University Awards 2026: Bruce Hafen

Bruce Hafen – Distinguished Alumni Award

BA ’66 Political Science, (JD ’67, University of Utah)

Bruce Hafen’s life has been about family, higher education, writing, and Church service. After his mission to Germany, he met Marie Kartchner at BYU. They were married in 1964 and have seven children—and a whole flock of grandchildren. After practicing law four years, he became Assistant to BYU President Dallin H. Oaks and a faculty member at BYU’s new law school. His writing on family law and constitutional law was published and cited in leading scholarly journals.

After serving as Director of Evaluation for the Church, Hafen was President of BYU-Idaho from 1978–85, then BYU Law School Dean, then Provost in the BYU Administration. In 1996 he was called as a General Authority, presiding over the Australia and Europe areas, and advising the Church History, Priesthood, and Temple Departments. As an Emeritus General Authority in 2010, he presided at the St. George Temple. With Marie, he authored books on the Atonement, marriage, and the temple—including the prizewinning biography of Elder Neal A. Maxwell and Faith is Not Blind.