Each year at University Conference, Brigham Young University recognizes a number of employees for their service and influence. This year faculty and staff members at the BYU Marriott School of Business—Julie Averett, Spencer Hilton, Jenn Larson, and Scott Webb—received awards at the conference for their contributions to BYU.
Averett, who has been an academic advisor in the School of Accountancy (SOA) since 2005, received the President’s Appreciation Award. This award recognizes staff and administrative personnel for their exceptional service, creativity, and competence.
In her time at BYU Marriott, Averett has helped many accounting students navigate their classes and prepare for graduation. She first started working for BYU Marriott in 1986, before working with the SOA in 1996. “I enjoy interacting with the students in the SOA and associating with the faculty and staff who are part of the BYU Marriott family,” she says.
The Early Career Teaching Award was given to Hilton, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Information Systems, for his outstanding promise and contributions in teaching at an early stage in his career. Recipients of this award hold rank of assistant or associate professor and have been faculty members at BYU for at least three years, but not more than ten years.
Hilton joined BYU Marriott’s IS department in 2020 after having taught at Weber State University for 12 years. Prior to joining academia, he worked for 7 years in the software industry. “Teaching at BYU Marriott has been a dream come true,” Hilton says. “I feel blessed to work every day with individuals of faith, intellect, and character.”
For her efforts in helping students achieve the aims of a BYU education, Larson, an adjunct faculty in the Department of Finance, was given the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award. This honor recognizes a few adjunct faculty each year who have demonstrated an excellence in teaching over a period of at least five years.
Larson earned both a bachelor’s degree in business—focusing her coursework on international finance—and an MBA from BYU Marriott. After earning her master’s degree, Larson started teaching as an adjunct professor in 2010. “I feel incredibly lucky to have my dream job teaching students about finance at BYU Marriott while also being a mom to my five young children,” Larson says. “I love interacting with all my students, but I find it especially rewarding to have mentoring opportunities with my female students who are considering a career in business.”
Webb, a teaching professor in the Department of Marketing and Global Supply Chain, was awarded the Dean Fairbanks Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellowship. This fellowship recognizes the efforts by the university’s support services in providing a transfer of positions and budget to enhance learning. “I am deeply grateful to be recognized with this award alongside such skilled and eloquent colleagues,” Webb says.
Before launching his teaching career, Webb received a PhD in logistics and operations management from Michigan State University and served as a logistics readiness officer for the United States Air Force for 12 years. Now Webb shares his knowledge of logistics management at BYU Marriott where he has taught since 2011. “BYU’s dedication to teaching in the manner of the Savior truly brings out the best in its educators,” Webb says. “It’s an honor to be part of this remarkable community.”
The BYU Marriott School of Business aspires to transform the world through Christlike leadership by developing leaders of faith, intellect, and character. Named for benefactors J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the school is located at Brigham Young University. BYU Marriott has four graduate and nine undergraduate programs with an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students.
_____
Written by Elizabeth Walker