Richard J. Wehle School of Business

Welcome from the Dean

Welcome to the Richard J. Wehle School of Business (WSB) at Canisius College. I am delighted to be the dean of the WSB and part of our long tradition of developing business leaders. The WSB offers distinguished bachelor’s and master’s programs as well as executive education and professional development through the Center for Professional Development and the Women’s Business Center. As one of the 28 Jesuit Institutions in the U.S., we are also dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others, and we create opportunities for you to do so while gaining valuable, real-world business experience.

The Wehle School of Business offers a rare combination of world-class programs taught by exceptional faculty in a learning environment where you will develop into an ethical, socially-responsible leader. You will be ready to excel in the global marketplace because you will learn about business in a city situated on an international border with a thriving business environment. Buffalo is home to global corporations, businesses of all sizes, a dynamic entrepreneurial hub, and a variety of industries. As a student in the WSB, you will have unlimited opportunity for internships and rewarding careers because our faculty have deep connections to the community. And speaking of community, there is no college or university in Western New York who does more than Canisius College to serve others and improve lives.

In the Wehle School of Business, we like to let our results speak for themselves. 

• Our accounting graduates have consistently achieved some of the highest CPA pass rates in the nation and regularly finish first in New York State. Our extensive network of accounting alumni and employers work one-on-one with accounting students, grooming them for success.

• As a finance student, you can manager assets in the Golden Griffin Fund, a program where you actively manage a portfolio valued at over $400,000. You can also compete in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge, an elite international competition for finance students. Canisius has placed first in New York four times in the past six years, and first in the world in 2015! That’s an accomplishment no other U.S. university or college can match.

• Do you have a passion for entrepreneurship in action? We offer the only undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship in Western New York. You will be hands-on from day one, learning how to generate ideas and bring them to the market. In our CEO program, you can even mentor high school students who want to start businesses.

• Be a member of our award winning Enactus program. Our team just placed fifth in the U.S. in 2018 for their Sew-REDI program which supports immigrants and their work helping aspiring business owners gain seed funding. Enactus students also help vet applications for seed-money loans through our Women’s Business Center.

• Buffalo is an international city and our International Business and MBA students travel each year to study business in the EU and sustainability in South America.

One of the keys to career success is a strong network, and the WSB alumni network is a powerful ally. We connect our students with alumni starting in the freshman year and we offer numerous events that build your network. In a competitive environment, experience and connections are your tickets to success. You will get the right experience through our academic and co-curricular programs. We open doors to alumni and employers so that you get the internships which lead to the most sought after job offers.   

The WSB is proud to hold AACSB, International accreditation, the premier accrediting agency for business programs in the world. We have been accredited longer than any other private business school in Western New York. Accreditation is your guarantee that our programs are current and consistent with business as it is practiced today. It also ensures that you are being taught by faculty who remain engaged with their disciplines and their professions. Many of the WSB faculty have extensive practical experience in addition to scholarly expertise, and we believe this combination results in the best business education anywhere.

I invite you to explore our website and schedule a time to visit and talk with me in person about the Richard J. Wehle School of Business. You CAN begin the journey of a lifetime, right here.  

Denise M. Rotondo, PhD, Dean

Richard J. Wehle School of Business