From the Desk of the Vice President

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

As we quickly approach the midway mark of the semester, I wanted to provide you with a few updates.

Student Union construction is well underway and I appreciate your continued patience, as I know this impacts many of you. The construction hasn’t stopped Campus Dining & Shops from continuing their outstanding service, with a new campus eatery called Sabor Latino recently opening behind Pistachio’s on the second floor of the Student Union. I encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already.

With Giving Day scheduled for next month, I wanted to introduce you to our Student Life Giving Day initiative—124 in 2024. This year our target goal will be to have 124 staff donors in Student Life by June 30. Mark your calendar for April 17 for UB Giving Day, with more information forthcoming.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our students during this critical time in the semester. Commencement will be here before we know it and I’m excited to continue to see our students flourish every step of the way.

Horns Up!

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

The start of the semester marked the return of students for spring and the grand opening of Sabor Latino—UB’s long-awaited (and highly anticipated) Latin American cuisine option.

Located in the former Tiffin Room, this new Student Union eatery serves up a fast-casual menu featuring a menu with Indigenous, Spanish and African influences.

Sabor Latino is open 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

February served as the launch of Homeaway Giveaways, a new Campus Living initiative established to recognize and appreciate the students living in UB residence halls.

During the two-day pilot event, representatives from Marketing and Communications and Campus Living gave out nearly 1,500 scarves to student residents as a thank you for living on campus.

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

Returning students were met last week with the exciting signs of progress, as construction began on a completely re-imagined Student Union. You certainly don’t have to look far past the current union renovation to see other exciting projects progressing nicely, such as the Landing at Ellicott, the new front door to Campus Living and our Ellicott Complex. While providing some inconvenience during construction, when complete these new facilities will provide a totally enhanced experience for our students and campus community.

I would ask that you continue to support our current and prospective students, and their families during this exciting time, even if it’s just by providing a helpful smile or revised directions to class or campus tour locations. In the not-so-distant future, we will all be the beneficiaries of these brand-new facility upgrades, helping improve the physical spaces UB students call home.

Thanks again to our Student Life family as we collectively navigate these transformative building projects on campus.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Last month, the flags in the Student Union Social Hall were officially removed, closing one chapter from our past, while launching several new creative programs to preserve the history and tradition of this former class gift. Watch the video below to learn more about the Student Union flag project.

Divisional congratulations go out to:

Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Wellness
Nicholas Fronczak, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Brianna Presutti, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Thomas Neill, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Kathryn Miller-Procknal, Licensed Psychologist
Alison Smith, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Let’s congratulate our colleagues when you see them in-person for this prestigious win and visit our Success Website for other recent recognitions.

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and are poised and ready to embark on an exciting year ahead. The spring semester will be here before you know it. I’m confident that when students return later this month, Student Life will continue to effectively serve our students and enhance their UB experience.

Wishing you all the best in 2024 and look forward to a great semester ahead.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

New Director of Housing Operations, Gary Thompson, joins the Campus Living leadership team as of January 3, bringing extensive experience in residential facility operations, with previous leadership roles at North Carolina State, Duke University, University of Georgia, and most recently at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

He has deep expertise in all facets of housing operations, including strategic planning, master planning, and collaborative partnerships. Over his career, Gary has completed over $400 million in new and renewal capital projects – including large-scale new construction projects, full building renovations and building systems retrofits. We look forward to welcoming Gary to campus and are eager to work together in the coming year.

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

I always appreciate this time of the year. With so many holiday traditions and wonderful moments to spend with family and friends, December brings a renewed sense of optimism for the new year ahead.

In addition to my excitement surrounding 2024, I am personally committed to the impact we can bring to our students in the upcoming year. Their experience at UB is a reflection of your hard work and dedication to our division. In that spirit, I hope you can join me and your other divisional colleagues for our second annual Student Life Jingle Mingle on Thursday, December 21. This annual tradition allows us to pause in order to celebrate and gratefully acknowledge our staff at the close of another successful semester.

During this special time of year, please know how appreciative I am to work alongside you on this journey.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2024.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Thursday, December 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Student Union Social Hall

RSVP for our second annual Student Life Jingle Mingle by accepting the calendar invite sent from the Office of the Vice President for Student Life.

There will be a 50/50 drawing and a basket raffle for the Campaign for the Community. Please bring cash if you plan to participate.

• 50/50 - $1/ticket or $5/10 tickets
• Basket Raffle - $5  per sheet of tickets

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

As we enter November and anticipate the start of the busy holiday season, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the outstanding work being accomplished in Student Life. Recently, we launched our 2022-23 Divisional Highlights website which gives a small glimpse into the excellent work being accomplished by our staff. While it doesn’t chronicle everything we do, it does highlight and celebrate many select Student Life programs that have benefited students over the past year.

In this season of gratitude, please know I am thankful for all you do for our students and the university.

In that spirit, if you haven’t already supported the Campaign for the Community, I would ask that you consider supporting this worthwhile university-wide initiative. Impacting our community is part of what UB does best, and this is a great time of year to demonstrate that commitment.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful November and upcoming Thanksgiving season.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Participate in the 5th annual fall pie sale. $7 of each pie sold goes toward supporting the UB Employees Campaign for the Community.

Pie Flavors Available | Dutch Apple, Pumpkin, and Peanut Butter Ganache

Cost | $16

Order by Friday, November 17 for pickup on Tuesday, November 21 at your choice of Capen Café on North Campus, Harriman Café on South Campus or Corner Café in Jacobs Medical Center downtown. Purchase your pie using the pie order form.

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe we are entering October and preparing to welcome families and alumni back to campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend. I look forward to seeing you at the multitude of events highlighting our True Blue spirit and traditions. Please refer to the link in the section below to make your plans to join us for an exciting weekend.

Over my career I have been blessed to experience some great communities, but none that cared for their own quite like Western New York. As Chair of the Campaign for the Community this year, I am confident that our University at Buffalo staff will rise to the challenge once again to support the community in which we live. Learn how you can make a difference in our own backyard by visiting the Campaign for the Community website.

In closing, thanks again for your work in the semester so far and all you do in support of UB and our students. Your efforts truly are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

We’re just a few days removed from our opening and welcome activities, and the response I’ve been receiving from faculty, staff and students during this week has been overwhelmingly positive. For those of you who played such an active role in our programming, whether planning or volunteering, your efforts did not go unnoticed. It took a team effort and collectively Student Life delivered!

Whether they were new students coming to campus for the first time, or returning students being welcomed back for another semester, the excitement and smiles on their faces to start the year was wonderful to see.

I'm looking forward to a rewarding semester ahead with all the anticipation that comes from the start of a new academic year.

Please take a moment to check out the link below recapping some of the best moments from our Fall Opening.

Thanks again for all your efforts in making this a special time to be a student at the University at Buffalo.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

As quickly as it arrived, a very successful orientation season has come to an end. With thousands of first-year students and their parents and families in attendance, we’re excited to embark on the new semester later this month.

As we anticipate another successful year, I wanted to outline some of the campus-wide festivities happening at the end of this month during Opening and Welcome Weekend. Our staff is hard at work planning a great first impression including the Bulls Welcome Back Blast Drone Spectacular on Aug. 27! It will be UB’s first-ever drone show and I invite you and your family and friends to attend this exciting start to the fall semester. Be sure to check out the Fall Opening 2023 website linked below for more details.

Thanks again for all the support you’ve given our students and the entire campus community. The first day of class will be here before we know it!
Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

Thanks to those of you who joined us for the fantastic Student Life Professional Development Day last week. I once again want to acknowledge the planning committee who put the event together, including:

Stephanie Chong, Counseling Services
Alan Kegler, Marketing and Communications
Craig Orcholski, Assessment and Research
Amy Snyder, Residence Life
Sarah Huerta Well, Accessibility Resources

It was a great day to learn about how we can take care of ourselves and each other. Special thanks to our keynote speaker James Lemoine, PhD, and our closing speaker Danielle Tussing, PhD.

Wishing you a nice relaxing fourth of July holiday. August will be here before we know it!

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

As we’re fresh off a successful Commencement season, I’d like to thank you for your time, hard work and commitment to our student body.
 
The next few months provide a great opportunity to enjoy all the fantastic summer activities here in Buffalo and gives us time to prepare for the return of students this August.
 
Many of you have inquired about revisiting the presentations from our past Quarterly Forums. To address this, I have included some easy links to all the presentations we have had to date. I look forward to seeing many of you at our Student Life Professional Development Day on June 22.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Each Spring, Student Life Marketing and Communications awards an undergraduate senior student with the Gregory Capasso Memorial Award for Creative Writing. The recipient spends the semester as a student writer/editor within the department and is awarded a stipend for their work provided through an endowment.

This year’s Capasso Award recipient was Grace Osaba. Grace graduated in May with a degree in English and previously worked as a student assistant in University Communications, specifically helping with UBNow. Her goal is to work in publishing or copywriting in New York City.

Last year, the division had 61 donors out of 336 total staff members participate in annual giving, for an 18% giving rate in Student Life. We believe as a division we can do so much more. This year, we launched a new division-wide campaign entitled 123 in 2023. Our goal is to get 123 staff members from our division to donate in any amount. Please consider helping Student Life meet our goal today.

Good Afternoon Division of Student Life Colleagues,
 
I hope this message finds everyone well as we gear up for the home stretch of the academic year.
 
Since my arrival to the University at Buffalo, I'm always inspired by the students we serve and the community that we are a part of. As I talk about UB with individuals outside of our campus community, it is often difficult to describe the great feeling that comes with working at an institution you truly believe in.
 
To that end, I am asking for your support on UB Giving Day scheduled for April 19. This day provides a unique opportunity to show our commitment to the institution and to Student Life.

We have lofty goals planned for 2023. Last year, we had 61 donors out of 336 total staff members participate, for an 18% giving rate in Student Life. In coordination with UB Giving Day, we are kicking off a new division-wide campaign entitled 123 in 2023. Our goal is to get 123 staff members from our division to donate at any amount. To meet this year's campaign goal, a special donation link and website will launch the week of April 17. Stay tuned.
 
Your participation not only benefits our students, but will put us in the running for many challenge gifts that are at play during this event. To demonstrate my commitment to the effort, I will be donating up to $2,500 depending on the number of gifts that are made to Student Life by our staff, as well as the many loyal donors who support us throughout the year.
 
Thank you for all that you do for UB and our students, and I look forward to continued great success during UB Giving Day and beyond.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

I write to you to share that we have launched our national search for the next Dean of Students here at the University at Buffalo. As a member of the senior leadership team in our Division of Student Life, this is an outstanding opportunity to help shape the student experience at UB and help create meaningful change to meet the needs of our student body.

I am grateful to several of our campus colleagues who have so graciously offered their time, talents, and efforts to serve on the Search Committee. The Committee membership is listed below.

Chair

Jacqueline Hollins, Associate Vice Provost and Senior Executive Director for Student Success and Academic Support; Interim Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence

Committee Members

Dr. Amy Bisantz, Dean of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Dr. Trung Nguyen, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success
Dr. Sandra Flash, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs/The Graduate School
Dr. Luis Colon, Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, College of Arts and Sciences; SUNY Distinguished Professor and A. Conger Goodyear Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director of Wellness and Director of Counseling Services
Mr. Jerod Dahlgren, Senior Director of Issues Management and Internal Communications

I encourage you to review the position description and share with your higher education networks.

As the search progresses, there will be opportunities for everyone in the Division to interact with and hear directly from candidates about their vision for the position, student service delivery, and the critical role our support services have on the student experience here at UB. I encourage you to participate in the search process and am grateful for your participation and efforts with this important endeavor.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

It is great to see our students back on campus and to witness our community thriving with their energy. Below please find a few key updates on recent and upcoming events and initiatives across the Division of Student Life.

Thank you for all you do for our students, and I am looking forward to another great semester.
 
Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life 

Our Student Life Human Resources team, in collaboration with our Marketing and Communications team, have created a new web resource ‘Employment Opportunities’.  This resource is designed to showcase the many great reasons to pursue a career at UB and details the available opportunities within our division.  I encourage you to take advantage of this resource in your recruitment efforts and reach out to VPSL-AdminPlanning@buffalo.edu with any questions or updates. 

Counseling Services has expanded its mental health self-help toolkit with Togetherall, an anonymous online peer support program. Students also have access to online mental health screenings and Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), a suite of tools that is designed to facilitate greater well-being.  

To share this new mental health resource with students, direct them to https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student. To familiarize yourself with all of our online tools, visit our Student Guide Counseling Services site below.

Student Life, in collaboration with UB Athletics,  and UB's Student Association is hosting a new event to welcome students back for the spring semester: Victor’s House Party!

On Saturday, February 4 from 1-2 p.m., students can join Victor before the UB Women’s Basketball Game for a BBQ, featuring grilled snacks, yard games and a DJ next to the student section in Alumni Arena.  From 10 p.m. - 1 a.m., Victor is hosting a house party at the Edward Wright Practice Facility in Alumni Arena featuring giveaways, prizes, food, and fun to kick off the semester!

Let's help Victor throw the best party of the year by volunteering.

December 21, 2022

Student Life Colleagues

As we near the end of the semester, I want to reflect on the last year and express my appreciation for each and every one of you. The pride and commitment you show to our students is commendable and our outstanding UB experience is impacted by these efforts. I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished over the last year, and look forward to advancing our goals in 2023.

Please know how grateful I am for all you do for our University at Buffalo students. Here's to wishing you a safe and relaxing break. I look forward to collectively advancing our student experience in the new year.

All the best for a great 2023 to come!

August 19, 2022

Student Life Colleagues,

Another summer has come and gone and it's time to get back to doing what we do best -- supporting our students.

I'm eager to see how we can continue to improve the student experience, while simultaneously navigating a restructured Student Life -- which includes a number of new staff members in our units. We're all in for an exciting semester and I can't wait to see the energy and enthusiasm the students will bring to our campus in just another week.

With that, we have a number of activities planned for Opening 2022, as you saw outlined in our recent Quarterly Forum. These activities provide an opportunity for new experiences among our first-year students, and a chance for renewed True Blue spirit for those returning for another semester. We can't do it without you, and I hope that you will sign up to volunteer at one of these events to showcase the dedication and support we provide.

I'm looking forward to a rich and rewarding semester ahead, filled with fresh energy, new learning opportunities and all the excitement that comes along with the start of a new school year. We are all True Blue!

Trung Nguyen, Ed.D., started as the new Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success, effective July 18, 2022. He joins the Division of Student Life after serving as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Identity and Success at Texas Christian University. He will provide leadership to several units within the division including The Career Design Center, Blackstone Launchpad, eSports, Orientation and Transition Programs, Residential Life and Student Engagement.

 As a recognized leader in implementing and facilitating new student programming, Dr. Nguyen has extensive higher education experience with foundations in cultural competency, student development theory, student success models and inclusive practices.

Dr. Nguyen holds an Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership from Texas Christian University, a master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Public Justice from the State University of New York at Oswego.
 
Please welcome Trung to the UB family and to this important leadership position within the Division of Student Life and our campus community.

UB formally unveiled its new home for Student Health Services on Wednesday, August 10 with an Open House for select faculty and staff who made the new facility possible. The new location at 4350 Maple Road (at Sweet Home Rd.) includes more space and a better layout to provide high-quality student medical care.

The start of the new school year is jam-packed with lots of exciting events created specifically for UB students. Opening programming allows students to meet new friends, try out new activities, participate in long-standing traditions and show off their true blue spirit.

UB senior Mallory Drews was selected as the 2022 recipient of the Gregory Capasso Memorial Award for Creative Writing.

The award recognizes an outstanding senior who wants to pursue a career in writing, editing and marketing. A creative writing major with a minor in law, Mallory interned in our Marketing and Communications office prior to graduation.

May 15, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

I am reaching out to you today in response to the tragic and deeply disturbing events that occurred yesterday at Tops Markets in the city of Buffalo. While I’m certain we will find out more information regarding this horrific, racially-motived crime in the weeks to come, I want to reiterate the message from President Tripathi, which was issued last night.

There are a number of resources available to both students, employees, and our campus community to help process the trauma, grief, pain, and fear that we all may be feeling.

For Students:

As outlined in the President’s message, our staff in Counseling Services is available to help students process yesterday’s tragic event. In addition, the Intercultural and Diversity Center offers a safe space for students in need of support.

For Employees and Campus Community:

University resources for employees and their families include UB’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides confidential consultations, 1-on-1 meetings, and referrals to specialists. 

There are numerous resources also available through Erie County and partner agencies. If you are in need of immediate help or community resources, call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211. There are multiple opportunities to support the community and we encourage you to do so in a way that is meaningful to you.

Please know that our leadership team cares for you and stands with you. Our Director of Human Resources and Unit Diversity Officer, Kesha Foster will have the following open hours this week in the Intercultural Diversity Center (240 Student Union) to provide additional care and support:  

• Monday 5/16: 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Tuesday 5/17:  9 - 11 a.m.
• Wednesday 5/18: 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Kesha can also schedule individual appointments if someone would like support on a different day or time. 

In closing, as we grieve together, it’s important that we continue to support our students and staff at this crucial moment. As a team, let’s work together to continue to provide the best possible care and support during the difficult days and weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk

Vice President for Student Life

April 1, 2022

Student Life Colleagues,

 And just like that...

It seems like just yesterday I was stepping onto campus for the first time, excited about what we could accomplish together. And while many things have stayed the same over the last year or so, we have seen a lot of change – namely our campus feeling like it's back to normal. While I remain cautiously optimistic as we gear up for commencement season and warmer weather, I am eager to see the excitement from our students, with or without masks.

The most visible addition to campus has been One World Café and it's already making a positive impact on the student experience. On any given day, there are hundreds of students studying or socializing in the space, bringing new energy to campus. I'm also excited about the upcoming changes to our Student Life staffing structure, as I outlined in our last Quarterly Forum. While the next few months will present some bittersweet moments, including celebrating the distinguished career and retirement of Barb Ricotta, I am also excited about new additions to our staff, beginning with the hiring of Kesha Foster as our inaugural Director of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. We have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks and months, and I couldn't do it without you.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

December 17, 2021

Dear Student Life Colleagues,

As our fall semester draws to a close, I want to express my thanks to each of you for your efforts over the past few months and throughout 2021. Although faced with many challenges, we successfully returned to a place-based institution, while providing students with the UB experience they wanted and deserved. Without the collective effort of our entire staff, I know this would not have been possible. Please know how grateful I am of your continued efforts.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season, and I look forward to our continued collaboration in the new year, as we work to advance our student experience on campus.

All the best for a great 2022 to come,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

September 3, 2021

Dear Colleagues, 

I wanted to send a sincere thank you and congratulations for the hard work put forth in making this year's Welcome Weekend and Opening Week a huge success. Our events marked the start of a semester unlike any other and I hope it's an indicator of the many memorable moments to come this fall.

Together, we welcomed thousands of students to a variety of engaging events including the iconic Interlocking UB, Welcome Carnival, Campus Fest, a late night dance party, Bulls Welcome Back Blast and our student tailgate party last night.

Thanks again for all of your support during my first few months on campus. I'm confident our students had a great kickoff to the fall semester and appreciate the effort you put towards making their UB experience memorable.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

July 1, 2021

Good Afternoon Student Life Colleagues,

Thanks again to all of you who participated in our Student Life Professional Development Conference this week. It's critical that our journey does not end here, and I challenge you to think about how we can take this conversation to enact real, measurable outcomes on campus.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with some of our UB students and experience the genuine enthusiasm they have about the upcoming return to campus. The excitement is contagious and I share their passion in seeing campus alive and bustling once again. I am extremely excited for the upcoming academic year and returning to an in-person living and learning environment. 

The University at Buffalo student experience is critical. It is in part why our students selected UB and is invaluable to their development of being productive contributors to society. The same can be said for fostering connections and a lifelong commitment to their alma mater. The work that we do now and the student experience we provide today, pays dividends to our students individually and our institution collectively for years to come.

As Student Life professionals, we play a pivotal role in that student experience. Whether it is the major initiatives or the smaller individual interactions, our work with students is essential to their growth and development. When I come to campus each day, I am energized to see our staff transitioning towards a return to a thriving, vibrant, in-person atmosphere where we are once again working side by side with our students to guide their experience. I can't wait to see what you have planned for the fall, and look forward to stopping by some of your fall programming.

In closing, I hope that everyone has a great 4^th of July holiday weekend and continues to enjoy their summer. We will all be back together on campus soon, and I'm excited to have our entire UB community at home once again.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life

June 4, 2021

Dear Student Life Colleagues, 

As I conclude my first full week here at UB, I am extremely excited to be in Buffalo and honored to lead Student Life during this pivotal time. I genuinely appreciate your efforts during this challenging year and look forward to slowly returning to a vibrant, in-person campus this fall.

With that said, I am also looking forward to meeting all of you. I've had the opportunity to briefly visit some of our Student Life areas over the past few days, and in the coming weeks will begin my departmental Meet and Greets. These meetings will give me the opportunity to personally visit your area, meet our staff, and get a better understanding of the outstanding services we collectively provide our students.

As I personally take time to reflect on week one, I can’t help but be energized by the tremendous impact we all have in Student Life. What I anticipated from the search process has proven true - UB is a special place.

Thanks again for providing me with this great opportunity to lead, collaborate and ultimately enhance the experience for the students we serve.

With Gratitude,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life