Documenting UB’s inaugural year as New York State’s flagship

UB had long been recognized by its peers nationwide as the de facto flagship of the SUNY system because of its membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU).

But the university’s formal designation as the flagship by Gov. Kathy Hochul last January carries new weight — statewide, nationally and internationally.

That formal flagship designation was the first of numerous achievements and successes UB celebrated during the past year.

In the spring, UB opened several new student-focused spaces, including One World Café, Paula’s Plaza and the LevelUp computing and gaming lounge. Many UB traditions, like Oozefest, the annual mud volleyball tournament and a highlight of the spring semester, returned after pandemic pauses. Commencement ceremonies were held indoors at Alumni Arena and the Center for the Arts for the first time in three years.

In the fall, the university welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris, who visited campus to talk about the Inflation Reduction Act, in large part because of UB’s efforts to address climate change. And another goal of the plan to revitalize the South Campus was realized with the demolition of Diefendorf Annex.

University Communications photographers Douglas Levere and Meredith Forrest Kulwicki were there to document many of these moments. The pair completed more than 500 assignments, with nearly 7,000 edited images being uploaded to the university’s photo database.

This collection highlights just some of the most memorable images Levere and Forrest Kulwicki created in 2022.