University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: October 11, 2007

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

For 15 years—first as associate director and later as director of UB's Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration, Loyce Stewart was the driving force behind the development and implementation of UB's affirmative action and equal opportunity policies.

STEWART

After Stewart's death in April 2005, her friends and colleagues at the university began work to establish a fund in Stewart's memory to honor her significant contributions to the university. The main activities of the Loyce Stewart Memorial Fund would include awarding scholarships or grants to underrepresented graduate students and sponsoring lectures by distinguished underrepresented scholars whose areas of expertise reflect Stewart's interests in women's studies, gender studies, law and creative arts, says Alexis DeVeaux, associate professor in the Department of Global Gender Studies (formerly Women's Studies) and co-chair of the Loyce Stewart Memorial Fund Committee.

The fund will present its first speaker, Patricia J. Williams, James L. Dohr Professor of Law at Columbia School of Law, at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Screening Room in the Center for the Arts, North Campus. Williams will discuss "Transcending Race: Race, Gender and the Upcoming U.S. Presidential Election." The presentation will be free of charge and open to the public.

A Columbia faculty member since 1991, Williams has published widely in the areas of race, gender and law, and on other issues of legal theory and legal writing. Her books include "The Alchemy of Race and Rights," "The Rooster's Egg" and "Seeing a Color-Blind Future: The Paradox of Race."

Stewart joined the UB professional staff in 1992 as associate director of the university's affirmative action office, and served as director of the office from 1999 until her death.

She had a principal role in the work of the President's Task Force on the Status of Women at UB, which, in 1994, was charged with a study of inequity in hiring, promotion and salaries of women employees at the university and with assessing charges of sexual harassment directed at employees and students. The group's comprehensive report, issued in 1997, included recommendations for dealing with these issues and for encouraging the development of women leaders at UB.

Stewart also worked with campus leaders and the Faculty Senate to develop a comprehensive sexual harassment policy and procedure, which was issued in 2000 by former President William R. Greiner, and she also was a key participant in the university's Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Diversity.

Stewart "really moved beyond her [job] title to impact the way the campus community dealt with issues of equality of life on campus," DeVeaux notes, adding that Stewart's involvement in social justice issues, as well as her sense of fairness, "impacted the philosophy of the campus."

"She often worked behind the scenes and often was not thanked," DeVeaux says. "We recognize people for doing extraordinary things for the campus. Because of her impact, we wanted to honor her by creating this fund."

The fund has raised about $20,000 of its $100,000 goal, she says, noting that donations have come in as one-time gifts and through payroll deductions from a variety of people on campus.

Anyone interested in donating to the Loyce Stewart Memorial Fund should contact the UB Foundation at 645-3013.

Serving as co-chair of the fund committee with DeVeaux is Barbara Burke, interim director of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration. Committee members are Margaret Acara, professor emeritus, Pharmacology and Toxicology; Barbara Bono, associate professor, English; Henry Durand, director, Center For Academic Development Services; Lucinda Finley, vice provost for faculty development; Joseph Gardella, professor, Chemistry; Mary Gresham, dean, Graduate School of Education; Peter Nickerson, director, Pathology Graduate Program; Sharon Nolan-Weiss, associate director, Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration; R. Nils Olsen, dean, Law School; and Susan Udin, professor, Physiology.