University at Buffalo School of Management

care management, social innovation and global programs, as well as an increased commitment to diversity and inclusion. That same year, the school opened its Leadership, Learning and Community Center. Funded with a lead gi from Frank, BS '66, and Marilyn Clement, the center includes three classrooms, a community area, tutoring facilities and a group study area where students develop skills for lifelong success. The school developed educational programs to help meet the growing demand for highly skilled work- ers in the high-tech workforce. Examples include a BS in Information Technology and Management, an MS in Business Analytics, and a robust and rapidly expand- ing set of micro-credentials and non-degree programs. In addition, the on-campus Professional MBA program was successfully converted to a hybrid format. Global experiential learning grew significantly during this era as well. New programs enabled students to immerse themselves in another culture and make an impact, preparing them to lead in today's business world. Crisis, pivot, thrive In March 2020, operations came to a screeching halt as students, faculty and staff were sent home to finish the semester remotely while the school, the nation and the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a period of uncertainty, fear and, for some, tragic loss. Yet despite the adversity, faculty and staff doubled down to ensure that students still received the outstanding educa- tional experience they deserved. Similarly, students pivoted and quickly adapted to new ways of learning; employers collaborated with career staff to create virtual internships; and alumni reached out to see how they could help. "We are stronger together," said Dean Tesluk. "The resilience and character of our entire university commu- nity will enable us to innovate and even excel as we continue our mission in new and interesting ways." In 2022, Ananth Iyer, an accomplished scholar in operations and supply chain management from Purdue's Krannert School of Business, was named dean aer Tesluk le for a provost position at Bentley University. In one short year, Iyer collaborated with faculty and alumni to establish several key initiatives (see Insights, page 26) for the school, including the business of climate change; busi- ness analytics; the social impact of management; and inno- vation, entrepreneurship and leadership. Under his leadership, the school has launched an Online MBA, an Online MS in Business Analytics and a STEM pathway in the full-time MBA program. In 2024, the school will introduce an MS in Management for nonbusi- ness majors, and more programs are under development. The school hosted a ribbon cutting and dedication in fall 2022 for Paula T. Agrusa Plaza, which features totally refreshed exterior spaces on both sides of Jacobs Management Center. Made possible by a gi from alum- nus Russ Agrusa, BS '76, in memory of his wife and School of Management alumna, Paula Agrusa, BS '78, the space includes a pocket park filled with flowers, benches, walking paths, a firepit and café-style lighting. The plaza creates a welcoming entrance and provides outdoor learn- ing environments and spaces for faculty, students, alumni and visitors to gather and collaborate. An additional sign of progress is the school's consid- erable investment in entrepreneurship. While widen- ing the scope and reach of its Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the school is also partnering across UB to foster a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem for students. A minor in entrepreneurship, an entrepreneurship concen- tration and collaboration with UB's Blackstone LaunchPad have all contributed to the university's recent ranking by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine as one of the country's top schools for entrepreneurship. And the Panasci Technology Entrepreneurship Competition, which awards seed money and business services to the teams that present the best plan for the launch of a viable new business in Western New York, is now in its 23rd year "With UB's designation as SUNY's flagship campus and our ambition to become a top-25 research university, the school is keenly focused on the markers critical to those ambitions: disciplinary excellence, research fund- ing, diversity of our faculty and student body, and overall impact," says Iyer. "As we continue to expand our hori- zons within the global marketplace, you can be sure that a degree from the UB School of Management is a credential that unlocks opportunities around the world." Autumn 2023 Buffalo Business 13 " With UB's designation as SUNY's flagship campus and our ambition to become a top-25 research universi- ty, the school is keenly focused on the markers critical to those ambitions." Ananth Iyer Dean, School of Management

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