Irene Ericksen is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and was converted at age 26 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. Before her children were born, she worked in the research department of the Church, studying women’s programs and concerns. During that time she served on the Young Women general board and shortly afterward completed a master’s degree in educational psychology at the University of Utah. She and her husband, David, have two sons and live in Salt Lake City, Utah.