Alumni, faculty, and students at Montana State University gathered in Jabs Hall during homecoming week to mark the 30th anniversary of the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program. The event also featured the announcement of a new endowment to support future students.
The MPAc program, part of the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, prepares students for the certified public accountant exam through advanced coursework. Since its inception in 1995, approximately 30 students graduate from the program each year. According to university data, graduates consistently achieve full placement within the accounting field.
“Celebrating 30 years of success in the MPAc program is a significant milestone for MSU, and a great time to reflect on our expert instruction and community outreach that launch students into successful careers in accountancy,” said Brian Gillespie, dean of the business college. “We are thankful for our faculty, our students, our donors and our alumni for showcasing the continued impact you can achieve with a degree from Jabs.”
Gillespie noted that many former students and faculty remain connected to MSU long after leaving campus. He emphasized that numerous alumni have chosen to build their careers locally or elsewhere in Montana.
Among those alumni is Mitch Thompson, CEO and CFO of Iron Oil based in Billings. Thompson served as the Orser speaker for the business college in spring 2025. This fall, he and his family donated $25,000 to establish and endow the Marc Giullian Accounting Scholarship in honor of professor Marc Giullian’s leadership within the MPAc program.
“It is my hope that this gift will inspire other alumni to give their support in recognition of Marc Giullian’s continued impact on former, current and future students, and the MSU community,” said Thompson.
Fran Albrecht, president and CEO of the MSU Alumni Foundation, commented on Thompson’s contribution: “We are deeply grateful to Mitch Thompson for his generous gift, which exemplifies our alumni’s powerful role in shaping the future of MSU. Endowments like this create a lasting foundation – providing an enduring source of support for Jabs students and ensuring that the excellence of our accounting program continues for generations to come.”
Professor Giullian joined MSU in 2001 and became full-time director of the MPAc program in 2012 after serving part time since his arrival. He described learning about the endowment as an emotional experience.
“I feel deeply honored and humbled by the fact that someone thought enough of what I had done to help them in their education that they would remember me, first of all, but also that it meant enough they’d be willing to try and help future students not have as many barriers and have a chance to go to school,” Giullian said. He acknowledged fellow faculty members Christie Johnson and Anne Christensen as key contributors alongside him.
Dean Gillespie highlighted how MPAc students engage beyond academics through community service projects. Each spring, they offer free tax services for individuals earning less than $60,000 annually. In March 2025, some traveled to remote Native villages in Alaska where they completed over 160 tax returns despite limited internet access or financial resources. Students also gave presentations on avoiding digital fraud at local senior centers last spring.
The MPAc alumni network continues supporting current students by participating in annual professionalism workshops outlining potential career paths. Notable graduates include Stacie Bruno (CFO at Simms/Revelyst), Jeremy Hauk (CEO at Eide Bailly LLP), and Jen Nord (vice president at MSU Alumni Foundation).
Looking ahead, Giullian noted a national decline in accountants but affirmed that Montana State’s program remains strong by teaching adaptability amid technological changes such as artificial intelligence. He stressed that while AI may improve efficiency with computer work, human judgment remains essential.
“Individuals and businesses will always be making financial decisions that require human expertise,” Giullian said. “CPAs are part of the necessary infrastructure that has to be in place for an economy to thrive and prosper.”
Information about contributing to the endowment is available at msuaf.org.
