The Daily Bulletin Archive

I write today to share the news that I have decided to retire after 43 years of higher education leadership and on the conclusion of my ninth year as president of this wonderful institution. My retirement will be effective in the summer of 2023. I did not make this decision quickly or lightly. But after careful consideration, I have decided that it’s time for me to concentrate on my next chapter and to commit more time and energy to my family, traveling, and writing the memoir I have mentioned from time to time.

It has been my pleasure and extreme privilege to lead this fine institution for so many years. Buffalo State has an unwavering commitment to the transformative role education plays in the lives of students. I have so many memories of the work we have completed together, the tasks we have finished, the hurdles we have traversed, and the ways we have continued to move forward despite the significant pressures that higher education faces. We have cheered together, worried together, and leaned into what is best for our richly diverse and vibrant student body—together.

I myself am an example of the transformative power of a college education. As a girl who was born in a tiny town in the Midwest and raised in a family that struggled to put food on the table, I could not have imagined how education would transform my life and the lives of my family. In just one generation, our family moved from one in which no one had earned a high school diploma to one that could claim college-educated family members. I have always felt a kinship to our first-generation students and those who have personally faced discrimination because of race, gender, or economic status.

We will still have the year to complete more projects, work together for the betterment of the college, and say our goodbyes. In the meantime, a search will be underway for the next president of Buffalo State.

I will undoubtedly repeat this sentiment frequently, but today, as I announce my impending retirement, I thank all those who have supported and continue to support our collective vision for a superb urban-engaged campus where excellence, engagement, and social responsibility provide our foundation. I will always love Buffalo State, and I know the Buffalo State community of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni will continue to roar.

Sincerely your president,
Kate Conway-Turner