Schedule of Events

John Della Contrada has served as the University at Buffalo’s vice president for communications since 2018. He leads a team of accomplished communications professionals responsible for advancing the university’s reputation as New York State's flagship and one of the nation’s leading public research universities. He is responsible for the university's brand strategy, issues management, media relations, internal communications, social media, trademarks and licensing, and crisis communications. Della Contrada is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service and the May C. Randazzo Outstanding Practitioner Award from the Buffalo Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. He holds a master’s degree in communications management from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a bachelor’s in English from SUNY Oswego.

With more than 35 years in design and marketing, Bart Caylor has worked with colleges and universities of all sizes, as well as global brands such as AT&T, IAMS and Motorola.

As the producer of one of the top education blogs, Caylor is recognized for his opinions and insights on higher education marketing and is a sought-after speaker and consultant. He recently released the book “Chasing Mission Fit: A Marketing Guide To Fill Your Institution With Students Who Will Succeed.”

Founder of higher education marketing and design firm Caylor Solutions, he was named one of the “Top 10 Higher Ed Marketers You Should Follow” by Social Media Strategies Summit, specifically for offering straightforward, practical advice on specific marketing challenges via his podcast, “The Higher Ed Marketer.” With over 150 episodes featuring higher education marketing’s leading voices, “The Higher Ed Marketer” is regularly ranked in the top three “must-listen-to” podcasts by various blogs and industry influencers.

Brenda T. Feldstein, a Brazilian-born filmmaker and proud UB alumna, is based in Buffalo, New York. As the founder of A Special Story, an award-winning video production company, she empowers organizations, brands and nonprofits through the power of storytelling. Her work, featured on the news and celebrated at indie film festivals, challenges preconceptions. Beyond filmmaking, Feldstein is a community leader and mentor for women entrepreneurs. With a focus on impactful filmmaking, she works with organizations that are like-minded and care deeply about their impact in their communities and the world.

Dominic Sellitto’s teaching and research are focused on ethical AI usage and protection, business analytics, cybersecurity and digital privacy. He also serves as faculty director of the school’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program. In his industry roles, Sellitto served as a lead consultant and chief information security officer, where he helped organizations build and maintain robust information security programs.

Douglas Sitler handles breaking news and faculty expert placements for University Communications. He joined UB in 2017 after more than two decades working in Western New York’s economic development and tourism industry. He graduated from Buffalo State University with a bachelor’s degree in public communications.

As the assignment manager at WKBW, Adam Francis oversees the logistics and daily editorial decisions of the Channel 7 newsroom. A Western New York native, Francis graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 2003 with a degree in video/audio production and English. Francis has worked in the local broadcast news business for nearly 20 years and has worked as a videographer, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his work at WKBW, he also worked in the WIVB Channel 4 newsroom. Outside of the news, Francis has a passion for the outdoors and serves on the Western New York Land Conservancy Board of Directors.

Janet Gramza is a reporter at The Buffalo News covering higher education (including UB!), as well as assisting with breaking news. Since the racist massacre of May 14, 2022, she has also written about food insecurity among Buffalo’s underserved and marginalized communities. Gramza came to The Buffalo News two years ago as a veteran journalist who worked for The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com for over 25 years. She has also worked in public relations for two nonprofits, including five years as communications manager for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a bachelor’s degree in history from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Her work was included as an example of great reporting and writing in the journalism textbook “Writing and Reporting the News as a Story,” by Robert Lloyd and Glenn Guzzo (Pearson, 2009).

Tim Wenger currently serves as senior vice president/market manager for Audacy Radio, overseeing WBEN, WGR, WKSE, WLKK, WWW and WWKB. Prior to his current role, Wenger was Audacy's NewsTalk Format vice president and oversaw the programming for WBEN/WGR in Buffalo and 13 other NewsTalk stations across the country. Wenger was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in September 2023.

A media relations director with University Communications, Cory Nealon co-leads a team of communications professionals who advance UB’s reputation as one of the nation’s leading public universities. He also writes about engineering and computer science research. He has placed faculty and students in NPR, The Washington Post and BBC News, as well as the monologues of Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien. Before UB, Cory wrote about science and the environment for The Daily Press in Virginia.

Ellen Goldbaum is a news content manager in University Communications and has been with UB since 1990. Since 2011, she has covered the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Before UB, she lived in New York City (her hometown) where she worked for several magazines, including Mademoiselle, Chemical Week and last but not least: Industrial Chemical News, which once sent her on a field trip to Grand Island to write about the detergent industry.

Kevin Manne is an integral part of the School of Management’s communications team, supporting its communications, public relations and media relations needs, and leading efforts in digital and emerging communication technology. With an MBA from the School of Management and a bachelor’s in public communication from Buffalo State University, Manne has earned more than 30 awards from PRSA, SUNYCUAD and CASE. He is accredited in public relations and was named the May C. Randazzo Outstanding Practitioner by the Public Relations Society of America’s Buffalo Niagara chapter in 2023.

Thomas Vane, MS, serves as the liaison between the university, its seven independent student governments and its 500+ recognized student organizations. He also coordinates all aspects related to the UBLinked virtual involvement platform. His professional background includes higher education in leadership education, diversity education, veteran affairs, orientation and special events.

Jo Yudess is an adjunct assistant professor in the Creativity and Change Leadership (CCL) Department and the coordinator of the CCL distance Master of Science program at Buffalo State University. Yudess has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in creativity and change leadership, as well as courses in the Business Department, Educational Technology, University College, and at other universities.

Anthony D’Angelo joined the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2015 as a professor of practice in public relations, following more than 25 years in communications leadership roles in the agency and corporate sectors. He also serves as interim chair of the Public Relations Department and director of Executive Education. D’Angelo served as co-chair of the Commission on Public Relations Education from 2020 to 2021, and was the national chair of the Public Relations Society of America in 2018. He received the Newhouse School’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Research, Writing and Creativity Award in 2023.

Kelsey Sweet is a proud Buffalo native and the social media strategist for the Buffalo Bills. Sweet is passionate about giving back to Buffalo and finding ways to help others in meaningful ways to create sustainable change. In her spare time, Sweet is always trying out new restaurants, loves meeting new people and enjoys spending time with loved ones.

Sarah Robinson
New York State Public Health Fellow, School of Public Health and Health Professions

Mary B. Henesey
Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Officer, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Patrick Broadwater
Director of Communications, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Joseph DiDomizio
Sr. Director of Communications and Content Strategy, University Advancement   

Mel Bliz
Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment, Athletics

D’Ann Keller
Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Women's Administrator, Athletics