Stories of Impact

Since joining the University at Albany in 1978, Shawky has worn nearly every hat imaginable within the Massry School of Business. He served as professor, department chair, founding director of the Center for Institutional Investment Management (CIIM), associate dean and interim dean. Along the way, he helped build nationally recognized programs, expanded opportunities for experiential learning and earned recognition as one of the world's most respected finance scholars.

For students with ambition, the right opportunity can be transformative.

Donna Brown ’78 built a global finance career — from Manhattan to Taiwan — before becoming a trailblazing CFO and mentor. Through a scholarship and planned gift to Massry, she and her husband are helping ambitious students pursue their own rewarding career journeys.

Amy Knapp's '97 career started with pouring soft serve in her small hometown of Perry, New York. Since graduating from the University at UAlbany, she has had a successful 30-year career in finance, emerging as a leader in the field. Now, she is looking to give back to the school that gave her the foundation for all she has been able to achieve.

Steve Zelin has had a remarkable journey on the way to becoming a leader in the corporate world. Zelin recalled the steps that led him from growing up in Brooklyn to coming UAlbany to earn his bachelor's degree and then rising through the ranks of the accounting and banking industries over the course of his 40-year career at the eighth annual Massry Lecture on Friday, April 4.

UAlbany alumnus Marvin Rodriguez's journey from a single-parent household to a top accounting position in New York City began with exploring the programs offered at the Massry School of Business and through the University's Living-Learning Communities. Today, Rodriguez is a shining example of why UAlbany has been recognized for the second consecutive year with Insight Into Diversity's Inspiring Programs in Business Award.

The Massry School of Business is proud to recognize the contributions of four faculty and staff who have reached significant milestones in their tenure at the University at Albany. These individuals have contributed to Massry in many ways, from founding school programs and planning school events to fostering student success.

From executive compensation to corporate governance, incoming Massry School of Business Dean Paquita Davis-Friday has examined some of the most high-profile financial issues of the past 30 years. On February 18, Davis-Friday will take the helm at Massry, where she will leverage her experience in developing and expanding undergraduate and graduate business programs in the New York metropolitan area to increase the impact of earning a degree from UAlbany.