The College of Life Sciences honored Riley Peck as the 2025 Alumni Achievement recipient. In his lecture, Peck shared his journey to becoming the Director of Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the four key lessons he learned along the way.
1. Be Intentional
Working a sales job after returning from his mission in Tokyo, Japan, Peck felt unfulfilled and wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Then, one day, he found himself mesmerized by a flock of geese flying overhead; he was reminded of his high school wildlife biology class and something in that moment sparked.
“There was an occupation that all of a sudden I felt passionate about,” he recalled. That realization led him to pursue a career in wildlife biology. Though the path was difficult—especially as a married student—he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelors in biology and later began graduate research at BYU with Dr. Randy Larsen in plant and wildlife sciences.
“Once we know what that right road is and we know that goal, we need to be intentional with our efforts,” he said. “We need to go forward with that goal in mind.”
Peck’s story resonated with the audience. “I am somebody who—like what [Peck] was talking about—is unsure of what to study,” BYU student Jocelyn McBride reflected. “His message about figuring it out along the way was really nice to hear.”
2. Be Hungry
Peck also emphasized the importance of working hard and staying motivated. He referenced President Thomas S. Monson’s advice that deeply impacted him: “My advice to each of you is that you should study and prepare for your life's work in a field that you enjoy, because you are going to spend a good share of your life in that field. It should be one that challenges your intellect and makes maximum utilization of your talents and your capabilities.” Monson goes on to say that students shouldn’t be afraid of tough classes or lengthy periods of preparation as they pursue a degree.
Peck took this advice to heart and lived it. President Monson’s message quieted his fears about education and motivated him to keep moving forward despite his challenges. While supporting his young family, he worked graveyard shifts so he could study during the day. That determination helped him land an internship with the DWR, then a job as a wildlife biologist in Fillmore, Utah. Just five years later, he returned to the DWR as the central region manager.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
During his time as regional manager, Peck was tasked with relocating a population of bighorn sheep. Unfortunately, the new area had a large cougar population, and many of the sheep were killed. He called it a failure but also a learning experience.
“We learned a lot of lessons from that,” he said. “It’s alright to fail once in a while. It’s alright to learn. I tell our biologists we will be the state that is not afraid to fail.”
Not long after that experience, the director of the division stepped down. Acting without a fear of failure, Peck trusted a prompting to apply. Earlier this year, he was named as the new director of the DWR.
4. Trust in the Lord
Peck’s final message emphasized faith. He encouraged students to involve the Lord in their careers and life choices. There were times in his life where the next step was clear and easy and other times where those steps required a great deal of reliance on Christ. By involving the Lord in all of his decisions, Peck was guided to a better life than he could have imagined.
“I promise you that my life is so much better; it is better because I’ve involved the Lord,” he said. “That path that led me from one place to the next and stressed me out in a way that I never imagined is better because my Heavenly Father is in my life.”
Peck’s story is an example to students and young professionals of how commitment, hard work, resilience, and faith can shape a meaningful career. For students still exploring their life’s path, his message was a reminder that it’s okay to not have all the answers right now. What matters most is moving forward with purpose and involving the Lord in our decisions.