Adaptation leads to vocation
by Jennifer R. Lloyd (M.B.A. ’16)
Though not in the military herself, Yava Scott (B.B.A. ’77, J.D. ’80) was drawn to St. Mary’s University after living abroad with her family in the U.S. Air Force, and those military connections helped her find her place on campus, making possible her career in accounting, law and financial advising while reinforcing her lifelong commitment to serving others.
Scott, who now lives in Houston, graduated from high school on a military base in Lakenheath, England. One semester at a large university in Louisiana, where she did not care for the school or the locale, left her looking for a better option.
Hinting at future career transitions, Scott showcased her willingness to try something new and moved to San Antonio to live with her aunt and uncle.
“For people who are military brats, change doesn’t really stymie our decisions because we’re used to change,” she said.
Scott set her sights on studying business, and “St. Mary’s had a very good business school.”
“The biggest difference for me was the small setting, and the immediate connection I found to many of the professors, a couple of whom were retired military,” said Scott, highlighting Col. Edward J. Lodell (Ret.), who taught Business Administration.
Joining the Black student organization, meeting students who had served in the military and joining the cheerleading team also helped Scott make connections on campus.
“There were not very many African American students on the St. Mary’s campus during that time, and so that small community immediately embraced me,” Scott said. “Some of the upperclassmen helped me understand picking classes and creating a social network.”
Because women in financial management positions at the time were not well compensated, Scott pursued an advanced degree to bolster her earning potential. She entered the J.D. Program at the School of Law. The years spent at St. Mary’s, the level of support and the close relationships helped her develop the character and confidence that set her up for success.
J.D. to CPA to practice
Her tax law professor suggested she interview with a big public accounting firm. After law school, she began with Arthur Andersen in Houston and earned her CPA license as well, so she could work with a wider variety of clients. She met her husband, Milton Scott, at the firm. The year before he became a partner there, she left to start her own practice. One of her first clients was Texas Commerce Bank, with which she had worked at the firm. Scott represented the bank in various legal capacities. She began developing a public finance practice, working with other legal partners over the years.
In addition to having a daughter, the couple decided to adopt a son, and Yava Scott stepped away from her work to focus on motherhood for several years before being persuaded to return to work as an investment banker at what was then called Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C. About 10 years later, Scott planned to retire, but another opportunity came her way: to start a woman-owned firm for municipal advisers with clients such as the City of Houston and the Houston Independent School District. The duo of founding moms sold their business in 2019 when Scott’s husband was diagnosed with cancer.
“I went from being a CPA to a lawyer to an investment banker, and then into my career as a financial adviser,” Scott said. “When I’m talking to kids, I always say the best thing you can do for yourself is build a broad enough foundation to be able to pivot career-wise. The one thing all of those careers have in common is that having both a CPA and a law degree gave me the ability to continue to own a skill that had value in the marketplace.”
Skilled servant leader
Scott’s skills are highly prized at St. Mary’s University, where she has served as a Trustee since 2019, overseeing the Finance Committee. This June, she moved into the role of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
In 2020, Scott also received the Lynda Ellis Women in Business Excellence Award, a St. Mary’s honor created by Ellis (B.A.S. ’81), who served as a Trustee from 2017 to May 2026 and chaired the Board.
“Yava’s leadership is defined by wisdom, integrity and an unwavering commitment to doing what is right,” Ellis said. “She has an extraordinary ability to bring clarity to the most complex decisions while earning the confidence and trust of everyone around the table. Through her exceptional financial acumen, thoughtful judgment and steadfast focus on the University’s mission, Yava has set the standard for principled leadership.”
A focus on creating meaning and continuing the mission continues to underlie Scott’s work with her alma mater.
“St. Mary’s is willing to accept students where they are and build that bridge to success based on their individual needs. The University is constantly helping students create a set of skills that the marketplace will need,” Scott said. “It’s not about just collecting tuition or being able to build the endowment; it’s about driving success within the students.”
