, and relationships can transform the way we nurture our connections today. By examining the principles of "emotional estate planning," attendees will discover how intentional daily investments—such as proactive communication, emotional intimacy, and meaningful time together—create lasting relational resilience. Through stories of those who have loved and lost, this session highlights how understanding the enduring nature of love equips couples to navigate current life stressors and deepen their connection at every stage of a relationship. Ultimately, participants will gain practical tools to strengthen their everyday partnerships and build bonds that can weather life’s greatest challenges.

Ryan Dunn, PhD, is Chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies at Weber State University. His research and teaching focus on parenting, healthy relationships, human development, family finance, and grief and loss.