The magazine for alumni and friends of the UB School of Management
Issue link: http://ubschoolofmanagement.uberflip.com/i/168939
Autumn.2013Final_layout 8/1/13 12:47 PM Page 15 "I am incredibly optimistic about the school's prospects and how well our themes integrate with Realizing UB 2020, the university's strategic plan." Arjang Assad, Dean Photo: Douglas Levere program. "Then we created a program designed to develop exactly those skills in our MBAs." From 2002 to 2008, Dean John M. Thomas championed new curricular initiatives in technology, entrepreneurship and global services and supply management. In addition, he established a new Master of Science program in the management of information technology services in India in collaboration with Amrita University and Hewlett-Packard. Construction of the school's new addition was completed in 2005. An architectural masterpiece of glass, brick, space and light, the three-story, 23,000square-foot Alfiero Center is entirely student-focused and is now the hub of student life at the School of Management. The center houses the academic and career development offices that assist the more than 3,000 students who enroll each year in the school. It features three high-tech lecture halls, an Internet café, a suite of offices for student organizations and multi- ple breakout rooms for student team meetings and group projects. The Alfiero Center was the first academic facility at UB, and one of only a few in the SUNY system, to be funded primarily through private donations. Gifts from more than 150 alumni, friends, foundations and corporations provided the majority of the funding for the $7 million center. The center itself is named for the chair and CEO of Protective Industries, Sal H. Alfiero, and his wife, Jeanne, who made a $2 million gift to the school. Shepherding in a new era Arjang Assad became dean in 2008 when Thomas elected to return to his faculty role. During his tenure, Assad has led a comprehensive revision of the MBA curriculum, launched a Master of Science program in accounting and significantly enhanced the Master of Science program in finance. He also Photo: Tom Wolf Autumn 2013 Buffalo Business 15