University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

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  William R. Greiner

By CHARLES ANZALONE

Published: November 18, 2009, 2009

William R. Greiner, UB’s 13th president whose tireless dedication to students and the university earned him the reputation as the quintessential university citizen, was appointed president emeritus yesterday by the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.

Greiner was named president emeritus by a unanimous vote by the trustees following a strong recommendation from Zimpher. He retired from his teaching, writing and mentoring role at the university Oct. 16 for health reasons.

“His contributions and service to both the University at Buffalo and to the SUNY system have been key to the development of the University at Buffalo as a world-class institution of higher education,” Zimpher said in her recommendation to the trustees. “With his retirement in October, the tremendous contributions he has made to higher education generally, and to the University at Buffalo and the State University of New York, it is now appropriate for the board to appoint Dr. Greiner President Emeritus.”

The appointment by Zimpher and the trustees follows a resolution unanimously passed by the UB Council requesting that trustees designate Greiner as university professor and President Emeritus. The council praised Greiner’s many contributions and accomplishments, a record that spans his 13 years as president from 1991 to 2004, and the many other years when he counseled countless faculty, administrators and students who have gone on to make their own contributions to the university.

Greiner’s list of accomplishments during his 42 years at UB includes spearheading the drive to Division I athletics, launching the most ambitious fundraising campaign in university and SUNY history, construction of state-of-the-art student residence halls, the establishment of several research institutes and research centers, and years of dedicating himself as a tireless and strategic administrator, as well as a beloved professor and influential university booster.

For five years before his retirement, Greiner taught courses in the UB Law School and the Graduate School of Education. Last year, he published the thought-provoking book "Location, Location, Location," which chronicles the factors leading to the construction of UB's North Campus in Amherst, and debunks the urban legend that the decision to build in Amherst, and not in Buffalo, was made for dubious or politically short-sighted reasons.

Greiner’s official recommendation also cited the early days of his UB career when he joined the faculty of the Law School. He served as chair of the Legal Studies Programs from 1968-70, associate provost of the Law School from 1970-75, associate dean of the Law School from 1975-80, associate vice president for academic affairs for the university from 1980-83, interim vice president for academic affairs from 1983-84 and as provost and senior vice president from 1984 until his appointment as president in 1991.