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From the Vice President for Student Affairs

Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Student Affairs Leadership Updates: Career Development Center, Intercollegiate Athletics

To continue to balance budgetary constraints with the priorities of retaining students, continuing relationships with employers and potential donors, and ensuring the safety of our students and student-athletes, I am pleased to announce that the following individuals will assist the campus in leading the areas of Career Development and Intercollegiate Athletics.

Director, Career Development Center
Denise M. Harris will begin her role as director of the Buffalo State College Career Development Center on Monday, June 22. Ms. Harris brings over 16 years of higher education experience, most recently serving as director of Career and Professional Engagement Services at D’Youville College. She earned her bachelor of science in communication from SUNY Fredonia and her master of arts in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University, and she is currently a doctoral candidate in the field of educational leadership at D’Youville College. Ms. Harris is a certified career counselor and an ATIXA-trained Title IX investigator. 

Ms. Harris will fill the role of the current CDC director, Stephanie Zuckerman-Aviles, who will retire in June.

I thank the search committee and committee co-chairs Amy Wilson, associate professor and chair of the Higher Education Administration Department, and Laura Hill Rao, director of the Civic and Community Engagement Office, for their work in leading the search.

Officer in Charge, Intercollegiate Athletics
Thomas C. Koller will serve as officer in charge of intercollegiate athletics beginning Wednesday, July 1. The current search for a permanent athletic director has been paused based on updated guidelines from the New York State Division of the Budget.

As officer in charge, Mr. Koller will provide leadership critical to ensuring that the campus is following NCAA, Education Department, and other regulations, and most importantly that Buffalo State College is providing the best possible support and tools for success for its more than 400 Division III athletes.

Mr. Koller’s appointment will follow the retirement of the college’s current athletic director, Jerry Boyes, on June 30.

I thank the members of the search committee and committee chair Sarah Young, dean of students, for their work in leading the search to this stage.

I am encouraged that even in these difficult times, these individuals, along with their colleagues in the division of Student Affairs and our faculty and staff colleagues across campus, will continue to keep students at the center of their efforts. Please join me in congratulating them on their appointments and wishing them great success in their new roles.

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