Vernon L. Heperi

Vernon L. Heperi was born in Kaikohe, New Zealand. He completed his high school education at the Church College of New Zealand and then served in the England London South Mission.
Following his mission, Vernon enrolled as an international student at BYU, where he was involved in a variety of campus organizations and activities, including the rugby team, Lamanite Generation (now Living Legends), the International Student Association, and BYUSA.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications from BYU, Vernon completed a master’s degree in psychology from Utah State University and returned to complete a doctoral degree in education at BYU. After a variety of employment experiences in Student Life, he was appointed dean of students in 2003 at BYU, where he currently serves.

Vernon has served in the Church as a missionary, Primary and Sunday School teacher, elders quorum president, stake missionary, and bishop. He currently serves as first counselor in the Provo Utah Parkway Stake Presidency.
Vernon met his wife, Elaine Cole, in the Lamanite Generation at BYU. Elaine is a Mohawk Indian whose family hails from the Akwesasne Reservation in upstate New York. She is also a graduate of BYU. Vernon and Elaine are the parents of four children.