THIBODAUX – Barry Melancon, president and CEO of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a 1978 Nicholls State University alumnus, will be the principal speaker Saturday, Dec. 15, when the university confers about 600 degrees during its commencement exercises in Stopher Gymnasium.
Melancon will speak at 10 a.m. to graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and University College. At 2 p.m. he will address graduates of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute and the colleges of Business Administration and Nursing and Allied Health.
Melancon, who received his bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in government, heads up the largest body of CPAs in the world from his New York office. He is called upon to represent the institute with state, national and international organizations and is sought after by key opinion leaders for his expertise.
Melancon is also a member of the organization’s delegation to the International Federation of Accountants, whose broad objective is the development and enhancement of a coordinated worldwide accountancy profession with harmonized standards.
Prior to joining AICPA in 1995, Melancon served eight years as executive director of the Society of Louisiana CPAs. He began his career in 1979 at the firm of Bergeron and Company
CPAs, an accounting firm in Houma. He earned his MBA from Nicholls in 1983 and subsequently taught in the College of Business Administration for four years as an adjunct professor of accounting.
The Rev. Norman Edmonds of Beulah Baptist Church in Thibodaux will offer the invocation and benediction at the morning session, and the Rev. Guy Zeringue of St. Louis Church in Houma will deliver the invocation and benediction at the afternoon exercise.
