Message from the President

To the university community,

After 35 years of distinguished service to UB, including more than 21 years as vice president and senior vice president, Bob Wagner has informed me of his intention to step down as senior vice president, effective July 1, 2002. Bob will continue to serve our university on a reduced-time commitment as senior counselor to the president.

This is a loss to all of us at UB, especially this president, and on one or more suitable occasions we will give testament to his extraordinary service. But for the moment, we should celebrate the fact that Bob will be staying on as counselor to the president and to all others in our UB family who value and draw on his advice and counsel.

	Robert J. Wagner
	Photo: K.C. Kratt

Bob has devoted his career to UB. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration here at UB, he went to work for our university community, serving as assistant provost in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for the better part of a decade. Bob went on to hold various other administrative positions in the offices of the Provost and the President, including assistant vice president for academic affairs, deputy vice president and vice president for academic services, before being named vice president for university services—UB's chief financial officer—in 1985. In 1991, he was named senior vice president.

As senior vice president, Bob oversees University Facilities, University Business Services, Government Relations and University Communications, as well as Computing and Information Technology, and the University Libraries, in conjunction with the provost. Bob also has provided administrative support to units that report directly to the president: the Office of Equity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Administration, Internal Audit and Athletics. In addition, Bob has administrative oversight for the UB Foundation in the areas of investment, finances, audits and property.

Bob's achievements in this post—and throughout his tenure—are far too numerous to mention in full. He has accomplished great and lasting successes for this university, not the least of which are more efficient business systems and greater fiscal independence for UB within the SUNY system administration. He has been an invaluable chief advisor to me and to the provost in the formulation of UB's strategic planning efforts and on formulating university policy. Working in tandem with the other vice presidents on issues that impact our entire community, Bob has provided effective and visionary leadership for his alma mater, readily taking on new responsibilities as UB's needs warranted.

Bob's contributions to UB and to our various constituencies extend well beyond our immediate university community. One of UB's finest ambassadors, Bob has represented our university at the SUNY system administration level, serving as president of the SUNY Business Officers Association. In addition, he served as a member of the board of directors of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers. He also has held a statewide leadership position at the United Way, serving as chair of the board of directors of the United Way of New York State from 1994-98, and as co-chair from 1992-94.

In 1987, Bob was selected to attend the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management. UB students have benefited from his experience at UB, as well as his statewide and regional leadership experience. An adjunct lecturer in the Graduate School of Education, Bob works with University Professor D. Bruce Johnstone in offering a course on financing higher education, extending his expertise to our next generation of university and community leaders.

In recognition of his outstanding service to UB and to SUNY, Bob received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1980. The larger Western New York community has lauded Bob for his dedication to serving our region—he is a recipient of the National Conference of Christians and Jews' Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award, as well as the United Way of New York State's Leadership in Public Service Award.

This brief and highly selected summary of Bob's many accomplishments only hints at what he has meant to UB, to Buffalo-Niagara, to SUNY and to New York. Bob has been the epitome of all that is good in academic administration; dedicated to the highest ideals of the academy, he has brought them to bear on everything from the most profound and difficult issues to the mundane but essential details of campus life.

Bob has been a conscience and guide, and senior advisor to presidents, council and foundation chairs, provosts, vice presidents, countless university volunteers, deans, directors, chairs and innumerable faculty, staff and students. He truly has been UB's senior vice president and vice president for university services, but most of all, he has been, is and will be this university's most dedicated servant. All who have worked with him have been privileged to do so. I in particular have been specially privileged to serve with him and call him both colleague and friend. I will miss him in his senior vice president's role, but look forward to working with him in his new role as senior counselor to the president.

At some later date we will join together in celebrating Bob's achievements, but join me now in thanking him for his extraordinary service, and take great pleasure in knowing that all of us at UB will continue to benefit from that service in the years to come.

William R. Greiner
President