Newswise — Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management today announced that AACSB International (AACSB), the global accrediting body and membership association for business schools, revealed that Martin J. Whitman, an alum of the Whitman School and its namesake, has been recognized as one of the first 100 AACSB Influential Leaders. Whitman’s work exemplifies the innovative mindset and meaningful contributions to society that Whitman School graduates display around the world and every day—whether they operate within large corporations, small businesses or the nonprofit sector. Whitman is the founder and co-chief investment officer of Third Avenue Management. After earning a bachelor of science in business administration from Syracuse University in 1949, Whitman worked for a string of investment firms in New York City and Philadelphia. He began his career as a security analyst at Shearson Hammill before working for the Rosenwald family, of Sears Roebuck fortune, where he was able to get his feet wet in investment banking. He earned a Master's degree in economics from The New School for Social Research (now New School University), in New York City. Whitman ventured out on his own in 1974 and founded M.J. Whitman LLC, a full-service broker-dealer. Ten years later, he participated in a takeover of Equity Strategies, an open-end investment company, and became its CEO and president. In 1990, Whitman started Third Avenue Value Fund. Today, Third Avenue Management manages more than $21 billion of assets for private and institutional clients. Whitman has served on the boards of numerous companies, including Nabors Industries Limited, the world's largest land drilling oil service company. Whitman also shares his special brand of investing with the greater financial community in the industry classics The Aggressive Conservative Investor, which he co-authored with fellow Princeton classmate Martin Shubik, and Value Investing-A Balanced Approach.
“It's been more than 50 years since Mr. Whitman walked the campus of the SU Hill as a student, yet he still finds his way back to the classroom to share his knowledge and expertise with budding businessmen and women of the future,” said Kenneth Kavajecz, dean of the Whitman School. “He has taught as an adjunct professor at the Yale University School of Management and at our school, which today proudly bears his name. The commitment of Whitman and his wife, Lois, reflects their conviction that the American Dream is the promise of opportunity and will be reflected in our graduates' lives, careers, and contributions to society for as far as any of us can see.” Whitman joins individuals such as the CEO of one of the world’s largest global relief services, a technology pioneer who is working to cure cancer, the founder of a global e-commerce powerhouse, and an enterprising president attributed with reviving an international toy industry favorite. More than 20 industry sectors, from consumer products to healthcare to nonprofits, across 21 countries, are present in this year’s group. For the nomination process, AACSB developed a short list of open-ended questions that provided a framework for expectations for nominees. From April to June 2015, AACSB-accredited schools submitted notable alumni who have made (or are making) an impact in the world. From the nominations, a selection committee reviewed and chose stories that showed a sampling of the positive impact that business school graduates have made on society. “It is my honor to recognize Mr. Whitman for his contributions as an Influential Leader, and to thank Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management for its dedication to providing a business education environment based on engagement, innovation and impact,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “If told, the success stories of all business school graduates would fill unmeasurable volumes. AACSB is honored to celebrate Mr. Whitman—and the collective 100 Influential Leaders—as a representation of how business school alumni have positively influenced society, as well as the management education industry’s, past, present, and promising future.” For the full list of recipients, visit www.aacsb.edu/Influential-Leaders. About the Whitman SchoolThe Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University was established as the College of Business Administration in 1919. In 1920, it was only the 16th collegiate business school in the nation to be accredited by the AACSB. Today, the Whitman School of Management includes programs in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, management, marketing, real estate, retail management and supply chain management. In any given year, the Whitman School is home to nearly 2,000 doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students. About AACSB InternationalFounded in 1916, AACSB is an association of more than 1,450 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 90 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, AACSB offers a wide array of services to the management education industry. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA; its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore; and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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