Buffalo State College
Who did Muriel A. Howard work for from 1996 to 2009?
Muriel A . Howard Muriel A . Howard ( b . 1947/1948 ) ( formerly Muriel A . Moore ) is the former president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities ( AASCU ) in Washington , D.C. , and served as the seventh president of Buffalo State College in the State University of New York ( SUNY ) system from 1996 to 2009 . Prior to her presidency at Buffalo State College , she was the vice president for public service and urban affairs at the SUNY educational institution , the University at Buffalo , where she worked for 23 years . Howard was educated at public universities in New York State , as well as at Harvard University , where she graduated from the Universitys Institute of Management . Howard has been a leader and member of many corporate boards of directors ; and councils and committees in higher education and city government . Further , she has been the recipient of many awards and honors throughout her career . Early life . Howard was born in Wilson , North Carolina , but lived some of her later childhood , and youth , in Queens , New York . She moved to Buffalo , New York when she became a student at the University at Buffalo . Education and honorary degrees . She received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Richmond College , City University of New York ; and her masters of education and doctorate in educational organization , administration , and policy from the University at Buffalo , She also graduated from Harvard Universitys Institute of Management . Howard has received six honorary degrees , including , in part : - Doctor of Humane Letters , Keene State College , Keene , New Hampshire , August 2010 ; - Doctor of Humane Letters , College of Staten Island , Staten Island , New York , May 2010 ; - Doctor of Humane Letters , Grambling State University , Grambling , Louisiana , May 2010 ; and - Doctor of Humane Letters , New York City Technical College , City University of New York , May 2002 . Academic interests . Howards professional and scholarly interests include the support of education ; educational leadership ; and the representation of women and minorities in both the academy and public service . Vice Presidency at the University at Buffalo . Howard held the highest post at the University prior to becoming President of Buffalo State College . She was a member of UB President Bill Greiners administrative team . Upon being named to her position as vice president for Public Service and Urban Affairs at UB , Howard had much to share regarding the vision for UB . Presidency at Buffalo State College . As the leader of Buffalo State College , Howard headed a campus of more than 11,000 students ; approximately 1,700 faculty and staff ; and a financial operation of more than $214 million . She is also the first woman to have led the college . Appointment . Former New York State Assembly Member Sam Hoyt graduated from the College and the college was in his district ; he shared his perspective about Howards appointment . Howard ( then-Moore ) began her leadership at the college as Interim President . Leadership . Prior to coming to the college , Howard had little experience in interacting with faculty , however her organizational skills and ability to resolve conflicts were praised . Additionally , she was praised as a tough administrator who knows the system by former Buffalo Common Council President George K . Arthur ; and it was said that she had the respect of students . The college had a reputation as a tough place to manage , and was expected to have difficulty in attracting qualified candidates to the position of the presidency . In her Inaugural Address , Howard focused on the diversity of the college as a strength . Within one month of assuming her leadership position at the college , Howard shared three short-term goals for strengthening it in an address to faculty . Those three goals included increasing recruitment and retention of students ; developing strategies to address the 1996-97 budget ; [ and ] dealing with the institutional climate that has emerged . On the 125th anniversary of the college in 1996 , Howard oversaw many events that celebrated the quasquicentennial event . On that day , there were proclamations issued by Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello as well as Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski . Celebrations included a cake in the shape of Rockwell Hall , a champagne toast , a big band , a chorale ensemble and additional wind ensembles , fireworks , tours of campus arts centers , exhibits , and a play area for kids . Challenges . During her tenure as interim president , Howards main goal is dealing directly with allegations of racial and sexual discrimination at the college . Howard stated in February 1996 that the college had held 60 programs on racial and cultural diversity , and gender during the previous fall . The Institute for the Healing of Racism began a two-month forum in the Spring 1996 semester at the college ; and closed hearings on sexual harassment and gender bias were being held within the College Senates Committee on the Status of Women . Howard stated her belief of the College being a real role model for the community . In the period from 1996 to 1998 , there were a number of deans and administrators who had been on leave through an arrangement with the previous college president , F.C . Richardson , and SUNY , and/or who had resigned to take other posts or due to retirement . In 1996 , as a result of those on leave or because of the resignations , there was only one permanent academic post that had remained filled at the college . At that time , there were five top leaders at the College who were either on leave or who had resigned to take other posts . Howard was in the process of considering applicants in order to fill open and/or interim positions during that time . One dean who left to take another position stated that it was a time in the colleges history in which important leadership choices were to be made that would take the institution into the next century . Advanced telecommunications network . In 1997 , through Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiellos office and under the direction of Buffalo State Colleges Center for Applied Research in Interactive Technologies , CityNet , an advanced telecommunications network that links 14 educational and community sites in Buffalo was launched . For more than two years , Masiello and his team worked with NYNEX and Bell Atlantic to lay the foundation for the network , which is funded by Bell Atlantic for $1.9 million . International distance learning partnership . In 1998 , Howard made a personal effort to expand the Nurturing Initiative and Achievements ( NIA ) in Students Mentor Program at the college by offering a distance learning program at San José , Costa Rica . Howard went to Costa Rica in order to inaugurate a network that connects San Joses Lincoln School with the college , as well as Clarence Central , Grover Cleveland , and City Honors high schools . Revitalization of historic landmarks . Reported in a 1998 Buffalo News article was that Howard envisioned in 1995 that the Carriage House on the property of the Presidents Residence could be transformed into a guest house . The House had been used as servants quarters after it was first built . The Junior League of Buffalo and Chase Pitkin contributed to the remodeling of the Carriage House , with the Junior League identifying it as its 1997 Decorator Show House . The Carriage House was built in 1912 ; and now serves as a guest house for visitors of the college , providing much lower rates for accommodation than hotels at which visitors would otherwise stay . Howard participated in talks with the Buffalo Psychiatric Center , the Buffalo Mayors Office , and others regarding usage expansion for the psychiatric center . Buffalo State College has occupied Buffalo Psychiatric Center lands since the 1960s ; and phases of expansion have occurred in recent years that have revitalized and refurbished parts of the facility , including the Richardson Olmsted Complex , for different uses . One of the interests of the college was to use lands for expansion , and to build a new Burchfield Penney Art Center , a desire that was eventually achieved . Campus bookstore controversy . During the Fall semester of 1998 , controversy surrounding the campus bookstore contract was made public . Traditionally , Follett College Stores - the largest college bookstore company in the country - held the bookstore contract at the college . Concern by college administration that many college textbooks were being sold beyond the list price prompted the submission of a new bookstore contract with Barnes & Noble by Howard to the state comptroller , Carl McCall . Barnes & Noble is the largest book retailer in the United States . As a result , - and due to the college already maintaining a contract with Follett - the executive board of the colleges Faculty Student Association ( FSA ) voted to withhold $25,000 in discretionary funds during that semester , funds that are traditionally issued to the college president for discretionary purposes . This move by the FSA was unprecedented ; however the aim of involvement by FSA was to obtain a judicious decision about the matter from the state comptroller . The bookstore contract for 1998 also included that a new building to house it would be constructed . Howard ended up contracting with Barnes & Noble amid appeals to the state comptroller by two of three bidders for the bookstore contract . In a 1998 article by FSA President Michael Paluch that appeared in The Buffalo News , Paluch stated that , as a result of the change , Textbook prices will be higher , student wages will be lower , and the college will get substantially less construction dollars for a new store from Barnes & Noble than from the Faculty-Student Association . Professional endeavors . In 1996 , Howard spoke at a businesswomens networking luncheon reception at the College that celebrated Womens History Month , and more specifically , Womens History Week . In 1998 , Howard attended the second conference of African-American college presidents , held in Washington , DC . The Washington Post article of June 14 , 1998 by Peter S . Goodman stated that only 26 college presidents in the United States at the time were African-American , this number being reflective of the more than 1,800 colleges in America that are majority-white . The main purpose of the conference was to create dialogue about race in higher education and to increase the numbers of African-Americans holding top leadership posts in American academia . Tenure culmination . When Howard announced that she was leaving the college to take on the national role of leading the AASCU , an organization that advocates for and promotes the interests of 430 public colleges and universities , Hoyt stated that her crowning achievement at the college was likely the Burchfield Penney Arts Center . Former New York State Assembly Member Sam Hoyt stated that Howard raised the colleges stature both in the state and the nation . He additionally stated that she would be difficult to replace , and that she would be sorely missed . Her leadership of the College provided increased stability for it , as well as increased student enrollment during her 13 years there . During her last year as president of the college , Howards salary was reported to be $220,000 . Presidency of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities . Leadership . In 2009 , it was announced that Howard would be leaving Buffalo State College to become the president of the AASCU in Washington , DC . From August 2009 to January 2018 , she served in that capacity . She is the first African-American and first woman to be president of the organization . In 2009 , Howard was interviewed for an article that appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education in regard to her appointment as president of the AASCU . Support for comprehensive immigration reform . As AASCU president , Howard has shown support for comprehensive immigration reform . She has stated support for the Pass the Dream Act , for enhancing H1-B Visas , and for streamlining green cards . She states that all of these actions will support students in America who are undocumented , and will help maintain American competitiveness , as well as keeping talent...at home . Speeches . In 2013 , Howard gave the keynote address at the State University of New York ( SUNY ) at Brockports Annual Diversity Conference . The theme of the 2013 Conference was Building Community through Diversity : Championing Access and Equity ; and Howards speech was titled , Community and the 21st Century Student . The focus of Howards speech was on how public colleges and universities can achieve that objective . Retirement . Howard retired as president of AASCU in January 2018 , and Dr . Mildred García was appointed president of AASCU . Community involvement . As chair or member of organizational boards . Howards community involvement included membership on the executive committee for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership , Niagara University Board of Directors , Buffalo Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors , and the King Urban Life Center Board of Directors . She also served on the corporate board of directors for the Farm Credit of Western New York , and the Fleet Bank Community Advisory Board . She continues to serve on the Merchants Insurance Company Board . Active in the Buffalo Niagara Partnership , Howard advocated for improvement in the areas economy . Specifically , she stated that community projects such as building a new convention center may be completed , however the economy must improve in order for people to go to the convention center . Another concern of the group is that revitalization of the economy in the area must occur in addition to the completion of individual construction projects . Howard was also among leaders who supported the desire of younger leaders in having a stronger voice in community affairs , but was not successful in this regard due to the influence of the Old Guard . She was a member of the State University of New York ( SUNY ) Advisory Council on Teacher Education , and served on the SUNY Board of Directors of the Center for Russia . She co-chaired the State University of New York Provosts Advisory Task Force on General Education , establishing guidelines for the institution of a general education curricula throughout the SUNY system , and was a member of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Leadership . Howard was a member of the Erie Community College Board of Trustees search committee . She also served on the search committee for the Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent , and as co-chair for the City of Buffalo Mayoral Transition Team . Howard is a former chair of the AASCU Board of Directors . She serves on the National Survey on Student Engagement Advisory Board , the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Board of Directors , where she chairs the Communications and Public Relations Committee and the American Council on Education ( ACE ) . Howard is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and The Links , Incorporated . The sorority includes college-educated women who are geared toward programs for the African-American community . The Links is a non-profit organization composed primarily of professional African-American women who are dedicated to the ideals of community service and friendship . As speaker at area events . Howard has been the keynote speaker at many events , including the 34th annual meeting of the fair housing agency , Housing Opportunities Made Equal , in 1997 . At the Buffalo Convention Center in 1998 , Howard spoke at the eighth annual Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . breakfast , sponsored by the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church . Howard , in part , encouraged the 600 attendees of the breakfast to work toward achieving the ideals of King , as well as to strive to make a racially harmonious world and a just society . In 1998 , Howard was the speaker for a meeting of the Womens Club of the University at Buffalo . In 1999 , she chaired the United Way campaign for Buffalo and Erie County . She served on the board of directors of that organization , including as chair . She has also chaired the subcommittee on Youth Services and Education for the Erie County Executives transition team . Awards and recognition . Howard received the Governors New York State Division of Women Award for Excellence in Education ; Citation Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice ; American Jewish Committee Institute of Human Relations Award ; and the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award . She also received the Staten Island College Distinguished Alumna Award ; the Black Educators Association of Western New York Educator of the Year Award ; and the Minority Bar Association of Western New York Award for Community Service . Further , Howard received the SUNY at Buffalo , Newman Center , Catholic Campus Ministry , Distinguished Alumnus Award . She is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellors Award for Excellence in Professional Service , and was a charter inductee in the Western New York Womens Hall of Fame . in 1997 at UB , she received the Bernice Poss Award from the Western New York Regional Committee of the American Council on Education/National Identification Program for the Advancement of Women in Higher Education . Howard was listed in the Buffalo News 2001 Leadership Survey as the Most Powerful Woman in Western New York . In April 2006 , she received the Outstanding Alumni Community Leadership Medal from the University at Buffalo Alumni Association . She was also the recipient of the 2006 Athena Award . This award , sponsored by the Western New York Womens Fund and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership , honors women professionals who have attained and personify the highest levels of professional excellence , demonstrate support for the goals of women professionals , and provide significant and selfless assistance on their behalf . Buffalo State College instituted the Muriel A . Howard All College Honors Program in 2013 in her honor . Personal life . Howard has lived near Washington , DC , in Inwood , West Virginia and Chevy Chase , Maryland , with her husband , Albert Mickey Howard . External links . - AASCU : Presidents bio : Muriel A . Howard , Ph.D . - Muriel Howard Biography at Buffalo State College