Penksa to Lead UB's State-Relations Programs, Initiatives

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Janet Penksa, vice president for The Center for Health Policy Studies in Albany, has been named associate vice president for university services at the University at Buffalo.

The appointment of Penksa, who will be responsible for the university's state-relations programs and initiatives, is effective Dec. 3.

Penksa has 14 years of experience working with the New York State Assembly. From 1993-98, she was secretary to the Ways and Means Committee, a position in which she was chief advisor and lead negotiator for assembly leadership on all fiscal and economic matters, as well as responsible for final preparation of the state budget.

She also has managed the Ways and Means Committee's professional staff in economic, revenue and expenditure forecasting, statistical modeling, financial plan variance analysis, research and policy development. In addition, she has developed and negotiated the assembly's legislative agenda with the governor's office, the senate, local governments throughout the state and special-interest groups.

Penksa also served the assembly's Ways and Means Committee as director of budget studies and fiscal affairs from 1990-93, deputy fiscal director from 1989-90 and fiscal and budget analyst from 1983-89.

Penksa earned her master's and bachelor's degrees from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

She is a resident of Averil Park.