THIBODAUX, La. – The CohnReznick Foundation contributed $50,000 to establish the Barry Melancon Accounting Endowed Scholarship at Nicholls State University. The contribution honors the legacy of Nicholls alumnus Barry Melancon, certified public accountant, chartered global management accountant and retired CEO and president of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountant – the most influential body of professional accountants in the world.
The scholarship was officially announced during a reception hosted by Nicholls’ J.B. Falgoust Department of Accounting and Finance. The event brought together colleagues, students and community members to recognize Melancon’s global impact on the accounting profession. In addition, Melancon was presented with the Society of Louisiana CPAs Lifetime Award by its Executive Director Ron Gitz.
Melancon, one of the Al Danos College of Business’ most distinguished alumni, earned his accounting degree in 1978 and MBA in 1983 from Nicholls. His rise in the industry began when he became a CPA firm partner at only 25 and at 37 became the youngest-ever CEO of AICPA, eventually becoming the longest-serving leader in the organization’s 129-year history upon his retirement in 2024.
Under his leadership, Melancon:
- Led the AICPA’s unification with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants to create a global accounting organization representing more than 650,000 professionals
- Established the CGMA designation for those professionals who meet the highest benchmark of rigor and quality, with approximately 150,000 professionals holding this designation worldwide
- Served as a global advocate, representing the profession on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, the International Federation of Accountants and the Government Transformation Initiative
“I’ve been to 45 different countries, made speeches all over the world, and led the CPA profession, and I have always been proud to tell people that my background was from the men and women here at Nicholls State University,” said Barry Melancon. “The accessibility was a big factor for me and it remains a big factor for students here today. This university had a way of just nurturing you and teaching you other essential skills, and provided the ability to be involved in different things. I’m so honored to have my name associated with this school.”
The Barry Melancon Accounting Endowed Scholarship is meant to benefit accounting students enrolled in the Al Danos College of Business at Nicholls State University. Recipients of the Barry Melancon Accounting Endowed Scholarship must be U.S. citizens enrolled full-time at Nicholls and be of sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student classification, majoring in accounting and maintaining a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average. Two $1,250 scholarships may be awarded per academic year, with $625 dispersed in the fall and spring semesters.
“This endowed scholarship will honor Barry’s legacy and support Nicholls accounting students as they prepare for careers,” said Dr. Marilyn Macik-Frey, dean of the Al Danos College of Business at Nicholls. “We are incredibly grateful to the CohnReznick Foundation for their generosity. This gift does more than just fund an education. It permanently links our program to one of the most influential figures in accounting history, inspiring our students to aim for a global impact that can begin right here in Thibodaux. Barry is the ultimate example of where a Nicholls degree can take you.”
The CohnReznick Foundation contributed an additional $7,500 to begin awarding this scholarship while the endowment grows. This award may be increased as the endowment grows. To learn more, visit nichollsfoundation.org.
To apply for scholarships at Nicholls, visit nicholls.edu/financial-aid/scholarships.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 13, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Payton Suire
Media Relations & Publications Coordinator,
985.448.4141 or payton.suire@nicholls.edu