About Terese Kelly
Terese Kelly
Terese E. Kelly, BA ’68, MLS ’73, played a pivotal role in establishing an investment course at the School of Management. Her inspiration for this initiative dates back to 1995 when she introduced a stock market game to a group of sixth-grade girls while working as a librarian. With no access to computers at the time, the students tracked their chosen stocks’ progress on graph paper, an experience that sparked Kelly’s long-term interest in financial education.
Years later, when UB informed her about a group of students who wanted to start an investment course and were willing to use their own money, she saw an opportunity to contribute. Though she never worked in business professionally, Kelly had gone on to earn an MBA and viewed finance as a personal interest. Her donation provided the necessary support to develop an innovative investment program for students.
Beyond financial support, Kelly remains involved in the program by serving on its advisory board, though she describes her role as being driven more by curiosity than obligation. Her commitment reflects a broader dedication to education and philanthropy, which has been a defining aspect of her family’s legacy. By funding this initiative, she hopes to encourage other donors to invest in public education and support student-led financial learning opportunities at UB.