Leadership Weekend,
East Aurora, New York, 2000 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.
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 Howard's 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. 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 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. In 1996, as a result of those on leave or because of resignations, there was only one permanent academic post that had remained filled at the college. 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. Howard went to
Costa Rica in order to inaugurate a network that connects San Jose's Lincoln School with the college, as well as
Clarence Central,
Grover Cleveland, and
City Honors high schools. The House had been used as servant's quarters after it was first built. 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. Traditionally,
Follett College Stores - the largest college bookstore company in the country - held the bookstore contract at the college. 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." 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. Former New York State Assembly Member Sam Hoyt stated that Howard raised the college's 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, Howard's salary was reported to be $220,000. == Presidency of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities ==