MPA News 

According to a recent BYU study, research showed that when the price and quality of goods and services is the same, consumers favor nonprofits over the government and the government over for-profit companies.

“Lift where you stand” is Eva Witesman’s life motto. This guidance directs her efforts, whether she is teaching classes at the BYU Marriott School of Business or helping businesses with their social responsibility efforts.

Growing up, Jared Cuessy was surrounded by the stories of his ancestors. The story of how his grandfather sacrificed to leave Mexico and bring his family to the United States is particularly dear to him. As Cuessy ponders the many people who came before him who made all that he has today possible, he feels a responsibility to honor his ancestors.

Twenty years ago, as a senior in high school, Craig Hirschi sat in the cold in Brigham City, Utah, waiting for his turn to pass the Olympic torch as a torch runner for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. His friends and family stood on the sidelines, cheering him on. Now as a student in the executive MPA (EMPA) program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Hirschi appreciates his classmates, who cheer him on in similar ways.

Life sometimes has a funny way of helping people find their paths, and in the case of MPA alumna Shari Grossarth, her road to the BYU Marriott School of Business began with ants. When ant research conducted during her undergrad eventually led to the MPA program, this conservation biology student discovered a side of public administration she previously didn't know existed.

Eighteen years after being hired as the second student employee at the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Aaron Miller now helps lead the center as an associate managing director. Through his nearly two decades worth of experience in encouraging and supporting students as they “Do Good Better,” Miller also spends his free time teaching others about the benefits of helping people.

A chain of events stretching through five universities and a faith conversion led Dan Heist to his research linking religion and philanthropic behavior. Most of Heist's research explores how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facilitates volunteer behavior--from accepting church callings to volunteering to pray.

In today's faculty-advised, student-run Grantwell program, students consult with real clients on real projects.

As David Matkin watched his son's rock-climbing team in a competition nearly six years ago, he was enthralled by the children's perseverance. This experience motivated Matkin to try climbing himself, and he soon fell in love with the sport. Now, as a professor in the MPA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Matkin teaches his students the same values rock climbing instills in him.

Business leaders and educators from across the nation recently gathered at the BYU Marriott School of Business for the annual Partners in Business Ethics Symposium. The 2021 conference marked BYU Marriott's first time hosting the event.

On November 5, 2021, the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at the BYU Marriott School of Business presented the 2021 N. Dale Wright Alumni Award to Dr. Tamara Sheffield. She is currently the medical director for preventive medicine at Intermountain Healthcare.

The Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at the BYU Marriott School of Business presented the annual Doyle W. Buckwalter Scholarship to second-year MPA student Heather Shurtliff, who hails from Taylor, British Colombia, Canada. The $2,000 scholarship recognizes Shurtliff's excellent contributions to her internship for the city of Vineyard, Utah.

With her heart pounding, BYU Marriott MPA student Olivia Hoj-Simister anxiously awaited the sound of the buzzer to start the race that would, in the end, crown her a national champion. As the first leg in the women's distance medley relay at the 2021 NCAA DI Indoor Track and Field Championships, she helped her teammates emerge victorious and claim BYU's first national title in the event.

BYU Marriott MPA alum Ed Thatcher grew up on a farm, and he learned that farming was long, hard work. Though many enjoy the lifestyle, Thatcher decided living on a farm wasn’t for him.

Throughout his ninety years, MPA alum Karl Snow has used his experiences to serve the community in many ways: working for the Utah state government, BYU Marriott, and South African humanitarian projects.

Receiving an award in Gary C. Cornia's name felt personally meaningful to Sally Wallace, especially since Cornia is one of her role models. Wallace, the dean of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University (GSU), was honored as this year's Gary C. Cornia Lecture Series Award recipient at a banquet held on October 28, 2021. Cornia was a former dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Ten years ago, Chad Lewis successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, but he’s accomplished more than just reaching the summit of one of the world’s tallest peaks. Years later, his mountain-conquering experience encouraged him to continue to make and achieve his goals. Now, his goal is to earn his EMPA at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Jennifer Tinkham, a JD/MPA alumna of the BYU Marriott School of Business, understands the power of a simple smile to change the world. As an educator, Tinkham shares the joy of smiles, service, and education with her students at BYU–Hawaii.

From the mountains to the sea to BYU’s Tanner building, Lina Abdallah is always searching for new ways to see the world and the people who live in it. She attributes much of this desire to the time she spent at the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at the BYU Marriott School of Business—an experience that led her to work for the World Bank, first in the West Bank and Gaza country office, and more recently in Jordan.

Since graduating from the MPA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, alumna Jackie Suggitt has worked at both a company with 1.5 million employees and a nonprofit with twelve employees. Whether she’s driving social change from Walmart headquarters or a nonprofit board meeting, she aims to create a more sustainable future for the planet. Currently, she’s working to help industries to reduce their food waste, one milk carton or loaf of bread at a time.