Edward Akumaning comes to Metropolitan State University of Denver after going around the world for his education. Akumaning, MSU Denver’s new assistant director of Sponsored Project Accounting and Fiscal Compliance, began his journey with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, followed by a Master of Business Administration in Finance degree from the University of Ghana.
Akumaning came to the U.S. to earn another MBA in Enterprise Resource Planning from Emporia State University in Kansas due to the institution’s strong reputation. The change from Ghana to Kansas was a different cultural experience, and the education styles also differed.
“While studying in the U.S. entails practical education, and analysis and understanding of concepts, studying in Ghana focuses more on memorization and theoretical education,” Akumaning said. He added that “the U.S.’s educational system emphasizes more holistic education with homework, assignments and group projects, unlike Ghana’s educational system.”
Even while he settles into his new role with MSU Denver, Akumaning is working toward achieving a Doctor of Business Administration in Finance degree at California Southern University.
“It has not been easy balancing my new role with my studies due to the voluminous, complex, and demanding nature of the university’s portfolio of sponsored projects,” Akumaning said. “My drive to achieve many degrees is to develop the requisite expertise to meet the contemporary market demand for a technocrat or an academic.”
In addition to academic experience, Akumaning has more than 20 years of professional experience in accounting, financial management, general management, grant management and accounting software implementation in corporate and nonprofit settings. Similarly, his work has taken him around the globe, including to France, the Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Dubai, Egypt, Cameroon, Niger, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, to name a few places.
Akumaning plays a critical role at MSU Denver by overseeing the University’s portfolio of post-award sponsored projects such as grants and contracts, along with accounting and ensuring compliance with financial reporting and administrative requirements.
He manages several grants with MSU Denver, including:
- The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I (CARES Act), HEERF II (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act) and HEERF III (American Rescue Plan Act)
- The Library of Congress Teaching With Primary Sources program (TPS)
- Equity Assistance Centers
- Space Tech
- Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans — Denver
- TRiO Upward Bound and TRiO Student Support Services
- Health Resources and Services Administration Health Careers and HRSA MSW
- National Science Foundation Noyce Urban STEM
Akumaning said the University manages around $145 million in grant funding.
One of the critical parts of his job is ensuring that MSU Denver complies with grant requirements, including sponsored project agreements, uniform guidance, state regulations and policies as well as University policies, processes and procedures. In doing so, he keeps the University in good standing with awarding agencies, he said.
“I am not only avoiding withholding of grant funds by the awarding agencies and mitigating the peril of jeopardizing the university’s future grant funding opportunities and reputation,” Akumaning said. “But I am also proving to the awarding agencies or sponsors that MSU Denver has the capabilities to manage grant funding effectively and efficiently.”
His immediate goals involve mastering his role and providing exceptional service to the grant community, including students. His long-term goals aim to improve the performance of grant management, accounting and compliance by implementing a semiannual training program to promote University-wide grants.
Akumaning would like to promote positivity within the Office of the Controller by building productive relationships, sharing knowledge via mentorship and contributing to the team’s effort by creating a respectable and inclusive working environment. He enjoys interacting and collaborating with people in multi-cultural settings with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. And he said wants to continuously make MSU Denver a desirable place to work and help achieve greatness for students, the University and the Roadrunner community.