News Releases 

Troy K. Lewis, an associate teaching professor in the School of Accountancy at the BYU Marriott School of Business, recently received the 2021 Arthur J. Dixon Memorial Award in honor of his outstanding work as a certified public accountant (CPA) in the area of taxation.

While passionate about the public health sector, Jodi Morrison Deputy began to consider a career switch after graduating from college and working in the field for three years. She forged a new path in human resources, a move she made because she saw how HR fit her personality. Deputy says this transition was enabled by the MBA program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, which she graduated from in 2002.

As many students from the BYU Marriott School of Business were about to begin finals week at the end of the fall 2021 semester, two MISM students were presenting their innovative ideas to some of the brightest minds in the information systems (IS) profession at the International Conference for Information Systems (ICIS).

After returning home from her mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Emma Houghton resurrected two pre-mission interests in unexpected ways. Her dancing talents reignited in the form of clogging, and she pursued a major that fueled her passion for bringing people together: the experience design and management (ExDM) program at the BYU Marriott School of Business.

After moving from India to the United States to complete his undergraduate education, Karni Arha wanted to pursue a high-quality, affordable MBA program in a supportive environment. He chose to attend the BYU Marriott School of Business, a decision he says enabled his successful leadership career in finance.

Developing others and watching them grow is Joe Hardie's favorite aspect of human resources. His love for the field formed during his time in the human resource management program at the BYU Marriott School of Business and while he worked as a student on campus. Now, Hardie lives his passion every day as an HR leader for Walmart.

When the Great Recession in 2008 caused his startup real estate company to fold, Case Lawrence thought he knew what failure was. Years later, however, the COVID-19 pandemic put his trampoline park company on the verge of another business failure. As a mentor with the Rollins Center at BYU Marriott, Lawrence uses his experiences with failure to help young entrepreneurs be better equipped for the road ahead.

Growing up in Ajloun, Jordan, Dunia Alrabadi had a goal at a young age to attend college in the United States. As a child, she met many people who thought her dream was impractical and maybe even impossible. Alrabadi doubled down on her goal to prove she could be more than others believed. Now, as an MBA student at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Alrabadi has her sights set on helping others like her achieve their dreams.

Some people may shy away from the challenging and unpredictable, but not Gentry Davies. He has made a career out of solving tricky projections and analyzing future business opportunities. Now a senior director of product at Divvy, Davies credits his problem-solving abilities to his 2012 degree in strategy from the BYU Marriott School of Business.

As a child, Courage Tamakloe faced extraordinary trials as part of his everyday life. Despite these challenges, Tamakloe believes that any situation in his life can be viewed as either a lesson or a blessing, and he chooses to look for the opportunities to grow in any circumstance. As a senior at the BYU Marriott School of Business, Tamakloe now uses his past experiences to stand as an advocate for minorities in the global supply chain program.  

Students in the MBA program at BYU Marriott fondly refer to fellow cohort member and 2022 class president Ethan Felix as their "MBA dad." Despite being older than most of his classmates, Felix connects with other students and empathizes with those going through difficult times. Felix's life has been shaped by overcoming obstacles, both personal and educational.

Students who participate in the Rollins Center at BYU Marriott know they can find financial support, mentorship, and motivation for their entrepreneurial ventures through the center. Those themes were magnified during the center's annual Founders Conference, which allowed students to connect with and showcase their business skills to members of the Rollins Center's Entrepreneur Founders organization.

During the fall 2021 semester, the global supply chain management program at the BYU Marriott School of Business recognized accounting alum Brian Hancock with the Global Supply Chain Excellence Award. Members of the BYU Marriott Global Supply Chain Advisory Board, students, and Hancock’s family gathered at BYU’s Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center to recognize Hancock’s achievements as a successful C-suite executive, leader in supply chain management, and corporate mentor.

After he learned from a fast-food mogul and role model, Dustin Leonard dreamed of becoming a successful marketer. Now a BYU Marriott School of Business marketing senior, Leonard discovered that success comes through mentorship, pursuing his marketing passions, and seizing opportunities. 

A team of BYU Marriott School of Business MBA students won third place out of 4,500 teams during the 2021 Adobe Analytics Challenge held throughout the month of November. The students’ success earned them a prize of $6,000 and provided experience in real-world business situations. 

With products ranging from airless tires, healthy baby food, and perfectly fitting watch bands, innovative ideas were shared by BYU student entrepreneurs at the Big Idea Jam final. The event is hosted annually by the Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at the BYU Marriott School of Business as part of the Miller Competition Series. Entrants had the opportunity to share their ideas, whether those ideas started in a lab or on the back of a napkin.

Fostering connections between students is the number one priority for leaders of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) chapter at the BYU Marriott School of Business. The association encourages connection by providing opportunities for students to interact with faculty members, alumni, and other students involved in the information systems (IS) program. 

On November 5, 2021, the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at the BYU Marriott School of Business presented the 2021 N. Dale Wright Alumni Award to Dr. Tamara Sheffield. She is currently the medical director for preventive medicine at Intermountain Healthcare.

Roaming the streets of Provo, you can find all sorts of places promising exciting experiences: candle-making shops, hatchet-throwing companies, escape rooms, and soda shops. A new class offered by the experience design and management (ExDM) program at the BYU Marriott School of Business—ExDM 490R: Current Trends and Opportunities in the Experience Economy—dives into why these experiential businesses often find success.

When Scott Lovejoy was a newly enlisted medic in the United States Army, he received a surprise visit from his father. The conversation that took place during this visit was a turning point in the 18-year-old's life, reminding him who he was and how important faith was. This experience, along with his time spent in the Army ROTC program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, ultimately led Lovejoy to his career as a chaplain.