List of University at Buffalo people
This is a list of people connected to the University at Buffalo. There are more than 260,000 living alumni of UB. Notable alumni include the CEOs of Paramount Pictures and A+E Networks, two NASA astronauts, a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award, and a former prime minister. UB is one of the only two institutions of higher learning in the United States which were founded by a U.S. president (Millard Fillmore), the other being the University of Virginia.
Notable faculty
This list includes both present and former faculty members.
Nobel laureates
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald H. Coase | Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics (1991) | Professor (1951–1958) |
| J. M. Coetzee | South African author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2003) | Professor (1968–1971) |
| Carl Ferdinand Cori | Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1947) | Adjunct assistant professor |
| Sir John Carew Eccles | Australian winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine (1963) for discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane (synapse) | Distinguished Professor of Physiology and Biophysics (1968–1975) |
| Herbert A. Hauptman | Winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1985) | Research professor of Biophysical Sciences, director of the Medical Foundation of Buffalo |
Award recipients
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Om P. Bahl | Molecular biologist, honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1973 for his contributions to science and engineering | Former professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences |
| John Barth | Author known for his postmodern works, such as The Sot-Weed Factor, Lost in the Funhouse, and Chimera; winner of the National Book Award | Professor (1965–1973) |
| Robert Conquest | Poet honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom | Visiting poet and lecturer in English (1959–60) |
| Robert Creeley | Poet and winner of the Bollingen Prize for poetry | |
| Andreas W. Daum | Humboldt Prize winner and historian | Professor |
| David Del Tredici | Composer and Pulitzer Prize winner | |
| Samuel R. Delany | Hugo Award-winning author and literary critic | |
| Carl Dennis | Poet and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry | Professor |
| Irving Feldman | Poet and MacArthur Foundation fellow | Professor (1962–2004) |
| Amit Goyal | Materials scientist, National Academy of Engineering and winner of the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award | SUNY Distinguished Professor |
| Stephen McKinley Henderson | Obie Award winner and Tony Award-nominated stage and screen actor; veteran performer of playwright August Wilson's ouvre | Professor and former chair of the Department of Theater and Dance |
| Edmund Klein | Dermatologist and winner of the Lasker Award | Research professor |
| Eli Ruckenstein | Materials scientist, National Academy of Engineering and winner of the National Medal of Science | Former SUNY Distinguished Professor |
| Esther Takeuchi | Materials scientist, National Academy of Engineering and winner of the E. V. Murphree Award | |
| Richard Aaker Trythall | Composer, pianist, Guggenheim Fellow and winner of the Rome Prize | Professor (1972–1973) |
Academia
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph A. Alutto | Provost and interim president of Ohio State University | Dean of UB School of Management (1976–1990) |
| Warren Bennis | President of the University of Cincinnati | Provost (1967–71) |
| Ludwig von Bertalanffy | Austrian biologist, one of the founders of general systems theory (GST) | Professor in Center for Theoretical Biology |
| Lynne Billard | President of the American Statistical Association and the International Biometric Society | Visiting professor |
| Jennifer Crocker | Psychologist and president of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology | Professor (1985–1995) |
| Tim Dean | British philosopher, author, notable in the field of contemporary queer theory | Director of the Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Culture |
| Isaac Ehrlich | Academic economist and researcher, founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Human Capital | Chair of the Department of Economics |
| Marvin Farber | Chairman of Department of Philosophy 1937–1961; founder of Philosophy and Phenomenological Research | Professor of Philosophy |
| Michel Foucault | Historian and philosopher | Visiting professor (early 1970s) |
| René Girard | Historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science | Distinguished Professor (1971–1976) |
| Paul Goldstein | Globally recognized expert on intellectual property law; awarding-winning author | Professor of law (1967–1975) |
| Charles Haynie | Long-time faculty member in interdisciplinary degree programs | An award was established in his name after his death in 2001. |
| Jörg Guido Hülsmann | Economist and member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts | Former professor |
| Bruce Jackson | Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship (1971); was nominated for a Grammy (1974); president of the American Folklore Society (1984); chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Folklore Center in the Library of Congress (1988–89, trustee 1984–89); and director, then trustee of the Newport Folk Foundation (1965–) | SUNY Distinguished Professor; Samuel P. Capen Professor of American Culture in 1997; James Agee Professor of American Culture |
| Robert L. Ketter | Authority on earthquake engineering research and a president of UB | First chairman of the Civil Engineering Department; dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; university president 1970–1981 |
| Paul Kurtz | Founder and chairman of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), the Council for Secular Humanism, the Center for Inquiry, and Prometheus Books | Professor emeritus of Philosophy |
| Olive P. Lester | Fellow of the American Psychological Association[1] | Chair of the Psychology Department 1952 (1952–1956 acting)–1966; 1973 Distinguished Alumni Award[2] |
| David Mark | Pioneer of Geographic information science | SUNY Distinguished Professor |
| Steve McCaffery | Canadian poet and scholar | Holds the Gray Chair at UB |
| Lester Walter Milbrath | Environmental academic and public intellectual | Professor of Political Science 1965–1991 |
| Teresa Miller | Established the Office of Inclusive Excellence and created the university's first strategic diversity and inclusion plan | Vice provost for Inclusive Excellence (2014–2017) |
| Charles Mingus | Jazz bassist, composer, bandleader and pianist | Slee Professor of Music (1971) |
| Robert E. Paaswell | Interim president of the City College of New York, CEO of the Chicago Transit Authority | Professor (1964–1982) |
| Roswell Park | Founder of Roswell Park Cancer Institute | Former professor of Surgery |
| Emanuel Parzen | Statistician, pioneered the use of kernel density estimation (Parzen window) | Professor (1970–1978) |
| C. R. Rao | National Medal of Science honored mathematician and statistician | Professor |
| David Riesman | Law scholar and sociologist | Visiting professor (1937–1941) |
| Stephen Schanuel | Mathematician known for discovering "Schanuel's lemma" | Professor of Mathematics |
| Albert R. Shadle | Professor | Chairman of Biology Department (1919–1953) and professor of Biology |
| Bill Siemering | Director of Programming and founding program director for National Public Radio recipient of MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 1993 | First professional manager of university-sponsored radio station WBFO |
| Leo Smit | Composer of contemporary classical music | Former professor |
| Harvey G. Stenger | President of Binghamton University | Former professor, dean, and provost |
| John J. Tyson | President of the Society for Mathematical Biology | Former professor |
| Craig Venter | Geneticist; founder of Celera Genomics and the J. Craig Venter Institute; on Time magazine's 2007 and 2008 lists of the 100 most influential people in the world | Former professor |
| Grace Wang | President of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute | Former professor |
| Jon Whitmore | President of Texas Tech University and San Jose State University, CEO of ACT, Inc | Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters and professor of theatre (1985–1990) |
| Ernst Witebsky | Formulated "Witebsky's postulates" that determine whether a disease entity can be regarded as an autoimmune disease | Professor and chair of the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology (1941–1967); director of the Center for Immunology (1967 until his death in 1969) |
| Ta-You Wu | Chinese physicist known as the "father of Chinese physics" and president of Academia Sinica (1983–1994) | Professor and chair of the Department of Physics (1968–1983) |
| Marvin Zelen | Biostatistician and developer of Zelen's design | Professor 1967–1977 |
Collegiate athletics
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Alnutt | Director of Athletics of the Buffalo Bulls | Athletic director (2018–present) |
| Warde Manuel | Director of Athletics of the University of Michigan Wolverines | Athletic director (2006–2012) |
| Danny White | Director of Athletics of the University of Tennessee Volunteers | Athletic director (2012–2015) |
Notable alumni
Law, politics, and government
Science, technology, and engineering
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Shulman Baker | Astronaut on the Space Shuttle Atlantis and NASA medical officer | B.A. in geology (1974)[4] |
| Erich Bloch | Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation | B.S. in Electrical Engineering |
| Allison A. Campbell | President of the American Chemical Society | Ph.D. (1991) |
| Marvin Chodorow | Physicist and member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering | B.S. (1934) |
| Bram Cohen | Creator of the BitTorrent peer-to-peer client | |
| Alexander H. Flax | Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force and director of the National Reconnaissance Office | Ph.D. (1958) |
| Claire M. Fraser | President and director of the Institute for Genomic Research | Ph.D. (1981) |
| Seymour Gitin | Director of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research | B.A. (1956) |
| Wilson Greatbach | Recipient of the Lemelson–MIT Prize and National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1990 | M.S. (1957) |
| Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein | Mathematician and cryptanalyst | B.A. (1936) |
| Robert Gundlach | Inventor of the modern photocopier | B.S. in physics (1949) |
| Gregory Jarvis | NASA astronaut on the Space Shuttle Challenger | B.S. (1967) |
| Robert F. Landel | Jet Propulsion Laboratory physical chemist noted for his contribution to development of the Williams–Landel–Ferry equation | B.A. (1950), M.A. (1951) |
| Jacob A. Marinsky | Chemist and co-discoverer of the element promethium | B.S. (1939) |
| Norman McCombs | Recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2013 | B.S. (1968) |
| Robert Pound | Experimental physicist, co-discoverer of nuclear magnetic resonance in condensed matter, carried out Pound-Rebka experiment confirming gravitational time dilation, professor and chairman of the physics department at Harvard University | B.S. in physics (1941) |
| Janet Rideout | Scientist who discovered that azidothymidine could be used treat HIV | Ph.D. (1968) |
| Cynthia Rudin | Statistician and a fellow of the American Statistical Association | M.A. (1999) |
| Christopher Scolese | Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, administrator of NASA, and recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal | B.S. (1974)[5] |
| Arun Sharma | Computer scientist, distinguished emeritus professor at the Queensland University of Technology | |
| Alfred P. Southwick | Steamboat engineer, dentist, professor, credited with inventing the electric chair as a method of legal execution | |
| Nancy Temkin | Statistician, fellow of the American Statistical Association | Ph.D. (1976) |
| Jeffrey Umland | Chief mechanical engineer of NASA's InSight mission, chief mechanical engineer for the Curiosity rover | B.S. (1985) and Ph.D. (1991) in Mechanical Engineering |
| Alexander Vilenkin | Theoretical physicist and developer of the Borde–Guth–Vilenkin theorem | Ph.D. (1977) |
| Jeffrey Wigand | First tobacco industry executive to become a major whistleblower against the industry; subject of the feature film The Insider | B.A. Chemistry, M.A. Biochemistry, Ph.D. Biochemistry |
| John Wrench | Mathematician known for his work on calculating the mathematical constant pi to 100,000 decimal places | B.A. (1933), M.A. (1935) |
Medicine
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick J. Bancroft | Surgeon and first president of Colorado's State Board of Health | M.D. (1861) |
| Edward Nathaniel Brush | Psychiatrist and hospital administrator of Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital | 1874[6] |
| Michael A. Caligiuri | President of City of Hope National Medical Center | |
| John W. Cudmore | Surgeon and US Army major general | M.D. (1962)[7] |
| Sidney Farber | Pathologist regarded as the "father of modern chemotherapy" | |
| George Edward Fell | Early developer of artificial ventilation, also investigated the physiology of electrocution, created the final design for the first electric chair in New York State | |
| Wilson Greatbatch | Inventor of improved versions of the cardiac pacemaker | |
| Orvan Hess | Medical doctor noted for early use of penicillin and developing the cardiotocograph | |
| Peter Huttenlocher | Pediatric neurologist and considered to be one of the fathers of developmental cognitive neuroscience | |
| Mukesh Jain | Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences at Brown University (2022–) | B.S. (1987), M.D. (1991) |
| Jerome P. Kassirer | Nephrologist and editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine | M.D. (1957) |
| Elad Levy | Neurosurgeon who progressed the field of endovascular neurosurgery for the treatment of stroke | Professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery |
| Demetrius Klee Lopes | Cerebrovascular neurosurgeon | M.D. (1995) |
| Germaine M. Buck Louis | Epidemiologist, and dean of the George Mason University College of Health and Human Services | B.A. (1978), M.S. (1980), Ph.D. (1987) |
| Mary Blair Moody | Physician and anatomist, first woman to earn a degree from the medical school | M.D. (1876) |
| Donnica Moore | Physician and women's health advocate; author and media commentator on women's health issues | M.D. (1986) |
| Hobart Reimann | Virologist known for research on pneumonia, periodic disease and the common cold | M.D. |
| Bruce Saran | Ophthalmologist and retina surgeon | M.D. (1988) |
| Joshua A. Siegel | Orthopaedic surgeon and fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons | M.D. |
| George W. Thorn | Physician, pioneered use of cortisone to treat Addison's disease | M.D. (1929) |
Business
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| John Alm | CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises | |
| Pete Augustine | President and CEO of New Era Cap Company | B.S. in Accounting and Finance (1987) |
| Lucius L. Ball | Early partner, Ball Corporation | M.D. (1889) |
| Alan Brownstein | CEO of the American Cancer Society | |
| Millard S. Drexler | Chairman of J. Crew and CEO of Gap Inc. | |
| Ian Bruce Eichner | Founder of the Continuum Company, LLC; real estate developer | |
| Gregg S. Fisher | Founder of Gerstein Fisher | B.S. in Finance |
| Katherine Freund | Founder and president of ITNAmerica | B.A. (1972) |
| John Hewitt | Founder and CEO of Liberty Tax Service; co-founder of Jackson Hewitt | |
| Lap Shun Hui | Co-founder of Everex and eMachines | |
| Jeremy Jacobs | Billionaire and CEO of Delaware North Companies, owner of the Boston Bruins | B.A. in Business Administration |
| Jeff Jacobson | CEO of Xerox | B.S. in Business Administration |
| John Kapoor | Billionaire and founder of Akorn | Ph.D. |
| David Klein | CEO of Canopy Growth | M.B.A. |
| Laurent Levy | CEO of Nanobiotix | |
| Robin Yanhong Li | Billionaire and founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu.com, the most popular search engine in China | M.S. Computer Science |
| Mindy Lubber | President of Ceres | M.B.A. |
| Kevin P. Maloney | Founding partner of Property Markets Group | |
| Robert E. Rich Sr. | Founder of Rich Products Corporation | |
| Chris Sacca | Venture capitalist | Coursework in mathematics |
| Paul Snyder | Founder of Freezer Queen and owner of the Buffalo Braves | |
| Bob Swan | CEO of Intel | B.S. in Business Administration |
| Christopher Thornberg | Founding partner and CEO of Beacon Economics, LLC | B.S. in Business Administration (1989) |
| Donato Tramuto | CEO of Tivity Health | |
| Linda J. Wachner | CEO of Warnaco Group | B.A. (1966) |
News
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Arenstein | Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist for CBS | |
| Wolf Blitzer | Emmy Award-winning journalist for CNN | B.A. in history (1970)[8] |
| Greg D'Alba | President of CNN News Networks | B.A. (1981) |
| Hena Doba | TV anchor for Cheddar and formerly CBS, known for The National Desk with Hena Doba | B.A. in Psychology and English (2002) |
| Liz Dribben | Buffalo's first woman TV anchor at WKBW-TV, CBS News producer | B.A. (1958) |
| Ira Flatow | Emmy Award-winning science journalist; host of Newton's Apple; current host of NPR's Science Friday | |
| Nick Gillespie | Editor of Reason.com and Reason.tv; editor-in-chief of Reason magazine | Ph.D. in English Literature |
| Terry Gross | Peabody Award-winning host of the radio interview program Fresh Air | |
| Sharon A. Hill | Founder of Doubtful News and contributor to The Huffington Post | M.A. (2010) |
| Howard Kurtz | Media reporter and columnist at the Washington Post | B.A. in Psychology and English (1974) |
| Steve Liesman | Emmy Award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner; CNBC Senior Economics Reporter | |
| Tom Toles | Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post | |
Art, film, theatre, and television
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Melvin Bernhardt | Tony Award-winning director | |
| Ellen Carey | Artist known for conceptual photography | M.F.A. (1978) |
| Maury Chaykin | Actor | B.F.A. in Theatre (1972)[9] |
| Jesse Cox | YouTuber | B.A. |
| Thomas Curley | 2015 Academy Award winner for Best Achievement in Sound Mixing | B.A. in Film Studies (2001) |
| Allan D'Arcangelo | Artist | B.A. in history (1953) |
| Winston Duke | Actor | B.A. (2008) |
| James Foley | Director of House of Cards | B.A. in psychology (1974) |
| Shep Gordon | Hollywood film agent and producer; featured in the 2014 documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon | B.A. in sociology (1968) |
| Brad Grey | Golden Globe winner; television and film producer; CEO of Paramount Pictures | B.A. in Communication and Business (1979) |
| Max Grodénchik | Television and film actor | |
| Fred Hembeck | Cartoonist | B.A. (1975) |
| Evan King | Bagpipe champion | Doctor of Physical Therapy |
| Sylvia Lark | Seneca painter, printmaker | B.A. (1969)[10] |
| Robert Lieberman | Director of Fire in the Sky and Table for Five | |
| Abbe Raven | Chairwoman and CEO and president of A&E Television Networks, founder of The History Channel | B.A. in theatre (1974)[11] |
| Alberto Rey | Artist | M.F.A. (1987) |
| Peter Riegert | Academy and Emmy award-nominated actor, screenwriter and film director | |
| Parry Shen | Chinese American actor | |
| Cindy Sherman | Artist known for Untitled Film Stills | B.A. (1976)[12] |
| Victoria Siemer | Graphic artist, designer | B.F.A in Communication Design |
| Ron Silver | Tony Award-winning actor and political activist | |
| Ellen Spiro | Documentary filmmaker; Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellow | |
| Anne Turyn | Photographer | M.F.A. |
| Roy Vongtama | Actor; board-certified radiation oncologist | M.D. (2000) |
| John Walsh | Host of America's Most Wanted | 1965[13] |
| Harvey Weinstein | Film producer; Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases; Weinstein effect | Attended 1969–1973 but did not graduate. Received honorary degree in 2000 which was revoked in 2017.[14][15] |
| Bil Zelman | Photographer and director | B.F.A. (1996) |
| Alan Zweibel | Comedy writer, multiple Emmy Award winner and one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live |
Academia
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Paula Allen-Meares | Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago | |
| Mary Anne Bobinski | Dean of the Emory University School of Law | B.A., J.D. |
| Zhijian James Chen | Member of the National Academy of Sciences | Ph.D. in biochemistry (1991) |
| Soonja Choi | Linguist and member of the Academia Europaea | Ph.D. in linguistics (1986) |
| Steven A. Cohen | Executive director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University | Ph.D. and M.A. |
| U. B. Desai | Founding director of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad | M.S. (1976) |
| Marc Edwards | Expert on water treatment and corrosion, professor at Virginia Tech, and MacArthur Fellow | B.A. |
| Karen Halbersleben | President of Northland College | Ph.D. in history (1987) |
| Mark Huddleston | President of the University of New Hampshire | B.A. in Political Science (1972) |
| Kay Johnson-Gentile | Professor at Buffalo State University | Ph.D. in Elementary Education |
| Sung-Mo Kang | President of the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | M.S. in Electrical Engineering (1972) |
| Ann Kirschner | Academic; entrepreneur; author of Sala's Gift; launched NFL.COM for the National Football League; co-founder of Columbia University's interactive knowledge network Fathom.com; university dean of William E. Macaulay Honors College of The City University of New York | B.A. in English (1972) |
| Brian Levin-Stankevich | President of Westminster College; chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | |
| William M. London | Professor of public health and consumer advocate | Ed.M., Ed.D. |
| Elmira Mangum | President of Florida A&M University | Ph.D. |
| C. L. Max Nikias | President of the University of Southern California | M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering |
| A. Kenneth Pye | President of Southern Methodist University | B.A. |
| William J. Rapaport | Researcher on intentionality and artificial intelligence, professor at UB | M.S. in Computer Science (1984) |
| Blair A. Rudes | Linguist known for his work on Native American languages | B.A. (1973), M.A. (1974), Ph.D. in linguistics (1976) |
| Richard D. Schafer | Mathematician and fellow of the American Mathematical Society | |
| Wilfrid Sellars | Philosopher | M.A. (1934) |
| Murat Soygeniş | Architect and professor, founding principal, S+ ARCHITECTURE | M. Arch. (1985) |
| Robert E. Wright | Nef Family Chair of Political Economy at Augustana University | M.A. and Ph.D. in History |
| Ewa Ziarek | Julian Park Professor of Comparative Literature at UB | Ph.D. and M.A. |
Literature
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Baxter | Author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; Guggenheim Fellow | |
| Bob Budiansky | Comic book writer, The Transformers | |
| Taylor Caldwell | Anglo-American novelist | B.A. in English (1931) |
| Mary Cappello | Guggenheim Fellow and professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Rhode Island | M.A., Ph.D. |
| Doris Davenport | Writer, educator, and literary and performance poet | M.A. |
| Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson | Writer on subjects related to architecture, design, culture, and the built environment | B.A. |
| Graham Foust | Poet and associate professor at Saint Mary's College of California | Ph.D. (2002) |
| Richard Hofstadter | Pulitzer Prize-winning historian; author of Anti-intellectualism in American Life and The Age of Reform | B.A. |
| Anthony Petrosky | Poet and 1982 Walt Whitman Award winner | |
| Donald Revell | Poet, essayist, translator, Guggenheim fellow, and 2004 Lenore Marshall Award winner | |
| Merlin Stone | Author of When God Was a Woman | B.S. (1958) |
| Elizabeth Willis | Poet, literary critic, and Guggenheim Fellow |
Music
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Laura Aikin | Operatic coloratura soprano | |
| Jay Beckenstein | Saxophone player and co-founder of Spyro Gyra | B.A. in music (1973) |
| Keith Buckley | Vocalist, lyricist and founding member of Buffalo-based hardcore band Every Time I Die and metal supergroup The Damned Things | B.A. in English (2003)[16] |
| Rob Derhak | Bassist, lyricist and founding member of Buffalo-based jam-band moe. | |
| Ronnie James Dio | Heavy metal vocalist and songwriter; lead singer of Rainbow 1975–1979; lead singer and creator of Dio; lead singer of Black Sabbath 1979–1982 | |
| Jonathan Donahue | Lead singer and co-founder of Mercury Rev | B.A. in English (1988) |
| Morton Feldman | Composer and Edgard Varèse Professor of Music | |
| Chuck Garvey | Guitarist, lyricist and founding member of the Buffalo-based jam-band moe. | |
| Grasshopper | Co-founder of Mercury Rev | B.A. in Media Studies (1988) |
| Willie Nile, aka Robert Noonan | Singer, songwriter | B.A. in philosophy (1971) |
| Valerian Ruminski | Award-winning bass singer | Bachelor of Music (1995) |
| Elliott Sharp | Multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer | M.A. in Music Theory and Composition (1977) |
Sports and athletics
| Name | Known for | Relationship to University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Akpoborie | Nigerian soccer player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's soccer team |
| Craig Austin | Member of the Columbia Lions basketball team; Ivy League Basketball Player of the Year | J.D. (2008)[17] |
| Eddie Basinski | Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher (1944–1945, 1947) | Played tennis and ran cross country for the Buffalo Bulls |
| Turner Battle | Basketball player and coach | B.A. (2006); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Nick Bremigan | MLB umpire | Member of the Buffalo Bulls baseball team |
| George Whitney Calhoun | Football and hockey player, co-founder of the Green Bay Packers | |
| Louis Campbell | Basketball player, French Basketball Cup MVP | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Meili Carpenter | High diver | B.S. (2010); member of the Buffalo Bulls diving team |
| Russell Cicerone | Professional soccer player | B.S. (2017); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's soccer team |
| Patrick Clarke | Arena football kicker for several teams | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Marc Julian Copani | Professional wrestler, World Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Modie Cox | Professional basketball player | B.A. in sociology (1996); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team[18] |
| Sam Craven | English soccer player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's soccer team |
| Richard Deitsch | Sportswriter and radio host | |
| Cierra Dillard | Basketball player drafted by the Minnesota Lynx | Member of the Buffalo Bulls women's basketball team |
| Shaun Dolac | National Football League (NFL) linebacker | B.A. in communication (2024); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[19] |
| Jim Drucker | Commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association, commissioner of the Arena Football League (AFL), founder of NewKadia.com | B.A. (1973), business manager of The Spectrum, play-by-play announcer for Buffalo Bulls hockey on WBFO radio |
| Shawn Dubin | MLB pitcher | Member of the Buffalo Bulls baseball team |
| Steve Geltz | MLB pitcher | B.A. (2008); member of the Buffalo Bulls baseball team |
| James Gordon | AFL tight end | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Desmond Green | MAC champion wrestler; professional mixed martial artist | Member of the Buffalo Bulls wrestling team |
| Dillon Guy | Canadian Football League (CFL) offensive lineman | B.A. in sociology (2016); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[20] |
| Drew Haddad | NFL wide receiver | B.A. (2000); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Dave Hahn | Professional mountain guide, ski patroller, journalist and lecturer | B.A. (1984) |
| Blake Hamilton | Professional basketball player | B.A. in sociology (2017); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team[21] |
| Demone Harris | NFL linebacker | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Jeremy Harris | Professional basketball player | B.A. in social sciences interdisciplinary program (2019); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team[22]: 41 |
| Joe Hesketh | MLB pitcher (1984–1994) | B.A. (1980); member of the Buffalo Bulls baseball team |
| Adrian Hill | NFL official and aerospace engineer | B.S. in electrical engineering (1986)[23] |
| Ezekiel Jackson | Professional wrestler, World Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Tyree Jackson | Professional football quarterback and tight end | B.A. in social sciences interdisciplinary program (2018); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[22]: 41 |
| Anthony Johnson | Football player | B.A. in sociology (2018); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[22]: 42 |
| Chris Kanyon | Professional wrestler in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment | B.S. in Physical Therapy |
| Tim Kenney | Director of Athletics, St. Bonaventure University | Member of the Buffalo Bulls swimming team |
| Malcolm Koonce | NFL defensive end | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Cam Lewis | NFL cornerback | |
| Joe Licata | Football player and coach | B.A. in history (2016); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[20] |
| Khalil Mack | NFL linebacker and defensive end, 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year | B.A. (2014); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| C. J. Massinburg | Professional basketball player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Javon McCrea | Professional basketball player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Liam McHugh | Studio host for the NBC Sports Network | B.A. in communication (1997) |
| Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe | Olympic basketball player for New Zealand | Member of the Buffalo Bulls women's basketball team |
| Jim McNally | College football and NFL coach | Player and coach for the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Steven Means | NFL defensive end | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Red Murdock | College football player; NCAA record-holder for forced fumbles | B.A. in psychology (2024); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[24]: 36 |
| Tom Murphy | MLB catcher | B.A. (2012); member of the Buffalo Bulls baseball team |
| Matvey Natanzon | Backgammon player | B.A. in accounting (1991) |
| Branden Oliver | NFL running back for the San Diego Chargers | B.A. in sociology (2015); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[25] |
| Dominic Oppong | Canadian soccer player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's soccer team |
| K. J. Osborn | NFL wide receiver | B.A. in sociology (2018); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[22]: 42 |
| Jaret Patterson | NFL running back | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Sam Pellom | National Basketball Association (NBA) forward | Member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Nick Perkins | Professional basketball player | B.A. in sociology (2019); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team[22]: 42 |
| Gerry Philbin | Professional football player in the NFL, American Football League and World Football League (WFL) | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| E. Greenard Poles | CFL linebacker | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Brent Pry | Virginia Tech head football coach | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Frank Reid | CFL defensive tackle | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Stephanie Reid | Women's National Basketball League player | Member of the Buffalo Bulls women's basketball team |
| Matt Rhule | Head coach of the Carolina Panthers | M.Ed. (2003); Defensive line coach of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Jamey Richard | NFL center | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Naaman Roosevelt | NFL and CFL wide receiver | B.A. in sociology (2022); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[26] |
| Mason Schreck | NFL tight end | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Jake Schum | Professional football punter | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Trevor Scott | Professional football defensive end | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Jarryn Skeete | Professional basketball player | B.A. in communication (2016); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team[20] |
| Kristjan Sokoli | NFL defensive end, first Albanian-born player in NFL history | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| James Starks | Running back for the Green Bay Packers | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| John Stofa | Professional football quarterback in the NFL and WFL | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Josh Thomas | NFL cornerback | Member of the Buffalo Bulls football team |
| Mitchell Watt | Professional basketball player | B.A. (2012); member of the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team |
| Drew Willy | NFL and CFL quarterback | B.A. in communications (2009); member of the Buffalo Bulls football team[27] |
Chancellors and presidents
From its inception until 1962, the private school was known as the University of Buffalo, and it was headed by a chancellor. Since it became the public State University of New York at Buffalo, it has been called the university at Buffalo, and the CEO is its president.[28][29][30]
| No. | Image | President | Term start | Term end | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellors of the University of Buffalo (1846–1962) | |||||
| 1 |  |
Millard Fillmore [a] | 1846 | March 8, 1874 [b] | |
| Chair |  |
Orsamus H. Marshall | 1874 | 1882 | |
| 2 | 1882 | July 9, 1884 [b] | |||
| 3 |  |
E. Carleton Sprague | 1885 | February 14, 1895 [b] | |
| 4 |  |
James O. Putnam[c] | 1895 | 1902 | |
| 5 |  |
Wilson S. Bissell [d] | 1902 | 1903 [b] | |
| acting | George Gorham (1837–1906) | 1903 | 1905 | ||
| 6 | Charles Phelps Norton | 1905 | 1920 | ||
| acting | Walter P. Cooke [e] | 1920 | 1922 | ||
| 7 |  |
Samuel P. Capen [f] | 1922 | 1950 | |
| 8 | T. R. McConnell | 1950 | June 30, 1954 | ||
| acting | Seymour H. Knox II [g] | July 1, 1954 | August 31, 1954 | ||
| 9 | Clifford C. Furnas [h] | September 1, 1954 | 1966 | ||
| acting | Claude E. Puffer [i] | December 5, 1955 | February 1, 1957 | ||
| Presidents of the State University of New York at Buffalo (1962–present) | |||||
| 10 |  |
Martin Meyerson [j] | 1966 | August 10, 1969 | |
| acting | Peter F. Regan | August 11, 1969 | June 30, 1970 | ||
| 11 |  |
Robert L. Ketter | July 1, 1970 | February 28, 1982 | [31][32][33] |
| 12 |  |
Steven Sample | March 1, 1982 | March 31, 1991 [k] | [34][35] |
| acting | Bill Greiner | April 1, 1991 | September 4, 1991 | [36][37] | |
| 13 | September 4, 1991 | December 31, 2003 | [38] | ||
| 14 |  |
John B. Simpson | January 1, 2004 | April 18, 2011 | [40][41] |
| 15 |  |
Satish K. Tripathi | April 18, 2011 | present | [42][43] |
Table notes:
- ↑ Also served as comptroller of New York State (1848–1849), 12th vice president (1849–1850), and 13th president (1850–1853) of the United States during his tenure
- 1 2 3 4 Died in office
- ↑ New York State Senator and Postmaster General of Buffalo
- ↑ 36th United States Postmaster General
- ↑ Chairman of the University Council
- ↑ Former director of the American Council on Education
- ↑ Chairman of the council
- ↑ Last chancellor of University of Buffalo and first president of SUNY Buffalo. Took a leave of absence from 1955 to 1957 to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for the United States.
- ↑ Served as acting chancellor from December 5, 1955 to February 1, 1957 while Chancellor Furnas served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for the United States
- ↑ Resigned to head the University of Pennsylvania
- ↑ Resigned to head the University of Southern California
See also
References
- ↑ By-laws and List of Officers and Members of the American Psychological Association Incorporated. Washington, D. C.: American Psychological Association. 1932. p. 81. OCLC 5827710.
- ↑ Meacham, Jack (December 2006). "History of the Department of Psychology: State University of New York at Buffalo". Research Gate. Buffalo, New York: University at Buffalo. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Fred Isabella Obituary". legacy.com. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Athletic Hall of Fame - Ellen Shulman-Baker, M.D." Archived from the original on September 3, 2006.
- ↑ "Christopher Scolese, BS '78 - NASA's chief engineer". Archived from the original on September 2, 2006.
- ↑ "Dr. E. N. Brush, Psychiatrist, Dies at Home". The Baltimore Sun. January 11, 1933. p. 18. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Anderson, Dale (September 28, 2023). "Dr. John W. Cudmore, 84, surgeon, major general in National Guard". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "CNN TV - Anchors/Reporters:Wolf Blitzer".
- ↑ "UBToday Online: Departments: Shortform". buffalo.edu.
- ↑ "Memorial Rites Set For Sylvia Lark, Abstract Painter, Professor of Art". Buffalo News. January 23, 1991. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ↑ "UBT: Alumni Profiles: Abbe Raven". buffalo.edu. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2007.
- ↑ "Cindy Sherman | Biography, Art, Photographs, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ↑ "suny.edu - Notable Alumni". The State University of New York.
- ↑ Wozniak, Mark (November 15, 2017). "SUNY board revokes honorary UB degree given to Harvey Weinstein". WBFO. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ↑ Campbell, Jon (October 11, 2017). "Harvey Weinstein may lose University at Buffalo degree". Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ↑ "One Hundred Fifthy-Seventh Annual Commencement". buffalo.access.preservica.com. University at Buffalo. May 11, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Law School Commencement". University at Buffalo School of Law. May 17, 2008. p. 9. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ↑ "One Hundred Fiftieth Annual Commencement". University at Buffalo. May 19, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ "College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Commencement" (PDF). University at Buffalo. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "67 UB Student-Athletes Earn Diplomas at Graduation". University at Buffalo. May 13, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ↑ "92 UB Student-Athletes Earn Diplomas at Graduation". University at Buffalo. May 19, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Commencement". buffalo.access.preservica.com. University at Buffalo. May 19, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ↑ "One Hundred Fortieth Annual Commencement". University at Buffalo. May 18, 1986. p. 6. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
- ↑ "College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Commencement". buffalo.access.preservica.com. University at Buffalo. May 19, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
- ↑ "One Hundred Sixty-Ninth Annual Commencement". University at Buffalo. May 17, 2015. p. 42. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ↑ Lenzi, Rachel (August 23, 2022). "'I had to finish what I started': How former UB football star Naaman Roosevelt completed his degree at 34". Buffalo News. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ↑ "One Hundred Sixty-Third Annual Commencement". University at Buffalo. May 10, 2009. p. 28. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Office of the President". www.buffalo.edu. Archived from the original on March 16, 2007.
- ↑ "Chancellors and Presidents of the University". Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ↑ "Our Past Presidents". University at Buffalo.
- ↑ "Dr. Ketter Appointed President of UB: Former Vice President, Graduate-School Dean Will Assume Post July 1". The Buffalo News. June 23, 1970. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Ketter Resigns Presidency At UB; Insists Criticism Of Him Wasn't a Factor". The Buffalo News. March 13, 1981. p. 35 – via newspapers.com.
nsisting the decision had nothing to do with criticism leveled at him in recent years, Dr. Robert L. Ketter Thursday announced his resignation as State University of Buffalo president effective Jan. 1.
- ↑ "Ketter to Remain UB Head Until Sample Arrives". The Buffalo News. November 12, 1981. p. 5 – via newspapers.com.
Dr. Robert L. Ketter has agreed to stay on as president of the State University of Buffalo until the university's new president, Dr. Steven B. Sample, takes over the helm in March, The Buffalo Evening News learned today. Dr. Ketter had been planning to step down on Jan. 1, taking a year of sabbatical leave and then returning to the university as leading professor of engineering and applied sciences.
- ↑ "New Chief Hails UB's Heritage: He'll Take Helm on March 1". The Buffalo News. October 28, 1981. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
Dr. Steven B. Sample of Lincoln, officially was named president of the State University of Buffalo today and immediately promised an open-door administration geared to maintaining the great heritage" of UB. Dr. Sample, named to the job at a morning meeting in Albany of the State University board of trustees, told a UB press conference minutes later that he was "excited and thrilled" to take the UB helm. Dr. Sample will take over at UB March 1, three months after the current president, Dr. Robert L. Ketter, steps down.
- ↑ "Sample's departure stirs UB speculation". The Buffalo News. December 6, 1990. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
The future focus of the University at Buffalo was a subject of intense speculation Wednesday. following the announcement that Steven B. Sample will leave to head the University of Southern California. The search for a successor to Sample, who will become USC president March 31, will begin immediately, with a short list of candidates expected by late spring... Sample, reached in Los Angeles after his appointment. said USC wanted him to start Jan. 1, but he persuaded the trustees of the private 27,750-student university to let him remain in Buffalo long enough to get UB through the remainder of its fiscal year, which ends March 31.
- ↑ "UB provost is eyed as acting president". The Buffalo News. January 5, 1991. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
"An ideal time (for a new president) to take office would be Aug. 1," State University of New York Chancellor D. Bruce Johnstone said Friday, adding that the new president could be named by late spring or early summer. Johnstone spent more than an hour Friday discussing the search for a new president with the UB Council. He confirmed later that UB Provost William R. Greiner is a logical choice to become acting president following Steven B. Sample's departure March 31. Johnstone plans to forward his recommendation for acting president to the SUNY trustees at their Jan. 24 meeting. The acting president then presumably would assume the role April 1, the start of the state's new fiscal year.
- ↑ "SUNY trustees OK Greiner as acting UB president". The Buffalo News. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
University at Buffalo Provost William R. Greiner was confirmed Thursday as acting president of the University at Buffalo, a spokesman said.
- ↑ "Greiner named president of UB". The Buffalo News. September 4, 1991. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
William R. Greiner, the University at Buffalo provost and acting president, today was named the school's 13th president. Greiner, 57, has served as acting president since Steven B. Sample left in April to become president of the University of Southern California.
- ↑ Page, Arthur (January 13, 2003). "Greiner Announces Plans to Retire as UB President". University at Buffalo.
- ↑ Wuetcher, Sue (October 23, 2003). "Simpson promises to advance UB as premier public research university in Northeast". University at Buffalo.
- ↑ "UB president ready to step down". WBFO. March 2, 2011.
Simpson has been UB's President since January of 2004. He has agreed to continue serving in that capacity beyond his announced retirement date as a search for a successor continues.
- ↑ DellaContrada, John (April 18, 2011). "SUNY Board of Trustees Appoints Satish K. Tripathi President of University at Buffalo". University at Buffalo.
- ↑ Peradotto, Nicole (September 16, 2025). "Tripathi to step down as UB president". University at Buffalo.
Satish K. Tripathi, the longest-serving president to lead UB since it joined the SUNY system in 1962, has announced that he will step down next July.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alumni of the University at Buffalo.
- University at Buffalo – Official website
- Books by UB alumni