Established in 2004, this award acknowledges faculty who have made sustained and wide-ranging service contributions to a broad array of university constituents. The award recipients have distinguished themselves through exceptional service to the university and to their communities, as well as to their disciplinary, professional and faculty governance organizations at the statewide, national and international levels.
Department of History
Associate professor of history and award-winning scholar of the Civil War era and Reconstruction, Carole Emberton, PhD, has demonstrated a deep commitment to making UB’s undergraduate program welcoming and inclusive for underrepresented minorities and students of non-traditional backgrounds. Highly engaged within the university community, Dr. Emberton has served on many university, school and department level committees, including the Humanities Institute Executive Committee, UB Curriculum Steering Committee and the Provost Search Committee. Her leadership of the committee responsible for designing the UB Seminar program was instrumental in developing its curriculum, and her commitment to ensuring the program’s success has continued long after its creation. A proud first-generation college student herself, Dr. Emberton is part of the First-Generation Initiative to help connect, support and guide first-generation students through their college journey.
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Professor and chair of industrial and systems engineering, Victor Paquet, ScD, has provided dedicated service and leadership to his university and field. Dr. Paquet has served in numerous noteworthy roles for UB, including as director of the Center for Excellence in Home Health and Well-Being through Adaptive Smart Environments, and as a key faculty contributor to UB’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access for many years. In 2020, Dr. Paquet co- led UB’s Virtual Summer Student Innovation Academy to provide a meaningful professional experiences to students during the pandemic. An accomplished scholar, he researches the development and application of systems that improve people’s health, safety and abilities at work, home and elsewhere with an emphasis on designing for those with disabilities.
