COVID-19 is not a laughing matter, but we need to maintain a sense of humor now more than ever if we are to keep our perspective — and sanity — during these trying days.

Thomas A. LaVeist, a national expert on equity and health issues, will deliver the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ 32nd Annual J. Warren Perry Lecture on Nov. 13.

John Major Eason, an expert on the criminal justice system and race relations, will discuss “The Racial and Economic Underpinnings — and Impact — of Mass Incarceration” at a Zoom presentation on Nov. 5 hosted by the UB Law Alumni Association and UB School of Law.

Who doesn’t love pie?

UB ranked in the top 100 for universities with Regional Research Reputation in U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 edition of Best Global Universities. The rankings were released Oct. 20.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence will present a panel on Oct. 29 titled “What Is Inclusive Pedagogy?”

UB and partners will host a LaunchPad Startup Weekend Oct. 23-25, giving students in Western New York and beyond a chance to learn about entrepreneurship and what it takes to start a business.

UB’s annual health and wellness fair for faculty and staff is going virtual this year, with three days of free, informative programming led by UB and community experts.

UB faculty, staff and students can get their seasonal flu shot — a vaccination that public health officials say is more important than ever this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic — at influenza vaccination clinics being held now through mid-November on all three UB campuses.