Eileen Marutiak, BA ’06, has assumed the role of president of the UB Alumni Association, a group that represents the interests of more than 307,000 graduates around the world.

Marutiak has served on the board since 2018, most recently as president-elect, and has been an active regional leader in the association’s D.C. Metro Regional Network. In support of UB students, she established the Eileen Marutiak Study Abroad Scholarship to help undergraduates expand their education through experiential learning and international study experiences.

Splitting her time between Washington, D.C., and Buffalo, Marutiak is a community affairs program specialist at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where she promotes financial education programming, outreach and community engagement to low-income and financially vulnerable communities around the U.S. She also serves as executive director of Against All Oddz Animal Alliance, a Western New York-based nonprofit.

Marutiak succeeds Joe Stefko, PhD ’03, MA ’99, BA ’97, as board president. Stefko will continue to serve on the board as immediate-past president.

Other officers elected:

• President-elect: West Richter Jr., MBA ’13, BS ’13, MusB ’13, of Buffalo, director of global IT service delivery at Moog Inc.
• Vice President of Finance: Brendan P. Brady, MBA ’02, BS ’02, of Orchard Park, director of assurance services at Dopkins and Company LLP.

New board members:

• Daryl Duhart, BA ’17, of Brooklyn, founder and CEO of The Duhart Group, part of the Microsoft for Startups ecosystem.
• Jessica Jackson, BS ’12, of League City, Texas, a mechanical engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center, where she works in real-time mission operations on the Cold Stowage team for the International Space Station.
• Steven Maisonet, MSW ’19, of Buffalo, a social worker and professor at Buffalo State University.
• Grace Mukupa, PhD ’15, MA ’13, a data analyst with the Department of Homeland Security.
• Deana Stevenson, BA ’89, of Orchard Park, founder and CEO of DocDeana Enterprises, a national consulting firm specializing in K–12 school improvement, leadership development and executive coaching.
• James Van Wyck, MA ’08, of Denville, N.J., assistant dean for professional development at Princeton University.

In addition, Walter S. Polka, EdD ’77, BA ’68, of Lewiston has been appointed as the Graduate School of Education’s representative to the UB Alumni Association Board of Directors. Polka serves as a professor of professional programs and PhD coordinator for Niagara University.

The UB Alumni Association is a volunteer-led international organization that provides ongoing service to alumni and a focus of alumni support for and service to UB, its students, faculty and staff. For more information and a full board listing visit the alumni association’s website.