News Releases 

In the inaugural Big 12 Healthcare Leadership Case Competition, student teams from across the Big 12 competed for the chance to win up to $10,000—but there was one catch. Students had to build connections outside of their own majors in order to find solutions.

Every year the Whitmore Global Business Center at the BYU Marriott School of Business honors first-year MBA students with the Eccles Scholars Award, which includes $9,000 to support students with a strong interest in and commitment to international business. With hometowns ranging from Orem, Utah, to Paraná, Brazil, and speaking languages like Tagalog and Italian, this year’s recipients were chosen for their academic performance, prior international experience, second-language fluency, and focus on developing an international career in business.

The skills that Stephanie Goldbaum and Michael Nichols learned in the marketing junior core classes didn’t just help them on tests and assignments: Their knowledge propelled them into the Arizona Collegiate Sales Competition.

BYU Marriott will welcome Colonel Trigg E. Randall as the new chair for the Department of Aerospace Studies and head of BYU's Air Force ROTC, effective July 14, 2025, following the retirement of Colonel Jonathon Creer.

Brigitte Madrian, dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business, has announced the appointment of David Matkin as the new director of the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics. Matkin will be taking over for Robert Christensen on July 1, 2025.

Brigitte Madrian, dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business, has announced the next School of Accountancy director: Melissa Larson, the E. Dee and Patricia Hubbard Professor, will be taking over for Doug Prawitt on July 1, 2025.

Brigitte Madrian, dean of the BYU Marriott of Business has announced the appointment of Michael Drake as a new associate dean for the college. Drake will be replacing current associate dean Bonnie Anderson on July 1, 2025.

Growing up, Ryan Sommerfeldt wanted to be a high school math teacher. Now, he is teaching accounting with the aim of helping students progress both spiritually and intellectually.

In April the 2025 George E. Stoddard Prize was awarded to 11 second-year MBA students at the BYU Marriott School of Business. These students are committed to pursuing a career in finance and have displayed leadership and academic excellence.

Nine BYU Marriott School of Business MBA students received the 2025 Hawes Scholars Award. The award, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, is one of the highest distinctions given to graduating MBA students at BYU Marriott.

Five MBA students at the BYU Marriott School of Business received the 2025 Gary P. Williams Leadership Award. The award recognizes distinguished students who have been nominated by their peers for demonstrating extraordinary leadership that embodies the values of BYU Marriott.

Spencer Parker knows that sometimes it’s best to step outside of his comfort zone—even when he’s hanging outside of a plane 5,000 feet in the air. Parker, a cadet in Brigham Young University’s Air Force ROTC, has learned that seeking growth opportunities can help him reach spectacular heights as he strives to achieve an ambitious objective.

What do beekeeping, management communication, and software development have in common? They’re just three of the disciplines that helped Varroa Tech, a startup that uses gas detection to warn beekeepers of dangerous parasite levels in their hives, to win $16,500 and the 2024–2025 Student Innovator of the Year competition.

Mike Eads left his stable job in search of new challenges—and he found them. The information systems alum from the BYU Marriott School of Business took on roles within and outside the realm of his MISM, trusting the skills he developed during the program.

On April 8, a packed ballroom of students from the BYU Marriott School of Business listened to what Mary C. Daly, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, had to say: “If you want to learn and you want to give, you’ll have a beautiful life. That’s my main message to you today.” Then she added, “I’ll talk about the economy, too.”

While case competitions are competitive by nature, that didn’t stop participants in the 2025 Business Language Case Competition from making connections. Students taking selfies with one another and the overlapping sounds of Spanish and Mandarin floating through the air were just some of the signs of the relationship building and skills development that occurred during the course of the event.

Connor Ross, a graduate of the BYU Marriott School of Business, has aspired to break records on the track since seventh grade, when he first set his sights on beating the 400-meter race record at his middle school. What started as a teenager’s goal to crush track records has since evolved into a career in collegiate sports management, where Ross’s drive to set new goals has propelled him every step of the way.

When Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III recognized a need for nutritious food among his congregation, his response was to put his hands in the Baltimore dirt and start planting. Those seeds of change took root, and Brown shared how his desire to help his congregation grew into a multi-state network of helping hands at the recent “Do Good. Better.” Conference hosted by the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

Throughout her professional journey, research, and position as a strategy professor at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Lena Lizunova has seen that there are many potential disadvantages people could face in both their careers and their lives. But through her own experiences, she has also seen that feeling like someone believes in her can make a big difference in overcoming challenges—especially self-imposed limits.

Whether a student startup is inventing a collapsible asthma spacer or crafting a high-protein cheese, the Miller Grants from the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology are ready to support student innovation at Brigham Young University.