New President Elected to UB Alumni Association

BUFFALO, N.Y. –  Joseph Stefko, PhD ’03, MA ’99, BA ’97, has been elected to serve a two-year term as president of the University at Buffalo Alumni Association (UBAA), which represents the interests of more than 293,000 graduates around the world.

Stefko is president and CEO of ROC2025, an alliance of economic development organizations established to accelerate growth in the greater Rochester, New York, region. He serves on the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Genesee Valley Club’s Board of Governors, the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s ACT Rochester Advisory Committee, and chairs the Partnership for Downtown Rochester.

“As an alumni association, we have incredible momentum that mirrors the momentum of the University at Buffalo,” says Stefko. “I am looking to build on that momentum and continue building on-ramps for alumni to either connect with or deepen their connection with the university.”

Professionally, he previously served as president and CEO of Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research (CGR), and was principal analyst, deputy director and acting executive director for the emergency fiscal control board appointed by New York State to monitor the finances of the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Public Schools. He has been a member of the UBAA board since 2015.

“The UB Alumni Association helps to drive engagement between our university and our worldwide alumni community,” says Thomas McArthur, associate vice president for alumni engagement and annual giving. “I’m very excited that Joe will be leading these efforts as president for the next two years. We’re so grateful for our dedicated volunteers, including members of the UBAA board.”

Stefko holds three degrees from UB, including a PhD in political science. His dissertation research focused on campaigns to merge city and county governments and the impact such campaigns had on the political voices of traditionally underrepresented communities. A native of Orchard Park, New York, he resides in Penfield, New York, with his wife and two children. His son just completed his first year at UB.

Stefko succeeds Dharshan Jayasinghe, CEL ’12, BA ’03, who will continue to serve on the board as past president. Eileen Marutiak, BA ’06, was elected as incoming president of UBAA. She works for the Consumer Affairs Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C. and will assume the UBAA presidency at the conclusion of Stefko’s term.   

The UB Alumni Association, a volunteer-led international organization, promotes connections among graduates of the university and helps link alumni to the university and current students. For more information and full board listing, visit www.buffalo.edu/alumni/about-us/ub-alumni-association.