BUFFALO, N.Y. — The SUNY Board of Trustees announced a new president for Buffalo State University on Tuesday.
Chance M. Glenn, Sr., Ph., was named President of Buffalo State University during a special meeting by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Glenn served at the University of Houston Victoria as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Before that, Glenn worked at the Rochester Institute of Technology as a faculty member in the College of Applied Science and Technology before becoming associate dean in the Office of Graduate Studies. He was also dean of the Alabama A&M College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead Buffalo State University and partner with the SUNY campuses in the Western region and across the state,” Glenn said. “Academics and research have played an integral role in my career, and I am excited to build on the excellent education provided by Buffalo State. My thanks to the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor John King, and the Buffalo State search committee for this appointment.”
Work Cut Out For Him
Glenn's appointment comes at a time when the college on Elmwood Avenue has seen dwindling enrollment and a deficit of roughly $17 million which has already led to a hiring freeze.
Just over 7,000 students are currently enrolled at Buff State and many who spoke to 2 On Your Side on Tuesday said Glenn, about whom they knew little, has his work cut out for him.
"Easily number one is enrollment and two is figuring out how to fix our budgetary deficit without cutting programs on campus," said senior biology major Allarae Prigan, when asked what the top issues should be for the incoming President.
"A lot of the concerns from students are that they are going to lose their major," said Prigan, who also serves as Vice President of the United Students Government (USG) at Buffalo State.
"I hope the new President doesn't go that route and finds a better solution than cutting programs," said Jessica Agu, who serves as Treasurer of USG and is a senior majoring in fashion.
Another common theme among students is the desire for the incoming President to become more engaged with students and create a bond with them.
"Hopefully this president will be more active and we'll see him and know he's interested in the student body," said David Robinson. who was among several students who said they hoped to see Glenn strolling across the quad to grab lunch at the food court inside the Campbell Student Union.
"That was one thing I heard as a complaint from students about our previous presidents...that they didn't know who they were," Prigen said.
Others, however, are not so optimistic.
"I don't think Dr. Glenn is going to be able to recover the university from its current situation," said student Samantha Pond. "Most people leave (Buff State) after their sophomore year due to lack of resources and without money, I don't see him being able to bring the school back," Pond said.
As she prepares to graduate in May, Agu says her experiences at Buffalo State have been positive and hopes Glenn will focus on promoting the school's strengths.
"We're a diamond in the rough," said Agu. "We have so many great aspects to our school and I honestly feel like that has to be accentuated."
Some faculty who spoke with WGRZ, but who wished not to go on camera, described the process to select a new president as secretive and lacking input. One, who noted Glenn's background in sciences, and his having earned his Ph.D. in engineering, expressed hope that he would also recognize the importance of the arts and humanities at the school, especially if program cuts should come to pass.
Glenn will begin his new position in July 2024. In the meantime, Bonita R. Durand, Ph.D. will continue to serve as interim president.
“We are thrilled our search has come to a successful conclusion with the appointment of Dr. Chance Glenn as the 10th president of Buffalo State University,” said Linda A. Dobmeier, chair of the Buffalo State Council and chair of the Buffalo State Presidential Search Committee. “Dr. Glenn is a scientist, innovator, inventor, electrical engineer, and most importantly educator. He is the perfect combination of a futurist and visionary to lead and inspire Buffalo State University as we move forward at this exciting point in our history.
Previous Buff State President, Katherine Conway-Turner had retired at the close of the college's 2022-2023 academic year.