Lesley Keo, an advisor for Utah Valley University (UVU) Concurrent Enrollment, was born and raised in Hawaii. After graduating from high school, Lesley attended classes at a community college in Hawaii, where she also met her now husband. She worked at a dental office until her husband’s consulting business took off, and she began helping him with his business.

In addition to leading a consulting business, her husband was also in a local reggae band. This gave Lesley and her husband the opportunity to tour around the world while the band was performing. They also traveled to Utah often to visit her husband’s family, putting Utah and UVU at the forefront of her mind.

In June of 2010, Lesley and her husband moved to Utah and Lesley decided to resume her education at UVU starting that fall. Upon starting school, Lesley found out she was pregnant with twins, who joined her family the following February.

Lesley graduated with her bachelor’s degree in behavioral science in 2015. After graduation, took four years off to stay home with her children before they were old enough to go to school. When they went to school, she became an English as a second language (ESL) program coordinator at her kid's elementary school. Lesley also became a mentor for Brigham Young University (BYU) Pathways.

Because BYU Pathways is a global program, mentors were assigned to regions worldwide. Lesley contacted students around the globe and worked with them to ensure they did well in their classes.  

When schools went online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lesley decided to not return to the elementary school, but stayed at BYU Pathways for three years until searching for a full-time position. She found that at UVU Concurrent Enrollment in November 2022 when she accepted her current advisor position.  

As an advisor, Lesley helps students plan for their futures using their Concurrent Enrollment goals. She sits down with students and makes plans tailored to them and their future goals.  

When asked why students should take Concurrent Enrollment classes, Lesley said, “Because going through the process in college, it is a lot easier to get it done in high school. You save so much time and so much money,” she said.

“If I had that opportunity, it would have helped me so much. And I also think, ‘Why not?’ Students are already taking those classes in high school, and it helps them get ahead.”

We are so grateful for all that Lesley does to help students achieve their goals! Our team is lucky to have this Wolverine!