How long have your worked at Buffalo State College and if applicable what other areas have you worked/positions have you served in at Buffalo State College?
From 1983-1988, I worked as a student assistant in the Bursars Office, and as a professional I started Fall 2000. I've worked in IA as Corporate & Foundations Event Coordinator, Director of Special Events and Protocol, Alumni Center Coordinator, Intern supervisor to nearly 100 students, Faculty/Staff advisor to Delta Phi Zeta and former Student Philanthropy Council.
What motivates you to provide excellent services for your colleagues, students, and supervisor?
Everyday I try to be the best person I can be.
What personal philosophy about working with others guides your day-to-day work?
The Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated”, stay positive, don’t sweat the small stuff, and when all else fails… enjoy a nice glass of wine when I get home.
What do you do when you are not working?
Spend time with my husband, two kids and dog, entertain friends, binge watch tv, currently Ozark, run and travel when possible.
Pam consistently renders aid to anyone in need. Since the Alumni Center opened, we have had multiple instances of psych center outpatients who are in distress come into the building. Pam treats them with respect and empathy and seeks out whatever support services they may need. She also acts as a caring mentor to 10-12 student workers each semester, helping them with personal and academic challenges they may be experiencing. Even after graduation, she consistently provides guidance and letters of recommendation to former student workers.
Pam volunteers for just about everything. She serves on multiple committees and contributes to many campus drives - Men's Soccer Team Toys-4-Tots, UUP Afghan Drive, IA Salvation Army Family, Mulligan's Food Pantry and more. In addition, we have a lot of campus visitors who are lost stop by the Alumni Center for help. She always provides them with courteous attention, and helps them on their way. During the COVID-19 testing last year, She volunteered nearly every day, often filling in at the last minute to cover staffing shortages.
She greets nearly every person who comes into the Alumni Center and has a talent for drawing them into conversation. As an alumna herself, she often shares stories with alumni visitors and always encourages them to become more engaged with the campus. We get frequent thank you notes from people who have held events in the building, and they universally credit her with providing them a great experience.
Pam consistently collaborates with other departments and helps them organize events in the Alumni Center. As many departments sometimes have limited resources, she works very hard to find support or ways to reduce costs, while still achieving the goals of their event. Her mentoring of the student workers is amazing. We sometime tease her about being the "House Mother" of a large brood. She truly cares about them and it shows.
She excelled during the early days of COVID-19. With little help, she reached out to many clients who had events scheduled, and she worked with Events Management and Facilities to shut down the Center. When we returned to campus, she ensured that all COVID-19 protocols were in place and that all staff, students and visitors knew the rules. She keeps up with the changing guidelines and ensures that the Alumni Center is in compliance.
I have known Pamela for the past twenty plus years not only as a colleague, but as a friend. Pamela’s commitment to our students and Buffalo State College is invaluable. For my business students, Pamela and her staff have offered valuable internship experiences where students learn first-hand how to create business plans for corporate and foundation giving, learn how to manage a budget, venders, quotes, venues selection and equipment needs and assist in overseeing fundraising campaign logistics. The time and effort needed to mentor students is overwhelming as this is in addition to her regular job responsibilities. The student interns always ranked her internship placements as one of the best based on the individualize attention that she gives to each one of them. Pamela is supportive and always shows the interns that they can accomplish anything though hard work and determination. She is encouraging and supportive in all aspects of mentoring our young people. For the College, I am aware that Pamela was very active in COVID-19 testing with assisting hundreds in registering for and taking the Covid-19 test. I also noted that she was very instrumental with assisting in planning and executing the Buffalo State College’s 150th celebration events by serving on numerous committees. I recommend Pamela Voyer for Bengal Caring Award and feel that this award is a way our college can recognized her for her positive impact on our students and her commitment in making Buffalo State College a beautiful place to learn and work.
Pam Voyer works exceptionally hard to make all of the student staff at the Alumni and Visitor Center feel valued and welcomed. The culture of respect and support she creates in the office is an important part of the students' Buffalo State experience. She provides internship opportunities for students each semester and builds in professional development opportunities. During the Covid-19 pandemic the safety, mental health, and financial security of the students that work here was her top priority. She stayed in touch with current and former student staff members to make sure they were okay and that they were getting the hours they needed and guided them to other on or off-campus jobs if needed. Additionally, this month when a distressed student expressed to Pam that they may need resources, Pam stepped up to offer support and helped that student get in contact with the right campus department to help, something the student would probably have not done or known about without Pam's intervention.
