Leading the Student Experience
Student Life is committed to supporting the academic and personal development of students attending the University at Buffalo.
Since his arrival on campus in the summer of 2021, Brian Hamluk has provided transformational leadership and an innovative approach to the student experience, navigating the division into one of the most exciting periods in recent decades.
As vice president for Student Life, he leads the departments, units, programs and services that advance the university experience outside the classroom for UB’s more than 30,000 students. Under Hamluk’s leadership, Student Life continues to develop and grow the critical resources and ongoing support necessary to ensure all students are supported and thrive on their UB journey.
Hamluk’s tenure in Student Life includes the following notable achievements:
Establishing Divisional Strategic Priorities
Emphasis targeted towards four key growth areas, health and wellness, student engagement and success, student support and diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
Making Student Wellness a Priority
In 2022, Student Life launched "Taking Care" an innovative wellness program providing students with enhanced resources, backed by more than $1 million in additional annual investments.
Capital Facility Investments
Strategic emphasis into transforming the facilities footprint over time by multi-year upgrades to key student experience areas:
Student Health Center
A historic relocation from South Campus, to a new state-of-the-art Student Health facility, located just minutes from the UB North Campus.
Opened in 2022, the UB Student Health Center boasts a spacious reception area, comfortable exam rooms and a rapid testing lab.
One World Café
Dedicated in 2023, this $45 million dollar award-winning campus eatery features international food, drinks and snacks.
Red Jacket Esports Lounge
The 2023 design and launch of a $2 million dollar North Campus residence hall Esports student lounge provides additional recreation space and a sense of community for students living on campus.
Student Food Pantry – Blue Table
An innovative campus food pantry was upgraded and streamlined in 2024 to better meet the emerging needs of the campus community.
South Campus Housing Revitalization
Transformation of UB’s historic South Campus residence halls into modern, apartment-style housing with a $36 million dollar investment to meet the growing needs of UB’s resident student population.
The Landing at Ellicott
Opened in the fall 2024, a $26 million welcome addition to UB’s largest residence hall complex on the north campus, featuring student lounges, a courtyard patio and popular “social staircase “ to encourage community.
Record-setting Fundraising
Connecting divisional priorities with an engaged donor base, over the past three years Student Life has raised more than $2.5 million dollars in support of Student Life’s strategic priorities.
Hamluk is also leading multiple high-profile future initiatives to strengthen the UB campus and enhance the overall student experience. These initiatives include:
Experiential Learning and Entrepreneurship
With an investment of over $1.5 million in post-graduation success, students are well-prepared for life after UB. Student Life has also expanded staffing and resources in the areas of the StartUp and Innovation Collaboratory and the Career Design Center to support students' entrepreneurial and career endeavors.
North Campus Student Union
2025 will see phase one of a comprehensive multi-phase renovation to UB’s North Campus Student Union completed, creating a more student-friendly experience and encourage community-building.
Student Wellness as a Priority
More than $1 million has been strategically invested in the areas of Student Health Services, Health Promotion, Counseling Services, and Financial Wellness.
In terms of capital investment, Clark Hall, the historic South Campus recreation facility is in the design phase of a $100 million renovation on the South Campus, and preliminary campus planning is ongoing for a new and modern recreation and wellness center on the North Campus.
For Everyone
Over the past year, $1 million has been earmarked annually in support of Accessibility Resources to champion the accessibility and diversity of our student body. In addition, plans are underway for UB’s first ever LGBTQ+ Student Center, to be located in the North Campus Student Union.
An innovative leader in higher education, Brian is deeply committed to student success “He keenly appreciates that keeping our students at the heart of everything we do is fundamental to UB’s mission of excellence. -- University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi.