OREM, Utah ­­— Utah Valley University (UVU) officials announced today that Karen C. Acerson, business and community leader, and Steven J. Lund, executive chairman of the board of directors at Nu Skin Enterprises, will receive honorary doctorate degrees at the school’s commencement on May 6, 2022.

Mary C. Daly, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will be the university’s commencement speaker and will receive an honorary degree in public service. Acerson will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters and Lund will receive an honorary doctorate in business during the commencement ceremonies at 6pm in the UCCU Center on UVU’s Orem Campus.

“Karen Acerson and Steve Lund are exemplary individuals who have sacrificed much to serve Utah Valley University and its students,” said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of UVU. “Both served on UVU’s Board of Trustees and have personally donated their time, energy, and resources to strengthen UVU and help our students succeed. They are examples of grit, hard work, success, and ethical living that we want our students to emulate. We are proud to honor them.”

Karen Acerson served on the Utah Valley University Board of Trustees twice for a total of 11 years (2005-2007 and 2012-2021), serving with three university presidents. She also served on the Mountainland Technical College Board of Trustees for eight years.

Acerson worked as the director of customer support for WordPerfect Corporation, where she helped rewrite the company’s user manual, taught classes, and instructed in training videos. Her book “WordPerfect: The Complete Reference” was a New York Times bestseller. Acerson wrote a total of five books for Osborne/McGraw-Hill and Ziff-Davis Press.

Acerson helped Karen Ashton and other volunteers organize the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, now in its 33rd year, and served as its executive director and president for much of that time.

She has also been a 4-H leader for young women, served as PTA president at Pleasant Grove High School, and involved the community in several projects as part of Oprah’s Pay it Forward Challenge in 2006. 

She currently serves as a board member at Brades’ Place, a non-profit organization, which helps children with life-long health challenges. She is also a recipient of the Senator Arthur V. Watkins award for Outstanding Community Service.

Acerson and her husband, Jeff, served as mission leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presiding over the Italy Rome Mission from 2007-2010. Her greatest joy is being a mother to six and grandmother to nine.

Steven J. Lund serves as executive chairman of the board for Nu Skin Enterprises. He also serves as the young men general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is a former regent of the Utah System of Higher Education.

Lund worked as an attorney before co-founding and later becoming president and chief executive officer of Nu Skin. He has served in many positions at the company, including executive director of the company’s Nourish the Children initiative, which has facilitated the donation of hundreds of millions of meals to malnourished children around the world.

He also served on the board of directors for the U.S. Direct Selling Association and was on the board of advisors for the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. In addition to his civic service and community involvements, Lund enjoys playing the guitar, reading great books, and spending time with his family.

Karen Acerson

Steven Lund