Alumni in the News - February 2017

February 22, 2017

Number One of 27,000 Worldwide
O’Sullivan ’04 receives Ingram Micro’s highest honor

Susan O’Sullivan ’04 certainly stands out from the crowd. She was selected from Ingram Micro’s more than 27,000 employees worldwide to receive its most prestigious honor, the Martha Ingram Leadership Award. O’ Sullivan is vice president for Ingram Micro’s Western New York operations.

Read the article in Business First here.

McNamara MS ’15 Named Educator of the Year
Local teacher uses innovative techniques to educate and engage students

Colleen McNamara MS ’15, a fifth grade teacher at Alexander Elementary School, was recognized by Educators of America as the 2016 Educator of the Year.  The award is given to those who are committed to improving education through technology for both students and teachers. 

Watch the WGRZ-TV story here.

Alumna Receives 2017 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
Skrzycki ’76 honored for commitment to experiential learning

The University of Pittsburgh recognized Cindy Skrzycki ’76 with its 2017 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.  Senior lecturer in the university’s Department of English, Skrzycki is honored for her impact on the teaching mission of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.  The award also reflects Skrzycki’s commitment to experiential learning and impact beyond the classroom, including internships with nationally-based publications and organizations.

She also serves as a correspondent for GlobalPost, a world-wide news service based in Boston.

Nowak ’79 is Athena Award Finalist
Recognized for professional excellence

Norma Nowak ’79, PhD, is a Leadership Award Finalist for the 2017 Athena Awards, which honor individuals who have achieved the highest level of professional excellence, and contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

Nowak is the executive director of UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences. 

Read more about the Athena Awards presented by The Buffalo Niagara Partnership here.

Bell-Wilson ’91 Accepts Position with ESPN
Alumna will oversee sports content for The Undefeated

Lisa Bell-Wilson ’91, executive sports editor with The Buffalo News, accepted a position with ESPN. Beginning in March, Bell-Wilson will be the senior editor for sports for The Undefeated, ESPN’s multiplatform initiative for sports, race and culture.

Read the article in Business First here.

Boyko ’94 Returns to Home Field 
Alumnus named Buffalo Bills vice president of communications

The Buffalo Bills named Derek Boyko ’94 the team’s vice president of communications.  Boyko returns home after spending 17 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Read an article from buffalobills.com here.

Big Role on the Small Screen
Pietruszewski ’84 stars in the Lifetime Movie “Stage Fright”

Alan Pietruszewski ’84 is back in front of the camera. This time he starred in the Lifetime movie “Stage Fright,” which aired in January. The movie, filmed locally, is about a retired opera singer who faces threats to her singing career.

Click here to read the article about “Stage Fright” from The Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.

Beauty and Brains
Gabrielle Walter ’15 is Miss Western New York

Gabrielle Walter ’15 is Miss Western New York for 2017. Walter, who is currently attending law school at the University at Buffalo, was crowned at the competition in Lockport.  Young women from the 17 counties of WNY competed for the title.

Walter will now vie for the Miss New York title in Westchester County, New York.

Read more in a story from Time Warner Cable News here.

Clarke ’03 Named VP of NY Liberty
Former Griff says working for WNBA is a “dream come true”

Daakeia Clarke ’03 was promoted to vice president of team business development for the New York Liberty women’s basketball team. The Liberty, of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), has its home court in Madison Square Garden.

Read an article in myrecordjournal.com  here.

Running for a Cause
Andreozzi ’84 uses marathons to raise money for a worthy cause

Randall Andreozzi ’84 runs marathons to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since joining Team in Training, a fundraising program for runners, he has helped raise $1.9 million.

Read the Business First article here.