The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has named Steven Thygerson its 2025 Safety Professional of the Year. The environmental and occupational health professor at Brigham Young University has been instrumental in advancing workplace safety and health through education, research, advocacy and global outreach.
Thygerson, Ph.D., MSPH, CIH, inspires the next generation of safety and health professionals by mentoring students and teaching courses that bridge academic knowledge and real-world application. His leadership in study abroad programs has created hands-on experiences in workplace safety around the world. Since 2010, Thygerson has been the faculty advisor for the flourishing ASSP Student Section at Brigham Young.
鈥淒r. Thygerson is a master educator who leverages a decade of industry experience to enrich his teaching,鈥� said Joshua West, Ph.D., MPH, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health at Brigham Young. 鈥淗e consistently receives exceptional student evaluations, with feedback emphasizing his alignment with our mission of character building, intellectual growth and lifelong learning.鈥�
Thygerson has conducted groundbreaking research around the globe, particularly in developing countries. He has collaborated with institutions in Nepal, Thailand, Peru, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Mozambique. He worked to improve health standards for brick makers, a sector known for hazardous working conditions.
Thygerson has written and collaborated on more than 50 books, articles and publications, and has presented at nearly 75 national and international conferences. He advocates for safety and health through many volunteer positions, including with the Utah Passenger Ropeway Safety Board, Utah County Trauma Executive Team, Workplace Health Without Borders and the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.
鈥淵ou would have to look long and hard to find somebody who truly cares about the safety and welfare of people more than Steve,鈥� said Douglas Handy, CSP retired, former president of ASSP鈥檚 Utah Chapter. 鈥淗e is willing to help anyone, and those around him feel his care and concern. He is a leader with integrity.鈥�
Thygerson previously was named Safety Professional of the Year in ASSP鈥檚 Utah Chapter and Region 2. He has helped unite Utah鈥檚 major universities through collaborative efforts to strengthen safety education and training.