About CIS

The Wilford A. Cardon International Sponsorship (CIS) program (formerly known as the International Student Sponsor Program) was initiated and founded by Wilford A. Cardon, partner of the Cardon Oil Company as well as other members of the National Advisory Council at the BYU Marriott School of Business. The program was initiated with a two-fold purpose:

• To provide graduate management education for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living outside the United States and Canada.
• To prepare participants for leadership roles in their chosen professions, their communities, and the Church when they return to their native countries or region.

Wilford Cardon served as a missionary in Brazil and later served there as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout his service he had developed a great love for the people, but at the same time, he saw a great need for higher education for the people in developing countries. Therefore when he returned to the United States, he was determined to help Brazilian (and other international) students enter the graduate programs at BYU. He knew that this was a great step towards helping international students 1) increase their knowledge of business and 2) to better prepare them for leadership roles as they return home to develop careers, build their local economies, and strengthen the Church in their native countries or region.

Wilford Cardon’s vision has now become reality. Since the initiation of the program in 1986, students not only from Brazil, but from all over the world have benefited greatly from the CIS program. Since 1986, 272 students from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands have participated in the CIS program.

The Cardon International Sponsorship is managed by the Global Business Center at BYU Marriott.

CIS Legacy