Approaching Life with Generous Assumptions: Jay Redd (‘07)
Written by Emily Madsen
“Start with generous assumptions,” encourages Jay Redd, BYU Law alum and Class President for the Class of 2007. “People sometimes make not-so-generous assumptions, and it ruins their day, and sometimes it could just be something that you made up in your head,” Redd shares. “I think that if we all simply come from a point of making generous assumptions about others, that’s better than the alternative, assuming the worst.”
Jay’s approach to life—and his time at BYU Law—embodies this mindset. While not a member of the predominant faith on campus, he found BYU Law to be a special place where community and kindness thrive.
Growing up in New Jersey as a huge San Francisco 49ers fan, Jay’s first connection to BYU Law came unexpectedly—through an encounter with Steve Young, the legendary quarterback. At age 13, Jay met Young outside the team’s training facility during a work trip he went on with his dad. Jay recalls how Young, driving a modest red 4Runner rather than a flashy car, stopped to chat and sign an autograph instead of just driving past like a couple other players. This kindness left a lasting impression that led Jay to take a mental note when he
later learned that Young attended BYU and BYU Law. Seeds planted by a moment of kindness would come to bear fruit later in Jay’s life.
Years later, while exploring schools at a law school fair at Rutgers University (where Jay earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees), he had a warm and encouraging conversation with Dean Kathy Pullins and GaeLynn Smith at the BYU Law table. A quick two-week turnaround on his acceptance letter and a positive campus visit sealed the decision—BYU was where he wanted to study.
That visit was just a glimpse of what his entire BYU experience would be like. Jay’s Class of 2007 is known for being close-knit and genuinely friendly. Reflecting on this, Jay says, “Whenever my classmates can come together we try to come together because I think we all just really enjoyed our time and our relationships. It reminds us of great days in the past.” Even during the pandemic, nearly 40 classmates joined a virtual reunion to stay connected.
Jay acknowledges, however, that BYU Law is not immune to challenges. “Racism exists everywhere,” he says, “but we’ve moved forward. . . . I think we’ve evolved where we can have some of these tough conversions.” As a member of the Alumni Board’s BIPOC Subcommittee that is part of the Belonging Committee, Jay is actively involved in these efforts.
Together with classmates Timothy Overton (‘07) and James Bennin (‘07), as well as Wayne Latu (‘22), the BIPOC Subcommittee has hosted more than six panels and networking events with BYU Law students and alumni over the past three years aimed at continuing a dialogue of belonging. “We’re moving in the right direction and there’s a commitment that starts with the Dean [David Moore] and goes through the Alumni Board that we want to meet alumni where they’re at,” Jay reflected.
He notes that he can see progress from when he was a BYU Law student; the Law School is better at engaging students and alumni in meaningful ways, without assumptions or stereotypes. And Jay wants to see more alumni get involved with events and initiatives that Alumni Services and the Alumni Board are fostering. “We want you to know that conversations are happening, and there are folks that are here who are focused on making sure that everyone feels like they belong, that they are valued, that they are part of something, and that they have a space there.”
When asked for advice on building strong alumni communities, Jay shared a concept from his public affairs experience called the “Seven-Touch Method.” People often need to be contacted at least seven times via various channels (texts, emails, calls) before engaging. He encourages classmates to reach out consistently to one another, and to BYU Law alumni broadly, saying, “Break through the noise.”
His career path reflects his passion for public affairs and policy. After clerking for a family judge and working summers at the New Jersey Supreme Court and Holland & Hart, Jay moved into legislative roles including Associate General Counsel to the New Jersey General Assembly and later General Counsel to the Senate President. He eventually joined Gibbons’ Public Affairs Department and helped open their Washington, DC Office, where he was sworn into the Washington D.C. Bar by Judge Thomas Griffith. He was also recently appointed to be a trustee for Rutgers University.
Jay’s message to all BYU Law Alumni, regardless of where they are in life or what their current relationship is with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is clear: “We’re stronger when we have a variety of people, opinions, and input. There is space for you here! This is your law school, and you belong. You graduated from here, and you’re always welcome to share, to engage, and to come back!”