MPA News 

In the typical search for jobs and internships, students seek out the company. The Romney Institute of Public Management, however, is finding ways to bring companies' recruiters to students.

Brigham Young University's Romney Institute of Public Management awarded Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, with its 2011 N. Dale Wright Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is one of the most esteemed accolades given by the Institute and was presented to Giani at a luncheon last Friday in her honor.

This year hundreds more Marriott School of Management graduates were hired than in 2010, resulting from an intensified focus on placement and a slowly recovering economy. Placement rates increased by 14 percent for graduate degrees and five percent for undergraduate degrees in 2011, reaching 91 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

It's a place many students love to turn to when picking their professors, and now RateMyProfessors.com has returned the love, naming Brigham Young University the top college for the 2010–2011 school year.

Gov. Gary R. Herbert recently appointed David Hart, director of the Romney Institute of Public Management, to join a new state council looking to give Utah an economic and managerial boost. Hart and other Utah leaders will focus on cutting costs, streamlining services and bettering the Beehive State.

According to nineteenth-century education reformer Horace Mann, "A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated." Jeff Sermon's Executive MPA degree has helped him reach high enough to become the sixth president of Utah Community Credit Union.

Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management announced the winners of the 2011 Bateman Awards, the only school-wide awards selected entirely by students.

The Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University honored the late John W. Keys III as its 2011 Administrator of the Year. Keys was the former commissioner for the Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, which manages, develops and protects the water resources in the western United States.

The Marriott School of Management presented Michael Swenson, Ford Motor Company Professor of Marketing, with its highest distinction — the 2011 Outstanding Faculty Award — at the annual Marriott School Awards Night held March 9. In addition to Swenson, 14 others were recognized for their dedicated service to the school.

Good communicators are supposed to work behind the scenes, but sometimes they can't help getting pulled on stage for a successful effort. Such was the case when the Marriott School of Management won multiple awards for communications excellence from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

For soon-to-be graduates attempting to join the workforce in a weak economy, knowing the right people is more pertinent than ever. To help students interested in government prepare to enter the field of public service, the Romney Institute of Public Management held its second local government fair with more than a dozen governmental entities in attendance.

A group of graduate students from across the globe experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as they visited with leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the importance of education and service. These students, part of the Cardon International Sponsorship program, also received a tour of church headquarters during their visit last semester.

Instead of rocking around your own Christmas tree this year, students and faculty are invited to stop by the Marriott School of Management's annual Angel Tree and help provide gifts for needy families in Utah County.

Jamie Cope Bennee, a 34-year-old BYU Executive MPA student, died in a tragic plane crash in Payson, Utah, on Nov. 18.

President Barack Obama announced the appointment of seven new members of the Federal Salary Council, including Rex L. Facer, associate professor of public finance and management at the Marriott School. The council evaluates pay comparability of 1.3 million federal employees in professional, administrative, technical, clerical and other white-collar jobs.

Pick up the Fall 2010 Marriott Alumni Magazine and you will no doubt notice something different — very different. On the eve of its 35th anniversary, the magazine has received a makeover. The completely redesigned publication will offer its engaging content in a new, bolder and even more inviting way.

Brigham Young University is ranked 75th in the 2011 edition of U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges," with the Marriott School of Management's undergraduate program ranked among the top 50 "Best Business Programs," coming in at 34th.

She sits with stacks of research surrounding her, a cursor blinking on an empty computer screen, and a thousand thoughts suspended in her head. So she does what is most logical for her—she picks up her paintbrush.

While most marvel at the exotic animals in zoos, one Marriott School professor became fascinated by the zookeepers and their dedication to their careers.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? One Marriott School of Management student is doing just that.