Democracy & Society

At UB, we know that safe communities, education, stable jobs, health equity and affordable housing are necessities for a balanced, sustainable life. Through our research and collaborations, we are committed to finding solutions that dismantle barriers to achieving homeownership, inequities in food access, and improving transportation and jobs, providing universal health care and creating sustainable communities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Samiha Islam, a diversity advocate in UB’s Intercultural and Diversity Center, and a student studying health and human services and statistics, is photographed in the IDC in the Student Union in February 2023. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

Samiha Islam, a diversity advocate in UB’s Intercultural and Diversity Center, and a student studying health and human services and statistics, is photographed in the IDC in the Student Union in February 2023. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

Literacy

Two people colr in portions of a poster.

Two people colr in portions of a poster.

Health Equity

Bold Impact

“I hope I exhibit a servant or service leadership. It’s why I do this work. For a lot of people working at Journey’s End, there’s a real passion to help people. We believe it really is a benefit to Western New York.”

Karen Andolina-Scott, Executive Director, Journey’s End Refugee Services

“We need to be culturally responsive as an organization. We serve 95% of students of color, and we need to make sure we have the data band analyses to best serve these particular students.”

Heather Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, The Literacy Lab

“Just because you have a disability, you should still be entitled to the same care as everyone else.”

Paula Fischer, Director of School-based Dental Programs, UB School of Dental Medicine

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

A true democratic and just society includes opportunity for all. From the classroom to the community—and around the world—UB is making a difference.

A Voice for the Neighborhood

1/23/24

When Talia Rodriguez ’15 looks at Buffalo’s resilient West Side, she sees amazing people who could be changemaking community leaders.

Discover Law: Harnessing the Power of Diversity

1/23/24

UB's Discover Law program is a key component of providing access to first-gen students and potential students from diverse backgrounds.

The Artistry of Craftsmanship

1/23/24

As a highly respected artist, musician, and performer, Edreys Wajed worked on his MFA at UB while also teaching his craft to the next generation.

Finding Equity Through Opportunity

1/23/24

At UB, we’re making sure students of all backgrounds have the same ability to access higher education, graduate and be successful.

Alumni Accomplishments

Teaching With a Cause

Crump is combining his previous experience with the knowledge gained from the teacher residency program to set a path for his students that he also walked down. With Crump in the classroom, more students can also confidently say, “I’ve got plenty of time.”

Historic Digital Archive

Gina Nortonsmith helped create a public archive documenting Jim Crow-era racially motivated violence.

At Home in the World

Karen Andolina Scott pours her passion for service into helping international refugees in America.

Faculty Spotlight

UB Faculty Gets Call from United Nations

Sarah Robert was one of 15 gender experts worldwide invited by the UN to review and provide feedback on a flagship report for UN Women.

LaGarrett King on Teaching Black History

Black history wasn't part of the curriculum when LaGarrett King was a boy. Now he's on a mission to change that. In this episode, King tells host Vicky Santos why Black history is essential learning for all students, and how his center is helping teachers to get it right.

The Impact of Your Investment

Powerhouse of Indigenous Studies
8/21/20
The College of Arts and Sciences has received a $3.174 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of a new Department of Indigenous Studies.
The gift of a lifetime and a lifetime of commitment
12/29/22
When Pamela Davis Heilman and Robert Heilman decided to make a game-changing gift to UB School of Law, it was no snap decision.
Social Justice Scholarship
1/23/24
Nicia Bottini Morales ’25 was named the inaugural recipient of the Professor Teresa A. Miller Memorial Scholarship, which gives preference to talented students from underrepresented minority groups with the desire to champion social justice and civil rights.

New On Campus

Town hall highlights progress on PACOR recommendations
11/22/23
UB leadership updated the community on the progress that's been made in making UB a more inclusive place to live, learn and work.
UB’s VITAL scholars return to campus
10/18/23
Program is part of an initiative to increase the number of faculty at UB from traditionally underrepresented populations in North America.
Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic
1/23/24
UB provides law students with an opportunity to advocate for criminal system reform on behalf of incarcerated individuals and those facing criminal charges in Western New York.

Support Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

School of Law Social Justice and Racial Equity Fund

Dr. Michael F. Noe Diversity Scholarship

UB Gender Institute

Find Your Cause

Literacy

Helping seniors recognize online scams. Teaching homeowners how to use power tools. Strengthening democracy by identifying fake political ads. At UB, our students, faculty, staff and alumni are building a stronger society by addressing literacy in many ways.

Closing the resource gap to improve student performance

CEO of Washington, DC-based The Literacy Lab Heather Jenkins, PhD ’11, recently received a significant boost with a $10 million donation from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott.

Award-winning educator and librarian Jelicia Jimenez, MS ’22 is the co-founder of Black Boys Read Too.

Darren Cotton’s travel abroad inspired him to make a difference in his hometown. He’s been a change agent for Western New York ever since.

The threat of deepfakes

UB AI expert David Doermann warned lawmakers about the dangers of deepfakes and other synthetic media during recent testimony on Capitol Hill.

Helping older adults spot online scams, disinformation

The NSF-funded project aims to reduce online fraud among older adults, who lose billions of dollars each year.

The Gift of Librarianship

Tim Laraway established a fellowship in his wife Nell’s name for a simple reason: He loved her, and they loved UB.

Literacy at UB—and Beyond

New research fund focuses on civic engagement
11/2/23
Twelve civic projects have been selected to receive grants of $5,000 in the first year of UB’s new Civic Engagement Research Fund.
Truth in the News
3/15/23
How UB unlocked a life in journalism.
Studying Censorship
1/23/24
Criteria matter in censorship decisions, but even more relevant is power. Whose viewpoints are enacted, and whose are ignored? At UB, we’re studying how censorship hinders critical thinking and infringes on readers’ rights.

Support Literacy

English Language Institute Fund

Center for Literacy and Reading Instruction Fund

Find Your Cause

Health Equity

Disparities in health care cost society countless lives lost—and hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the U.S. alone. From the streets of downtown Buffalo to family farms in South Asia, we’re working every day to eliminate these inequities.

UB improves access to oral health care through two state-of-the-art mobile dental clinics in rural and urban communities in Western New York.

Creating more seats at the table

Greer Hamilton and Danise Wilson have seats at the table, and are helping others to join them.

Helping People Worldwide with Better Design

Smith creates design solutions for those around the world who’ve been marginalized in the decisions made about their built environment.

Sustainable Food Initiatives

A student’s journey from Kashmir to Buffalo to study food systems planning
9/15/23
Insha Akram’s pursuit of higher education is especially remarkable given the intertwined structural barriers that pervade life in a protracted conflict setting.
UB researchers look to improve the WIC shopping experience
6/1/21
Study is among the first to examine both barriers to and possible strategies for WIC shopping. Researchers have also partnered with Tops Markets on a pilot project to test out “bundling” of WIC items.
UB researchers awarded $1 million grant to advance urban agriculture
11/18/20
Team will work with partners in Buffalo and Minneapolis to grow urban agriculture policy from the ground up.
Veggie vans unite
1/29/19
UB is hosting the nation’s first-ever summit for mobile produce markets.

Portrait of Samina Raja, Architecture and Planning Professor at 345 Breckenridge, Buffalo, NY Photographer: Douglas Levere.

Portrait of Samina Raja, Architecture and Planning Professor at 345 Breckenridge, Buffalo, NY Photographer: Douglas Levere.

Samina Raja, professor of urban planning, principal investigator of the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab (the “Food Lab”), and co-director of UB's Community for Global Health Equity (CGHE), focuses on understanding the role of planning and policy in building sustainable food systems and healthy communities.

UB receives $2.5 million Mellon grant

The funding will support a new interdisciplinary research project to better understand and address issues faced by caregivers and those with disabilities.

This nonprofit, student-run program is designed to increase access to health care among the homeless population of Buffalo, New York.

Addressing Health Inequities

Tim and Vicki Murphy are addressing equitable health care—including mental health care—for the Buffalo community.

Support Health Equity

Global Health Equity Community of Excellence Fund

Global Medicine Fund

Hamilton-Wilson Student Assistance Fund

Women’s Health Initiative Fund

Carol S. Brewer Global Health Fund

Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab Fund

Find Your Cause