Janice L. Moritz Distinguished Lecture Award

The Janice L. Moritz Lectureship Fund presents an annual lecture focusing on women and labor. It is administered by the Institute for Research and Education on Women and Gender at the University at Buffalo. Established in December 1999, the fund honors Ms. Janice L. Moritz upon her retirement from a career as Labor Relations Specialist with the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). The lectureship was established to educate others on the principles of labor management under which Jan worked and excelled.

One of the area’s most effective champions for the rights of women and workers in higher education, Jan Moritz retired in January 2000 after more than 20 years of dedicated service as Labor Relations Specialist for NYSUT. Assigned to United University Professions, she represented primarily the (UB) Buffalo Center, Health Sciences Chapter-Buffalo, Buffalo State College and Fredonia State College chapters. At one time, Jan was the only woman Labor Relations Specialist in the NYSUT Regional Office of WNY. The arbitration books of New York State record more than a dozen favorable decisions awarded to union members who were represented by Jan. She obtained hundreds of favorable decisions at lower levels of the grievance process. Scores of faculty and staff at SUNY campuses remained employed, achieved promotion, or returned to employment because of her outstanding advocacy. Prior to her career in labor relations, Jan Moritz taught in NYS public schools for 20 years and was active in her teachers’ union. Jan promotes women, organizes and introduces women to political campaigning, and conducts workshops on affirmative action, sexual harassment, and diversity. Through her leadership in the Business and Professional Women of Buffalo, she produced programs on family violence, depression, and women’s health care initiatives. Jan is a member of the Leadership Buffalo Class of 1996.

Friends, family, and colleagues on both sides of the labor/management aisle established the Janice L. Moritz Lectureship Fund to honor Jan. The Fund relies on private donations to finance the annual lecture series.

Previous Award Winners

Margaret Sallee.

Margaret Sallee

  • 2016 - Margarate Sallee, Graduate School of Education
  • 2015 - Martha T. McCluskey, Law School
  • 2014 - Erin Hatton, Sociology: "Gender, Race, Work: Kelly Girls, Prisoners, & Welfare Recepients"
  • 2013 - Debra Street, Sociology:   "(n)Ever (re)Productive: Perspectives on Gender, Work, and the Life Course"