Dandes reappointed to UB Council for fourth consecutive term

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has reappointed Jonathan A. Dandes to his fourth consecutive term on the UB Council. The term will run from 2013 to 2020.

Dandes, the president of Rich Baseball Operations, is the longest serving member of the UB Council. He was first appointed in 1994 by Gov. Mario Cuomo, and twice reappointed by Gov. George Pataki.

The UB Council serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to the university, its president and senior officers. Established in accordance with New York State Education Law, the council consists of 10 members, nine who are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor, and one student member elected to an annual term by the university's students.

“I am very pleased with the governor’s reappointment of Jon Dandes,” said UB President Satish K. Tripathi. “Mr. Dandes’ counsel and perspective over the past two decades have been of great value to our university, and we look forward to his continued active engagement in helping to guide UB to even greater prominence.”

Among the council’s regular duties are reviewing and advising on all major plans and activities of the university in the areas of academics, student life, finances, buildings and grounds. council members also serve as advocates and ambassadors for the university in the regional and statewide community. The council plays a key role in the presidential search process; Dandes was integrally involved in UB’s 2003 and 2011 searches, the latter which resulted in the appointment of President Tripathi.

“I am both honored and humbled by this appointment to a fourth term and am tremendously grateful to the governor for his confidence. My association with UB goes back now almost 40 years, and I am looking forward to another term,” said Dandes.

Since 2001, Dandes has served as president of Rich Baseball Operations, which is comprised of the following Rich Products’ subsidiary companies: Buffalo Bisons Baseball, Northwest Arkansas Naturals Baseball, Jamestown Jammers Baseball, and Palm Beach National Golf & Country Club in Lake Worth, FL. He has been with Rich Products for 28 years.

A loyal UB alumnus and an advocate for education, Dandes has served as President of the UB Alumni Association board, is currently President of the Buffalo Public Schools Foundation and a past trustee of the Nichols School in Buffalo.

Dandes’ civic engagement and community service is extensive.

He is currently vice-chair of the Buffalo Zoological Society, as well as vice chair of Upstate New York Transplant Services. He serves on the board and is past chair of Visit Buffalo Niagara (the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau), and is the Chair of the Erie County Medical Center Lifeline Foundation.

His prior board service includes 2 terms as chair of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and chair of Erie County Jewish Family Services.

Dandes is also the chair of the Erie County Sheriff’s 21st Century Foundation, and a member on the board of the Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation and the 100 Club of Buffalo. In addition, he is currently chair of the Buffalo Niagara Sports Commission.

As an undergraduate student at UB, Dandes served as president of the UB Student Association as well as a student representative to the UB Council prior to his graduation from School of Management in 1974. Dandes also graduated from the Harvard Business School Management Development Program in 2003.

Dandes lives in East Amherst with his wife, Marcy. Their son, Leo, is a 2010 graduate of the UB Law School, and their daughter, Arin, is a 2009 UB graduate with a BFA in musical theatre.