Marketing and Communications

The Student Life Marketing and Communications team provides experienced leadership and a creative vision for university and unit level initiatives. With our focus on students, we work with our divisional units and the university to enhance and showcase the student experience.

Marketing and Communications staff discuss projects in the office.

Student Life Marketing and Communications:

Our Vision

Our experienced team of communicators helps to promote the exceptional programs and initiatives that enhance the UB experience for students. In addition to creating and implementing results-driven marketing campaigns, we consult with and guide units throughout Student Life to help them achieve their communications goals, and we represent Student Life as a member of UB’s senior communicators groups.

Marketing Support and Solutions

Our communication team assists units in navigating their marketing and communication results; including developing compelling strategies, formulating new ideas through brainstorming sessions, and executing student-facing campaigns. Units are partnered with a marketing team representative to work collaboratively on a successful annual marketing strategy.

Communications Problem-Solvers

Our team has works on extensive projects such as multi-media marketing campaigns as well as constructing 200-page websites.  

Our process includes creating and developing original content, managing production, and developing communication strategies. From brainstorming and creative direction, our team is able to ensure that projects are handled efficiently and effectively. 

Let us bring your creative vision to life. From video, photography, print, and graphics, our teams are highly experienced in these areas. We are also skilled in the UB Content Management System (CMS) and university-approved social media channels. 

The 2024 Student Life Divisional Highlights book, a yearly print publication showcasing various divisional accomplishments.

Need to confirm your unit marketing representative? Contact Erin Dengler.

Work With Us

The Student Life Marketing and Communications team can support your needs across five main strategic categories: design, photography, social media, videography and websites. See below for details on how you can work with us to develop an effective communication plan for your unit.

Photography

Photography provides an excellent way for units to visually showcase the activities and services they provide. Effective planning of your photography needs will ensure your unit will be well represented and promoted.

Photo Requests

When beginning to plan your semester's photo needs, contact your marketing team representative. Together we will work with your office to schedule a photographer. This will often include university-approved local freelancers. A University Communications photographer may be available for larger, university-wide events.

Photo requests for the fall semester should be submitted to your marketing representative by August 1. Spring semester needs by January 1. 

All photo requests must be submitted through the Marketing Project Request form and be supported by an approved budget.

Student Life Employee Headshots

Once you begin your employment with Student Life, you will be contacted by a member of the Marketing and Communications team to set up an appointment for your headshot photo session! This picture will be used on the department's staff listing.

Photo Samples

Submit a Request

Once you determine project scope with your marketing representative, submit the corresponding form. Your request will then be entered into the queue. Your representative will reach out to discuss the next steps and assign an appropriate timeline for completion of your project.

Most Student Life marketing expenditures for units have been centralized and are part of an annual approved budget. Your marketing representative will help you navigate spending your budgeted allocation in accordance with university procurement guidelines and policies.

Find Us

University at Buffalo
252 Capen Hall, North Campus
202 Michael Hall, South Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260

Team and Resources

Gregory Capasso Memorial Award

Each Spring, Student Life Marketing and Communications awards an undergraduate senior student with the Gregory Capasso Memorial Award for Creative Writing. The recipient spends the semester as a student writer/editor within the department and is awarded a stipend for their work.

Qualifications for the award include:

  • Desire to pursue a career in writing, editing, marketing, communications or a similar field.
  • Posses strong oral, written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to write creative copy in the form of editorial articles, website features, video scripts, promotional marketing materials and more.
  • Ability to prioritize effectively and to work independently.

About Gregory Capasso:

Gregory Capasso, a State University of New York at Buffalo student who, after spending a semester studying in England, was returning home on December 21, 1998 with 258 other passengers on Pan American flight #103, when a terrorist bomb caused it to explode over Locherbie, Scotland, killing everyone aboard. Gregory’s friends and family have made gifts sufficient for the endowment of a memorial fund to perpetuate his memory.

Vice President Brian Hamluk and 2025 Capasso Award winner Emmanuella Appiah.

Vice President Brian Hamluk and 2025 Capasso Award winner Emmanuella Appiah.

Previous Recipients:

2025 - Emmanuella Appiah
2024 - Brandon Fowler-Varon
2023 - Grace Osaba
2022 - Mallory Drews
2020 - Justin Downey
2019 - Paige Barnes

External Engagement and Sponsorships

Our leadership and staff collaborate with University Advancement, the UB Alumni Association and Corporate and Foundation Relations, to effectively coordinate donor development, alumni engagement, and sponsorship opportunities within Student Life providing value and support to our many student-centered initiatives.