After spending five years in New York City following graduate school, Amherst native Justin Dise found himself back on UB’s campus—just around the corner from where he grew up.
Justin, who holds two degrees from UB—a bachelor’s in history and a Master of Library Science—had a clear goal: to work in the SUNY system. In the fall of 2022, he joined Discovery Services as the electronic resources analyst in UB Libraries.
“Where better than UB, the flagship SUNY school!” he said.
In his role, Justin troubleshoots e-resources issues, manages access points on the library website, and handles proxy configurations for remote access. He also collaborates with Discovery Librarian Nancy Babb on Primo VE customizations, ensuring students and faculty can seamlessly navigate UB’s digital library resources.
Before joining UB, Justin spent six years at Daemen University, transitioning from a reference and instruction librarian to a digital services and archives librarian. His expertise there spanned everything from digital archives to institutional repository management, providing a strong foundation for his work at UB.
Justin’s professional achievements include developing code that has been shared and implemented by other libraries within SUNY and beyond.
“It’s always nice when your work is appreciated and used by others,” he said.
For Justin, the best part of his job is the people.
“UB Libraries faculty and staff are the best,” he remarked.
Currently, Justin is tackling challenging e-resources projects that push him to learn and innovate.
“What I love most is a problem and finding unique and creative ways to solve it,” he said.
Justin with his kids hiking
Outside of work, Justin, who lives in the Town of Tonawanda with his wife and children, enjoys hiking, camping, and bird photography—a new hobby he’s exploring. A lifelong movie enthusiast, he once aspired to be a cinematographer, inspired by legends like Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubezki. These days, his two young sons, ages seven and five, influence many of his interests, including an ever-growing fascination with space and science.
Fun fact: Justin is a twin, and the pair were born on Friday the 13th— a fun coincidence for someone who thrives on solving puzzles and embracing the unexpected.
If you’d like to say hello, Justin’s office is in 134 Lockwood Library. You can reach him at jrdise@buffalo.edu or 716-645-8570.