Kudos

Barry S. Willer, professor of psychiatry, received the North American Brain Injury Society’s (NABIS) research award at the organization’s annual meeting last month in Miami. Willer also gave the keynote address.

NABIS, the only organization in North America devoted to professionals in the field of brain injury, recognizes one person each year for “contributions of a significant nature to research on traumatic brain injury.”

A UB faculty member in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences since 1976, Willer’s research focuses on two areas: concussions, especially post-concussion syndrome and how best to treat it in athletes and non-athletes, and the restoration of the ability to recognize, express and regulate emotion in people with traumatic brain injury.

The late Nan Harvey, associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator in the Division of Athletics, was honored with the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame’s “Pride” award at the organization’s annual induction dinner on Oct. 17.

The Pride of Western New York designation posthumously honors notable sports figures.

Harvey served the Bulls for almost 30 years—first as a student, then as a coach and administrator. As senior women’s administrator, a position she held for six years, she was responsible for the day-to-day management of UB’s intercollegiate athletic program and represented the university on all issues regarding women's athletics.

Under her leadership, UB added baseball, softball and women’s rowing as varsity sports during its move to Division I-A.

UB’s softball field was renamed Nan Harvey Field in recognition of a minimum $200,000 gift from Harvey.

Harvey died of ovarian cancer in 2003.

The Western New York Sustainable Energy Association will honor UB for its leadership in promoting sustainability in the region at the WNYSEA’s annual awards ceremony on Oct. 13.

Isabel S. Marcus, professor of law, is the recipient of UB’s 2012 Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education.

This award is conferred by UB’s Council on International Studies and Programs, a group of faculty from a wide range of disciplines who are involved in international activities at the university. The award will be presented at the council’s annual award luncheon later this semester.

The selection committee cited in particular Marcus’ pioneering and longstanding work in international human rights, women’s and reproductive rights, and domestic violence in several regions of the world. “Her impact has been truly extraordinary,” according to the committee. “Isabel’s generous and selfless efforts have changed lives and transformed institutions.”

Marcus has taught extensively in universities in Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia and Georgia) and Asia (People’s Republic of China, India, Pakistan and Thailand). Her longstanding research interests have been in the areas of family law, domestic violence and international women’s human rights. Her current research project is a comparative analysis of the implementation of law regarding domestic violence in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.