Faculty and Staff Appeal 2012: Michaelene Meger

Michaelene Meger taught and advocated for children with severe disabilities during the first part of her career when she worked for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Niagara County and Children’s Hospital.

Now, as an associate professor of exceptional education at Buffalo State, Meger understands the important and meaningful work that her students will undertake in their careers. And she wants to help prepare them as much as she can. One way she does this is by contributing to the Exceptional Education Department Fund, part of the annual Faculty and Staff Appeal.

“I believe in giving back to the college and the department,” Meger said. “I realize that a college must run like a business with a limited amount of dollars to spend. It can’t possibly pay for everything departments need.”

And this includes essentials like computer lab furniture and software that teacher candidates need to prepare them for the classroom. The department fund also assists in funding some travel to conferences, a portion of the biannual graduate symposium, and workshops throughout the year. And it helps pay for the Best Buddies program that brings teens and young adults with cognitive disabilities to campus to work with exceptional education students.

Because she serves as chair of the department’s Budget and Staff Committee, Meger said, she knows exactly where the donated money goes.

“I think it is very well spent on things we need as a department,” she said. “Honestly, you really get back 10 times what you put in.”

The Exceptional Education Fund is one of many funds and scholarships included in the 2012 Faculty and Staff Appeal. You can make a one-time gift, or, through payroll deduction, spread your gift throughout the year.

“If everyone gave $5 out of every paycheck, just imagine the impact that would have on students,” Meger said. “I don’t think it’s a lot to ask.”

To see list of all the funds, go to www.buffalostate.edu/pdf/fundslist.pdf. To learn more about the Faculty and Staff Appeal, contact Louis Noce at (716) 878-3467.