I have said and written many times in the past that I am fortunate to have the best secular job on earth. It is a privilege to be in the business of helping to change lives for the better, and my greatest aspiration has always been to have all of my students one day outshine me for they give meaning to my life's work which is ultimately all about them. A good number of former students (and now colleagues) are on my LinkedIn network and I am thrilled to see their personal and professional growth throughout the years. I am enormously proud of them and of their achievements.
I am equally proud of my colleagues at Hofstra University generally and in the Zarb School of Business and my Department in particular. They are a dedicated group of professionals whose personal and combined achievements I have always found humbling.
This has been a difficult summer for me due to a variety of personal issues and health-related issues of loved ones. But there are two silver linings for which I am very grateful. First, it has been a very productive summer in terms of my research and writing. (Being unable to travel has its advantages.) And second, Hofstra University announced yesterday six new distinguished professorships at the university effective September 1, including two from my department: Dr. Jacqueline Burke, Professor and Chair, is being appointed as the new Chaykin Distinguished Professor in Accounting, and I am being appointed as the Cypres Family Distinguished Professor in Legal Studies in Business.
My congratulations to all of my Hofstra University and Zarb School colleagues with whom it is a pleasure and privilege to serve (the new appointments, four of which are from the Zarb School of Business, are as follows):
- Margaret Abraham as the Wachtel Distinguished Professor for Non-Violent Social Change
- Jacqueline Burke as the Chaykin Distinguished Professor in Accounting
- Victor Lopez as the Cypres Family Distinguished Professor in Legal Studies in Business
- Andrew Spieler as the Robert F. Dall Distinguished Professor in Business
- Jason Williams as the Donald E. Axinn Distinguished Professor in Ecology and Conservation
- Boonghee Yoo as the RMI Distinguished Professor in Business
I am sure that my colleagues would agree that while formal acknowledgment of our contributions by way of tenure, promotion, distinguished professorships and other awards are always gratifying and gratefully received, no acknowledgment or award can compare with the most meaningful test of our value to the institutions we serve: the ultimate success of our students. Everything else is just sweet icing on the cake.
