Alan Neves - Homecoming Outstanding Alumnus

Alan Neves’ desire to enrich the lives of others might well have been forged in a distant past by genetics and by circumstance, but his path of fusing performance and photojournalism to benefit an audience has brought him success, acclaim and happiness.

What is clear is that a generous sampling of talent was key in the career of the SUU Alumni Association’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year.

Alan, a multi-Emmy award-winner, spent more than two decades telling stories as a photographer for Salt Lake City television stations with a reach and impact of uncommon dimension, and has augmented his mainstream work with a busy slate of freelance projects that have allowed him to expand his reach.

Now, he is excited to be on a new course of service in his very first week as the broadcast lab production manager for Brigham Young University’s School of Communications.

He’s teaching, mentoring and guiding BYU students to tell stories as he has and still does: with the goal of enlightening and elevating lives.

He grew up in several locations around the country with his journalist parents, Les and Gay Neves, who raised a large family and also sponsored refugee families. Alan learned well to give back as he landed in Tooele, Utah, for high school, and grew in an all-purpose fashion, playing saxophone in the Buffalo band and filling the lead role in a number of school stage productions, displaying a talent that won him a theater scholarship to SUU.

As a freshman in 1985, he dated fellow theater student Glynis Adams a few times before leaving to serve an LDS mission to Ventura, California. Upon his return he gravitated to journalism as he performed on-camera and production work for SUTV. But, he also trod the boards, as they say, in a number of SUU theatre productions. That placed him in proximity to Glynis, daughter of SUU icons Fred and Barbara Adams, and the couple married in 1990 upon her graduation. Living in Alpine, Utah, they are parents to five children, including Katie, an SUU sophomore majoring in English and Shakespeare Studies.

Alan’s own SUU career portended great things. Vocal coach Doug Baker, then of the theatre arts department, says, “Alan always demonstrated the cornerstones of a fulfilling life and career: integrity, strong ethical behavior, sincerity and generosity.” Jon Smith, who taught him in television work, says, “We are extremely proud of Alan and his achievements and how he has carefully polished his storytelling and photography skills to a masterful level.”

And among his colleagues at KSL Television over the years is Carole Mikita: 

"Alan Neves is one of the good guys. We have been colleagues for more than 20 years and whether its news stories or traveling the country or the world for special projects, he has been superb. Whether it is shooting, or editing, coming up with creative ideas, I know that I speak for anchors, reporters, photographers, editors, he's the number one go-to-guy and everyone's favorite. Not only is his work ethic superior, but he's a man of good cheer. Always delightful to work with. So from all of us to you, congratulations dear friend."

Following his 1992 graduation from SUU in communication with a minor in theatre arts, Alan spent a year on the studio crew at KUTV Channel 2 before moving over to KSL where he relished being out-and-about, taking people places they could not themselves go.

His travels included work in Jerusalem, Japan, Great Britain and Europe, and the White House. He has filmed inside a nuclear submarine and the tombs that held the Dead Sea Scrolls and has covered earthquakes and the Olympics. And, in KSL’s unique role in the LDS Church, he has crafted more than 30 documentaries.

Alan found time to earn a master of fine arts degree along the way, as well. While his fruitful career marks him as an exemplary SUU graduate, his stated desire to tell stories that make a difference, that inspire people to be better, truly cements him as such.