Brigitte Madrian, dean of the BYU Marriott School of Business, has announced the next School of Accountancy (SOA) director: Melissa Larson, the E. Dee and Patricia Hubbard Professor, will be taking over for her predecessor, Doug Prawitt, on July 1, 2025.
“We are extremely grateful for Doug’s service over the past six years in this incredibly important role,” Madrian says. “He has led the SOA through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, triumphs such as the SOA 100th anniversary celebration, and opportunities including the growth of the accounting junior core and MAcc program.”
In addition to his contributions as director of the SOA, Prawitt served on the BYU Marriott Leadership Council and the BYU Marriott Chairs Council. Madrian says, “I have been particularly grateful for Doug’s full embrace of our BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values within the School of Accountancy.”
In announcing the leadership change, Madrian welcomes Larson to the role. “Melissa exemplifies our BYU Marriott guiding principle of being centered on students.” In addition to her work in the SOA, Larson has served in several university positions, such as her membership in BYU’s professional rank and status committee. “She is both ready and well qualified to serve as the next SOA director and will be an energetic and visionary leader,” Madrian says.
Larson graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from BYU Marriott in 1998. She worked in public accounting and returned to BYU Marriott in 2001 to teach in the SOA and has taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses. Larson later earned her PhD in instructional psychology and technology from BYU and now focuses her research on instructional modes and teaching interventions to increase student participation and success.
Larson has received numerous awards, including the Karl G. Maeser Professional Faculty Excellence award, the BYU Marriott Teaching Excellence award, the Instructional Psychology and Technology Research Award, the Spirit of the SOA award, and the Merrill J. Bateman Outstanding Faculty Student Choice Award.
As she prepares to step into the role of SOA director, Larson says, “Looking ahead, our leadership team is committed to fostering a culture grounded in the BYU Marriott values of faith in Christ, integrity in action, respect for all, and excellence. We aim to build on the school’s strong foundation of excellence by continuing to engage our faculty, support our students, and positively impact the profession.”
Larson continues, “My journey at BYU—both as a student and as a faculty member—has been shaped by the kindness, mentorship, and encouragement of so many within the School of Accountancy. I hope to show my appreciation through my service in this role.”
About BYU Marriott
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 4,000 students.