Amid stacks of papers, boxes full of documents and books on sexuality, Ellen Christensen's cheery face and smile have welcomed visitors to her UB office since 1974.
In over three decades as the director of Health Education and Human Services, Christensen's sunny and supportive character has helped countless students struggle thorough personal issues and problems. In May, after a long and prominent career at UB, Christensen is retiring.
"It's not just been my job," she said. "It's been my life."
Being busy has been a running theme for Christensen's career. Routinely working from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. as a proactive member of the UB community, Christensen said she's looking forward to finally having some well-earned free time starting in May. Although she has yet to offer her official resignation, Christensen said she's made her decision.
"You have to do it eventually," Christensen said. "I want some time to play. I don't want to work until I die."
Christensen began her career at UB teaching a class on human sexuality, but was quickly hired to her current position by a panel of students from Sub-Board I.
"It was different because I was coming from the professional world. I walked in and there were all these students asking me questions," she said.
Among the students who were involved in her hiring was Dennis Black, now the vice president for Student Affairs.
"At the end of the interview they asked how they could reach me, I told them I was going to Cedar Point (amusement park) and I wouldn't have a phone so I'd call them when I got back," Christensen said. "Dennis said he was going to Cedar Point too and that maybe we'd see each other on a coaster. Maybe that's how I got the job."
Despite their shared enjoyment of roller coasters, Black said it was the professional respect he has for Christensen that made hiring her easy.
"Here's someone who deals with the toughest issues of sexuality," Black said. "Her approach is very straightforward, open and non-judgmental and it makes her very easy to deal with. We'll miss that."
In addition to facing tough issues with students, such as sexuality and rape, Christensen serves on campus committees, oversees several organizations, and organizes awareness events throughout the year.
Christensen said the best part of her job, however, was working with students and peer mentors, who are students trained in counseling services.
"I love it. I love their energy, their ideas, their enthusiasm. It's kept me young. It's kept me trendy," she said. "I'll have to come back here every six months or so to get a youth fix."
Brandy Solomon, a freshman psychology major, volunteered as a peer mentor last semester, helping Christensen organize events like the Linda Yalem Run and Take Back the Night for sexual violence awareness, and the Breast Cancer Brunch.
"I met her last semester when I was a health education and services volunteer. Right from the start she was really accessible," Solomon said. "The first day, there had to be between 20 and 30 people introducing themselves, and within the first 10 minutes she knew everyone's name."
Solomon also volunteered at this year's Take Back the Night, which hundreds of students participated in and Christensen called one of the highlights of her career at UB.
"This year's Take Back the Night was the ultimate. What a way to go out." Christensen said. "There was such electricity in the air that night. We marched down the street and people came out of the bars and watched and marched with us."
Black, who spoke at the event, called it a "microcosm of what she's done at the university."
"She's taken an idea and brought together people of different backgrounds to work toward a common goal. And she does it in a way that's not heavy-handed," Black said.
"She's really an inspirational lady," Solomon said. "I'm sad that she's leaving. She was so beneficial to the school and she'll be greatly missed. I still can't believe she's leaving."
E'rly Anderson is another one of many students who said she's sad to see Christensen retire. Anderson, a freshman health and human services major, was a key speaker at Take Back the Night, sharing her own experiences of sexual assault and violence.
"I thought I was going to throw up when Ellen announced my name, but Ellen told me 'You can do it.' She told me that it would make a big difference and help others and me. It was an excellent experience. Everyone should participate," Anderson said.
"I'm definitely going to miss her." Anderson added. "Next semester I plan on volunteering. Some of the topics are hard to deal with, but I would like to do something like Ellen's doing."
Christensen said although she will no longer be employed here, she still plans to be there for students.
"I will still be available for consultation but I need to be very respectful of the person who replaces me, because it's not going to be my position anymore it's going to be theirs," she said.
She will also remain involved in the Linda Yalem Run, a road race held on North Campus each October in the memory of Yalem, a UB student who was raped and murdered while jogging on the Ellicott Creek bike path.
"I've been involved since the first one. Maybe now I'll have time to run it. I never have time to run it because I'm always busy coordinating volunteers," Christensen said.
Christensen said she's looking forward to several new things she'll be able to pursue with her free time.
"I want to write two books," she said. "One will be 'How To Be Your Own Best Friend' and the other will be a textbook on how to teach sexual dysfunction themes," she said. "I also plan to ski a lot, and golf. I love to be outdoors."
Although she said she will enjoy her retirement, Christensen gets misty-eyed at the thought of leaving.
"When the reality comes, on the last day, it will be difficult to leave," she said. "It's been a great ride."
