Doug Levere

I interned at University Publications as a UB undergraduate and have been back here since 2005. I’ve been full time for 10 years. 

I get to meet so many interesting people here at UB. From world-renowned faculty to bright-eyed incoming freshman. I get to learn about each and every person I work with and help tell their stories for the university.

Keeping the work fresh. I often tell the story about the movie “Groundhog Day.” The character wakes to the same day, Groundhog Day, every day. It relates to my work because many UB events happen every year, in the same place with similar people. So, keeping things visually fresh is challenging. I like to try new cameras, tools, effects and methods. I do what I can to put a new lens on the same events. 

I like to think that my next “big idea” may be my biggest achievement yet. It’s in the works, so I don’t want to talk about it just yet. Stay tuned. Some other things I’m proud of include winning several Gold Circle awards in photography from CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education). Also, my colleagues and I are working on something we’re calling the Student Journey Project. We are following a group of students over their four years at the university. We’re doing video interviews with them once or twice a year. The idea is to follow their journey, and tell their story and UB’s story at the same time. The final product is still a moving target, but that is what makes it so fun and challenging.  

Our department has worked to develop their interns over the years. I was an intern as a student and I can think of at least 5 or 6 other people that started here as interns and have moved on to get jobs at UB. 

Join the PSS. It helps keep you involved with what is happing on campus and you get to meet new colleagues. Have patience, some of the best projects and biggest results here can take time. 

I make Neapolitan Pizza at home. Over the last three years I have gotten my pizza skills up to near professional quality. Neapolitan is pizza that is cooked in a 900F degree oven in about 90 seconds. I also do long bike rides. In the warm months, I ride 40-70 miles a week. And for the last two years, I have done 7-day, 500+ mile bikes trips. This year it was the Empire State Ride, which is a benefit for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

When it is not pizza it may be a simple chicken soup.

Looking to try a bike ride or river cruise in Europe, possibly just some places I have never been. 

When those verification apps ask for “Dream Profession,” I get to answer “Photographer.”