A Message from the Chair

Dear alumni and friends:

It is spring again, and we have many reasons to be optimistic. We just graduated a strong MS Accounting class of 71 students. And, despite the ongoing challenge brought by COVID-19, 96% of our MS students with employment eligibility accepted job offers prior to graduation. We are proud of the achievements of the Class of 2021. Their perseverance, grit and tenacity will be their most valuable legacy.  

It is also my pleasure to report that our accounting program, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, once again earned extension of its accreditation by AACSB International. Dual accreditation in business and accounting is earned by only the top 1.5% of programs, putting us in elite company. The review team recognized the high quality of our program and particularly pointed out our Accounting Advisory Council and our supportive alumni as key factors in our success—and we cannot agree more.  

More highlights of our students’ achievements: One of our MS accounting students, Milad Ghanatios, has been selected to join the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) postgraduate technical assistant program. In spring, our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program was active with its virtual service to help many families and individuals in Western New York with their tax returns. And, many undergraduate accounting students participated in the PwC Challenge, giving them an opportunity to creatively solve business issues and present their recommendations effectively.

This year will mark as a turning point for our university in many important ways. One of them is the continuing success of the Boldly Buffalo campaign, which has entered a new phase with a bolder goal of raising $1 billion for our university. On UB Giving Day in late April, our Accounting Advisory Council, made up of many high-achieving accounting alumni, won our school’s board challenge with 100% participation. The generosity of our council demonstrates the spirit of our accounting alumni. We thank everyone for your generous support and look forward to working with you to strengthen UB’s accounting program. 

Feng Gu
Professor and Chair
Accounting and Law Department
University at Buffalo School of Management