Alumni Advisory Board

Phil Avner

With a career at the Associated Press that spans 43 years, Phil Avner is an accomplished and respected individual in his field. What Avner brings to the alumni board is insight from the perspective of someone who has seen massive shifts in the industry and adapted to them. 

Avner, Engineering ’80 and Journalism ’80, benefited greatly from the skillset he acquired at Buffalo State University. He was prepared for the leadership role he would take on as Director of Development at the Associated Press. Being on the alumni board is an opportunity for Avner to give back to the University. 

Although his career has taken him to all sorts of places, from Olympics coverage in Yugoslavia to presidential trips to Estonia, he finds time to decompress from the stresses of his job, by going for long walks with neighbors, and spending time with his loved ones in Washington, D.C.

- Tofsekul Ahmed, '24
 

Angela Berti

Angela Berti, Journalism '94, is the Director of Public Affairs for New York State Parks in the Niagara Region. While overseeing the 18 New York State Parks, she is in charge of marketing, advertising, community relations, government affairs, public relations, and so much more. 

At Buffalo State, she wrote for The Record, then decided to switch gears into public relations. She continued her education at Medaille University, where she got her masters in organizational leadership in 2010. 

Berti is very involved in the film community due to directors utilizing the parks, such as Niagara Falls. She has worked with Tom Fontana, Melissa McCarthy, Kate Hudson, Nik Wallenda, and the cast of The Office.

“We welcome the film industry here as often as we can,” Berti said. With friends working in media in NYC and LA, her goal is to strengthen Western New York’s cinema so they can return home.

- Karli Metros ‘24

Matt Bové

Sports Director, WKBW-TV

Matt Bové, Journalism ‘13, graduated with a specialization in sports journalism. His career at WKBW began as a general assignment sports reporter/anchor before becoming Sports Director in 2019. He says he got the job because he proved his versatility.

“I can shoot my own stuff, I can edit my own stuff, I can write my own stuff, I think I’m pretty good on air,” Bové said.

He loves how different each day is, which is his favorite part about the job. Bové once flew in a fighter jet with the Thunderbirds at the Niagara Falls airbase.
“One of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” said Bové.

Bové joined the advisory board to help make a difference. “I joined because I wanted to help the school that set me up for success,” Bove said.     

Bové has a love for golf, hockey, and burrito bowls.

- Evan Harrington ‘25

Lee Coppola

Lee Coppola was the first journalism adjunct professor in 1971 at Buffalo State, before the communications department was created and has advocated for the next generation of journalists since. 

Coppola has had an award winning, career in journalism from being a print reporter at The Buffalo News to broadcast reporting at WKBW to Dean of Journalism at his alma matter, St. Bonaventure University. He also served as board president of the Investigative Post.

“As a journalist I have power. I’m your voice, I’m your conduit to power, I’m your conduit to those people you can’t reach,” Coppola said.     

Coppola also has a law degree, from the University at Buffalo, and prosecuted drug dealers with the U.S. Attorney’s office. Coppola is now retired. His passion continues in journalism by editing Per Niente magazine and sometimes writing for The Buffalo News. Coppola is also helping the next generation of journalists and mentors students.

- Rylee Shott, ’25 

Kandis Fuller

Kandis Fuller, public communication ‘92, has accumulated years of work experience to now help the Buffalo State Communication Department.

Fuller has been Corporate Communications Assistant at M&T Bank, an Alumni Affairs Assistant at Buffalo State University, and has recently left her 24-year tenure as the Communications Manager for Univera Healthcare.

Fuller is also a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of USA and currently sits on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Western New York. “Encouraging girls to be future leaders, to be independent is one of the things that are important to me,” Fuller says.

Thanks to her years of experience, Fuller helps the teachers of Buffalo State by showing them what is trending, what's new in the area, identifying new classes, refining current classes and helping with reviewing graduates’ profiles.

- Antonio Calderon ‘25

Lauren Harvey

Lauren Harvey, Communication Studies '12, is the marketing and communications coordinator for the Buffalo Club, where she plies the skills she sharpened at Buffalo State. 

Her other life is all dance. She is the program coordinator and choreographer for the Bandettes, the team of 12 professional dancers that performs at the Buffalo Bandits games at KeyBank Center and elsewhere in Western New York. 

She praises the Bandettes for going the distance to impress the sold-out crowds coming to the games to cheer on the team, which won a second National Lacrosse League championship in 2024.

"These ladies continue to work as a team to push our own boundaries to wow Banditland," Harvey says. "I was thrilled all 13 of us could be present to celebrate the big win together. Working for the Bandits is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am forever grateful for!"

Harvey also teaches at two area dance centers.

- Nicholas Boitschenko, ‘24  

Shannon Holfoth

Shannon Holfoth’s interest in communications began after graduating from St. Bonaventure University where she majored in journalism and political science. Holfoth always had a passion for journalism, but she decided to use her writing skills and apply to jobs in public relations. In 2010 she was offered a position at Travers Collins marketing agency, and has been working in the field ever since.

Darra Kubera

With a penchant for all things marketing and communications, Darra has experience with public relations, internal and external communications, digital marketing, branding, business development, and more. In 2023, Darra became a gold Excalibur Award winner through PRSA for a product marketing campaign. In 2022, she was named one of ten finalists for the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership award through the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, in honor of her efforts professionally and personally to support and encourage women leaders in the Buffalo community. Darra earned a master's degree in public relations from Buffalo State University, a bachelor's degree in marketing from Canisius University, and an associate's degree in fashion merchandising management from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Darra approaches each project with a sense of passion and determination, leveraging her experience to help those she works with imagine new possibilities.
 

Micheal Peters

A virtual reality content developer at Crosswater Digital Media, Micheal Peters, Media Production ’17, is no stranger to hard work and dedication to his craft. 

After working in IT for 20 years, Peters was laid off. In the face of his new reality, he never backed down from continuing his education to go down the path of his dreams. Buffalo State University helped make it happen. In his determination, he molded a career combining his love of technology and communications. Much of his job involves creating virtual reality content for businesses.

“I’m a lifelong learner. My favorite part of my job is it has opened doors in unexpected ways,” Peters said. 

On the weekends, Peters blows off steam by playing video games. “My favorite video game changes from week to week. I love anything that has a well-written story behind it,” Peters said.

- Brittany Whalen, ‘24

Amber Sherman

Founder of Beyond Film School

Amber Sherman, Media Production '08, has more than 15 years of experience in the film industry working as an Assistant Director. She is the visionary and founder of Beyond Film School located in Queens. 

Born and raised in Buffalo, Sherman set out to pursue her film career shortly after receiving her degree.  With limited options locally to work in the film industry she migrated to California before settling in New York City where she has worked on set as a First Assistant Director on various shows including “The Equalizer.”

Her passion for providing opportunities to people like her who didn’t have network resources is what inspired Amber to create the Beyond Film School. 

Her hobbies include running and traveling. Her favorite place to visit is Wales.

- Nathan Palmer, '25
 

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith graduated from Buffalo State University in 2018, with a M.S in Science in Public Relations.

He had already had his career as assistant project manager for Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, when he went back to school to get his masters at age 55. Smith has held his current position since 2014. He provides direct support to the senior project manager from all aspects of planning and development, managing community and constituent outreach, conducting site visits to the waterfront properties and compiling daily reports of news about the waterfront.  “The most important thing about customer service with the waterfront is remembering that the waterfront belongs to everyone,” Smith says.

Previously, he had several jobs for elected officials in the Democrat party in New York. Smtih has been a part of the Communications Alumni Board since 2019. 

- Caleb Babula ‘25

Sandy White

University at Buffalo graduate and entrepreneur Sandy White is the owner and president of Mustard Seed World Consulting Group, a public relations and marketing firm specializing in urban planning, community outreach, video production, and project documentation.    

With prior experience as a general assignment reporter and anchor for a variety of television stations, she is now the executive producer and radio talk show host for theHelp Somebody radio program, dedicated to relaying helpful information to people dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Subsequently, since September 2010, White has dedicated her free time volunteering for the Alzheimer's Association. Her father suffered from the brain disorder.  “My journey allowed me to care for my beloved father for two years at home," White said. "Suffering from Alzheimer's disease, he lived with grace and the love of family and friends. I am committed to educating families and caregivers.”

- Mekhi Russ, '25
 

Michael Wooten

Michael Wooten is a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia in 2006 and is currently a news anchor and reporter at WKBW.

Wooten is an important figure in journalism in Buffalo and even won an Emmy for a story about hydro-fracking across New York.

“I was super proud of the story and thought it was good, but I had no idea that it would win an Emmy,” he said.

With over 15 years of experience in journalism, Wooten wants to provide vital information for the people in Buffalo, and nationwide, like when he was in Houston to cover Hurricane Harvey, or even in Kansas City to cover a Buffalo Bills playoff game, as he enjoys traveling and watching sports in his free time.

“What I like most about my job is that I get to report on many different things, I don’t necessarily have a beat,” he said.

- Shae Wirt  ,'24