Aaron Podolefsky was formally installed as the eighth president of Buffalo State College on Friday, October 29.

The historic rite, which was held on campus in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, was attended by more than 800 guests, including former presidents Muriel Howard and Bruce Johnstone, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, area leaders, students, faculty and staff.

For his inaugural theme, Podolefsky selected, “Celebrate, Serve, Imagine: The Promise of Buffalo State College” to honor Buffalo State’s legacy and his commitment to affordable, accessible higher education, the college's role in community service, and the importance of transcending current economic challenges.

“No matter how much we have grown in enrollment, expanded in mission, created new programs, and transformed how we teach and research, our core purpose remains: Buffalo State continues to be ‘the people’s university,’ to serve the public, and to act in its best interest,” said Podolefsky in his inaugural remarks. Read complete inaugural address (PDF).

“Buffalo State is an institution that is devoted, first and foremost, to serving its students and to supplying them with the knowledge, values, and abilities they need to achieve personal and professional success” President Podolefsky said. “We also have a responsibility to be the institution that serves the city—from educating its teachers, its politicians, its leaders in business and in the arts, to offering speech and hearing clinics and literacy services; to volunteering hundreds of hours in local social service organizations; to supporting entrepreneurs in starting new businesses. “

The new president admitted that these were challenging economic times but that he was “fired up” and encouraged everyone to imagine and strive for nurturing and building Buffalo State as the “college that serves the city.”

The formal ceremony included an academic procession, original music written by Jose T. Henriques, assistant professor of music, and an inspirational program performed by students, including the West African Drumming Ensemble. Friday’s event was preceded by a week of celebration in which campus and community participated, including a Community Day Festival, business leaders reception hosted by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Student Bash, and formal opening of the new $5.3 million Student Union Quad.

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