University at Buffalo School of Management

4 Buffalo Business Spring 2023 Startups Remembering Debu Talukdar The School of Management commu- nity mourned the loss of Debabrata (Debu) Talukdar, professor of marketing, who died in September. He was 59. For nearly 24 years, Talukdar contributed significantly to the School of Management through his teaching, scholar- ship and service. He taught marketing research, product management and special topic seminars at the undergraduate, MBA and doctoral levels. Talukdar created a graduate-level elective, "Business Management Implications of Sustainable Development," as part of UB's new Advanced Certificate in Sustainability. A renowned researcher, Talukdar explored key social and economic issues, including the high cost of living in Nairobi's slums and published research with The World Bank showing a lack of access to basic infrastructure in several Kenyan cities. In addition, he worked closely with UB RENEW and studied consumer behavior around sustainability and economic development. His research has been cited by scholars in economics, environmental policy, public health, law, management and other fields. Talukdar and his work also have been featured in various international, national and local media outlets, includ- ing the Associated Press, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, Forbes, Encyclopedia Britannica, Huffington Post, The Atlantic and The Buffalo News. H e i s t h e r e c i p i e n t o f n u m e r - ous research awards, including the Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award (1997) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UB's Young Investigator — Exceptional Scholar Award (2002), and UB's Sustained Research Achievement — Exceptional Scholar Award (2012). Beyond academia, Talukdar enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling the world and working on a "never ending" woodland gardening project in the expan- sive woods of his backyard. He is survived by his wife, Nirmala, and daughter, Maya. M&T CEO named Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year The School of Management honored René F. Jones, chairman and CEO of M&T Bank, as the 2022 Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year at the 72nd annual UB School of Management Alumni Association Awards Ceremony in November. Established in 1949, the Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year award is presented annually to an individual who resides in or has a major impact on the region, and whose career has been distinguished by execu- tive success and civic leadership. Jones was selected by a vote of past honorees and the alumni association's board of directors. The school also recognized the following alumni for their career and impact: • Akruti Babaria, BS '05, MBA '12, founder and CEO, Kulture Khazana, for her career success as an emerging alumnus • Abigail Maines, BS '97, MBA '99, chief revenue officer, HiddenLayer, for her industry leadership • Eric Reich, JD/MBA '02, co-founder, Campus Labs, for his contributions to entrepreneurship • Del Reid, CEL '22, founder, 26 Shirts, for his service to the Western New York community • John H. Shellum, BS '69, MBA '70, retired assistant dean for alumni engagement, UB School of Management, posthu- mously, for his exceptional service to the school From left: Del Reid, Eric Reich, René F. Jones, Jacqueline Shellum, Abigail Maines and Akruti Babaria. Photo: Tom Wolf

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