2025 United States of America Delegates

Strategic Relationships Manager, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United States

Heather Bradbury is a dedicated and accomplished professional known for her significant contributions as a Strategic Relationships Manager in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Welfare and Self-Reliance Services Department. In this role, Heather fosters and maintains strong, collaborative relationships that are key in supporting the Church’s mission and initiatives. She also aids in developing strategies that enhance the Church’s outreach and engagement with communities, ensuring its values and goals are communicated and supported. Heather studied international business at Weber State University and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her ability to successfully manage relationships across diverse sectors, connecting with people, understanding their needs, and creating mutually beneficial collaborations. Her expertise in this area has been recognized at various conferences and workshops, where she has shared her insights on building and maintaining strong relationships. Heather approaches relationship management with empathy, strategic thinking, and a dedication to fostering long-term connections. She believes in the power of relationships to drive positive change and is committed to helping organizations and individuals achieve their goals through effective collaboration.

Director of Public Affairs, Research, and Advocacy, Islamic Relief USA, United States

Christina Tobias-Nahi is the Director of Public Affairs, Research, and Advocacy and has been at the helm of Islamic Relief USA’s DC-based government and policy engagement and interfaith efforts since late 2006, working mostly on global refugee issues. She is also an Oxfam Sisters on the Planet Ambassador. Tobias-Nahi holds two master's degrees, one from Harvard Graduate School of Education and another from Boston University-Paris in International Relations. She studied for two years at the University of Utah before completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Hawai'i in Dance Ethnology with a focus on Asia/Pacific, and has spent time in Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. She possesses executive certificates in Community-Based Development from Colorado State University and Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. During a short stint away from her current position, Tobias-Nahi led an Asia-focused CSR project at the Joint Council on International Children’s Services around orphans, nutrition, and early childhood development. Before moving to DC, she spent nearly a decade working at Harvard University with the Islamic Legal Studies Program and the Civil Rights Project, and before that was in Paris with the Japanese Delegation Attache office to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Government; Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Rand Blimes is a professor of political science at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where his work focuses on international relations. Dr. Blimes regularly leads groups of students to meet with UN and NGO groups in Bangkok, Thailand, and he considers inspiring and mentoring young people to be the most important part of his job. His current research projects include a study of how the international price of staple foods impacts domestic stability, and on the factors that lead nations to develop greater overall capacity. Dr. Blimes is married and has three daughters

Director, Multi-Faith Neighbor’s Network, United States

Micah Fries (pronounced freeze) is the Director of the Multi-Faith Neighbor’s Network and the Director of Engagement at Glocal.net. He has served as a senior pastor in Tennessee and Missouri, at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN, as a Christian minister in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and as a frequent speaker in churches and conferences. He holds a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from The Baptist University of Florida. Micah is currently ABD as a PhD student at Southeastern Seminary. Micah is married to Tracy and is the father of Sarah Grace, Kessed Noel, and Haddon. Micah is the co-editor and author of Islam and North America: Loving our Muslim Neighbors. He has also co-authored Leveling the Church and a commentary volume on Haggai and Zephaniah in the Christ-Centered Commentary Series. He has contributed to the Handbook of Contemporary Preaching, Make Disciples of All Nations, and That Word Above All Earthly Powers.

President, Polynesian Cultural Center, United States

Alfred Grace is the President of the Polynesian Cultural Center on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Alfred grew up in New Zealand and then moved to Hawaii for an engineering apprenticeship and later attended BYU–Hawaii. He had hoped to become a tour operator for New Zealand, but ended up working for the PCC, where he became president. The PCC is one of Hawaii’s top destinations, having served more than 40 million visitors since opening in 1963.

Director, US-ASEAN Center, United States

Anh Hoang serves as the Director of the US-ASEAN Center in Washington, D.C., where she spearheads initiatives to strengthen economic, technological, and research partnerships between the United States and ASEAN nations. She leads the center’s strategic collaborations with ASEAN member countries, the U.S. State Department, NGOs, universities, and industry leaders, advancing its mission to deepen diplomatic and economic ties in the region. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy at BowerGroupAsia, where she advised Fortune 500 companies in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, aligning investment strategies, and fostering partnerships to drive expansion across the Indo-Pacific region. From 2017 to 2019, Anh managed capacity-building programs for global NGOs at Humentum. Before relocating to the United States, she was with the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) in Hanoi. Earlier in her career, Anh worked as an Education Research Officer at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. Anh holds a master’s degree in international public policy from DePaul University and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in international relations from Mount Holyoke College.

Program Lead and Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Legal Studies Program in the Faculty of Business and Government, and Faculty Chair and Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Jennifer Kajiyama Tinkham graduated from BYU–Hawaii as valedictorian in 2002, studying political science and Japanese. As an undergraduate, she worked in the U.S. Senate for the Secretary of the Senate, the Hawai'i Attorney General's Office, the Hawai'i State Supreme Court, and the Hawai'i State House of Representatives. Jennifer also served a mission in the Japan Nagoya Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon her return, she attended the J. Reuben Clark Law School in Provo, Utah, emphasizing international law and alternative dispute resolutions. Jennifer also completed a Master of Public Administration from the Marriott School of Management, specifying her studies on non-profit and human resources management. Jennifer is a licensed attorney and is also a certified court mediator, divorce mediator, and arbitrator. She has worked for several judges and law firms, working on cases ranging from business law to worker's compensation and most recently, family law. Jennifer is the Legal Studies Program director at BYU–Hawaii.

Professor, George Mason University, United States

Dr. Peter Mandaville is Professor of International Affairs at the Schar School of Policy and Government and Director of the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies, both at George Mason University. He is also a senior research fellow at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. From 2024-2025, he served as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based Partnerships and Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Previous government experience includes serving as a member of the U.S. Department of State's Policy Planning Staff (2010-2012) and as a senior advisor in its Office of Religion and Global Affairs (2015-2016). His other affiliations have included the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the Brookings Institution, the Pew Research Center, the RAND Corporation, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). His books include The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power: How States Use Religion in Foreign Policy (Oxford University Press, 2023), Wahhabism and the World: Understanding Saudi Arabia's Global Influence on Islam (Oxford University Press, 2020), Islam and Politics (Routledge, 3rd edition, 2020), and Transnational Muslim Politics: Reimagining the Ummah (Routledge, 2001).

Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

Brett G. Scharffs is Rex E. Lee Chair and Professor of Law and Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University Law School. He received a BSBA in international business and an MA in philosophy at Georgetown University and, as a Rhodes Scholar, earned a BPhil in philosophy at Oxford. He received his JD from Yale Law School, where he was senior editor of the Yale Law Journal. He is a recurring visiting professor at Central European University in Budapest and at the University of Adelaide Law School. He has for several years helped organize certificate training programs in religion and the rule of law in China and in Vietnam and has taught and helped organize programs at several Indonesian universities on sharia and human rights. Author of more than 100 articles and book chapters, he has made more than 300 scholarly presentations in 30 countries. His casebook, Law and Religion: National, International and Comparative Perspectives (with Cole Durham), has been translated into Chinese and Vietnamese, with Turkish, Burmese, and Arabic in process. He is the author with Elizabeth Clark and Amy Andrus of Religion and Law in the USA, a contribution to Wolters Kluwer’s International Encyclopaedia of Laws.

Senior Education Fellow, Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, United States

Christine J. Clark was born and raised in Cannes, France. She attended the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and received her master’s degree and PhD in Romance Languages from the University of Oklahoma. Christine has taught at the university level for 30-plus years and is the Senior Education Engagement Fellow for the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation. She has enjoyed promoting the message of the foundation through various public speaking opportunities around the world, including at universities.

Student Fellow and Executive Committee Member, Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, BYU–Hawaii, United States

Samantha Rasmussen is passionate about religious freedom and human dignity. She is majoring in political science with minors in intercultural peacebuilding, communications, and legal studies at Brigham Young University Hawaii. Her focus is on protecting laws that promote religious freedom and bringing awareness to issues that threaten this right worldwide. Samantha is involved in the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity initiative at BYU–Hawaii, where she has honed skills in qualitative and quantitative research, advocacy, and interfaith dialogue. Samantha was an intern for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Public and International Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., as well as at the Religious Freedom and Business Foundations’ Dare to Overcome Conference. Looking ahead, she plans to continue working with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Public and International Affairs and their Interfaith councils or the United States Embassies, contributing as an advocate for human dignity and religious freedom.

Director and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Religious Education; Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Aaron Shumway is the Director of Religious Education at BYU–Hawaii. He earned a bachelor’s degree at BYU–Hawaii and then earned a law degree at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Upon graduation in 2000, Aaron began practicing business and real estate law at Ashford and Wriston LLLP in Honolulu. In 2012, Aaron left the practice of law to take a position with Seminaries and Institutes for the Church. He taught religious education classes to college-aged young people, trained volunteer teachers who taught religion classes to high schoolers before school, and worked with church leaders to strengthen young people in their faith. Beginning in 2013, he taught a “Fundamentals of Gospel Teaching” class at BYU–Hawaii as an adjunct professor in Religious Education. On August 1, 2021, Aaron began his service as the Director of Religious Education at BYU–Hawaii. Aaron and his wife May, are the grateful parents of six children – Kenner (Brinley), Reyna (Sam), Regina, Rachel, Rhiannon, and Gabriel.

Deputy Secretary General, Religions for Peace, United States

Deepika Singh is the Deputy Secretary General at Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition that advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Ms. Singh also directs the overall program strategy and implementation at Religions for Peace, work that is informed by over two decades of professional experience in international affairs and development, including service in USAID-funded programs in Nepal and consultancies with UNDP, UNICEF, and other international NGOs. In addition, she provides technical guidance in areas of conflict, international development, and organizational strengthening to Religions for Peace global, regional, national, and local affiliates, including their Women of Faith and Youth Networks in over 90 countries. Ms. Singh holds an MPA degree from Pace University, USA; an MA from Dhaka University, Bangladesh; and a BA (Hon) from St. Bede’s College, India.

Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

Hannah Smith became Associate Director at the International Center for Law and Religion Studies in 2023. Hannah joined ICLRS following two clerkships at the U.S. Supreme Court for Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito and a decade of service as Senior Counsel at Becket Law where she helped secure victories in key religious liberty cases, including Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, Holt v. Hobbs, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, and Zubik v. Burwell (the Little Sisters of the Poor case). She has contributed to over 35 Supreme Court briefs and represented more than a dozen major faith groups. Hannah has been awarded BYU’s Alumni Achievement Award, the JRCLS’s Women-in-Law Leadership Award, and the Center for Constitutional Studies’ James Madison Award. As a law student, she received the J. Reuben Clark Award and the Law Faculty Award for Meritorious Achievement and Distinguished Service. Hannah received her BA from Princeton University and her JD from BYU Law School, where she graduated Order of the Coif. She served as a full-time French-speaking missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and Switzerland. Hannah and her husband John have four wonderful children.

Chief Legal Office, Ryan LLC, United States

John is the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and General Counsel of Ryan, a global tax services and software provider, based in the Dallas office. John spent 12 years in Texas and Virginia at Raytheon Technologies, an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation. He also served as associate counsel to U.S. President George W. Bush and the lead lawyer for the White House Homeland Security Council staff. He began his legal career by clerking for Judge Samuel Alito and then by practicing at the international law firm of Covington & Burling. John graduated with high honors from both Princeton University and Brigham Young University Law School.

Dean and Professor, Faculty of Business and Government, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Dr. Nate Stephens, PhD is currently serving as Dean and is a Professor of accounting in the Faculty of Business & Government. Prior to joining the faculty at BYU–Hawaii, Nate spent 13 years on the faculty of Utah State University where he served in several roles, including director of the Master of Accounting program. He graduated in 2008 from the University of Arizona’s PhD program. Prior to his doctoral studies, Nate attended BYU in Provo where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. From 1997 to 1999 he served as a fulltime missionary in the Australia, Sydney North Mission where he taught the gospel of Jesus Christ in Mandarin Chinese. Nate’s research focuses on the external auditor’s role in the capital markets, the market for external audit services, and corporate financial reporting quality. He has also published multiple case studies, primarily in the financial statement auditing area. His research has been published in top accounting journals including Review of Accounting Studies; Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory; Accounting Horizons; Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance; and Issues in Accounting Education. Nate is married to Kristie Babcock, who is an alumna of BYUH. They have five children.

Managing Partner, Dynamic City Capital, United States

Joel joined Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group (LDHG), the operations affiliate of Dynamic City Capital (DCC), as its president in 2008. As president of LDHG, Joel breathed new life into the company at a time when the nation was amid the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression. He propelled the company into a new era of growth, developing several new hotels and adding managed hotel assets from other 23 ownership groups. By 2012 LDHG had invested in its organization, systems, and processes and grew its management portfolio to include 19 hotels. To date, LDHG has managed a total of 38 Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG properties–28 of those since Joel became president. Joel remains president of LDHG today and is also a co-managing partner of DCC. Joel received his bachelor’s and Master of Business Administration from Brigham Young University.

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Culture, Language and Performing Arts, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Dr. Daniel Tu’utau is currently the Visiting Voice Professor at BYUH. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Dr. Tu’utau holds a BA and MM degrees from UC Santa Barbara and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Utah. With over a decade of experience with Utah Opera, he has performed comprimario roles and contributed to more than 20 productions with the Utah Opera Chorus, including Thaïs, La Boheme, and Pirates of Penzance. He frequently performed with Lyrical Opera Theater in Salt Lake City, showcasing his talent in leading roles such as Doctor Bartolo in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca, and the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto. He has also been a repeat soloist with orchestras including the Salt Lake Symphony, Utah Oratorio Society, and the American-West Symphony. He resides in Laie, Hawaii with his wife, Brandy, and their four children.

Professor, Faculty of Culture, Language and Performing Arts, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

James B. Tueller has been a faculty member at Brigham Young University–Hawaii campus since August 1997. Before moving to La‘ie, O‘ahu, he received his PhD in history from Columbia University in New York City. Jim was born in Morocco where his father worked in the Tangier Consulate of the United States of America. With his father’s assignments, he has also lived in Caracas, Venezuela; Panama City, Panama; Manila, Philippines; and Madrid, Spain. His first book, Good and Faithful Christians: Moriscos and Catholicism in Early Modern Spain, was published by the University Press of the South in 2002. It examines the Morisco expulsion from Spain in 1609 and how the descendants of forcibly baptized Christians adapted to a century’s worth of Catholicism. He co-authored the book, Navigating the Spanish Lake: The Pacific in the Iberian World, 1521-1898 (University of Hawaii Press, 2014). This history explores examples of the Spanish Empire in the Pacific Ocean. His current projects include maritime history, children’s stories, and history education.

Fellow, Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, BYU–Hawaii, United States

Joseph Sant is an undergraduate student at BYU–Hawaii, double majoring in Political Science and Intercultural Peacebuilding. Passionate about the intersection of law, human rights, and cross-cultural dialogue, Joseph is dedicated to advocating for those whose voices often go unheard. With a deep interest in religious freedom, alternative dispute resolution, and international law, he brings a unique academic and personal perspective to discussions on human dignity and justice. He serves as a fellow with the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative at BYU–Hawaii. Drawing from both scholarly research and real-world experience, he seeks to promote legal systems that protect fundamental freedoms while fostering mutual

Academic Vice President and Professor, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Isaiah Walker was born and raised in Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawaiʻi. After joining the LDS church in 1990 and graduating from Hilo High School in 1991, he moved to Lāʻie and attended BYUH. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Diego, California from 1992-1994. In 1996 Isaiah married Rebekah Matagi of Lāʻie, and they have four beautiful children. After graduating with a bachelor’s in history from BYU–Hawaii in 1997 and earning a master's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Isaiah completed a PhD from the University of California, in Santa Barbara. Isaiah studies Hawaiian history and colonialism from a unique perspective, from the vantage of Hawaiian surfers. Focusing primarily on a Hawaiian surfing club formed on the North Shore of O‘ahu in 1976, his dissertation analyzes the history of surfing, resistance, and masculinity in Hawai‘i. Contending that the ocean surfing realm was a sanctuary and borderland for Hawaiians, his research creatively analyzes a space where Hawaiians were empowered and colonial hierarchies were often turned upside down. He is currently revising his dissertation to be published in book form by the University of Hawaii Press. Other portions of his research have been published as articles, found in the Spring 2008 issue of Contemporary Pacific and the November 2005 issue of Pacific Historical Review. He is currently a professor and department chair in the History Department where he teaches world, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islands history

Student Fellow Lead, Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, BYU–Hawaii, United States

Hannah Kola is an Intercultural Peacebuilding student at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, also majoring in Political Science. As a Student Fellow for the Religious Freedom & Human Dignity Initiative, she has helped host multiple international conferences on human dignity. Along with conducting research for the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, she recently helped adapt a curriculum of human rights and business skills, now piloted among secondary education students in India. In addition to her academic work, she contributes to international peacebuilding efforts through collaborations with faith-based programs such as the FoRB Foundation. Fluent in five languages and connected to initiatives in North America, South Asia, and Europe, she is passionate about cultivating empathy across divides. Her current research explores how changes in religious freedom impact the risk of civil war.