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Alumni Spotlight Employee Spotlight MBA MPA
The department chair and a professor of finance at BYU Marriott, Taylor Nadauld thanks his 25-year-old self for choosing to leave a lucrative position on Wall Street to earn a PhD.
After 24 years of building an alumni network and forging one-on-one relationships with those in the MPA community, Vicki Okerlund leaves behind a legacy of Christ-centered leadership that extends beyond the workplace.
As a graduate of the MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Christian Da Silva knows that education opens the door of opportunity. With the help of loving friends and family and a Cardon International Sponsorship from the Whitmore Global Business Center, Da Silva discovered ways to continue his education and shape a better future.
Two months after Katie Cherrington moved to Maui, the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century struck her family’s neighborhood. In the aftermath of Lahaina’s tragedy, Cherrington has observed a community banding together and has seen principles in action that are taught at BYU Marriott.
Justin Weiss, EMPA alumnus, has lived a life full of unexpected triumphs and hardships that have led to opportunities for personal development.
EMBA graduate Tema Hunkin Laussen had a lot to smile about in 2023. Her company, closed $20 million in residential real estate sales last year. But as much as she loved closing each deal, Laussen’s real highlight of 2023 was opening doors for students through her family’s charitable foundation.
After being surprised by a question in class that told him he might be in the wrong place, Norm Sherwood Traded law school for the MOB program which ended up creating the perfect path for him.
As an MPA professor at BYU Marriott, Eva Witesman emphasizes to students the importance of unity with one another and the organizations they will work for.
Teaching professor for the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics Aaron Miller teaches students that future business leaders should focus less on climbing the corporate ladder and more on creating a positive impact in the world.

As an associate professor at BYU Marriott, Liz Dixon reflects on how her father’s example helped her teach and practice Christlike communication.
Awarded a BYU Homecoming 2023 Alumni Achievement Award, MBA alum Christopher Clason explained how inspired leaders create value in their professional and personal lives.
After diverting his route to wander into an institute of religion at the University of Oklahoma, Travis Ruddle found a new life and a new path that would one day lead to teaching in the MPA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business.
Global supply chain assistant professor Brett Hathaway spends much of his free time summiting mountains. His career path has uniquely equipped him to provide perspective to students in their own journeys.
David Tanner brings the skills he gained through BYU Marriott's MPA program to the state of Georgia, where he consults state leaders, community organizers, and county and city elected officials.
As he reflects on his life journey, emeritus general authority and MOB grad Larry Kacher says the unexpected stops have been most meaningful and the bumps along the way have proved most beneficial.
Clark Pew has learned over the course of his life that persistence pays off. The EMPA alumnus now lives in India working for the Department of State.
Taking over the bookkeeping for her family’s Idaho dairy farm taught fourteen-year-old Jenn Larson about unpredictable farming revenues, ignited her lifelong passion for finance, and inspired her to become a role model.
Students, employees, and executives typically work hard to present themselves professionally, ensuring blazers are pressed and handshakes are firm. Yet BYU Marriott professor Kristen DeTienne, who has more than three decades of professional experience, calls for something beyond professionalism. “What’s that extra edge that helps you be effective and enjoy what you’re doing?” DeTienne says, “It’s personal connection.”
Jeffrey Burningham, adjunct faculty and partner to the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, believes the creative process is pivotal to a fulfilling life.
With nearly three decades of experience at BYU Marriott, MBA academic program manager Christine Roundy helps students reach their goals by meeting individual needs.
EMBA program alumnus Shawn Pace finds and meets people’s real-world needs, whether he’s in a Ukrainian refugee camp or an executive board room.
In December 2022, BYU Marriott alum Scott Adams retired after 30 years of service as the CEO of Pullman Regional Hospital in Washington state.
“Go, Cougs!” is still Adam Vandermyde’s enthusiastic cheer more than a decade after graduating from BYU Marriott’s MBA program in 2008. Through the years, Vandermyde has continued to support his alma mater by cheering for BYU sports and by hiring more than 150 BYU graduates to work at his companies.
Larry Walters discovered early in his life that serving others brought him great joy. His love of public service has spread to others and made the world a better place.