Furman University Vice President for Finance and Administration Mary Lou Merkt has received the 2018 Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers (SACUBO).

The award is given annually to recognize an individual in the 14-state SACUBO region for his or her distinguished service to higher education in the field of business and financial management.

Merkt has had leadership roles in both SACUBO and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). She is currently chairing the NACUBO board, and has been instrumental in developing strategic plans for both organizations to improve and expand services to higher education business officers.

Merkt has also been active in other higher education organizations, including the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities, the Associated Colleges of the South, the Southern Conference, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Merkt, who has served as Furman’s vice president for finance and administration since 2003, will retire from the university on Oct. 2 of this year. Prior to joining Furman, she was the vice president for finance and administration at Sweet Briar College in Virginia (1996-2003).  She also spent 11 years at Radford University in Virginia, serving in several financial positions.

Merkt earned both her MBA and bachelor’s degree in accounting from Radford University, and is a certified public accountant.