Remembering longtime UB faculty member Janina Brutt-Griffler

Janina Brutt-Griffler, longtime UB faculty member, professor in the Graduate School of Education and leader in language and international education, died April 17. She was 59.

Brutt-Griffler joined the UB faculty in August 2005 as an associate professor and was promoted to professor in 2009. Before arriving at UB, she taught at the University of Cincinnati, the University of Alabama and the University of York in England, where she directed the TESOL program.

Over the course of Brutt-Griffler’s career, she held several leadership roles across the university, including associate dean for curriculum and global initiatives, director of the Center for Comparative and Global Studies in Education, chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, and associate dean for international education and language programs. Most recently, she served as a professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction and director of the language education and multilingualism PhD program.

Her scholarship focused on language education, multilingualism, sociolinguistics and educational policy, examining the global spread of English, multilingual identities, biliteracy and the experiences of language learners in varied educational contexts.

A native of Poland, she brought a personal understanding of language, culture and identity to her work. She was a prolific and internationally recognized scholar in her field and served for many years as editor of the International Journal of Applied Linguistics. Her 2002 book, “World English: A Study of Its Development,” received the Kenneth W. Mildenberger Book Prize from the Modern Language Association in 2004.

Beyond her scholarship, colleagues say Brutt-Griffler played a significant role in advancing international education at UB. Through her leadership and service, she helped strengthen the university’s global engagement, supported international students and scholars, and built programs that connected UB to academic communities around the world. She joined the Council on International Studies and Programs in 2009, and remained an active contributor to its work for years, including serving as chair of the selection committee for the Office of International Education’s Research Grants Program for four years. She was still actively engaged in that work shortly before her death.

“Janina Brutt-Griffler brought together scholarly distinction, thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to students in ways that left a lasting mark on the Graduate School of Education and the University at Buffalo,” says Suzanne Rosenblith, GSE dean and professor. “She was deeply respected within our school and in her field, and her work advanced international and multilingual education in ways that will continue to shape our community.

“We will remember not only her many contributions as a scholar and administrator, but also the care, generosity and sense of purpose she brought to her work and to the people around her.”

John J. Wood, senior associate vice provost for international education, says Brutt-Griffler brought both intellectual depth and humanity to that work.

"As a faculty colleague and administrator, Janina was a passionate and dedicated leader, advocate and practitioner of international education and engagement,” he says. “She demonstrated impeccable scholarly acumen and unfailing professionalism while always elevating the human and relational dimensions of international collaboration.

“As a leader and exemplar among UB faculty in this respect, she will be sorely missed.”

Brutt-Griffler’s contributions were broad and often interdisciplinary. In addition to her work in GSE, she served as director of Polish Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences from 2006-15 and helped establish an undergraduate minor in collaboration with other CAS departments. She also helped create study-abroad and exchange opportunities in Poland. Moreover, her international work included a major grant from the Erasmus Mundus Programme of the European Union for transatlantic doctoral training, as well as academic collaborations with institutions of higher education in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Brutt-Griffler’s international work also included a long affiliation with the UB Confucius Institute, where she served on the executive board, supported Chinese language and culture programming, and helped advance initiatives related to Chinese language teacher education.

Stephen C. Dunnett, GSE professor emeritus and former vice provost for international education, remembers her as a benevolent and trusted colleague.

“Janina was an outstanding university citizen who was remarkably generous to her colleagues and extraordinarily dedicated to her students, both international and domestic,” he says. “In my former role as vice provost for international education, Janina was a colleague I could always count on for advice and support. She was always willing to assist with university international activities and programs.”

Brutt-Griffler also remained actively engaged in research, mentorship and local educational partnerships throughout her career. Her work reflected a rare ability to connect international and multilingual scholarship with the needs of schools, students and communities close to home, including ongoing collaboration with the Buffalo Public Schools on dual-language education. That work reflected her longstanding commitment to multilingual education and to applying research to support local schools and communities.

“Janina was a devoted member of the Department of Learning and Instruction for over 20 years. A highly respected applied linguist, she made lasting contributions to the study of World Englishes,” said department chair Erin Kearney. “Just as importantly, she was a passionate advocate for international students and for cultivating global perspectives in education. She will be deeply missed by colleagues and students alike, and we will honor her legacy by continuing to advance the values she championed.”

Brutt-Griffler advised and mentored many students over the years. Lois Weis, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus, described her as a “distinguished language education scholar, sought-after graduate student mentor and administrator who put into practice the value of inter-decanal collaboration.” Weis also noted her deep investment in international graduate education and ability to attract and support highly accomplished master’s and doctoral students from around the world, many of whom went on to academic careers and leadership roles of their own.

“During my doctoral studies, she was not just an adviser who guided me through my dissertation and academic research. As a Confucius Institute board member, she also cared about my work, offering valuable advice and constant encouragement whenever I needed it,” says Qiaomei “Maggie” Lu, director of the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong and a former doctoral student of Brutt-Griffler’s. “I owe so much of my achievements today to her guidance and support. She has left an indelible mark on both my academic and professional life.”

Brutt-Griffler’s influence was felt beyond GSE as well. Y.G. Lulat, associate professor in the Department of Africana and American Studies, remembered Brutt-Griffler as “someone of gentle demeanor, who was an intellectual without any pretensions, unafraid to ask probing questions and who lent meaningful substance to that oft-bandied term in academia, ‘critical thinking.’”

Her contributions were formally recognized in 2023 when she received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education at UB. The honor reflected years of work across research, teaching, mentorship, service and institutional leadership.

Brutt-Griffler is survived by her husband, Keith Griffler, associate professor in the Department of Africana and American Studies, and family in Poland.