Campus News

UB celebrates faculty and staff excellence

Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence.

Among those honored at the Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence were UB's newly appointed SUNY Distinguished Professors. From left: Provost Charles F. Zukoski; SUNY Distinguished Professors Jean Wactawski-Wende, Anne B. Curtis, Stephen L. Dyson and Marilyn E. Morris; and President Satish K. Tripathi. Photo: Joe Cascio

From left: Provost Charles F. Zukoski, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professors Joseph C. Mollendorf and Reid R. Heffner Jr., and President Satish K. Tripathi. Photo: Joe Cascio

Provost Charles F. Zukoski and President Satish K. Tripathi pose with SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Mark J. Lema. Photo: Joe Cascio

Provost Charles F. Zukoski and President Satish K. Tripathi flank Joseph Masling, professor emeritus, Department of Psychology, who was recognized for 50 years of service to UB. Mary Cassata, associate professor emerita, Department of Communication, who also completed 50 years of service, was unable to attend the ceremony. Photo: Joe Cascio

By SUE WUETCHER

Published October 21, 2016 This content is archived.

Print
“The colleagues we celebrate today exemplify the excellence and impact that are the foundation of our mission and center of all of our activities at UB. ”
Provost Charles F. Zukoski

The work of UB’s outstanding faculty and staff — both individually and collaboratively — is critical in helping the university achieve its mission of delivering “public good,” Provost Charles F. Zukoski told those attending yesterday’s 13th annual Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence.

“The colleagues we celebrate today exemplify the excellence and impact that are the foundation of our mission and center of all of our activities at UB,” Zukoski said in closing remarks at the event recognizing the work and achievement of UB’s faculty and staff in research, teaching and service.

These colleagues “have changed practices and perspectives, advanced understanding, and improved lives,” he said to a crowd in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall that included the honorees, their family and friends, and other members of the UB community.

 .Zukoski noted initiatives like the Communities of Excellence and UB RENEW “allow us to combine our faculty and institutional strengths to address the major problems facing our society through innovative collaborations.”

“Collaborative accomplishments magnify the individual achievements of our scholars, teachers and professional colleagues,” he said, “and widen the scope of their impact.

“This allows UB to achieve our mission to improve the human condition through our education, scholarship, creative activities, clinical care and engagement.”

After welcoming remarks from President Satish K. Tripathi, the focal point of yesterday’s event began: the public recognition of UB faculty and staff members who received prestigious UB and SUNY awards during the past year.

Those honored included faculty members who were named SUNY Distinguished Professors, UB Distinguished Professors, UB Exceptional Scholars and UB Teaching Innovators, as well as faculty and staff recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. A full list of the honorees can be found online.

From left: UB music graduate Zane Merritt and UB music professor Jonathan Golove perform an original composition by Merritt. Golove is playing a theremin cello. Photo: Joe Cascio

Also recognized were two faculty members who have completed 50 years of service to UB, as well as recipients of two UB mentoring awards: the UB Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award and the UB President Emeritus and the Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring.

The celebration also featured a musical performance by cellist and UB music professor Jonathan Golove and UB music graduate Zane Merritt of an original composition by Merritt for theremin cello and electric guitar.

A reception in the Slee lobby followed the ceremony.