A 42-member national board of directors is now in place to better represent the interests of UB alumni across the country, Alumni Association President Jonathan A. Dandes, B.S. '74, announced recently.

The new board, which held its first meeting September 28, includes representatives from Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Western New York, in addition to those representing constituent alumni groups.

"We are thrilled at the diversity of the board," said Dandes. "There is tremendous diversity in age, gender, degree program and geographic location. We are trying to establish as comprehensive a look as we can right across the board, to get the feedback and representation we need from all our alumni."

Dandes said the new board represents a two-year effort to launch a new governing body for the association. "We still have more work to do," he said, adding that the initial meeting was "tremendous." "We had people flying in from all over the country to participate. Our next meeting is set for May 3 and will be dedicated to our alumni chapters throughout the country, and, indeed, the world-we've invited the international groups as well."

The university now has 20 chapters throughout the United States, with international chapters in Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Among the larger regional chapters are those in Washington, New York, Miami, San Francisco and Sarasota, Fla.

New national board member Pamela Benson, B.A. '76, now executive producer of international affairs at CNN, says she has long had an interest in UB alumni activities, and tried to attend association breakfasts and other programs in Washington, D.C., where she is based. "I've always wanted to do something more if I could. So when [Executive Alumni Director] Bill Evitts told me of his plans to form a national board and asked about my interest, I viewed this activity as a way of giving back."

Benson said the initial board meeting was "valuable," with presentations by UB President Greiner and senior officers on a variety of campus issues.

"A lot of time was spent on getting everyone up to speed," she said, "learning about the student population today and how it may differ from when we were students; about the university's goals, objectives, problems at a time of cutbacks, housing problems at the new campus, etcetera."

Benson said board members are currently examining areas where they can make a contribution. They are also setting up committees for everything from membership in the Alumni Association to programs in career counseling, an area of special importance to her. "The university was very good to me and I'd like to do something to help it out.

"But the test (of the board's effectiveness) will be in future meetings and activities that will allow us to become a real force for the university," she said.