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Bernice K. Noble

Born: 1940
Death: 2003

University Archives collection:19/F/970

Professor Bernice Katz Noble contributed so much to UB through not only her scholarly research, but her tireless activism for affirmative action and women's rights at UB.

Born in Philadelphia in 1940, Noble graduate from Bryn Mawr College in 1962. She went on to receive a master's degree from Brandeis University in 1964 and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Two years later, she joined the faculty of UB as a professor of Microbiology and Immunology.

Over the course of her career, Noble published over one hundred journal articles relating to her scientific research in immunologic damage with functional impairment and the relations between autoimmunity and gender.

On top of all of her teaching and research, Noble also dedicated much of her time to advancing women's careers at UB.

Working to increase the number of female students and tenure-track faculty in the sciences, Noble served as co-chair of the President's Task Force on the Status of Women at UB from 1996 to 1997. The final report (authored by Noble and co-chair, John M. Staley) from that Task Force led directly to increased salary parity, a stronger affirmative action office and enhanced child-care facilities at UB.

Her other accomplishments and honors include:

  • The chairmanship of UB's annual Take Our Daughters to Work Day from 1996-2000
  • Gender Institute Scholar-in-Residence for 1999-2000
  • UB Institute for Research and Education on Women and Gender Executive Committee
  • UB Health Sciences Center Chapter of United University Professions (UUP) from 1992-2003
  • Work on the UUP's statewide Women's Rights and Concerns Committee
  • Vice President for Academics of the UUP from 2001-2003
  • Delegate to the UUP State Assembly

In addition, Noble mentored younger female faculty members in the sciences.


Affiliation(s): Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Record Group(s): 19
Biographical File Contains:
  • Obituary
  • Photographs