Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat

Kansas State University's College of Business Administration takes great pride in recognizing the business leaders who have not only achieved remarkable success in their careers but also given back in meaningful ways to the college that helped shape them. The Business Leader of the Year award and induction into the Business Leaders Hall of Fame are the college's highest honors, reserved for those who have distinguished themselves professionally and remain deeply invested in the College of Business and its mission. Honorees are selected by College of Business leadership in partnership with the KSU Foundation College of Business Development Team. This year, that honor belongs to Candace H. Duncan.

A 1975 K-State graduate with a degree in accounting, Duncan was named the 2026 Business Leader of the Year and inducted into the Business Leaders Hall of Fame at the College of Business’ recent Evening of Gratitude.

Duncan graduated magna cum laude from K-State and went on to build a distinguished career with KPMG, becoming a partner in 1987 and leading the firm's Washington Metropolitan Area practice. She served on KPMG's Board of Directors and established herself as one of the most respected business leaders in the Washington, D.C. region. Her corporate board service includes Teleflex Incorporated and Discover Financial Services, and her civic leadership spans the Economic Club of Washington, DC, the World Affairs Council and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington.

“Candy embodies the spirit of lifelong engagement,” said Kevin Gwinner, Edgerley Family Dean of the College of Business. “From her remarkable career in business leadership to her years of service and advocacy on behalf of K-State, Candace has demonstrated what it means to use talent and influence in service to others. Her impact can be seen not only in the organizations she has led, but in the countless students, alumni and colleagues she has inspired along the way. Her recognition as Business Leader of the Year and induction to the Business Leader Hall of Fame is both richly deserved and deeply meaningful to our college community.”

Named a College of Business Alumni Fellow in 2014, Duncan has provided sustained leadership through the K-State Alumni Association, including serving as chair of its board of directors, and has served on the Kansas State University Foundation Board of Trustees. She has served as an executive mentor, is a member of the Dean's Business Advisory Council, and was an inaugural member of the Women in Business Advisory Council, where she remains actively engaged.

At every stage of her career, Duncan has been known not just for what she has accomplished professionally, but for how she has lifted others along the way — through mentorship, service and a genuine commitment to opening doors for the next generation. Her values are Wildcat values, and they've defined her enduring relationship to K-State.

Learn more about how the College of Business honors alumni and friends.