Benjamin’s 37-year legacy celebrated on James Benjamin Day

On April 24, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and former students packed Wehner lobby for James Benjamin Day. Energy and excitement pulsed through the room, as attendees wearing t-shirts and stickers that showed “I heart James Benjamin” filed into the lobby.

The event was standing room only as participants waited eagerly from the balcony, lined the stairs, and filled the elevator banks for the celebration to begin.

Dean Jones began the celebration by welcoming students, faculty and staff, and the accounting advisory board to the special event. Among his numerous high praises for Benjamin, Dean Jones declared that Benjamin epitomized the Aggie core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service. Dean Jones also shared that at the beginning of the naming campaign, naysayers told them, “Crowdsourcing won’t work.” However, the campaign ultimately proved otherwise and raised over $10 million for the department. Dean Jones added that Benjamin has served Texas A&M and Mays Business School for 45 years as faculty, and 37 years as the accounting department head. Benjamin positively impacted countless students’ lives and set an example of excellence during his time at the university.

Brian Bishop, the Assistant Vice President of Development at Mays Business School, delivered some words of affirmation and praise for Benjamin. Bishop stated that to have a department named after an individual, “40 years of service and $10 million raised” would be a fantastic place to start. Bishop continued in his praise for Benjamin, describing him as an “excellent human being and an educator.” Bishop encouraged the current students attending the celebration to look around the room and appreciate the accomplishments of those before them. He then instructed each student to ask themselves, “How can I give back, and how can I make my degree more valuable?”

Christy Bauman ’95 took the stage to share her thoughts, insights, and appreciation for Benjamin. Bauman was a member of the third group of PPA students and explained that raising money for the department was, “One of the easiest things to ask for because of Jim and who he is as an individual.”

Professor Mary Lea McAnally then joined the excitement by kicking off a round-robin share out about the magnitude during Benjamin’s tenure in a segment titled, “James Benjamin by the Numbers.”

• $35,700,000 raised
• 4,617,600 minutes worked, $8 per minute of funds raised
• 17,102 students graduated
• 5,008 PPA graduates
• 15 former students now serving as professors at Mays
• 2,113 Business Honors graduates during his tenure
• 1998 – Outstanding Professor of the Year from Texas A&M
• 1992 – Benjamin began the PPA program
• 1968 – Benjamin earned his CPA, in Maryland, with the second highest score in the state
• 1600 companies employ his graduates
• 960 business honors students in his Accounting 229 course
• 314 publications by Ph.D. graduates
• 258 graduates who are partners at CPA firms
• Accounting 229 – countless students have taken Benjamin’s course
• 199 – the average number of words in a paragraph in an email from Benjamin
• 158 Ph.D. graduates since Benjamin
• 61 computers in KPMG lab on cutting edge of technology
• 42 years in the Department of Accounting
• 37 years as department head
  • Budgeting
  • Hiring
  • Year-end reviews
• 8 accounting faculty have become administrators at Mays
• 5 deans Benjamin has served under
• 40 years ago – James Benjamin was Strawser’s professor
• 3 PPA Directors reported to Benjamin during his tenure

Finally, Benjamin took the opportunity to share his thoughts and appreciation for the celebration. He said that one of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been watching students he once taught reach retirement. In humility, he added that though he may be the face of the accounting department, there are four necessary ingredients to his success:

1. Exceptional students
2. Deeply caring faculty built to mirror students
3. Leaders – he has been at the business school under five deans, and never had a bad boss in his life
4. Incredibly supportive former students

In a nod to his engaging demeanor, Benjamin expressed that he thinks it is fitting that the accounting department will now share the nickname for 100 dollar bills.