Voldemar Innus, Kevin Seitz Named UB Vice Presidents

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Two longtime UB administrators have been named vice presidents as part of an administrative reorganization resulting from Robert J. Wagner's announcement that he will step down as senior vice president this summer.

In a memo to the university community, President William R. Greiner announced that effective July 1, Kevin R. Seitz, senior associate vice president for university services, will become vice president for university services.

Voldemar A. Innus, chief information officer, will assume the title of vice president and chief information officer.

Greiner, calling Wagner "a unique talent, for whom there is no replacement," said he will retire Wagner's title of senior vice president "until further notice."

In addition to the two vice presidential appointments, Greiner announced that some units currently reporting to, or being overseen, by Wagner would be reassigned.

University Communications, led by Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president, will report to Jennifer McDonough, vice president for university development and alumni relations.

The Office of Government Affairs, led by Janet E. Penksa, associate vice president, will report directly to the president, but will work closely with the provost and vice presidents.

Units that report to the president but for which Wagner serves as liaison and advisor-Intercollegiate Athletics, Internal Audit and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration (EDAAA)-will continue their reporting relationship to the president, but will receive a new "liaison." Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs, will serve as liaison for Intercollegiate Athletics; Seitz will be the liaison for Internal Audit and the EDAAA.

In addition, Wagner's role as primary contact point between the university administration and the UB Foundation will be assumed by Edward P. Schneider, executive director of the foundation. Schneider will work directly with the president and vice presidents on those issues that warrant their attention.

Moreover, Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi will take on Wagner's role as lead advisor to the president and "the quintessential 'go-to' person" for the vice presidents and staff officers for the top administrators.

In naming Seitz vice president for university services, Greiner said he is "as well-known for his dedication to the people who make up our community as he is for his managerial expertise and business acumen."

"Kevin has the respect and admiration of all who have worked closely with him," Greiner said.

As vice president for university services, Seitz will be responsible for facilities management and for the university's business services, including financial management, human resources. and legal services.

A UB staff member since 1974, he has held a variety of positions at the university, including division director for auxiliary services, associate director and acting director of personnel, assistant vice president for finance and management, assistant vice president for financial and auxiliary services, and assistant vice president and interim director of administrative computing services.

He was promoted to associate vice president and controller in 1997, and to senior associate vice president for university services last July.

He also served as lecturer in Millard Fillmore College for nearly 20 years, teaching algebra and trigonometry.

Seitz earned a bachelor's degree in management and an MBA, both from UB. He is enrolled in the doctoral program in higher education administration at UB.

As chief information officer, Innus had been serving at the vice presidential level since January 2000, reporting to Wagner and Capaldi. With the title of vice president and CIO, he will report directly to Greiner, but will continue reporting to the provost on matters related to libraries and academic computing.

In his role as CIO, Innus has overseen information technology planning and implementation efforts across the university.

He joined the UB professional staff in 1971 after graduating from the university with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned an MBA from UB in 1975.

He has held numerous administrative posts at the university, including director of graduate student affairs, director of resource management systems and assistant dean for academic affairs, all in the School of Management.

He was named assistant vice president for academic affairs in 1979 and associate provost for administrative systems in 1984.

He moved from the provost's office to University Services in 1986, first serving as associate vice president for resource planning, then associate vice president and senior associate vice president in 1992. He assumed the CIO duties in 1996.