The Information Systems Department is excited to welcome Merrill Madsen as a new faculty member this fall.
Madsen brings with him more than 15 years of industry experience at USAA, where he worked across a wide range of technology disciplines, including infrastructure, quality assurance, data engineering, machine learning, IT architecture, and generative AI.
Interestingly, Madsen’s journey into Information Systems almost never happened.
After returning from his mission, he initially planned to study accounting. However, while taking IS 201 as a prerequisite, a class taught by Dr. Rayman Meservy completely changed his perspective. “I caught the vision and pivoted to IS,” Madsen said. “I loved the IS program and the career that followed. I feel very blessed to have found something that brought me so much joy and provided well for my family.”
As a student at BYU, Madsen worked as a systems administrator for Seven Peaks Waterpark and several related businesses. There, he developed practical technical skills and learned from mentors who would influence his future career. Through connections made at BYU’s career fair, he landed an internship with USAA, eventually accepting a full-time position after graduating from the Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program in 2011.
Over the next 15 years, Madsen embraced opportunities to explore different areas of technology. Most recently, he enjoyed overseeing the design of generative AI implementations, helping shape AI governance processes, and influencing technology vendor selections.
Throughout his career, one lesson has stood out above all others: the power of relationships. Networking—forming genuine relationships with a variety of people—has been so crucial to my career growth,” he said. “When key people in my network knew that I was working hard and performing well, and when they knew what my career goals were, opportunities opened up and miracles happened.”
Although he had always loved BYU, teaching here remained little more than a “wistful thought” until he came across a LinkedIn post from IS professor Dr. James Gaskin. The opportunity resonated deeply with him.
“I felt like I should apply, even though I was happy at USAA,” he said. “More miracles happened, and I am so grateful to work on this sacred campus, teaching technology skills to the future workforce.”
What excites him most about joining the faculty is the people. During his campus interview, Madsen guest lectured in IS 201 and spent time with faculty members across the department. “The whole experience knocked my socks off,” he said. “That was one of the most memorable days of my life.”
This fall, Madsen will teach IS 404: IT Infrastructure. Beyond technical skills, he hopes his students leave class with confidence in their ability to tackle difficult challenges. “I want them to leave class feeling confident in themselves and knowing that they can learn and do new, hard things with the Lord’s help,” he said. “I want them to know more deeply that they really can ‘do all things through Christ.’”
For students preparing for internships and careers, Madsen encourages them to gain hands-on experience early, pursue side projects and certifications, and intentionally build their networks.“ We are so much stronger together,” he said. “There is so much truth in the proverb that says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’”
Outside of work, Madsen enjoys pickleball, temple visits, audiobooks, BYU sports, and spending time admiring Utah’s mountain scenery. Students may also be surprised to learn that while working in BYU Catering as a student, he had the opportunity to serve at the prophet’s table during the dedication of the Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center. Around that same time, he took his future wife on a date near the building’s gazebo while the BYU vocal group Noteworthy performed as part of the festivities.
When asked for a favorite resource, Madsen recommends The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and regularly listens to Lenny’s Podcast for insights from leaders shaping the future of technology and artificial intelligence.
As he prepares to return to the classroom—this time from the front of the room—Madsen is eager to invest in students and help prepare the next generation of technology leaders. And in many ways, his story comes full circle: a single IS 201 class changed the trajectory of his life, and now he has the opportunity to create that same spark for others.