UB Alumni Association elects new president, officers and directors

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Eileen Marutiak, BA ’06, assumed the role of president of the University at Buffalo Alumni Association, a group that represents the interests of more than 307,000 graduates around the world.

Marutiak has served on the board since 2018, most recently as president-elect, and has been an active regional leader in the association’s D.C. Metro Regional Network. In support of UB students, she established the Eileen Marutiak Study Abroad Scholarship to help undergraduate students expand their education through experiential learning and international study experiences.

Splitting her time between Washington, D.C., and Buffalo, Marutiak is a community affairs program specialist at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C., where she promotes financial education programming, outreach and community engagement to low-income and financially vulnerable communities around the U.S. In addition, she serves as the executive director of Against All Oddz Animal Alliance, a Western New York-based nonprofit founded by a fellow UB graduate.

“In every way, UB shaped the path I’m on today, both in my career and in my philanthropic journey. The experiences I had as a student opened my eyes to the power of education, service and community,” Marutiak says.

“That’s why giving back through scholarships for students and service to the alumni community is so important to me. As president of the UBAA Board of Directors, I’m excited to carry that forward by strengthening connections across our global alumni network, creating meaningful opportunities for students, and helping fellow alumni engage with and support the university that has given us all so much.”

Marutiak succeeds Joe Stefko (PhD ’03, MA ’99, BA ’97) as board president. Stefko will continue to serve on the board as immediate-past president.

Other officers elected are:

President-elect West Richter Jr., MBA ’13, BS ’13, MusB ’13, of Buffalo, N.Y., serves as the director of global IT service delivery at Moog Inc., overseeing global technology operations and transformation. A subject matter expert in IT Service Management, he previously held leadership roles at M&T Bank and Accenture and has taught graduate courses at the UB School of Management. Outside UB, he serves as the president and board chair of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and serves on the City Honors Foundation board.

Vice President of Finance Brendan P. Brady, MBA ’02, BS ’02, of Orchard Park, N.Y., serves as the director of assurance services at Dopkins and Company, LLP where he oversees the day-to-day performance of quality of earnings services. He brings deep experience in financial reporting, merger and acquisition due diligence, acquisition accounting, business valuation and exit planning. Brady is a Certified Public Accountant and has obtained the Certified Valuation Analyst designation from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Also newly elected to the board are:

Daryl Duhart, BA ’17, of Brooklyn, N.Y., serves as the founder and CEO of The Duhart Group, part of the Microsoft for Startups ecosystem. A Y Combinator alumnus, he has launched and advised ventures in cloud services, B2B delivery, and AI. His past roles include GETCHO founder, Scalable Ventures partner and advisor with Microsoft, AWS and Google for Startups. Duhart is committed to mentoring UB students and supporting entrepreneurial growth while bridging technology, finance and social impact.

Jessica Jackson, BS ’12, of League City, Texas, serves as a mechanical engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center, where she works in real-time mission operations on the Cold Stowage team for the International Space Station. She was the first woman in her group to earn operations certification and serve as operations lead. A native of Rochester, Jackson is active in the Society of Women Engineers and local community events, from volunteering at Space Center Houston to supporting national sporting events.

Steven Maisonet, MSW ’19, of Buffalo, serves as a social worker and professor at SUNY Buffalo State University, counsels students at Canisius University and advocates for domestic violence survivors at Haven House. Dedicated to advancing social and cultural perspectives through his work, Maisonet also supports Western New York theater as a contributor and patron. He consults with nonprofit and for-profit organizations to strengthen their practices through a social work lens.

Grace Mukupa, PhD ’15, MA ’13, was a Fulbright Scholar in Tajikistan and currently serves as a data analyst with the Department of Homeland Security. Born in Zambia and raised in Japan and Belgium, she speaks seven languages. At UB, she served as Graduate Student Association president, instructor and advisor. A former member of the Peace Corps, she is active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rotary International and the World Bank’s Margaret McNamara Education Grants, championing education and global development.

Deana Stevenson, BA ’89, of Orchard Park, N.Y., serves as the founder and CEO of DocDeana Enterprises, a national consulting firm specializing in K–12 school improvement, leadership development and executive coaching. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UB and a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University before transitioning from medicine to education. A former teacher and principal, Stevenson was recognized in 2023 as a UB Fast 46 honoree for leading one of the fastest-growing businesses owned by UB alumni.

James Van Wyck, MA ’08, of Denville, N.J., serves as the assistant dean for professional development at Princeton University. He co-edited “The Reimagined PhD: Navigating 21st Century Humanities Education,” and has published widely on higher education and humanities scholarship. A PhD graduate of Fordham University, he specializes in 19th-century American literary history. Van Wyck serves on multiple boards, including the UB College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council and Princeton Arts Alumni. Recognized with UB and Princeton awards, he was named to the 2025 NJ Innovate100 list.

In addition, Walter S. Polka, EdD ’77, BA ’68, of Lewiston, N.Y., has been appointed as the Graduate School of Education representative to the UB Alumni Association Board of Directors. Polka serves as a professor of professional programs and PhD coordinator for Niagara University. He taught at Georgia Southern and Niagara University, where he coordinated doctoral programs and chaired more than 85 dissertations. A prolific author and speaker, Polka has presented worldwide and published eight books. 

“Our global alumni network is powerful, impactful and provides incredible value to the university, our students, our faculty and each other,” says Thomas McArthur, EdM ’08, associate vice president for alumni engagement and annual giving. “Our board members represent the needs of alumni from around the world, ensuring we are continuing to provide the services and programs that deliver value.”

The UB Alumni Association is a volunteer-led international organization that provides ongoing service to alumni and a focus of alumni support for, and service to, UB, its students, faculty and staff. For more information and a full board listing visit: http://www.buffalo.edu/alumni/about-us/ub-alumni-association.html.