Alumni News

1967 - Harvey Starr – is the Dag Hammarskjold Professor in International Affairs Emiritus at the Universith of South Carolina.  He presented "The Language Conflict Project: Modern Conflicts and Their Connections to the Ancient World," presented at the Herodotos Project 2020: Ethnohistory and Digital Science-A Virtual Conference, Herodotos Project at Ohio State University (with Stanley Dubinsky), November 7, 2020. Harvey also took part in the dedication ceremony for 502 Park Hall that honored Professor Claude Welch on February 12, 2021.

1969 – Michael Stohl – is Professor of Communication, Affiliate Professor of Political Science and Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was elected Fellow of the International Communication Association in May 2020.

1971 – Jim Hottois – has retired after serving as Provost at Eastern Oregon University, President of Lewis - Clark State College (ID), President of Palo Verde College CA. He writes: “I went away to college when I was 18 and enjoyed it so much that I stayed for fifty years.”

1973 – Ted Linas - I have been moderating political debates at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, for over thirty five years. This year I moderated a debate for NY 27. The candidates were Chris Jacobs, Nate McMurray and Duane Whitmer. I have also been contacted numerous times by the broadcast and print media to offer commentary on presidential debates. My favorite professor in the Political Science Dept. at UB, going back many years, was Dr. Kenneth Vines. A wonderful person and teacher.

1974 – Steven Patterson - Dr. Steven A. Peterson (Ph D, Political Science, 1974), has retired after 43 years of service at Alfred University and Penn State Harrisburg. But he has remained active. He is currently a member of the Council of the Pennsylvania Political Science Association and a member of the General Council of the Northeastern Political Science Association. In addition, he is serving as Interim Chair of the International Political Science Association’s Research Committee # 12 (Biology and Politics). He chaired a panel and presented a paper (co-authored with the late Dr. Albert Somit, former member of UB’s Political Science Department and former Executive Vice President at the university), “Political Science and Biology: Then, Now, and Next.” 

1974 – Glenn Utter – is Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, Lamar University. He recently published: "Gun Control," in Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law (3rd ed.) Jaclyn Schildkraut and Gredd L. Carter, eds. ABC-CLIO, forthcoming 2021.

1978 – Paul Ciriello – has been Founder and Managing General Partner, Fairhaven Capital Partners Founder and Managing Director, TD Capital Ventures; Senior Executive/President - several companies in Fidelity Investments; Senior Policy Advisor, US EPA; United States Presidential Management Intern; President's Advisory Board, Berklee College of Music; President's Advisory Council, University of Lynchburg; and Dean's Advisory Council, UB Arts and Sciences.

1979 – Roy Malmrose - has worked for 35 years in the international trade field at the US Dept of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative. Most recently was lead negotiator for one of the "chapters" (State-Owned Enterprises) of the United States Mexico Canada Free Trade Agreement.

1986 – William Bernhardi – is an attorney and owner of William C. Bernhardi Law Offices in West Seneca, NY. 

1987 – Clay Opara – is an attorney and managing partner at Opara Law in Towson, MD.  He writes: “First, SUNY Buffalo is a great school! I'm in my 30th year in the private practice of Law. I am a former member of the Maryland State legislature and I have a daughter who is a Junior at Howard University!”

1990 – T.Y. Wang – is University Professor and Chair, Department of Politics a Government, Illinois State University, Normal, IL., where he has taught for 30 years. He was recognized as an ISU University Professor in February 2020. The pandemic has kept Wang busy as a department administrator but he has continued to conduct scholarly research. In addition to co-authoring an article published in the Journal of Electoral Studies (in Chinese), he has a forthcoming co-authored piece in Asian Survey on COVID-19 and presidential popularity in Taiwan. Wang also published multiple commentaries early this year in Taiwan Insights, the online magazine of the Taiwan Studies Programme at the University of Nottingham, as well as in the Diplomat. He further participated in two invited presentations at the Walker Institute of the University of South Carolina, and the Sigur Center for Asian Studies of George Washington University. Wang currently serves as a co-editor of the Journal of Asian and African Studies, responsible for all submissions related to East and South-east Asia.  

1991 – John Chew – is CEO with the Kelly Yang Project in Hong Kong.  He writes: “Attended Fordham University's Graduate School of Business after Buffalo.  Finished MBA/MS program.  Worked for Arthur Andersen, and Ernst and Young in field of taxation. Finished NYC Teaching Fellows program. Taught public school in New York for 5 years.  Currently running company in Hong Kong as CEO. Favorite political science class: Politics and Literature with Richard Cox, and methodology course with Munroe Eagles.” 

1991 – David Grover - Founding partner of law firm Grover & Fensterstock, PC.

1992 – Denis DeGarmo – is a Professor Emerita in Political Science at the University of Southern Illinois – Edwardsville, where she taught since 2001 (after completing her PhD at the University of Michigan) and where she served as Department Chair from 2009-2015. She is an Authorized Representative under the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation with the Department of Labor. She is also a Research Associate at the Applied Research Institute in Jerusalem.  

1993 – Jason Leibowitz – works at the Records Management Library, Long Island University.

1993, 1995, 2001 – Robin Lauermann -  Robin is Professor of Politics, at Messiah University in Harrisburg, PA. She writes: "After serving as Associate Dean of General Education, Common Learning and Advising for almost a decade, during which I co-launched an experiential learning initiative, branded our general education curriculum and reformed its assessment, conducted self-studies for both programs (general education and advising), and redesigned our undergraduate advising evaluation instrument, I returned to my department. For my assessment work I earned the then-college's President's Award. I currently teach courses in both my American and comparative specialties, and have innovated in the delivery of travel courses for our program and the university. I am currently extending the work of my prior published book, The Constituent Perspective of Representation, in examining the symbolic aspects of public opinion more deeply. In addition to applied language skills in French, Spanish and Latin, I am currently pursuing formal study of the Polish language. I am so thankful for the preparation of my programs at UB, which have allowed me to approach my discipline - in the classroom, research and curriculum work - from a more holistic perspective."

1995 – Matthew Smith – is an attorney at law, with Otey, Smith, and Quarles, in Williamsburg, VA. He was recognized by his peers as a “Top Lawyer of Coastal Virginia” in 2019.

1996 – Eric Feldstein -  is Senior Vice President - Head of Business Banking Division at M&T Bank - Leadership oversight for over 170,000 business customers, $25 billion Loan and Deposit Portfolio and the #5 SBA Lender in the Country. Eric was in the Honor's Program in Political Science and was awarded Political Science Student of the Year in 1996; He graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa; Summa Cum Laude. He notes that “I would be happy to speak to a class of students in the Political Science department to support them in the future."

1997 – Ann Kitt Carpenetti – is Vice President, Lacrosse Operations, US Lacrosse, the  National governing body of Lacrosse in United States - 2004-present.  Board member: National Council of Youth Sports, 2020- present.  Board Member- Pan American Lacrosse Association, 2018 to present Development Award Recipient - World Lacrosse, 2019.

1998 – Charlie Pacholek – (2010 School of Architecture & Planning, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY. Charlie is a Logistics Technical Analyst.

1999 – Paul DePrado -  is a Business Intellgence Developer.  Innovative Reporting Concepts using advanced Data Warehousing, making information accessible to decision makers with minimal technical training requirements since 1996.

1999 – Jorge Ortiz – is a Business Development Lead – Global Partnerships at Spotify, in New York City.

1999 – Jeffrey Reina - is an attorney at law with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in Buffalo, NY.

2001 – Timothy Blauvelt – was promoted to full Professor of Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies at Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia, in June 2019, and was promoted to Regional Director for American Councils for International Education in Feb. 2019. He has two books forthcoming from Routledge in 2021: a co-edited volume (with Adrian Brisku) entitled The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic of 1918: Federal Aspirations, Geopolitics and National Projects, and a monograph called Clientalism and Nationality in an Early Soviet Fiefdom: The Trials of Nestor Lakoba.  

2001 – William James – is serving as a substitute teacher after graduating as a mature student.

2001 – Dina Shafey Scott - is a Training and Technical assistance manager at Legal Services Corporation, Olny, Maryland.

2002 – Gregory LeClair -  is a Lieutenant Colonel, Military Intelligence, US Military Intelligence Corps. He is a recipient of a Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Iraq War veteran; a Thomas Knowlton Award Recipient; Lifetime member - Military Intelligence Corps Association; Adjunct Professor at Excelsior College (Nat'l Security Affairs); Adjunct Instructor at Broward College (Intelligence Studies); Graduate - Command and General Staff College; and Graduate - Counter Intelligence Special Agent's Course.

2002 - Martin Vidal-Engaurran – is CEO of Trusted Nurse Staffing, Buffalo, NY. 

2003 - Joe Stefko – is President and CEO of ROC2025 in Rochester, NY.

2004 – Jennifer Tuttle – President & Founder of Big Picture Strategic Solutions, a strategic communications and public affairs firm located in Buffalo, NY.

2005 – Kim Conidi – is a lawyer and Director of Child Welfare Legal Unit, with the Erie County Department of Social Services.

2005 – Jim Kolb – is founding Partner of Summit Strategies Government Affairs; Governor's Appointee to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority;  Staff Director of U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Highways and Transit; Vice President of Congressional Relations,  American Road and Transportation Builders Association;  Director of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation;  Legislative Representative, United Brotherhood of Carpenters;  Legislative Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Doorkeeper.

2006 – Elizabeth Fox-Solomon –is a senior attorney and advisor. She writes: “In May 2020, I joined the Office of Commissioner Charlotte Burrows at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I advise the Commissioner on legal and policy matters, and my portfolio includes disability discrimination, race discrimination, religious discrimination, and discrimination against American Indians and Alaska Natives.”

2006 – Aref Hasan – is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations, St Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN.  He writes: “I was invited to present a paper at the University of Havana in Cuba last summer.  As a visitor who is also a political scientist, going to Cuba was a very interesting experience.”

2006 – Peter Robinson -is a NYS Court Officer -Sergeant;  He is also City of Lockport's Republican Committe Past Chair; Vice Chair Lockport's Republican committee; Lockport Fire Board past President; Founder of the Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive; Distinguish Alumni for Niagara County Community College; Officer-Niagara County Sheriffs Office -past; DSO-United States Marshal's Service; Sergeant-NYS Courts -Training - Ceremonial Units.

2007 – Matthew Pelkey – is an attorney at law/program director. He writes "I am a partner at Colligan Law LLP where I work with high growth venture and technology companies. Staying true to my undergraduate degree, I also work with candidates for various state and federal offices in New York state and local municipalities in a general counsel capacity. I have counseled PACs and political parties on election law and compliance and am active with the NYS democratic lawyers counsel and DNC voter protection efforts. Recently I joined the UB school of law as program director of the entrepreneurship law center where I run the e-law clinic working with clients. In 2014 I co-founded Black Squirrel Distillery before selling the business in the fall of 2019. In March of 2019 I helped found JAM Parkside, a community owned coffee shop that operates in the Parkside neighborhood."

2008 – John Verdone – is a Lead Full Stack Developer with CaddieNow.

2008 – Joseph Zingale – has been an assessor for 3 years in Rutland, VT. He has been employed in municipal administration for 33 years.

2011 – Nevin Murchie – is an attorney at law at Murchie Law, Williamsville, NY.  He writes that “I will be joining the Law Society of Ontario.”

2012 – Joshua Meddaugh – is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA.

2015 – Eric Hasbrouck – is CFO at The World’s Charity Foundation, Washington, DC. He writes: “Completed the course work for a PhD in Political Science, with straight A's. Perhaps one day I will finally be permitted to write my dissertation, and take my comprehensive exams.” 

2015 – Samantha Robbins – is Director of Customer Service, RubberForm Recycled Products, Buffalo, NY.

2015 – Suparna Soni - Dr. Suparna Soni, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Buffalo State College, received the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) section on Democracy and Social Justice (DSJ)’s 2019 Best Article Award for her work “Political Quotas, NGO initiatives and Dalits’ Human Rights in Rural India” published in an Oxford journal, the Journal of Human Rights Practice.  https://twitter.com/ASPA_DSJ/status/1220064619550531586

2016 – Alexander Frazier -writes: “I have used my sociological training from my master's degree to become an avid blogger, podcaster, and pop culture journalist. The highlight of my career so far was being a guest speaker to hundreds of people at New York Comic Con in 2019, all the while interviewing various celebrities at that show. I also interview people over Zoom from home, and have interviewed politicians, artists, activists, business owners, and even one head of state! COVID-19 has not put a damper on my career in the slightest! In fact, it has broadened my interview prospects, getting me acquainted with different techniques of getting them done! I have moved things up to hyperdrive and am getting more and more of my wonderful projects accomplished!”

2017 – Nicholas Czekaj – is Academic Manager at Shane English School Yangzhou, Buffalo, NY.

2018 Charice Thompson – is pursuing a MS LIS in the University at Buffalo’s Library & Information Science program.

2019 – Collin Anderson – is a lecturer in political science at SUNY Geneseo.

2019 - Paul Jager – is a Market Researcher at Realcomm, Williamsville, NY. He writes:  “Played a role in achieving the real estate technology industry's first ever hybrid conference. Our company adapted and pivoted because of Covid-19 and succeeded.

2019 – Melissa Kathan – is an Associate at Hodgson Russ LLP in their Education, Labor, and Employment Practice group.

2019 – Sean McDonough - is currently a J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School.

2020 - Melissa  McDonnell – is a Field Organizer. She writes: “I began as an intern coordinator for NYS Senator James Skoufis's Campaign in June 2020. I was then promoted to a full-time Field Organizer for the Campaign. I hope to end up in Albany in January and continue working in politics. I am also applying to law schools as a potential career path as well.“

2020 - N.D. Lambert – is a doctoral student in Political Science at UB. He is currently holding a Teaching Assistantship and is a Schomburg Fellow under the SUNY office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  He writes: “My research interests include Econometrics, Game Theory, Conflict, and Fair Division. I am happy and grateful that UB was able to give me plenty of support to further my education.”

2020 – Emily Ng – Emily writes “I am currently working on my Masters for Social Work in order to help the vulnerable population.” 

2020 – Donovan Newkirk – is interning at RealClearPolitics as a result of being selected for a fellowship sponsored by the Student Free Press Association and The College Fix. He has recently been published on RealClearEducation and featured in the Badger Institute's Fall 2020 edition. He is also in the process of applying to law schools with the intent of starting law school in Fall of 2021.

2020 - Anna Lee Sadocha – Recently graduated from the University at Buffalo, SUNY Honors College after completing a dual major program that  studies Political Science with a concentration in the field of International Politics, as well as Spanish. Currently, she is a Full Time Graduate Student Assistant at New York University.