February 1, 2022

The Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College alumnus Michael B. Clement (’80) is one of 27 business school graduates honored by AACSB International (AACSB)—the world’s largest business education alliance—as the 2022 Class of Influential Leaders. This annual initiative recognizes notable alumni from AACSB-accredited business schools who are educating and empowering others to create welcoming, inclusive spaces in the workplace and society and whose inspiring work serves as a model for the next generation of business leaders.

At Zicklin, Clement majored in accounting and graduated magna cum laude. He is currently the KPMG Centennial Professor of Accounting at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, and since 2018, has served as the institution’s Chairman of the Department of Accounting.

A Powerhouse behind the PhD Project

Clement was instrumental in the founding of the PhD Project, which aims to increase diversity among business school faculty by encouraging underrepresented minorities to complete doctorates in business. A founding member of the Project’s Accounting Doctoral Student Association, Clement has represented Baruch at PhD Project conferences frequently since the 1990s and every year since 2017. In 2018, he was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Baruch College/PhD Project Research Symposium and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

“We are extremely proud that one of our alumni is being recognized for his extraordinary dedication and efforts to advance DEI initiatives both in higher education, the workplace, and in society,” said Fenwick Huss, Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School of Business. “Michael has made an indelible mark on the lives of so many young people, and this honor is well-deserved.”

Renowned Academic and a Beloved Mentor

Clement launched his academic career at McCombs shortly after earning his doctorate from Stanford University where his primary teaching interest is financial statement analysis. His research has relevance beyond academia, examining the activities of the analysts who make earnings and stock predictions that drive much of the buying and selling on Wall Street.

He has co-authored various papers in leading academic journals such as  the Journal of Accounting and Economics, the Accounting Review the Journal of Accounting Research, and the Journal of Finance, and his work has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, the Financial Times, the Economist, the USA Today and other press outlets.

In addition to his academic achievements, Clement is a beloved mentor whose students remember him decades later. He mentors many African-American student-athletes, purposely seeking out those less likely to land high-paying professional careers. In 2021, he was named one of the 10 most inspiring professors at the University of Texas, as nominated and chosen by alumni.

Clement has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion since 2019. From 2004-2021, he served as Departmental Minority Liaison Officer, and from 2015-2020 he was a member of the Council for Racial and Ethnic Equity and Diversity at the University of Texas. He is a past recipient of the Ernst & Young Inclusive Excellence Award for his extraordinary efforts to create a more diverse learning environment.

About AACSB International

With a presence in more than 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn more about how AACSB is transforming business education for a better society.

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