President Conway-Turner Joins CUMU Executive Committee
The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) has announced that Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner has joined CUMU’s executive committee as a member-at-large.
CUMU is an international affiliate organization of more than 80 colleges and universities in large metropolitan areas that share common understandings of their institutional missions and values. CUMU was formed in 1989 by leaders of metropolitan and urban institutions who realized their unique challenges and opportunities as they looked to the future of higher education.
“I am honored and appreciative of the opportunity to serve the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities as an executive committee member-at-large," said Conway-Turner. "As SUNY’s urban-engaged campus and an anchor institution in our city, Buffalo State is a proud member of CUMU and is committed to the work of enriching our region through dynamic community partnerships and mutually beneficial service opportunities for students and faculty. I look forward to advancing the mission of CUMU alongside the other members of the executive committee, and highlighting the many wonderful ways in which our campuses individually and collectively advance and anchor the communities we serve.”
As president of SUNY’s largest and only comprehensive college located in an urban setting, Conway-Turner oversees and manages more than 1,500 faculty, staff, and administrators who provide more than 200 academic degree and certificate programs to 8,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students each year. President Conway-Turner’s vision for Buffalo State to become “Buffalo’s College” through engagement, excellence, and social responsibility has been embraced and is paying off in dividends for both the college and the community.
“On behalf of the executive committee, I want to thank Dr. Conway-Turner for accepting the nomination to join the executive committee," said Bobbie Laur, executive director, CUMU. "Buffalo State College is known for its commitment to urban engagement and is a campus that takes very seriously its role as an anchor institution. Dr. Conway-Turner is a champion of the urban-serving mission and understands the important role anchor institutions have in shaping their surrounding communities. We are certain she will bring that viewpoint to CUMU’s governance and help to shape the future of CUMU.”
Conway-Turner fills a seat left vacant by Vicky Carwein, who retired as chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne at the end of 2017. She joins 12 other presidents and chancellors of member institutions who make up the executive committee.