Mary Harley Gresham Named Dean of Graduate School of Education at UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Mary Harley Gresham, Ph.D., vice president for public service and urban affairs, has been named dean of the Graduate School of Education.

Her appointment, announced by Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi, is effective May 15.

Gresham will continue to hold the title of vice president for public service and urban affairs, a post she has held since January 1999. She had served as interim vice president since August 1997.

As dean, Gresham succeeds Thomas Frantz, associate professor of counseling, school and educational psychology, who had served as interim dean since early this year. Frantz had succeeded Senior Vice Provost Kenneth Levy, who became interim dean in April 1999 when then-GSE Dean Jacquelyn Mitchell went on medical leave. Mitchell died in May of 1999.

"I am delighted that Dr. Mary Gresham has accepted the deanship of the Graduate School of Education," said Capaldi. "Dr. Gresham has a wealth of experience in urban education, is very well-known in the education community, and is recognized by all as the person uniquely suited to lead the Graduate School of Education in the next period of its development. She was recommended unanimously by the search committee."

President William R. Greiner called Gresham a "superb choice for this key leadership position."

"She brings a wealth of experience to her new role, based on her years of dedicated service to UB as our vice president for public service and urban affairs," Greiner said. "She has a keen sense of the Western New York community's educational needs and priorities, in-depth knowledge of our Graduate School of Education's programs and outstanding leadership skills.

"She will be an excellent ambassador and advocate for the school, and we're delighted to have her in that role."

In her vice presidential role, Gresham has been responsible for coordinating university service initiatives in such areas as public education, urban revitalization, extension programs for working professionals, new partnerships between UB and the Western New York region and recruitment and retention programs for students from underrepresented groups.

Units within her office include Millard Fillmore College, the Educational Opportunity Center, the Office for University Preparatory Programs (OUPP), Cora P. Maloney College, the Educational Opportunity Program, the University Community Initiative, the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth , the A.A. Schomburg Fellowship Program, and the Center for Applied Technology in Education (CATE).

As dean of the GSE -- which serves 1,230 students in three academic departments and 10 research centers, laboratories and special programs -- Gresham will oversee the activities of approximately 350 employees, including 52 tenure-track faculty, 18 secretaries, more than 60 part-time faculty members and dozens of graduate, teaching and research assistants. She will have overall responsibility for the development of academic programs, faculty recruitment and advancement, and for maintaining standards of teaching, scholarship and creative activity in education and education research.

She also will exercise chief responsibility for the faculty in matters of planning and budgeting, equipment and space allocations, and personnel, and oversee development activities within the school and among its alumni and supporters.

Gresham is a UB adjunct assistant professor of African-American studies and of counseling, school and educational psychology.

A graduate of Leadership Buffalo, Gresham serves on numerous community committees and boards, including the Buffalo Urban League, Pan Am 2001 Women's Pavilion, Fannie Mae Western and Central New York Partnership Office Advisory Council, National Conference for Community and Justice, Horizon's Health Management Group and the United Way Board of Governance: Minority and Women Inclusiveness Project. She is the chair-elect of the Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross, and a co-chair of the Policy Board of the GSE's Urban Education Institute.

She received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology, and a doctorate in counseling psychology, both from UB.