Department Chair Conversation Series

silhouettes of people talking.

The Office of Faculty Affairs continues its Conversation Series to help department chairs more effectively lead and respond to challenges they confront in their departments and/or units. We look forward to another year of robust and engaging conversations about departmental life at UB.

About the Department Chair Leadership Program

Over this academic year, our office will be sponsoring a series of monthly lunch-time seminars to discuss various issues related to academic leadership. We will address issues related to effective communication, budgets and resources, mentoring and work/life balance, faculty and student diversity, recruitment and hiring, tenure and promotion to name a few.

Conversation Series are:

  • held monthly as 2 hour lunch-time seminars from 12:00 to 2:00 pm (food and refreshments provided)
  • held every 2nd Wednesday of each month during the fall and spring semester
  • intended to be interactive and responsive; your feedback and requests drive the conversation and future planning

Conversation Series for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semester will be held in person. Location in Capen Hall, North Campus.  

Questions? Please email BB Bakavoli (bbmahdib@buffalo.edu) or call: 716-645-3594

Fall 2024 Conversation Series

WEDNESDAY, September 11, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

In this session of our Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Department Chair Conversation Series, we will review data and the processes involved in preparing dossiers for tenure and promotion. Case studies will be used to explore how chairs evaluate the performance of faculty members. Topics will include:

•    Overview of the process and timing  
•    Effective dossier preparation
•    Leading departmental reviews
•    Making difficult decisions
•    Concerns regarding promotion to full professor
•    Preparing the chair's letter
•    DEI in tenure and promotion

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Spring 2025 Conversation Series

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

wednesday, march 12, 2025

Wednesday, april 9, 2025

Past Workshop Presentations

Requests for past workshop PowerPoint presentations should be directed to Faculty Affairs (ubvpfacultyaffairs@buffalo.edu)