Vice Dean Ilene R. Fleischmann

Segment Synopsis: Set up and introduction. Vice Dean at UB School of Law, long-time director of UB Law Alumni Association. Background. Been in Buffalo for 50 years. Grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Attended Rutgers Preparatory School and attended University of Pittsburgh first for nursing and changed major to English. Met Peter Fleishmann there who was from Buffalo. Got married in the 1960s and later came to Buffalo. Peter was drafted to Vietnam in 1967. Went home after college and then moved to NYC, Barbizon Hotel for Women. Got a job as a staff writer for a pulp magazine company. Found a room mate and worked in NY. Peter returned and they married in NYC. Visited Buffalo in June and it snowed. Moved to an apartment in Williamsville near new campus, only one building, John Lord O'Brian Hall. Culture shock in Buffalo. Buffalo is more mid-west, like Cleveland. Fleischmanns' had deep roots in Buffalo. Peter became first director for the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies. Countrywide Publications in NYC keeps her on writing and she works freelance from home writing confession stories. Work family balance, held off on having children. Peter's work. Ilene was editor at Buffalo Jewish Review 1972. Daughter Sarah born 1973. Interviewed Jewish visitors to Buffalo, story of Issac Stern interview. 1975 Simon was born. Freelanced until son started preschool. Acquaintance was editor of Sunday Magazine of the Courier Express, she asked her to do a story about being a confession story writer, formulaic fiction. Applied at Buffalo News, offered job, women not respected in journalism, offered bridal editor. Eventually hired at Courier Express as lead feature writer, fashion, home, people, money. Did that until Courier closed in September 1982. Kids at camp piece. Won award for feature writing from Associated Press a week after paper closed. Story of Buffet closing the Courier.

Keywords: Career / Early; Career / Gender; Children / Grandchildren; Choosing UB Law School; Employment / Jobs / Wages; Family; Spouse; UB Law School; Undergraduate Education

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY; PERSONAL ISSUES; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Hoped to freelance for magazines. Watergate and Woodward and Bernstein helped her to decide to stop doing fiction writing and only straight journalism. Offered job in Denver Colorado, feature writing at Denver Post. Turned down job. Women's World contacted her to write feature stories. Took People's Express Airlines to NJ to work during the week. Had a room mate in NJ. Family was shocked. Peter was supportive. Roommate was Judith Regan (who later wrote OJ Simpson book). Dream job with Women's World. Missed family. Did that for a year until husband expressed concern so then she was made a contributing editor and stayed in Buffalo. Wrote from home. Les Greenbaum called her in 1985 for UB Law Alumni Association to be executive director. Was visible from her professional writing. Alumni Association wanted an alumni magazine. Interviewed for the job and given the job part-time. Saw the need for more professional communications activities. Law School had a great reputation, Hard to get into. Students from region and downstate. Wrote press releases, talked to faculty to encourage them to answer reporters when they called. Planned Centennial Celebration. Board of Law Alumni Association and Faculty formed committees, planned events. Distinguished speakers. Collaborated with Bar Association with a traveling exhibit of history of law school and bar. Attended Alumni Association meetings. Alumni Association was formed in 1887 when law school was established. Met with organization to learn more about terms of officers and the board, with frequent turn overs. Fellowship was the first priority of UBLAA. Regional chapters came into being in the early 2000s. Organized into chapters after doing events in those areas, helps students with opportunities. UBLAA changed with the changes in the practice of law. Increased networks across the country. Pride in law school with alumni to reflect good reputation. Reach of law school has increased. Students went to NYC and came back to WNY for quality of life and low cost.

Keywords: Alumni; Alumni Association; Career / Gender; Choosing UB Law School; Employment / Jobs / Wages; Family; Gender; Law School History; Spouse; UB Law School

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; FAMILY HISTORY; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS

Partial Transcript: "The Law School it's constantly changing. The practice of law is constantly changing and the Law School has to reflect the changes in the profession. However, our values remain the same. The values that our Law School was founded on in 1887 are the same values we have today."

Segment Synopsis: Wonderful tenure at UB Law for 35 years. 4 presidents, 8 deans, 33 presidents of UBLAA and best job in the world. Proudest accomplishments. Law alumni engagement is highest on campus as measured by university. Proud of communications she's built like UB Law Forum, Law Links, Viewbooks, Faculty scholarship brochure "In There Own Words." First website on campus was Law School's in 1995, online marketing. Events, anniversary celebrations. Jaeckle Awards and Distinguished Alumni Awards. Premier of Kenya came to Law School. Alumni today are more interested in helping law students in finding jobs, interns, externs, mentors, teach, Moot Court, share expertise. Fondest memories are long and deep relationships with so many alumni. Leaders in legal community today she knew as students. GOLD group, Graduates of Last Decade. Leadership development. Better than the reputation in US News and World Report. Cutting edge legal studies. 1987 Centennial symposium of future of the law predicted big firms with 1000 partners. International practice of law, recruit internationally. Interdisciplinary programs. Students travel to provide legal aid and study. Her book would be called "UB Law Confidential" and school would pay her not to write it. Likes people and likes connecting, sees her job as making networks, curious, creating something from nothing. Has great collaborators. Treats alumni volunteers as she wishes to be treated. Alumni Oral History project to capture lives of alumni and makes history of law school. Centennial book: First 100 years of UB Law School. Award is validation of 35 years of work. Happy to have female dean. "Me Too" Movement and Women's Movement. The thing about the Law School is the only constant is change. Jack Hyman used to say, "The Law School it's constantly changing. The practice of law is constantly changing and the Law School has to reflect the changes in the profession. However, our values remain the same. The values that our Law School was founded on in 1887 are the same values we have today." YOLO before YOLO was cool. Wants to be remembered as caring and loving, did her best. Law School was self-contained unit, now university and Law School more centralized. UB alumni model leading the way. UB Law Alumni a separate entity and part of university alumni association focused on needs of their alumni. Reputations are linked. Titles and roles over the years. Communications and Alumni functions have been separated.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Alumni; Alumni Association; Distinction; Fondest Memory; Hyman, Jacob; Jaeckle Award; Law School History; Relationship with UB Law; Relationships; Reputation; UB Law School; Values

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS