Michael Stokes, Director, Campus Recreation Services
Prior to his joining the higher education community, Michael Stokes served as a Mental Health Counselor assisting dysfunctional clients in their recovery and transition back to their communities. He has over 20 years of successful experience in higher education, implementing activities and programs to enhance the retention, performance, and graduation of high school and college students. Prior to accepting the position as Director of the Russell Conwell Educational Services Center, he served as the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University at Buffalo and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Science at the University at Delaware. He has written and received grants in excess of $15,000,000 (including the number one Student Support Services grant in the nation – 1990, the model grant for Teacher Recruitment and Education 1999, and a Upward Bound grant that ranked in the top 10% in the nation) and co-written and received grants in excess of $1,000,000.
He is committed to serving the university and surrounding communities, evident in past positions of Advisory Board Member for the Philadelphia College Preparatory Roundtable, Convener, College of Arts and Science Reconfiguration, University at Buffalo, Co-founder of the University Advisement Council, University at Buffalo, founding member of the Western New York Consortium of Multicultural and Minority Affairs Office in Higher Education, NAACP ACT-SO committee member, Board Member-at-Large, Association of Equality and Excellence in Education Inc., and U.S.
Department of Education field reader. Certified in conflict resolution and mediation and specializing in diversity training, he has conducted numerous student and staff training programs. Additionally, he has assisted TRIO programs in the development of program activities and served as an evaluative consultant for TRIO programs.
He is ABD in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Buffalo. He attained his Masters Degree in Counseling and Student Personnel and Baccalaureate Degree (double degree) in Psychology and Community Mental Health from the University at Buffalo.