The Bernice Poss Award is presented annually by the Western New York Regional Committee of the Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education during their annual Leadership Conference to women in higher education who exemplify the following attributes:

* Noteworthy involvement in organizing and planning activities for the advancement of women professionals

* Commitment to and participation in community services and programs for women

* Professionalism: support for colleagues and compassion in her own daily conduct

Past recipients of the Bernice Poss Award include:

2009 Virginia M. Taylor, Ph.D. Genesee Community College 2007 Mary Harley Gresham, Ph.D. SUNY Buffalo 2006 Dolores E. Battle, Ph.D. Buffalo State College 2005 Nancy E. McGlen, Ph.D. Niagara University 2004 Maryruth Glogowski, M.L.S. Buffalo State College 2003 Sister Denise A. Roche, GNSH, Ph.D. D'Youville College 2002 Marsha Jackson, Ph.D. Erie Community College 2001 Natalie J. Moudgil, Ph.D. Villa Maria College 2000 Christine E. Sauciunac SUNY Buffalo

1999 Ellen Errigo Medialle College 1998 Karen Noonan, Ph.D. SUNY Buffalo 1997 Muriel Howard, Ph.D. Buffalo State College 1996 Jane Haenle Niagara Community College 1995 Anne Bertholf, Ph.D. Empire State College 1994 Larene Hoelcle, Ph.D. Genesee Community College 1993 Judith Skurski Willard, Ph.D. Niagara University 1992 Ann Egan, Ph.D. Buffalo State College 1991 Marian Meyers, Ph.D. Canisius College 1990 Carole Petro, Ph.D SUNY Buffalo

Bernice Poss was a member of the Western New York Region ACE/NIP from its inception in 1983 to her tragic death on June 1, 1988, Bernice Poss embodied the very spirit and community values of ACE/NIP (now the Network of Women Leaders). In her 20 years of service as an administrator at the University at Buffalo, she demonstrated a remarkable professionalism, a rare and genuine concern for others, and a strong and steady advocacy of the rights and advancement of women, both at UB and in the larger society. In honor of her many contributions and in recognition of the Network's continuing work toward the ideals for which she was a model, the Western New York Network of Women Leaders annually confers the Bernice Poss Award.