Q&A

Faculty, staff share their UB giving stories

From left, Sherene Milizia, EdM ’12, BA ‘02, director of overseas and intercultural programs; Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., PhD ’79, MA ‘74, professor of urban and regional studies, associate director of the Community Health Equity Research Institute and director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies; and Gwen Appelbaum, MBA ’01, chief of staff in the School of Management.

From left, Sherene Milizia, EdM ’12, BA ‘02, director of overseas and intercultural programs; Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., PhD ’79, MA ‘74, professor of urban and regional studies, associate director of the Community Health Equity Research Institute and director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies; and Gwen Appelbaum, MBA ’01, chief of staff in the School of Management.

By SUZANNE CREAN

Published October 23, 2024

Print

Faculty and staff support comes in many forms — teaching, advising, coaching and beyond. Regardless of how it's provided, this support is essential to UB students, helping them build knowledge, develop skills and access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

“Lead the Charge,” the 2024-25 faculty and staff giving initiative that launched on Oct. 16, is off to a tremendous start. “We’re thrilled by the generosity of our faculty and staff who continue to give back year after year,” says Dawn Baumgarten, executive director of annual giving. “Every gift, no matter the size, shows we’re united in supporting UB and our students. It’s not about how much you give, but that we all come together to make a difference.”

Gifts may be directed toward any area of the university that is important to you. Many UB employees decide to contribute to areas that directly impact the student experience. Study abroad opportunities, emergency services and improvements to learning and collaborative spaces are all frequently supported by UB faculty and staff.

This year, the Office of Annual Giving has partnered with Loyal Blue faculty and staff donors Gwen Appelbaum, MBA ’01, chief of staff in the School of Management; Sherene Milizia, EdM ’12, BA ‘02, director of overseas and intercultural programs; and Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., PhD ’79, MA ‘74, professor of urban and regional studies, associate director of the Community Health Equity Research Institute and director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies, to share their giving stories with UBNow.

What inspires you to give where you work?

Taylor: Our students will be on the front line, making the decisions and constructing the policies that will create a better, more democratic and just world. So, it’s not so much just giving, but it is investing in the type of future that we want, the kind of future that we deserve and the kind of future that will create a better society for everyone.

Appelbaum: I had a really transformational experience in my study abroad program when I was in college, and I would love to encourage more students at UB to take advantage of our global programs. And a lot of times that happens through scholarship and donor funding.

Milizia: As faculty and staff, we have a unique insight into UB’s most pressing needs. By giving, we invest in our workplace, support our students, and enhance the programs we really care about.

What role do faculty and staff donations play in student success?

Milizia: Drawing from my experience as a former international student and my professional background in the field of international education, I've witnessed both the profound impact and inherent challenges of cross- border learning experiences. The initiatives I support as a donor address different aspects of international education, from emergency assistance to leadership development to study abroad opportunities, creating an inclusive environment where students from all backgrounds can pursue their academic aspirations at UB.

Appelbaum: I’ve witnessed it over and over again. A couple of years ago, we had a student who was really motivated to go to a national career fair but he really couldn’t swing it financially. We were able to make the trip happen for him through the School of Management’s WOW Fund, which is entirely supported through donor giving. A year later, we celebrated again when he got his dream job because he was able to go to that fair. It was a great way to see just how transformational donor giving can be.

Faculty and staff participation is a key goal of Lead the Charge. How do smaller gifts from many individuals come together to create a meaningful impact at UB?

Taylor: I’ve never been in any place where someone says donations below “X” are not accepted. From my understanding, everything matters. Everything matters, and it comes from my own background. Years ago, when I was in theater, I was asked to pull the curtain in a major production at the university. That was my role: just pull the curtains. So I worked hard and studied curtain pulling. And after the opening of that show, the director ran past all of the stars and all of the others and he came over to me and hugged me and said, “son, that was one of the greatest examples of curtain pulling I’ve ever seen.” The message that came to me from that experience was, everybody matters, no matter where you are in the system, because the system needs you to work.

Are you True Blue? Choose your cause and show your UB pride by making a donation today.