Meet Ricky Kailiponi Jr.

Get to know BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s mentor operations coordinator

BY: Alexis Carver

Ricky Kailiponi Jr. recently accepted the position as BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s mentor operations coordinator. Born in Hauula, Hawaii, Ricky spent the majority of his childhood on the North Shore of Oahu. After he turned 12, his family moved to various other places, including New Zealand, Australia, and the southeastern United States.

Ricky’s boys Liam, Levi, and Kenai

Ricky met his wife, Lynnie, after serving in the South Carolina Columbia Mission. While getting released, his stake president told Ricky he knew who his wife was going to be. His stake president was referring to Lynnie, but Ricky was doubtful until he met her a month later. After four months of dating, they married. Now, having been together for eight years, they live in Utah with their three boys, Liam (7), Levi (5), and Kenai (3).

Outside of work, Ricky loves to eat and work out. His family loves to try different foods, and he loves being active with his boys. “Once they get a little older,” he said, “That’s all we’ll do — eat and work out.”

Ricky started college at Middle Tennessee State University as a football player but later decided to hang up his cleats and focus on school. He started to work harder toward a degree and transferred to Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he graduated in human biology.

Ricky loves the people at BYU-Pathway Worldwide

Ricky began his journey at BYU-Pathway as a part-time mentor. He was later hired full-time in a different department, where he worked with BYU-Pathway Support until the mentor operations coordinator position was created. Ricky applied and found himself back with the mentoring team where he currently works to support mentors as they help students continue toward their educational goals. He does this by creating and developing systems to help mentors fulfill their roles more effectively.

While reflecting on his favorite part about BYU-Pathway, Ricky couldn’t say enough about the people. He explained, “[They] have strong testimonies, and you just get to feel that every day.”

Whenever Ricky’s going through a hard time, he looks toward their example. He says that everyone he’s worked with has helped him to become a better person. To Ricky, his position at BYU-Pathway Worldwide isn’t just a job.

“I look at this work as not only my career, but as something that’s a part of my ministry.”