University at Buffalo School of Management

16 Buffalo Business | AI AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS SOCIAL IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT BUSINESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE INNOVATION, ENTREPREURSHP AND LEADERSHIP E ach year, select UB students take their seats in nonprofit boardrooms across Western New York for a year of impact- ful service. Through the School of Management's Jordan A. Daniels Nonprofit Board Fellowship, they are introduced to the intrinsic value of service, grounded by a foundational curriculum that blends the concepts of board governance, servant leadership and inclusive excellence. The experience is transformative for both the students and the organizations they serve. The program, a collaboration between the school's Center for Leadership and Global Impact and the Career Resource Center, is named in honor of the late Jordan A. Daniels, MBA '22, whose life and work exemplified a deep commitment to service. In her time as a fellow, Daniels served on the board of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. She also supported the City of Buffalo's Office of Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion in her role as a UB Social Impact Fellow, along with many other professional and academic achievements, including work with Habitat for Humanity and as a graduate assistant in the School of Management's Center for Leadership and Global Impact. For Alagie Gassama, MBA '25, one of the 2024-25 fellows, the chance to honor Daniels' legacy is what inspired him to apply to the program. "When I came across her name in a program email, I was compelled to learn more," he says. "Aer discovering her passion for nonprofits and the legacy she le behind, I felt moved to apply, honor her impact and create my own." Gassama served on the board of the African American Cultural Center, where he offered his marketing expertise and provided recommen- dations for increasing engagement on the orga- nization's social media accounts. He and the other fellows — placed at such organizations as the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, The Impossible Project and Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network — attended board and committee meetings for their organiza- tions throughout the year as nonvoting but active contributors, bringing fresh perspec- tives, energy and expertise. "As students, we oen combat imposter syndrome when stepping into meetings and sharing our ideas," he says. "But we quickly learn the value we bring to the table, remain open to learning, strive to contribute and serve with humility." The next generation of board service Janice Larson, customer marketing manager at Rich Products Corp. and longtime board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities of WNY, has seen firsthand what fellows bring A SEAT at the TABLE By Alexandra Richter Gassama Larson Students honor the legacy of Jordan A. Daniels through nonprofit board service

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