A legacy of excellence: Vairam Arunachalam’s three-decade impact on the School of Accountancy at the Trulaske College of Business

In the winter of 1991, a Greyhound bus rumbled into downtown Columbia. Among the passengers was Vairam Arunachalam, a young doctoral student from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who had traveled six hours to interview for a faculty position in the School of Accountancy at the University of Missouri. 

He stepped onto the street with his interview materials ready and a heart brimming with hope. Little did Arunachalam know that his stay in this college town would span more than three decades. Not only would he become an esteemed professor of accountancy and a leader in professional accountancy circles, but he would also serve a remarkable 16-year tenure as director of the School of Accountancy at the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business.  

In September, Arunachalam stepped down as director of the School of Accountancy and became the inaugural associate dean for partnerships and engagement at Trulaske. His is a story of dedication, growth and lasting impact.

“I care deeply about this institution,” Arunachalam said. “What is important to remember about institutions is they don’t belong to anyone. We are here as stewards. My goal has always been to leave something better for the people who come after me.”

The early years

In the beginning, Arunachalam followed the lead of his mentors in the School of Accountancy and Trulaske College of Business: Dean Bruce Walker, Directors Ray Dockweiler and Earl Wilson, as well as Professors Jim Parker, Jim Wall and Tom Dougherty. 

“These were solid, hardworking, honest faculty members and leaders,” Arunachalam said. “I felt I could go to them any time for advice or to get their feedback. The first five to six years of your career is so crucial. These men taught me the ropes and served as role models for me. They were there for me.”

In 2002, after Earl Wilson retired as director of the School of Accountancy, Arunachalam was named his interim replacement. Though flattered by his temporary move up the ranks, Arunachalam didn’t feel ready for a longtime leadership post and stepped down as planned from the interim role after a year. 

By 2008, however, Arunachalam confidently accepted a second offer as director – a post he would hold for the next 16 years. By then, he had been promoted to full professor and earned several campus-wide teaching awards, including Mizzou's William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence, the Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award and the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He had also garnered valuable leadership experience as president of the American Accounting Association - Information Systems Section and as a member of the board of directors for the Institute of Management Accountants. He had also served as MU’s campus liaison for the SAP University Alliance, as an academic member of the board of the Accounting Program Leaders Group and as a member of the Higher Education Advisory Committee of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

“I had the core leadership skills and motivation I felt I needed for the job,” Arunachalam said. “I told then Dean Walker that I was ready. This time, I had no hesitation about accepting the position. I wanted to make a difference.”

Dockweiler, who retired in 2000, was director of the School of Accountancy when Arunachalam joined the faculty. He met the young doctoral student at the bus station all those years ago and was immediately impressed with his intellect and humility. Over the years, they have remained in touch. 

“I knew the School of Accountancy would be in good hands with Vairam,” he said. “He’s a good guy, and I think the world of him.” 

A collective effort

Under Arunachalam’s guidance, the School of Accountancy has experienced significant increases in enrollment, with about 200 new students joining the highly ranked accountancy program each year, bringing total enrollments to around 550 students. That growth has also come with a higher quality of education and greater student success, resulting in job placement rates near 100%. Graduates have secured positions not only in Missouri and the Midwest, but also in major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas and Denver, to name a few. 

“Today, our graduates can go anywhere they want, which means we now have alumni all over the country and that creates all kinds of new opportunities for student internships and jobs in the future,” he said. “We have a strong reputation nationally and we continue to build on that. We are a strong, national-level player in the accounting profession!”

That reputation has come with other prestigious opportunities such as being selected as one of only nine schools nationwide for the KPMG Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics (MADA) Program. This program provides specialized training and real-world experience plus funding for tuition and other master’s degree expenses for selected students, along with guaranteed job placement upon graduation. 

Arunachalam is also proud of the tremendous advances in fundraising and alumni support during his tenure as director – growth that has translated into more opportunities for student scholarships, named faculty positions, program support and staff recognition.  

But Arunachalam is reluctant to take full credit for the accomplishments during his tenure. 

“Everything is a collective effort,” he said. “I consider these our achievements. Leaders are here to work harder than anyone else to create opportunities for others. That is one of the most gratifying elements of leadership.”

Self-reflection

Over the years, Arunachalam has also grown to understand the profound responsibility of leadership and the significant weight on one’s shoulders that comes with such a duty.  He appreciates the power of kindness, empathy, and acknowledging the work of others – acts of goodwill imbibed from his mentors. 

“It was priceless to me when someone like Bruce Walker, Ray Dockweiler, Earl Wilson or so many alumni would come into my office, sit down and tell me how much they appreciated me and what I was doing,” he recalled. “Those moments are so important because they affirm the value that leaders and people in the know believe that you have created. It’s not self-glorification but intrinsic human fulfillment. It helps give meaning to the things we do.”

If there is one thing Arunachalam has realized about himself during his years as director, it’s his stamina for work and acumen for persistence: He gives it his all and doesn’t give up. He also cares deeply about the college and its mission. 

“I don’t ever use the words ‘I don’t care,’” he said. “You have to care about things because if you don’t care, who else is going to care? Who else is going to make a difference?  This is the secret to our rose gardens.”

On the horizon

As for the future, Arunachalam is confident the School of Accountancy will continue to enhance its reputation of excellence by expanding its student body and cultivating a new generation of supporters. By embracing emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics, he believes the school will continue to offer innovative programs and hands-on experiences that ensure that its graduates are not only proficient in traditional accounting principles, but also adept at leveraging technology to solve complex problems. 

He hopes to use his new post as associate dean for partnerships and engagement to expand the college’s strong network by cultivating new connections with innovative industry partners, academic institutions and alumni talent. 

“There are always new frontiers, but we have always successfully risen to the challenge,” he said. “I am leaving with a strong sense of closure. I feel complete knowing that we accomplished far more than I ever imagined we would. I am grateful to my mentors, alumni and colleagues for all their incredible support and trust in me for all these years – it has been our collective success.”