News Releases 

BYU Marriott School of Business dean Brigitte C. Madrian announced Tom Meservy as the next chair of the Department of Information Systems. Meservy took over the role from the previous department chair, Steve Liddle, on July 1, 2023.

BYU Marriott School of Business dean Brigitte C. Madrian has announced Eva Witesman as the director of the Ballard Center for Social Impact, effective July 1, 2023. She replaces Steven Fox, who had been serving as interim director since May 1, 2023, following the retirement of long-time director Todd Manwaring.

For many believers in Christ, the commandment in Matthew 5:48 to “Be ye therefore perfect” can have a weighty influence on mental health, says Aliah Hall, the mental health and wellness specialist at the BYU Marriott School of Business. But referencing the original Greek, Hall explains that the word “perfect” has another layer of meaning: to be complete or “whole.” With this understanding, she encourages others to move toward a sense of wholeness and belonging, which means making space for mental health.

Daniel Blake always knew he was interested in starting a business. He just didn’t know his journey would start with a plate of french toast at Magleby’s Fresh and end with one of the largest food waste recycling companies in the United States. Because of Blake’s experience, he now mentors entrepreneurs and students as an adjunct professor at the Ballard Center for Social Impact to create widespread, sustainable social impact.

Accounting professor Sheri Thomas often glances at the quote on the wall of her office in the BYU Marriott School of Business: “Today I choose to be brave. I choose courage over comfort.” While pursuing her dream to be a stay-at-home mother, she faced life-altering trials that refined her and helped her refocus her dream to teach accounting.

In March the Whitmore Global Business Center at the BYU Marriott School of Business hosted the 2023 High School Business Language Competition (HSBLC). The competition invites high school students from across the state to apply their language skills outside the classroom in a business environment. A total of 32 teams—made up of 114 students from 11 schools—participated in the event, with students creating and presenting marketing plans in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, or French.

While most high school seniors were writing yearbook messages, School of Accountancy alumnus Curt Haralson was writing a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), inquiring about which majors might help him become a special agent. He chose the accounting program at BYU Marriott, a path that ultimately led him to the bureau and beyond.

Study reveals racial bias, discrimination in financial services, but also identifies actions minority small business owners can take.

In April Brigham Young University’s Army ROTC competed in the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition in West Point, New York. In the end, in spite of injuries and uncertainty, the team showcased leadership and teamwork throughout the competition.

Jacob Steffen always knew he would jump at the chance to teach at the BYU Marriott School of Business because of the community and comradery he felt there. After graduating in 2017, Steffen is back--this time as a professor in the information systems program, and he uses the lessons he learned as a student to influence his teaching.

Clark Pew has learned over the course of his life that persistence pays off. The BYU Marriott EMPA alumnus worked hard to achieve his academic goals and now lives in India working for the Department of State.

Ten BYU Marriott MBA students were announced as the recipients of 2023 Hawes Scholars Award—an honor that carries the highest distinction given to MBA students at the school and a cash award of $10,000.

Jenn Larson was just 14 years old when she took over the bookkeeping for her family’s dairy farm near Firth, Idaho. She soon saw firsthand how challenging it was for her parents, who lacked any college education, to properly manage the unpredictable revenues of farming. This experience ignited a lifelong passion for finance, and it led her down an unexpected path to becoming a role model she never had.

The MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business announced the winners of the 2023 George E. Stoddard Prize, an award given to second-year MBA students studying finance who display leadership and academic excellence.

Growing up, Zack Fox enjoyed spending most of his time on the football field. Although Fox’s football playing days are mostly behind him now, the lessons he learned on the field— especially the importance to always “show up”—apply throughout his life and in his new role as an assistant professor of accounting.

Passionate about garbage and eliminating solid waste pollution in the developing world, Ryan Caplin, is not wasting his time. Now an Oxford Pershing Square Scholar, Caplin credits the Ballard Center for Social Impact at the BYU Marriott School of Business for giving him the tools to take on trash.

Katelyn Bell, a senior in the ExDM program at BYU Marriott, helped plan the launch for the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership, which included a zipline across Brigham Square on campus.

BYU Law earns highest mark ever and BYU Marriott makes jump in latest edition of U.S. News rankings

Four teams from BYU Marriott took top places at the 2023 Society for Human Resource Management competition, which brought together undergrad and graduate teams from universities across Utah and New Mexico. Student competitors say Christ-centered learning in the human resource management program gives students a unique edge as well as confidence.

The Whitmore Global Business Center at the BYU Marriott School of Business named 13 first-year BYU Marriott MBA students as 2023 Eccles Scholars. The Eccles Scholars Award offers financial support to MBA students who are interested in and committed to international business.