Mary Pearson
Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer | 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 Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University. Her responsibilities include oversight of the Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hotel Resort and Hospitality Management, Management, Marketing, Professional Sales, Masters of Accountancy, Masters of Business Administration, and Master Science Business Analytics degrees.
Over the years, Pearson has received several awards. Most recently, she earned the UACPA Women to Watch Experienced Leader Award, Outstanding Educator for Beta Gamma Sigma, Student Influencer Award, Cedar City Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award, and Outstanding Educator Award for Southern Utah University in 2013.
Pearson has taught internationally at two of SUU partner schools in Austria for the last 16 years. Along with her work as a professor at SUU, Pearson is a certified public accountant (CPA) with her own financial firm in Cedar City, Utah. Pearson has served on several city, county, and school district committees and currently serves on the Helen Foster Snow Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for State Bank of Southern Utah.
Pearson earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a masters of accounting from Southern Utah University and has earned a Ph.D. in business administration from Northcentral University. Pearson's previous experience includes serving as Associate Dean at Southern Utah University, Instructor of Accounting at College of Southern Nevada, and Accountant/Auditor for Carol A. Stone CPAs.
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Industry Expertise (5)
Writing and Editing
Accounting
Research
Education/Learning
Financial Services
Areas of Expertise (16)
Accounting Ethics
History of Accounting Principles
Cost-Volume Profit Analysis
Financial Analysis and Decision Making
Planning and Zoning in Rural Communities
Education
Business Accounting
Enterpreneurship
Accounting
Financial Planning
Business Administration
Strategic & Business Planning
Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities
Accumulation and Flow of Managerial Accounting Information
Finanical Accounting Reporting Requirements
Accounting and Profitability Analysis
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 (1)
Media Appearances (8)
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.”
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.
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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