2 Buffalo Business Autumn 2026
Ampadu named
Accountant of the Year
Alex Ampadu, clinical associate professor emeritus of accounting and law, was named the
2026 Accountant of the Year at the UB Accounting Annual Awards Celebration in April. He
was honored at the event for 36 years of teaching, mentorship and significant contributions to
the accounting profession. Ampadu, who retired in 2022, was widely known for his engaging
teaching style and for his impact as director of the endorsed internal auditing program. In
his remarks at the event, Ampadu shared stories about his childhood in a village in Ghana
with 28 houses; his recruitment to UB in 1986; the entire range of accounting courses he
taught throughout his career; and his attendance at more than 100 of his students' weddings.
"Alex leaves a lasting legacy in auditing education and professional guidance for generations
of accountants," says Ananth Iyer, dean. "His dedication to education is an example for all."
Startups
School launches Online MS in MIS
Individuals who wish to advance their
careers and expand their skills can take
advantage of a new Online Master of
Science in Management Information
Systems from the School of Management.
Developed with input from industry
leaders, alumni and corporate recruiters,
the Online MS in Management Information
Systems offers the same high-quality curric-
ulum as the school's campus-based program
and delivers the technical depth and mana-
gerial insight needed to navigate and shape
a rapidly evolving digital world.
"Many of today's IT practitioners are
feeling outpaced by the breakneck growth
of the technology ecosystem over the past 10
years," says Kevin Cleary, MS MIS program
director. "This program is ideal for those
who are seeking to retool, upskill or update
their knowledge in this area."
Working professionals will also find
the new program more accessible and
convenient than ever, thanks to the fully
online format and innovative course
structure, enabling them to access classes
anywhere in the world on the days and
times that fit best with their career, family
and other obligations.
Graduates of the Online MS in Manage-
ment Information Systems will earn a
high-demand degree and gain an under-
standing of a wide range of emerging tech-
nologies, including data-driven forecasting
and storytelling; generative AI and applied
machine learning intelligence; enterprise
technology architecture and more.
Visit management.buffalo.edu/omsmis
for more information and to apply.
Last spring, School of Management
students worked with Ashley Doll,
CEL '24, owner of Ashley's Lingerie
and Swimwear, on a point-of-sale
analysis to help grow her busi-
ness as part of the school's Projects
Clinic. Pictured ( from le) are Alexis
Lee, Jessica Gow, Doll and Emily
Dickey in the Williamsville store.
To learn more about this project and
how the clinic partners with local
and global businesses to employ
students in experiential learning
projects, visit: management.buffalo.
edu/projectsclinic.
Photo: Tom Wolf
