100 Years of Building Leaders, Changing Lives
Since 1923, the University at Buffalo School of Management has been developing leaders and making an impact on individuals, businesses and communities around the world.
Throughout our centennial year, we commemorated a century of impact in a number of ways: from a signature event, to illuminating the Peace Bridge, forming a giant human 100 and more.
On this page you can see how we celebrated our past while preparing to take the next giant leap.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
As the yearlong recognition of the University at Buffalo School of Management’s 100th anniversary drew to a close, students, alumni, faculty and staff donned their UB blue apparel and gathered on May 8, 2024, at Clemens Field for a commemorative photo — in the shape of a huge 100.
More than 300 participants enjoyed pizza and a DJ as they took part in this once-in-a-lifetime event. UB photographer Meredith Forrest Kulwicki captured the photo from the roof atop the 10-story Clemens Hall on UB’s North Campus.
With help from a number of experts in the UB community, the planning committee had a schematic outline drawn, which was then painted onto the field by an autonomous GPS field marking robot in preparation for the photo.
“As we celebrate a century of academic excellence and impact, the human 100 symbolizes the strength of our community,” says Ananth Iyer, dean of the School of Management. “Together we embrace the past, present and future — and our shared commitment to shaping a world where business operates as a force for good.”
The Peace Bridge was lit in blue on Nov. 3 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the School of Management. Photo: Douglas Levere
Amid a yearlong recognition of the School of Management’s 100th anniversary, the school invited nine distinguished alumni to campus in November to share insights, inspire the campus community and look ahead to the future.
Across two days, the alumni met with School of Management students, faculty and staff in classroom presentations, club meetings and roundtable discussions, and recorded a series of videos where they shared their thoughts on the future of business (see below).
To mark the occasion, the Peace Bridge was illuminated in UB blue, the school community signed the university’s Paint-A-Bull which had been adorned with the school logo and centennial mark, and the Erie County Legislature recognized the UB School of Management for 100 years of excellence in a declaration adopted on Nov. 2.
Their visit culminated with the school’s Centennial Celebration event, where they each were honored with a Centennial Achievement and Impact Award — a once-in-a-lifetime honor for demonstrating exceptional leadership in their careers, and for making outstanding contributions to their industries, communities and the world.
Following their award acceptance, the honorees all added their remarks to a time capsule which will be held by UB’s University Archives and will be opened on the school’s 200th anniversary in 2123.
Meet the honorees, learn a bit about them and read an excerpt from their remarks, in which they shared brief personal stories about a challenge overcome, a deep regret or a perspective-changing success or failure.
Watch the ceremony
During their campus visit, the Centennial Celebration honorees sat down with faculty members Mary Ann Rogers and Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah to discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for businesses and organizations in the next 100 years, share their thoughts on leadership and more.
The autumn 2023 issue of Buffalo Business features a comprehensive history of the school and insights on our plans for the next 100 years, along with some special features, including the 100 voices highlighting the impact the school has had on our students, alumni and faculty; Alumni Close-Ups; a touching Tale of Two Lunches; and more.
Read the magazine
Following in the footsteps of the transformational and insightful leaders who came before them, a new class of students gathered at the University at Buffalo School of Management Aug. 25 — for the hundredth time.
At the event, the School of Management launched the Shareholder Society initiative — 15 groups of new students supported by a team of peers, faculty, staff and alumni — to build connections and community.
Students students took a cake break between classes on Sept. 6 in the Alfiero Center Atrium to unwind and connect.
Ananth Iyer, School of Management dean, visited Chicago on Nov. 6 as part of the school’s ongoing centennial celebration and met with a group of esteemed alumni from the area. The group gathered at The Smith in downtown Chicago for their first opportunity to meet the dean, and spent the evening sharing their insights on the best parts of their School of Management experience, and how they can continue to support the school’s efforts into the next 100 years.
Joining the dean were: Anthony Falvo, BS ’17, MBA ’18, manager - global network planning and alliances, United Air Lines Inc.; Thomas Kowalski, BS ’75, senior advisor and director, Private Company Boards; Kevin Meszaros, BS ’92, senior vice president, Marsh McLennan; Kevin Murray, ’83, partner, Wexford Capital Partners; Brandon Tammaro, BS ’15, vice president of strategic growth, Wow Bao; Danielle Vazquez, MBA ’19, director of support services, Rush University Medical Center; and John Watts, BS ’81, MBA ’83, advanced analytics leader, Morning Consult.
“It was wonderful to connect with fellow alumni in the city I now call home to discuss our shared passion for keeping the School of Management at the forefront of modern business,” said Falvo.
Dean Iyer will continue traveling to celebrate in similar ways with alumni nationwide in the months to come, and looks forward to meeting alumni across the country.
To spark conversation and inspire innovation, we collaborate with thought leaders from around the world to define the future of management.
A selection of images from the history of the UB School of Management.
2023's holiday video took a look back at the year of celebration.