Mary Pearson

Mary Pearson serves as Vice President and CFO of the Division of Finance & Administration at Southern Utah University, overseeing departments including Accounting, Budget, Bookstore, Business Analytics, Dining Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Internal Audit, Post Office, Purchasing/Procurement, and Receiving. Previously, she was Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business where she managed accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, and hospitality programs.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Business Administration (Specialization: Advanced Accounting) from Northcentral University
• M.A. in Accounting from Southern Utah University
• B.S. in Accounting from Southern Utah University

Pearson's research focuses on Accounting fundamentals, Financial and Managerial Accounting systems, Rural Entrepreneurship development, and Accounting History/ Ethics. She specializes in financial reporting requirements, cost-volume profit analysis, and strategic business planning within rural economic contexts, emphasizing accounting as the essential language of business for profitability determination.

Her distinguished recognitions include:

• Woman to Watch Experienced Leader Award (UACPA, 2020)
• Cedar City Service Award
• Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator Award (2016)
• Outstanding Educator Beta Gamma Sigma (2017)
• Student Influencer Award (2016, 2017)
• Educator of the Year (2016)
• Extraordinary Educator (2013)

As administrator and educator, Pearson secured significant funding including $200,000 in ongoing School of Business support and EDA grants for rural Utah entrepreneurship initiatives. She championed the $16 million business building project and emphasized collaborative spaces for student-professional innovation. Pearson teaches core accounting courses while operating her licensed CPA firm and serving on the State Bank of Southern Utah board.