BYU Accounting Professor Named Outstanding Educator

PROVO, Utah – Sep 04, 2013 – Marriott School of Management accounting professor Robert Gardner was recently honored with the prestigious 2013 Outstanding Educator award from the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants.

The UACPA annually presents the award to a full-time college accounting educator who demonstrates high ideals and is actively involved in the accounting profession.

“Bob has an incredible knowledge of the tax code and a penchant for teaching students how to research and think critically,” says Jeff Wilks, School of Accountancy director. “We recognize Bob's talent and love of teaching and know he is very deserving of this award.”

Gardner, the Robert J. Smith Professor, has taught at the Marriott School since 1979. He received the Marriott School’s Outstanding Faculty award in 2001 and served as the director of the School of Accountancy from 1996–2002. Outside of academia, Gardner received the 2006 Outstanding Service award from the American Taxation Association and served as a member of the American Accounting Association Council and the National Tax Academic Advisory Boards for Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche.

“I’m privileged to receive the award,” Gardner says. “When you consider the quality of the accounting faculty at BYU and the other universities in Utah, it’s quite an honor.”

Gardner was presented with the award at an event in Salt Lake City on Aug. 23, and joins Kevin Stocks, Boyd Randall and Dave Stewart as recent Marriott School professors to receive the award.

“Bob has been an outstanding teacher and mentor to his students at BYU and has inspired many individuals to pursue careers in public accounting,” Stewart says. “Bob is well respected by his students, fellow BYU faculty and his academic peers.”

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.