How BYU–Pathway Is Changing Lives Worldwide: Accessible Online Learning

Expanding Access to Education Worldwide | Melissa Everett on BYU Pathway Worldwide and Lifelong Learning | Roots and Branches of Lehi What does it look like to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world? In this episode of Roots and Branches of Lehi, host Ryan Harding sits down with educator Melissa Everett to explore the mission and rapid growth of BYU–Pathway Worldwide. From her early career in health promotion and cancer control to becoming an early online instructor with BYU–Idaho, Melissa shares how her path led her to the forefront of one of the Church Educational System’s most impactful global initiatives. Melissa walks through the evolution of Pathway—from its beginnings as a small access program to its current role as a worldwide educational provider in partnership with Ensign College. She offers insight into the organization’s rapid expansion, including major system transitions in 2025 that challenged both leadership and students, while also positioning the program for long-term scalability. The conversation highlights Pathway’s core mission: increasing access to education through programs like EnglishConnect and PathwayConnect, now expanding into additional languages. Melissa explains the program’s “certificate-first” model, which focuses on helping students gain job-ready skills quickly while still providing a pathway to full degrees — all while minimizing debt and maximizing flexibility. Drawing from her experiences visiting students in Africa and working with global teams, Melissa reflects on the deeper impact of education — not just as a personal opportunity, but as a force for community development, employment, and long-term growth. She also discusses the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and building transferable skills in an ever-changing world. Thoughtful and inspiring, this conversation offers a powerful look at how education can open doors — no matter where you start. 📌 Interested in stories about education, growth, and global impact? Subscribe for more Roots and Branches of Lehi episodes highlighting people making a difference. 🏡 Brought to you by Work Hard Mortgage — helping families go from renting to rooted. ⏱ Key Moments in This Episode00:00 – Podcast Welcome00:37 – Meet Melissa Everett01:00 – Growing Up & Early Education01:46 – From Health to Teaching02:51 – Joining BYU-Idaho Online04:01 – Discovering Pathway05:53 – Transition to Full-Time with Pathway08:54 – BYU Pathway Worldwide Structure10:25 – Scaling & System Overhaul14:52 – What Is BYU Pathway Worldwide?17:44 – Programs & Language Expansion20:42 – Certificate-First Model Explained24:27 – Degrees, Debt & Career Pathways29:38 – Lifelong Learning & Adaptability32:50 – Principles Over Places34:02 – Transferable Skills Focus36:07 – Employment & Jobs Team Support39:26 – Experiences in Africa44:54 – Building Student Networks49:37 – Scaling & the Role of AI52:55 – Growth & Outreach in Africa57:53 – Future Employability Focus01:00:04 – Mission & Meaning01:03:27 – How to Get Involved01:06:09 – Closing Thoughts 👣 Related Topics: BYU Pathway Worldwide • Online Education • Global Learning • Workforce Development • Certificate Programs • Higher Education Access • EnglishConnect • PathwayConnect • Lifelong Learning • Roots and Branches of Lehi 🎧 Listen to More Roots & Branches of LehiApple: https://apple.co/40J53Ln Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BC8a3Y... YouTube Playlist:    • Roots and Branches of Lehi: Full Podcast E...   🏠 Ready to go from renting to rooted? ✔️ Want to know the value of your home? → https://workharding.hifello.com/lp/68... ✔️ Curious how much home you can afford? → https://workharding.com/affordability... ✔️ Take the 60-second Homebuyer Readiness Quiz → https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widge... #RootsAndBranches #LehiUtah #EducationForAll #BYUPathway #OnlineEducation #WorkHardMortgage #FromRentingToRooted #GlobalEducation #LifelongLearning