Measuring Success

students at the human interlocking u b.

As highly experienced professionals, we are proud of what we do — and how we do it. Every day, we are fortunate to see the results of our work reflected in the faces of our students.

Student Life's highly-qualified staff and outstanding programs and services are consistently recognized; recent awards include:

2024 Awards

Sharon Mitchell, senior director of Student Wellness and director of Counseling Services, will be recognized for her work in campus mental health by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD).

WNYACCC (Western New York Association of College Career Centers) - Outstanding Initiative Award

The Career Design Center, along with campus partners (School of Management Career Resource Center and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) received  the Outstanding Initiative Award for the Future of Work Summit, an event designed to connect hiring managers, recruiters, UB faculty and industry leaders.

Veteran Services

  • Military Friendly - Gold Award - A the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the military community.

Outstanding Program - SUNY Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers (CSSAO)

UB Student Life iDEAL Academy was rated highly by the committee on the following criteria: evidence of impact on student learning or success, relevance to mission and/or advancement of student affairs profession, meets student needs/critical campus issues, originality and creativity, including unique adaptations of best practices, and the quality of the proposal. 

Chef Culinary Conference - Bronze Medal

A UB Campus Dining and Shops team of chefs took the bronze medal in the team competition at the 30th annual Chef Culinary Conference, held earlier this month at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The UB team — chef managers Brendan Schultz, Kenneth Fronczek, Emanuel Pryce and Ryan Rodenhaus — was among 13 from across the nation that developed a menu and produced a three-course hot meal from a mystery basket.

2024 SUNYCUAD Awards of Excellence

Student Life Marketing and Communications won two SUNYCUAD Awards for Excellence at the annual SUNYCUAD Conference. The program rewards the very best efforts of our talented and creative professionals throughout the SUNY system. The 2024 awards include:

Best of Category:

  • True Blue Division Highlights  (design)

Judges Citations:

  • Bulls Welcome Back Blast Drone Show (strategy)

2024 National Gold Dining Award - NACUFS

The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) announced Campus Dining and Shops (CDS) at the University at Buffalo as a recipient of the NACUFS 2024 Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards. CDS received a Gold in the category of Retail Sales – Single Concept of the Year for Sabor Latino

NACUFS Culinary Challenge - Silver Medal

Campus Dining Chef Brendan Schultz was awarded a silver medal at the NACUFS (National Association of College & University Food Services) Culinary Challenge. The Challenge is a live, timed competition which recognizes the exceptional culinary expertise within collegiate dining. Chef Brendan competed against five other chefs from equally prestigious Northeast schools.

Digital Accessibility Advocate - University at Buffalo Accessibility

Ali Bitterman, Assessment and Research's senior research and data analyst, is being recognized for her efforts to elevate awareness and accessibility of data visualizations for the campus community.

Outstanding Professional Service - Professional Staff Senate (PSS)

Janice Cochran, Health Promotion's coordinator for nutrition and physical activity, received the 2024 PSS Outstanding Service Award. The award recognizes her outstanding service to the community, going above and beyond her regular job duties for the betterment of our community.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service

Lori Chiarilli, Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, received the 2024 SUNY Chancellor's Award in Professional Service. The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service honors professional staff performance excellence “both within and beyond the position.”

Kerri Bigler, Administrative Assistant, Office of Residential Life, received the 2024 SUNY Chancellor's Award in Professional Service. Kerri was recognized for her commitment to excellent customer service in all aspects of her work.

UB Communicators Awards

The criteria for the Blue Bell Award focused on overall creativity, functionality, results connected to the goal, and adherence to University brand standards.

  • Best in Category – Campaign – Bulls Welcome Back Blast Drone Spectacular
  • Best in Category – Environmental – Startup and Innovation Collaboratory

Collaborative Excellence Award, ACPA - Here to Career

Dan Kaczmarek, director, Assessment and Research, and Susan O'Rourke, assistant director of leadership & development in the Student Engagement office, received the 2024 Collaborative Excellence Award by the ACPA (American College Personnel Association) for the Here to Career program. The award highlights the incorporation of assessment into the supervisory experience for on-campus supervisors, and how this data was used to shape the development of the Here to Career program.

Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention - Campus Prevention Network

Health Promotion has been awarded a 2023 Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention. The award represents the highest standard for online prevention education and recognizes institutions making a measurable impact across critical areas including sexual assault prevention, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health, and inclusion.   

Distinguished Achievement Award - Carleton College Alumni Council Association

Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Wellness, was awarded a Distinguished Achievement Award. The award recognizes outstanding alumni achievement within a particular field or fields of accomplishment, which may be in either professional or community service endeavors.

2023-2024 NASPA Excellence Awards

Bronze Overall; Gold in the Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness, and related category

Meeting Students Where They are at Through an Embedded Counselor Program - University at Buffalo Counseling Services

  • Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Wellness
  • Nicholas Fronczak, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • Brianna Presutti, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • Thomas Neill, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Katherine Miller-Procknal, Licensed Psychologist
  • Alison Smith, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Divisional Highlights