Bill Text: NY J01130 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 1130

Introduced

Bill Title: Honoring Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner upon the occasion of her retirement after over eight years of distinguished service to Buffalo State University

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-31 - ADOPTED [J01130 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01130-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 1130

BY: Senator RYAN

        HONORING  Dr.  Katherine S. Conway-Turner upon the
        occasion of her retirement after over eight years of
        distinguished service to Buffalo State University

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant  milestones  in  the  distinguished  careers   of   esteemed
residents of this noble Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner upon the occasion of her retirement after
over eight years of distinguished service to Buffalo  State  University;
and

  WHEREAS,   For   the   past  over  eight  years,  Dr.  Katherine  S.
Conway-Turner rendered faithful, conscientious, and valuable service  to
Buffalo  State University, earning the admiration, esteem, and affection
of her colleagues; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner earned her Ph.D. and  Master
of Arts degrees in social psychology, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in
microbiology  from  the University of Kansas; her scholarship focuses on
adult development and aging; the psychological impact of aging on family
relations, health, and  development;  and  women  and  intergenerational
relationships;  she is the author of numerous articles, chapters, books,
and book reviews; and

  WHEREAS, Before coming to Buffalo  State  University  in  2014,  Dr.
Katherine  S. Conway-Turner served in numerous roles in various colleges
across the Nation, including  Graduate  Program  Coordinator,  Associate
Dean, Dean, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; and

  WHEREAS,  At  Buffalo  State  University, President Dr. Katherine S.
Conway-Turner oversaw and managed more than 1,500  faculty,  staff,  and
administrators  who  provide  more than 75 undergraduate and 60 graduate
academic degree programs  to  6,500  undergraduate  and  1,000  graduate
students each year; and

  WHEREAS, Under Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner's valuable leadership,
Buffalo  State  University  reached  new heights of excellence; in 2016,
Buffalo State was among five colleges and universities from  across  the
country  chosen  to  share  in  the  Washington  Center's  annual Higher
Education Civic Engagement Awards; and

  WHEREAS, The college also earned the  Carnegie  Foundation  for  the
Advancement  of Teaching's Community Engagement Classification under Dr.
Katherine  S.  Conway-Turner,  accolades  from  the  President's  Higher
Education  Community  Service  Honor  Roll and recognition of excellence
from AASCU; and

  WHEREAS, In her true  dedication  to  making  lasting  impacts,  the
University  President  established  a  signature event entitled "Bengals
Dare to Care Day," an annual opportunity for hundreds of  Buffalo  State

community members to provide service to 40 community agencies throughout
the city; and

  WHEREAS,  A member of countless boards and committees, Dr. Katherine
S.  Conway-Turner serves on the Distinguished Alumnus Award  Search  and
Selection  Committee  for the American Association of State Colleges and
Universities, is a member of the Association of  American  Colleges  and
Universities'  Presidents'  Trust,  as  well as the review and selection
panel for  the  American  Council  on  Education  Fellows  Program,  the
Division  III President's Council, the NCAA Board of Governors Committee
to Promote Cultural Diversity and  Equity,  and  is  a  Pathway  Program
mentor for the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  Dr.  Katherine  S. Conway-Turner is the vice
chair and commissioner  for  the  Middle  States  Commission  on  Higher
Education,   which   is   the  accrediting  body  for  higher  education
institutions in  Delaware,  the  District  of  Columbia,  Maryland,  New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; she
is  the  vice  chair  of  the  board of Campus Compact and member of the
executive board of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities;
and

  WHEREAS, Her statewide commitments include service  on  the  Western
New  York  Youth  Apprenticeship  steering  committee,  serving  on  the
advisory board of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, service  as
an  Emeriti member of the Western New York Women's Foundation, member of
Say Yes Buffalo's Operating Committee, service to The Richardson  Center
Corporation  Board,  and  she  Co-chairs  the  Western New York Regional
Economic Development Council; and

  WHEREAS,  During  her  tenure  as  President,   Dr.   Katherine   S.
Conway-Turner  is  proud of her ability to invest $270 million in campus
additions and renovations including opening its alumni  center  and  its
science  and  math  complex,  increasing the school's endowment by 100%,
deepening the institution's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)  work,
including recently opening a center for social justice and is working on
a social justice walk commemorating the school's past actions related to
DEI;   additionally,   under  her  purview,  the  institution  became  a
university to recruit international and  out-of-state  students  and  to
create opportunities for more collaborative research; and

  WHEREAS,   In   her   capacity   as   President,  Dr.  Katherine  S.
Conway-Turner served  with  loyalty,  honor  and  distinction,  and  was
governed  by  a  keen  sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of
human problems in her official acts; and

  WHEREAS, With her throughout has been  her  husband,  Dr.  Alvin  L.
Turner, who feels privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are  brought  to  our
attention,  they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner upon the occasion of her retirement

after  over  eight  years  of  distinguished  service  to  Buffalo State
University; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner.