Mary Pearson
Vice President/CFO, Division of Finance & Administration | Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT, UNITED STATES
Specializing in entrepreneurship in rural communities, financial accounting reporting requirements, and the history of accounting principles
Biography
Mary Pearson is the CFO and Vice President of Finance & Administration at Southern Utah University, where she oversees a variety of departments, including Accounting, Budget, Bookstore, Business Analytics, Dining Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Internal Audit, Post Office, Purchasing/Procurement, and Receiving. In addition, she is a Board member for State Bank of Southern Utah and operates her own financial firm in Cedar City, Utah, as a licensed CPA.
Mary has received numerous teaching and leadership accolades, including the UACPA Women to Watch Experienced Leader Award, the Cedar City Service Award, and the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award. With 16 years of international teaching experience, she deeply values cultural diversity and diverse perspectives.
Previously, Mary held the position of Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business and served as Chairwoman of the Cedar City Planning and Zoning Commission. She has also been actively involved on various advisory boards at the city, county, and school levels. Holding a bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in accounting.
Mary is also proud to be the wife of Alan Pearson, mother of four grown children, and grandmother to seven wonderful grandchildren.
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Industry Expertise (5)
Writing and Editing
Accounting
Research
Education/Learning
Financial Services
Areas of Expertise (17)
Leadership
Accounting and Profitability Analysis
Finanical Accounting Reporting Requirements
Accumulation and Flow of Managerial Accounting Information
Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities
Strategic & Business Planning
Business Administration
Financial Planning
Accounting
Enterpreneurship
Business Accounting
Education
Planning and Zoning in Rural Communities
Financial Analysis and Decision Making
Cost-Volume Profit Analysis
History of Accounting Principles
Accounting Ethics
Education (3)
Northcentral University: Ph.D., Business Administration, Specialization Advanced Accounting
Southern Utah University: M.A., Accounting
Southern Utah University: B.S., Accounting
Accomplishments (7)
Woman to Watch Experienced Leader Award
Awarded by Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2020
Outstanding Educator Beta Gamma Sigma (professional)
Awarded by Southern Utah University, 2017
Student Influencer Award (professional)
Southern Utah University, 2017
Educator of the Year (professional)
Cedar City Chamber of Commerce, 2016
Student Influencer Award (professional)
Southern Utah University, 2016
Outstanding Educator (professional)
Southern Utah University, 2016
Extraordinary Educator (professional)
Southern Utah University, 2013
Affiliations (4)
- Certified Public Accountant
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Links (2)
Media Appearances (12)
Pearson withdraws from Cedar City Council race, steps into new leadership role at SUU
ST. George News online
2023-07-15
Pearson’s announcement came just one day after she was promoted to a vice presidential role at Southern Utah University.
Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation Donates $75,000 to Women in Business
SUU News online
2023-06-26
“I am thrilled at the opportunity the Ivory Women Student Success Initiative will provide to our students,” said Mary Pearson, dean of the SUU Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business. “This program will further their personal and professional development and allow student participants to see their leadership potential. Great thanks to Clark and Christine Ivory for their generous support of this initiative.”
Two New VPs Join Benson Administration
SUU News online
2023-06-13
“I am excited to begin this new role at SUU,” Pearson said. “I have loved serving as the Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business and have had the great privilege to work with amazing faculty, staff, students, and alumni. I look forward to working with a new group of dedicated employees in building a strong future for this wonderful institution.”
SUU Online Master's Business Degree Among Top in the Nation
SUU News online
2023-02-06
“I am excited about the recent U.S. News rankings for our online graduate programs that endorse the relevant quality education we provide our business students,” said Dr. Mary Pearson, dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business. “We value the recognition from national publications that consistently rank us among the top educators in the online environment. A special thank you goes to our outstanding faculty and staff for their dedicated service to our graduate programs and our outstanding students.”
School of Business Awarded Nearly $200,000 Ongoing Funding
SUU News online
2021-08-09
“It is so important to know what it means to sell yourself, a company, or a product. Working in business, you are continually selling yourself as a consultant,” said Dean Pearson. “To discover this huge demand and realize if we market and educate this right, this is something that could really benefit students… it was incredible. This is something very worthwhile.”
State Bank of Southern Utah adds Mary Pearson, Brad Last to board of directors
St George News online
2019-08-01
Mary Pearson is the dean of the School of Business at Southern Utah University. She oversees the accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, hotel resort and hospitality management, management, marketing, Masters of Accountancy and Masters of Business Administration programs.
EDA grant money to motivate rural Utah entrepreneurship
The Richfield Reaper online
2018-10-31
“We are excited about the opportunities this EDA grant can provide in creating jobs and increasing business productivity and profitability for students and community members in the five-county region,” said Mary Pearson, dean of SUU Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business. “We look forward to working with Dixie State in finding ways to promote and support entrepreneurship in rural Utah.”
SUU Unveils New Business Building in Time for New School Year
KUTV tv
2018-08-27
“We are thrilled to have a new building that will help our programs grow as we continue exploring new opportunities for our business students,” said the dean for the School of Business, Mary Pearson. “The new building will provide needs space for students, professors, and professionals to collaborate and experiment with business ideas, assignments, and projects.”
New Dean Announced for School of Business
SUU News online
2017-12-04
After an extensive search, Mary Pearson has been chosen out of a very competitive national field to serve as the Dean of the School of Business at Southern Utah University.
SUU Breaks Ground on New Business Building
The Spectrum online
2017-04-27
Southern Utah University broke ground for its new 42,000-square-foot business Thursday. But the start of the construction for the long-anticipated $16 million project wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the community – both in Cedar City and throughout the entire state.
Groundbreaking for $17M Business School project upcoming
Cedar City News online
2017-04-23
“The new building will provide needed space for students, professors and professionals to collaborate and experiment with business ideas, assignments, and projects,” Mary Pearson, interim associate dean for the School of Business, said. “The ceremony will build excitement for the future home of the School of Business at Southern Utah University.”
Online Accounting Programs Highlighted in National Rankings
SUU News online
2018-11-30
“Positive rankings provide recognition and reward for delivery of quality education to students all over the world,” said Mary Pearson, dean of the SUU School of Business. “This ranking showcases the quality students can expect in the program.”
Event Appearances (3)
January Luncheon Speaker
January 2024 | BYU Management Society St. George, UT
Community Reads with Mary Pearson, Dean of SUU School of Business
June 2023 | Community Connect–Learn from Home Series Online
Entrepreneurial Mindset
December 2022 | SUU Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
Courses (4)
ACCT 2010 Accounting Principles
This course provides a thorough study of basic accounting principles. The accounting cycle is introduced using an appropriate mix of conceptual and procedural problems. A real-world problem using computer applications is also covered. This is a basic course, which aids in building a foundation for financial analysis and decision-making.
ACCT 2020 Managerial Accounting
A study of the accumulation and flow of managerial accounting information and its impact on decisions within a business entity. Emphasizes cost behavior, cost-volume profit analysis, and management’s use of quantitative tools for planning and control.
ACCT 3010 Financial Accounting I
Study of generally accepted accounting principles, the conceptual framework, and financial accounting reporting requirements. Includes in-depth conceptual analysis of the various financial statement elements.
ACCT 3020 Financial Accounting II
Continuation of ACCT 3010.
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