Close Up
Active in university and community
Inside and outside the office, Bill Wachob has been involved in a variety of activities for more than 30 years. Photo: NANCY J. PARISI
Bill Wachob initially came to UB to attend graduate school, but for the past 36 years he’s put his degree and voice to use in other areas of the university and community.
With an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a master’s in English from UB, Wachob began his career teaching at Villa Maria College. After he attempted to organize a teachers union and his contract wasn’t renewed, Wachob returned to UB where he served as assistant to the chair of the Department of Music. Ten years later, he became assistant dean in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and then held a dual role as assistant dean in the School of Health Related Professions and the School of Nursing before finally settling in with his current, full-time position as assistant dean for resource management in the nursing school.
An active member of the UB community, Wachob was the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the Professional Staff Senate (PSS). Throughout his career at UB, Wachob has been involved in many organizations on campus, among them the PSS, including a term as chair; SEFA and the Campaign for the Community, and the Environmental Task Force.
He is also a co-founder of UB Faculty and Staff for Peace. Created shortly before the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Wachob explains the group wanted to be a positive voice for change. “A group of us felt that being a major university—there should be voices that were presenting the side for peace and against war.” While the group hasn’t been active in a few years, Wachob hopes to reorganize with like-minded faculty and staff and host pro-peace and other progressive lecturers and events to raise overall consciousness on campus.
Outside the office, Wachob is the proud father of three grown daughters and keeps himself busy through a number of activities. A dedicated vegetarian since 1988 and a vegan for nearly 20 of those years, Wachob has helped organize two collectively shared agriculture (CSA) groups that support local farms and keep fresh local organic fruits and vegetables on Western New York tables.
He also is active in his church, serving on the board and as treasurer twice and as a member of the finance committee for the past 17 years. Additionally, every New Year’s Eve, he spends his evening at First Night Buffalo headquarters answering phones and coordinating volunteers.
An avid music lover, Wachob is a member of a private men's community singing group called the Royal Serenaders. He also plays the piano and recently took blues harmonica lessons with hopes to study guitar in the future.
Wachob, the chief fiscal officer of the School of Nursing, says that since he first came to UB in the ‘70s, he's seen the university mature in all aspects—from its projection to the public to how it handles everyday responsibilities. He's enjoyed spending more than three decades at the university. “UB has been a fantastic place to have a job and career that has lasted 36 years,” he says.
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