Dawan Coombs has always understood the life-changing power of a good teacher. Throughout her experiences in teaching, research, and mentoring, many teachers have influenced her desire to help students thrive. That same aspiration is shaping her newest role as she steps in as Brigham Young University’s General Education associate dean, bringing with her a deep commitment to help every student succeed.
Growing up, Coombs’s brother struggled with reading. Even though Coombs's mother was not an educator, Coombs noticed the way her mom taught and encouraged her brother to excel in reading. Her mother’s example of being a teacher inspired her to grow a love for literacy. Through this experience, Coombs knew she wanted to make a difference in schools for children struggling with learning.
“Literacy is my passion because whether you're in a country across the globe, or you're right here in Provo, there are people that struggle to learn, to read, and to know how to engage with texts,” Coombs said. “There are a lot of things about our education system that are beyond the control of a single person, but every teacher can do something to make school a better place for kids that are struggling.”
Coombs completed her undergraduate degree at BYU in English teaching. After graduating, she taught teens with reading difficulties at Provo High School for four years. Coombs continued to support students who are challenged with reading by pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Utah in reading and literacy. She later moved to Georgia to conduct research and pursue a Ph.D. in language and literacy education.
Upon receiving her Ph.D. in 2012, Coombs started working in the BYU English Department as part of the English teaching faculty. Her research focuses on supporting adolescent readers and helping teachers identify strategies to make reading more engaging and meaningful for their students. In 2017, Coombs began working with the BYU public school partnership and assisted with other secondary education programs across campus.
“Part of the reason why I chose to come [to BYU] was because it would allow me to work with the public schools in the area where I already had connections and people that I like,” Coombs said. “I also had some really great colleagues in the English Department who had been my professors and mentors to me.”
Coombs loves the spiritual environment BYU creates. Teaching with the spirit helps her understand students’ needs and gives her guidance as a teacher. Her reliance on the spirit allows Coombs to help close the gaps of what we know and what we need to know.
“We not only need the Spirit in our own learning, but as teachers too. I hope I have the spirit of discernment that will help me know when students are experiencing challenges and how to adjust my teaching and interactions according to their needs,” Coombs said. “As an administrator, I want to lead with love and after the manner of the Savior. The spiritually strengthening element of our work at BYU impacts everything that we do.”
In the summer of 2025, Coombs was asked to be the new associate dean of Undergraduate Education. She hopes to help students and faculty have the best experience possible in General Education courses. She looks forward to interacting with faculty across campus and creating opportunities to learn and grow from each other.
“Now is a really exciting time to be a part of the work that's happening here in GE. The faculty and administrators at BYU want to provide students with not only a world-class education, but also a sense of belonging on campus and an understanding of how the things they are learning now will impact the rest of their lives,” Coombs said. “To help achieve this goal, some of the best professors on campus are teaching GE courses and they are doing so in ways that ignite a spark in their students and helps them enjoy the beauty and wonder of their disciplines.”
Coombs is eager for the opportunity to learn in her new position, and she loves how BYU cares about the spiritual, social, and academic development of a student. Coombs hopes to help create the best experience for students in General Education courses that will help them be successful and engage in lifelong learning and service.
“College—whether it’s in GE or in your major—is not just about passing classes. It’s not just about learning the facts or doing calculations or analyzing a thesis. It’s about what learning these things has caused you to become, and I think that that’s something that BYU cares a lot about,” Coombs said. “Not just what each student and faculty member is doing here, but also who each person is becoming and what they are going to leave with that will shape them for the rest of their lives.”