The magazine for alumni and friends of the UB School of Management
Issue link: http://ubschoolofmanagement.uberflip.com/i/1210017
The Kenneth W. Colwell Chair in Accounting and Law is nothing short of a game-changer for the School of Management's Accounting and Law Department. "Simply put, David's gift is historic," says Feng Gu, professor and department chair. "Adding an endowed chair position will lift our profile and be a clear signal to the business and business-school communities of the high-quality education we provide." Throughout its history, the School of Management accounting program has cultivated an impressive reputation for student success and innovative faculty research—and Pfeil's gift stands to elevate it to new heights. The program is one of only 188 accounting programs worldwide to earn accreditation by AACSB International. Moreover, its internal audit track is one of just 33 programs globally endorsed by the Institute of Internal Auditors, and UB graduates' CPA exam pass rates consistently rank No. 1 among large schools in New York State. "Our program already has a well-known, well-deserved reputation," Gu says. "For our alumni, this endowed chair position will only increase the value of your degrees." The gift will enable the School of Management to recruit a senior-level scholar to teach students, lead curricular innovation, expand the department's industry relationships and conduct research with national and international impact. "When this position is filled with a top-notch accounting research and education leader, our students, alumni and other stakeholders will see and feel the impact in the quality of our program and the caliber of our research," Gu says. "It also opens the door for other named gifts and scholarships, and to recruit talented faculty and students to UB to build on our past success." — Matthew Biddle Remarkable history, unlimited future David Pfeil and Kenneth Colwell in Buffalo last fall. Photo: Dave Riffel Spring 2020 Buffalo Business 25