How long have you worked at Buffalo State College and if applicable what other areas have you worked/positions have you served in at Buffalo State College?
I started as an Assistant Professor at Buffalo State in 2008 and received the Chancellor’s Award for Faculty Service in 2017 (which tells you how many areas I’ve been involved with for service to the College, Community and Profession)!!! I really haven’t had a director or another position on campus but have participated in a lot of initiatives and Chair (ed) a lot of committees!
What motivates you to provide excellent services for your colleagues, students, and supervisor?
It’s my nature. I want to make a difference for students that attend Buffalo State and to do that, working as a team, in any capacity, aligns with the mission of Buffalo State College (empowering students to succeed).
What personal philosophy about working with others guides your day-to-day work?
My philosophy about working with others on a daily basis is “Better together”. My nature is to strive for excellence and it’s a fundamental concept that working with others, and for others, brings about better results (and it makes any project more fun)!
What do you do when you are not working?
I like to be active, so I really enjoy running, walking, biking, swimming, paddle boarding, gardening, volunteering in any capacity (including with my therapy dog) and collaborating on research projects! Rollerblading is something I like to do although my daughters like to laugh at my skill level! I’m pretty active with FeedMore WNY, Rotary and Toastmasters!
"Carol's selflessness and several acts of kindness extend beyond the Buffalo State Community and enhance our mission and strategic plan. As an active member of the Board of Directors for FeedMore WNY, she recently worked on the transition team from Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank into the current FeedMore WNY Agency that services over 129,000 individuals through 300 agencies and programs on a monthly basis. This has been essentially active as the covid-19 response has begun. She started by donating time every week to areas needed at Meals on Wheels, delivering emergency food kits, calling in volunteers as the volunteer base dropped, packing backpacks for food insecure children in WNY, and entering new clients into the database to receive hot and cold meals.
In addition to the Feedmore WNY initiative, Carol is also a part of the Companion Care-Homebound program where she regularly calls on elderly that are homebound and haven’t left their home for weeks and have not spoken to anyone more than once or twice a week. She is also the co-chair of the 'Spread the Love campaign', a peanut butter drive to secure dwindling supplies of a protein source that is a staple of the backpack and the emergency food kit program. And she does this all with a hopeful smile. I have had the pleasure of knowing her as a co-worker, emerging leader, and a fellow senator for the last few years. But most recently, due to covid, we connected. And I can say this without any hesitation that her intent to support, not only the community and campus, extends beyond that. Carol will reach out with random messages of kindness throughout the week to brighten my day and I am sure that I am not the only one that is touched by her kindness and care.
Carol lives by the motto of “make the world a better place” so by viewing things as “the glass half full”, it lends an atmosphere of optimism rather than defeat. She chooses to find all people amazing and takes it as a personal victory if she has played a small part in helping others. If someone is going through difficult times, she is there for them. She truly cares and even if sometimes it is as simple as listening; she will lend an ear. I think that it is because of this inherent need to care, one of her qualities that I admire the most is expedited communication with her. As simple as this is, she treats emails and phone calls with respect and always strives to respond in an expedient fashion. Carol respects people and their opinions, but most importantly she does not think twice before bringing joy to other peoples' lives. If there is a need, she fills it... even if it is bringing her therapy dog to campus for anyone who may smile because of this simple yet significant gesture.
Carol creates a safe and warm environment conducive to collaboration because she strives to listen. She understands the need for everyone to be heard. She has demonstrated this at several committee work levels. As chair of the department, she reaches consensus with her team whether it is working on curriculum in the department to ensure students leave Buffalo State with the education they need to be confident and successful in their career or working with faculty to brainstorm ways to help students struggling with course material. In the college senate, I have observed her ask tough questions that need to be asked and offer her help where needed. She is not afraid to own responsibility and offer to assist as needed."
