Meet the Faculty
Caden Anderson
I'm Brother Caden Anderson and I would love to learn more about the Savior and His gospel with you! My wife's name is Megan. We currently live the dream with our family in Sanpete County, Utah. I am so blessed because discipleship and teaching are my passions and I love to share those things with you! Stop by my office at the Ephraim Institute anytime. I'd love to chat with you about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, life, or anything related to music, cars, and motorcycles. 🙂
Troy Birch
Pre-service Trainer
Brother Birch was born in Ogden, raised in Ephraim, and served a mission to Santiago Chile. He has degrees from: Snow College, Utah State University, University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Over the years he has taught seminary at Skyline (Salt Lake City), Gunnison, Mt. Pleasant and institute in Ephraim. He is currently the preservice trainer for the UT East region. Troy married Lori McAllister and they have four children and eight grandchildren.
Cody Branch
Cody Branch is the Vice President of Student Affairs at Snow College and works as a part-time instructor for the institute. He taught for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion for four years before transitioning into higher education administration within the Church Education System. He worked at BYU-Idaho for Eight Years, and Ensign College for three in various teaching and administrative capacities. He considers it a blessing and privilege to continue his association with CES and S&I in addition to working at Snow College. Cody received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from BYU-Idaho and later earned a Master of Public Administration from BYU. Cody served a Spanish-speaking mission in Long Beach, California. He met his wife, Jill, prior to his mission while attending Snow College where they both served as student leaders. They married after Jill returned from a mission in South Korea. Together they have four daughters who keep them very busy.
| Courses I'm Teaching |
|---|
| Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon |
Desiree Funk
Sister Funk teaches part time at the Institute. She loves talking with students about Jesus, and also loves being a wife to Chad and mother to four awesome kids. Another love is practicing medicine, which she does part time in the emergency department. The gospel, family, travel, good food, great books, national parks, chocolate chip cookies, warmth, and music all make her very, very happy.
| Courses I'm Teaching |
|---|
| Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel |
| Women in the Scriptures |
Darren Glathar
Brother Glathar was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Heber City Utah. He later moved his Jr. year of High School to Green River Wyoming. He served a mission in the great state of Louisiana. He returned to Wyoming and met and married his beautiful wife, Emily Tanner. They are the proud parents of three amazing children. He graduated with a degree in zoology from the University of Wyoming. He taught seminary at Springville Jr. High as well as Payson Jr. High. He was later transferred back to Green River Wyoming where he taught seminary for 9 years. He loves being with students and teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a test!
Fred Hadley
Brother Hadley is originally from Plain City Utah, graduated from Weber High and Weber State University. Served a mission to Hawaii and taught seminary for 27 years in Sanpete County and has been at the Ephraim institute for several years. He and his wife Cheryl are the proud parents of four sons and two grandsons.
Mike Howell
Brother Howell has a favorite saying: "LET"S GOOOO"! He was born and raised in in Murray Utah. He served a full time mission in Bogotá. He has degrees from: Snow College, Utah, University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Over the past 31 years he has taught seminary at Bingham Seminary in South Jordan UT, Westridge Academy Seminary in West Jordan, Mt. Pleasant UT Seminary American River Institute in Sacramento Ca, and the Ephraim UT Institute. Mike married Suzy Frischknecht in 1991 and they are the parents of five children.
Larren LeFevre
Institute Director
Brother LeFevre was born in Tropic Utah and raised in Page Arizona. He served a full time mission in Los Angeles California where he taught the gospel in Spanish. After his mission he attended Southern Utah University where he met and married Norene Torgerson from Koosharem Utah. After graduation, they began their Seminary & Institute career in Montezuma Creek and Blanding. After 5 wonderful years there, they moved to Delta Utah, where they taught for 18 wonderful years. He and his family moved to the Ephraim Institute in 2015 and have loved every minute of it. Larren completed a Bachelor’s degree from SUU and a Master’s degree from USU. Larren and Norene are the parents of 5 children (3 Sons and 2 Daughters), and 6 awesome grandchildren.
Dennis Nordfelt
Brother Nordfelt was born in Moab and raised in West Valley City, Utah. After serving a mission in Ecuador he attended Snow College and Weber State University where he received a B.A. in Accounting and an MPA in Tax. He began working for the Church Educational System in 1993. He has taught seminary in the Salt Lake Valley and has worked in the Physical Facilities and Real Estate Services division of CES. Before coming to the Institute he was an area director for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. He is married to the former Marcelle Cheshire and they are the parents of three boys and three girls. He hopes that in every class the Spirit will be present to such a degree that D+C 50:22 will occur: "He that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."
Andy Russell
I have 6 grandchildren and another one is expected on Christmas Day. I have lived in Ephraim for many years and call this town home. Fun fact: My wife and I and all four of our children graduated from Snow College. We all Love Snow College!