UFS Joins UUP and SUNY Downstate Mourning the Loss of Dedicated leader Rowena Blackman-Stroud

by Jie Zhang, SUNY University Faculty Senate Communications Committee ​

Picture of Blackman-Stroud

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is saddened to announce that Rowena Blackman-Stroud passed away following a brief illness. A message from SUNY Downstate President Wayne J. Riley:

"Ms. Blackman-Stroud served as Statewide Treasurer for United University Professions (UUP), retiring from the post in 2017. As President, where she served for more than 35 years in the Downstate Chapter, Ms. Blackman-Stroud’s hard work and dedication helped to save thousands of jobs that were in jeopardy at our institution."

UUP news link: 
​UUP mourns passing of dedicated leader Blackman-Stroud

"Ms. Blackman-Stroud is widely credited for organizing and spearheading a union-backed fight from 2012 through 2015 to block planned retrenchments. She singlehandedly assembled the SUNY Downstate Coalition of Faith, Labor, and Community Leaders, which was instrumental in gaining legislative support to save jobs at our hospital.

During the pandemic, Ms. Blackman-Stroud demanded protective gear for UUP members and at SUNY’s public teaching hospitals in Stony Brook and Syracuse. She also pushed for and secured support for retention pay bonuses for frontline workers from UUP’s statewide and national affiliates, the New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. Ms. Blackman-Stroud helped secure thousands of surgical gowns, gloves, and face masks for our frontline workers, achieving this during a severe nationwide PPE shortage. Her contributions to Downstate and the great State of New York are immeasurable, and we appreciate all she has done for us.

Please join us in honoring the life of Rowena Blackman-Stroud."