Celebrating with Service: Conway-Turner Leads the Campus in Volunteer Work

Teaching, scholarship, and service are the three central tenets of higher education. Since taking the reins as president of Buffalo State, Katherine S. Conway-Turner has made it clear that service is among her personal values—a value that she wants to underscore as part of her inauguration week festivities, which are taking place through October 21.

“Buffalo State College is Buffalo’s college,” said Conway-Turner. “We want to emphasize that fact not only in the many experiential and service learning opportunities that Buffalo enables us to provide to our students, but also by addressing the needs of the community, as the community defines them.”

To that end, Conway-Turner designated Saturday, October 18, as Buffalo State Day of Service. In a video sent to the campus community, Conway-Turner said, “I invite all students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college to join me and my family on October 18 while we, as a united campus, demonstrate our commitment and dedication to the Buffalo State mission to serve our communities and to support programs and projects that improve the lives of those in need.”

With the help of the college’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC), several agencies throughout Buffalo were identified. “Our community partners are always glad of any help we can give them,” said Laura Hill Rao, coordinator of the VSLC. “We have arranged for busses to transport Buffalo State’s volunteers from Houston Gym to community gardens, family reading activities, neighborhood clean-ups, and donation centers,” said Rao. “We will also pick everyone up so they can enjoy a lunch for volunteers at Houston Gym.”

Friends of the college are invited to join other members of the campus community in Houston Gym at 9:15 a.m. to check in. After Conway-Turner and other dignitaries offer brief remarks at 9:30 a.m., busses will depart for service activities taking place throughout the city. Volunteers will have their choice of a number of projects.

“Service and civic engagement is an essential part of the mission of Buffalo State College,” said Conway-Turner. “That is why I look forward to serving alongside you on Saturday.”