By Tony Astran

A minor long requested by students is now officially part of Buffalo State’s academic curriculum. The international relations minor, housed in the Political Science Department, focuses on the interactions and interconnectedness of nation-states and has applications for a variety of careers.

The 18-credit-hour minor comprises three required courses—International Relations, American Foreign Policy, and World Regional Geography—and three electives chosen from international relations and comparative politics tracks.

The minor includes the World Regional Geography class, taken through the Geography and Planning Department, to help students understand political, cultural, and economic geography, according to Laurie Buonanno, chair and professor of political science. She hopes the minor will serve as the basis for an eventual bachelor’s degree program that would include a track focusing on sustainable development, which would be unique among SUNY programs focused on international relations.

With the sustainable development focus, students would learn how to work with agencies to create long-term economic and political infrastructures, such as bridges and freshwater systems, supported by effective governance in developing countries.

“Besides diplomacy and conflict resolution, much of international relations is focused on building good governance, which is increasingly connected to the notion of sustainable development,” Buonanno said. “With sustainable development, students can focus on creating systems that are politically feasible, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, yet also intuitive enough to allow people to maintain them on their own.”

Buonanno said that since she joined Buffalo State in 2006, students have regularly asked her if the college planned to offer a minor in international relations. Although it is housed in Political Science, she said, the new minor can complement many majors and has far-reaching practical applications.

“If, for example, you are an evolutionary biologist and need to do fieldwork in Ecuador, you’ll need to know the larger dimensions of working in that country,” Buonanno said. “The minor can help you learn to write grants, work with nongovernmental and international organizations, understand the United Nations Law of the Sea, and gain knowledge in the areas of world trade and protectionism.”

Kyeonghi Baek, assistant professor of political science, is coordinating the minor. She will continue to identify and develop classes to enrich the academic experience. This summer, she plans to develop two courses in international conflict and international cooperation, focusing on conventional and civil wars and well as terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Buonanno said the minor draws on “deep” faculty experience, fits with existing student programs such as Model United Nations and SUNY Model European Union, and will be a great counterpart to Buffalo State’s foreign-language and study-abroad programs.

She also believes it will provide students with valuable career development skills. Buonanno said many businesses, such as banks and manufacturers, need to interact with governmental officials in a variety of countries.

“The international relations minor helps people know the ‘world system’—which is especially helpful in this day of instant communications,” she said. “You have to know other points of view to know our own impact in the world.”

Baek agrees. “International relations is everywhere in our lives,” she said. “It’s important to understand what’s happening around you.”

By Mary A. Durlak

The Buffalo State Mock Trial team took part in the Finger Lakes Regional Mock Trial Tournament held at Syracuse University in February. “We did better than we did last year,” said team coach Jon Lines, lecturer in the political science department.

Until last year, it had been several years since the college fielded a mock trial team. The new team came about when Laurie Buonanno, chair and professor of political science, and the pre-law committee wanted to increase opportunities for students interested in pursuing a law degree.

“To join the Mock Trial team, students can be any class rank and any major,” said Lines. “No matter what a student goes on to do, the skills learned from being on the team will be useful, especially the presentation skills and the teamwork.” All students are welcome to join.

The Mock Trial team belongs to the American Mock Trial Association, which sponsors the tournaments. In 2009–2010, mock trial teams from other area colleges will join Buffalo State’s team in a “scrimmage day” on campus in preparation for the annual tournament in February 2010.

The Mock Trial team is a student organization, and therefore not to be confused with Moot Court, which is a class. For many years, Judge Joseph Mattina taught the class; he retired in 2008 after serving the college as an instructor over a span of 30 years.

Town of Tonawanda Town Justice John J. Flynn now teaches the Moot Court class, which is cross-registered with political science, criminal justice, and sociology and is reserved for juniors and seniors. “My class is based on a murder trial,” said Flynn.

First, Flynn teaches the law and the legal procedures involved in a case tried in court, including the opening statement, direct examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and the closing statement. During the second half of the semester, the class is divided into prosecution and defense. He meets with both sides and helps students prepare presentations such as the five-minute opening statement.

Flynn, whose father was a lawyer, earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a law degree from the University at Buffalo. He joined the United States Navy and served as the officer-in-charge of the Office of Legal Counsel at the United States Naval Academy, where he also taught military law and an ethics seminar. Currently, he is a commander in the United States Naval Reserves.

“I enjoyed teaching,” said Flynn, “so I was glad to have the opportunity to teach Moot Court here.” Flynn said the most common major for law students is philosophy. “There is no required major for law school,” he said, “but most students have majors that are analytical, such as philosophy or sociology.” He also emphasized that very strong writing skills are essential to succeed in law school. “Law schools don’t offer multiple-choice tests,” he said.

The School of Natural and Social Sciences supports students interested in law school through a pre-law committee headed by Virginia Grabiner, chair and professor of sociology. Kelly Boos, assistant to the dean, works with students interested in attending law school. A pre-law handbook is available to students, and a legal studies minor program is in review.

By Mary A. Durlak

Buffalo State College is proud to recognize two of its most dedicated supporters during this year’s Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16. President’s Distinguished Service Awards will be presented to Gary M. Brost, chairman and CEO of Strategic Investments & Holdings Inc., and Benjamin M. Zuffranieri, ’80, senior partner with Hodgson Russ LLP.

Gary Brost started his career in the financial industry as an accountant. After progressing to numerous management positions at a major bank, he founded Strategic Investments & Holdings. Since its inception in 1983, Strategic Investments has made approximately 100 acquisitions while investing more than a quarter-billion dollars of equity capital.

Brost holds an M.B.A. from the University at Buffalo and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development. He is an active and engaged philanthropist who has demonstrated a deep commitment to the community.

He serves on the boards of directors of several businesses, including Microcision LLC and Merchants Mutual Insurance Company. He is a board member and past chair of the YMCA’s Camp Weona, and he serves on the board of directors for Gateway-Longview, a child and family services organization. He also serves in various volunteer capacities at his undergraduate alma mater, Allegheny College. He is currently serving on the boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Buffalo Club.

When he became a member of the Burchfield Penney Art Center Board of Trustees in 2001, he embraced the idea of building its new museum. As chairman of the board from 2004 to 2006, he spent hundreds of hours raising money, advocating with elected officials, and working with the college to construct the first new freestanding museum to be built in Buffalo in more than 100 years.

Brost is also a member of the Buffalo State College Foundation’s Executive Committee and serves as chair of its Nominating Committee. His many business contacts have been invaluable in securing new members for the foundation’s board of directors. He is dedicated to the unique place Buffalo State holds in the Western New York community.

Benjamin Zuffranieri is a partner in the law firm of Hodgson Russ LLP, one of the nation’s oldest law firms. Before joining Hodgson Russ in 1985, Zuffranieri was confidential law clerk to the Honorable Reid S. Moule, justice of the State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department.

Zuffranieri’s professional honors include a listing in The Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation. He is a past winner of the Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition and the Albert R. Mugel National Tax Moot Court Competition, and he received the Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award for academic achievement. He holds a juris doctor from the University at Buffalo.

He has been a member of the Literacy Volunteers board of directors, the Burchfield Penney Art Center Council, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center Board of Trustees.

Zuffranieri is a longstanding supporter of Buffalo State. His first term on the Buffalo State College Foundation board of directors began in 1986, and he served as chair from 2001 to 2004. Currently he chairs the Finance and Audit Committee, and he is a member of the Nominating and Governance, Executive, and Fall Event committees. He is a past member of the Buffalo State College Alumni Association board of directors, and he has been instrumental in securing the support of his firm as a corporate sponsor for numerous Buffalo State College and Burchfield Penney Art Center events.

In addition to providing outstanding leadership, he has shared his business knowledge, legal expertise, and financial acumen with Buffalo State in countless ways during his tenure. His thoughtful, thorough analysis and advice have benefited Buffalo State and the foundation on issues ranging from finance administration to oversight and governance. His steady leadership and deep commitment to the well-being of the institution have been an inspiration.

By Mary A. Durlak

Members of the campus community who secured funds for research or sponsored programs were honored Monday during the 12th annual Research Foundation Recognition Reception, held in the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The college currently boasts 73 project directors, more than half of whom are faculty members with the School of Natural and Social Sciences.

The event also recognized those who support the mission of the SUNY Research Foundation at Buffalo State College as members of foundation committees such as the Research and Creativity Council, the Institutional Review Board, and the Institutional Animal Care Use Committee, as well as undergraduate research fellowship recipients and their faculty mentors.

In 2006, the Research Foundation introduced the Million Dollar Club to recognize individuals who have received a total of more than $1 million since 2000. This year’s inductees to the Million Dollar Club are Margaret Shaw-Burnett, associate vice president for continuing professional studies, and Theresa M. Janczak, assistant professor of exceptional education.

Shaw-Burnett is the principal investigator and project director for Head Start Hispanic/Latino Services Partnership, a five-year, $1.5 million grant. “The program is part of an effort to professionalize Head Start personnel,” explained Shaw-Burnett. By 2013, at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers in center-based programs should have a bachelor’s or advanced degree in early childhood education.

The Head Start grant is just one of many sponsored programs that Shaw-Burnett has achieved. Others include the Area Health Education grant ($2.6 million); a Department of Education music grant to train music teachers ($250,000), the Chase Financial Literacy Grant ($25,000); the Oishei Foundation Self-Sufficiency Calculator Development Grant ($50,000); the Healthcare Mentoring Project–Buffalo Workforce Investment Board ($192,259); and the Music Education Grant in partnership with Buffalo Public Schools ($250,000).

Janczak received a $1.5 million contract to fund the Buffalo State–based New York State Response to Intervention (RTI) Technical Assistance Center, which will oversee a pilot program to assist students in grades K–4 who are at risk of academic failure. “Given adequate instruction,” she explained, “80 percent of children will attain average proficiency in literacy. This program addresses the needs of the remaining 20 percent by intervening before they fail.”

Janczak had strong words of praise for the Research Foundation. “Without them,” she said, “we never would have received the funding.” A member of the statewide consortium exploring initial RTI efforts, Janczak decided to pursue funding when the anticipated lead institution declined to do so—just five days before the deadline for submitting the proposal.

“I really wanted to do it,” she said, “but I wasn’t sure we could make the deadline. Carol Darstein [pre-award and contract services coordinator with the Research Foundation] assured me we could, and she was instrumental in securing the grant. I was so impressed with the Research Foundation staff’s competence, efficiency, and support. They are great to work with.”

In his opening remarks, Dennis Ponton, Buffalo State provost and operations manager of the Research Foundation, said, “We are here to celebrate—and we have a lot to celebrate. For fiscal year 2008, we had $51.6 million in funded programs.”

Buffalo State College ranks fourth in the entire SUNY system for funded program activity, behind three university centers. The college also accounts for 60 percent of funded-program dollars among SUNY’s comprehensive colleges. Ponton recognized Robert Spaner, chief administrative officer for the Center for Development of Human Services, which accounts for 82 percent of Buffalo State’s funded programs.

“Not only is this the largest group of guests we’ve ever had,” said Edgar H. “Ted” Turkle, director of the Research Foundation. “This year, we also have the largest number of undergraduate recipients awarded the 2009 summer undergraduate research fellowship.” Twenty students received the highly competitive fellowship, and Turkle noted that the fellowship program plays a key role in fulfilling the research mission of the college.

Jill Singer, professor of earth sciences and science education and director of the Undergraduate Research Office, introduced the 20 students who, with their mentors, received the undergraduate research fellowship. Since the fellowship program began in 1999, 132 fellowships have been granted for a total of more than $500,000.

Singer, whose long-time championing of undergraduate research has earned her national renown, expressed her gratitude to Turkle for his support of undergraduate research. She also thanked Ponton and President Muriel Howard, noting that during Howard’s tenure, formal undergraduate research programs have become institutionalized at Buffalo State. The 11th annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration will be held on May 1 and 2.

Turkle also recognized the following employees of the Research Foundation for their years of service: Sherrie Manka (20 years), Sharon Bessinger (15 years), Jessica Berg and Susan Maerz (10 years), and Dale Bessinger (five years).

“When I came here 12 years ago,” said Turkle, “there was no established mechanism for recognizing sponsored program activity. So we started this reception to honor everyone who takes part in seeking funding for research and sponsored programs. Since then, it just keeps getting bigger.”

By Tony Astran

A few years ago, when a student told Jill Singer she didn’t realize how talented her fellow students were until she attended the Student Research and Creativity Celebration, Singer knew the event had become an important academic tradition. Now in its 11th consecutive year, the 2009 celebration takes place on campus tomorrow and Saturday, May 1 and 2.

President Muriel Howard and Provost Dennis Ponton will host the opening reception from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Friday in E. H. Butler Library. Research papers and poster sessions will be presented Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Butler Library, while demonstrations, performances, and artistic events will take place across campus.

Paper presentations will be divided by academic groupings into six time slots throughout the day; each will last 15 to 20 minutes with an opportunity for questions at the end. Eight hour-long poster sessions, each with a diverse representation of disciplines, will take place concurrently with the oral presentations.

Singer, professor of earth sciences and science education and director of the Undergraduate Research Office, said 259 abstracts are included in this year’s celebration—the largest number ever and up more than 15 percent from last year. Nearly 450 students will participate.

Posters compose the majority of research on display during the celebration, which Singer said is indicative of the format’s growing popularity and credibility.

“The poster format provides a great exchange between presenters and audience members,” she said. “We continue to offer a variety of presentation formats to be inclusive and as welcoming as possible for all disciplines.”

She said the celebration acts as an “umbrella” for many events, including art displays and dance recitals. The diversity of activities helps boost intellectual conversation. “Students who might not have the chance to work side by side often end up sharing ideas and experiencing different ways of thinking,” she said.

Singer considers the celebration an opportunity for students to make serious presentations. “Students will experience what it is to be a professional in their disciplines,” she said. “They will gain confidence and also have the opportunity to compare their work with others.”

She said students shouldn’t wait until their projects are fully completed to present, as the celebration can be a “testing ground” for ongoing research. “Students can present work in progress and identify places where further study is needed,” Singer said. “They also get valuable feedback from people who attend their presentation. For work that is then completed, we encourage the students to present finished work the following year.”

More than 100 faculty members are mentors to this year’s student presenters. Singer encourages all members of the Buffalo State community to attend the celebration. Some faculty encourage student attendance by offering students extra credit for writing summaries of presentations they saw.

“Everyone likes a good audience,” she said. “The celebration is a fun time for all and shows the ‘beat’ of the campus. People who come don’t ever seem to leave disappointed. There’s a lot to discover about all the great things our students are doing.”

A sample of events follows. A complete program is available on the Undergraduate Research Office Web site. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.

Friday, May 1
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Upton Gallery
Artwork exhibition by art education students

6:00 to 6:15 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library
Student marimba ensemble performance

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Upton Hall, Gallery 234
“Body-casting” by Teri Drennan, senior design and art education student

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
Zombie Loves Vampire, student-produced short film by Jason Klinger, senior theater student

8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Upton Hall, Warren Enters Theatre
The World Within, dance concert featuring a collaboration between theater and design (note: ticketed event)

Saturday, May 2
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library
Oral paper presentations and poster sessions

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Campbell Student Union Quad
Demonstrations by mechanical engineering technology students (mini baja vehicle) and design students (ceramics)

1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library 134
Book signing by Hank Nuwer, ’68, distinguished alumnus, and Fraser Drew, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor emeritus of English

By Tony Astran

A new approach to orientation this year will see all first-year students collectively undergo a traditional orientation session and academic advisement the week before classes begin. The welcome week—dubbed “Discover Your Truths” to mirror the 2008–2010 Academic Theme—begins Tuesday, August 25, and replaces the multiple orientation sessions for first-year students as conducted in the past.

Faculty and staff do not need to report to campus earlier than previous summers but will play a major role on Wednesday, August 26, during First-Year Convocation and academic department meetings with students and parents. Classes begin August 31.

According to Robert Mead-Colegrove, director of orientation and new-student programs, the new format creates an easier and faster process for students to complete necessary tasks both before and during orientation. Accepted students recently began receiving “welcome week” packets that include a registration form from University College, a computing guide, and required health forms—which upon completion allows them to register for classes. These and other materials used to be mailed individually by departments.

“By getting information in students’ hands ahead of time, we can make the paperwork process faster,” he said. “Then, we can stay engaged with them over e-mail during the summer. Once they arrive in August, I’m confident the ‘one-trip’ welcome week will help them feel happy that they’ve made the right choice by coming to Buffalo State.”

Resident students will check in on Tuesday, August 25. On Wednesday, students and their families will attend First-Year Convocation, which begins at 9:00 a.m. Students will then meet with their academic departments and orientation leaders. Parents will participate in a separate track of afternoon workshops before departing in the evening.

Last summer’s successful preregistration process for classes will be repeated this summer, which Mead-Colegrove said will alleviate stress and allow more time for advising. “Students will again be put in classes that are best suited to their majors and that help ensure a timely graduation,” he said.

Two one-day transfer-student orientations will take place on July 9 and August 13. Both first-year and transfer students will have the opportunity to participate in a community service project on Saturday, August 29, and a “get to know Buffalo” excursion the following day.

Mead-Colegrove hopes faculty and staff will support the new orientation format and help students during the week.

“We made intentional, purposeful, and collaborative changes to better meet to needs of our students,” Mead-Colegrove said. “We want them to experience interaction on all levels and hear the right messages, through the right methods, at the right time.”

By Mary A. Durlak

Buffalo State College is proud to honor four of its most distinguished and dedicated alumni during this year’s Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16. Distinguished Alumnus Awards will be presented to Anthony J. Baynes, ’79, CEO of the A. J. Baynes Group; Todd W. Brason, ’85, CEO of Willcare Inc; Ronald James Kelley, ’86, physicist and entrepreneur; and Karen E. Penfold, ’69, community leader.

Anthony Baynes is founder and chief executive officer of the A. J. Baynes Group, one of the leading third-party transportation and logistics providers in the country.

Baynes chaired the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority from 2006 to 2008. He is a member of the Roswell Park Alliance Community Advisory Board and a board member of the Bison Scholarship Fund, a privately funded tuition-assistance program for low-income families. He has served as treasurer of the board of Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. His many awards include the 2008 Leadership Buffalo Values Award, the 2007 Buffalo News Outstanding Citizen of the Year, the 2006 Italian American of the Year Award for outstanding contribution to the Buffalo community, and the Burt P. Flickinger Jr. Volunteer of the Year Award from Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

Baynes joined the Buffalo State College Foundation board in June 2007. As co-chair of the 2008 Foundation Scholarship Gala, he presided over the most successful gala in the event’s history. He is also co-chair of the foundation’s Development Committee and serves as a member of its Executive Committee. Both he and his companies are generous financial contributors to the college.

Todd Brason is chief executive officer of Willcare Inc., a home health care company employing about 1,600 employees—800 in Western New York—with annual revenues of more than $50 million. Willcare was named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful home health care providers in the United States. It has been ranked among Buffalo’s top private and fastest-growing companies by Business First.

Brason serves on the board of directors, as a former trustee and current chair, of the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross. He is a former and current board member of various other community organizations as well. He has held leadership roles in several professional and service organizations on the state and national levels, and has provided guidance on human service issues. He is a committed advocate for seniors and long-term health care.

Brason was elected to the Buffalo State College Foundation board of directors in 1998. As chair from 2004 to 2007, he presided over three successive years of increased fundraising and growth in foundation assets. Both Brason and Willcare have been generous and consistent financial contributors to Buffalo State College and the Burchfield Penney Art Center for more than a decade.

Ronald Kelley, Ph.D., is a physicist and entrepreneur with notable achievements as a scientist and innovator. As a lead engineer and program manager with Motorola, he was named a Distinguished Innovator, holding 27 patents. He has written 48 papers that have been published in refereed scientific journals, and he has been certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt by Motorola and the American Society for Quality.

In 2005, Kelley left Motorola and co-founded Gecko Energy Technologies, a portable fuel cell technology company. He has since founded Green Gap Solutions LLC, an alternative energy development company that has been working on proprietary off-grid lighting. In 2009, he became chief operating officer of Transmediair, a New Jersey biofuel company. Kelley is a member of the board of directors of India Inspire Fund, a nonprofit organization that aids children and families in India, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC), and the NJTC Energy, Environment, and Engineering Industry Network. He is also a member of the Materials Research Society, IEEE, and the American Society for Quality.

Throughout his career, Kelley has maintained close ties with Buffalo State College.

Karen Penfold is an outstanding community leader whose support of Buffalo State has been generous and inspirational.

Penfold has served as a trustee for St. Bernadette Parish and as a volunteer for many local organizations, including the American Heart Association, Vive La Casa, and the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation. She has served on the boards of St. Mary’s and St. Francis high schools, Canisius College, Immaculata Academy Parents Guild, the Sisters of Mercy Development Council, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, and the Hamburg Rejuvenation Project. Her awards include the Woman of the Year Award from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pioneer Investors Award and the Red Jacket Award from the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Elaine Mack Community Service Award from Hopevale Inc., and the Sister Mechtilde Memorial Award from the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation.

For more than 20 years, Penfold has championed Buffalo State, serving as an alumni ambassador, a member of the Buffalo State College Foundation board of directors, and a member of the steering committee for the foundation’s successful $10 million Endowing the Future campaign. She established the Karen Kostecky Penfold All College Honors Program Scholarship and has supported numerous other projects at Buffalo State, including the Great Lakes Center and the new Burchfield Penney Art Center.

By Mary A. Durlak

A new minor program in geographic information systems was formally approved through the Geography and Planning Department in fall 2008. The term GIS commonly refers to a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data that are used to capture, manage, analyze, and communicate all forms of geographically referenced information—essentially, information that can be put on a map.

Because its applications are almost boundless, a GIS minor can benefit students in many disciplines. For example, GIS can aid a company in determining the best place to open a new store, provide information to public health officials about the spread of a disease, describe the characteristics of residents of a neighborhood to someone thousands of miles away, or enable planners to manage infrastructure such as water supply and waste control.

“The uses for GIS are virtually endless,” said Wende Mix, associate professor of geography and planning. She is overseeing the minor program with Tao Tang, associate professor of geography and planning. Mary Perrelli, the GIS laboratory manager, is helping to develop and teach GIS workshops.

Mix recently used GIS to investigate house flipping and neighborhood change in Buffalo. House flipping is buying property and quickly reselling it for intended profit. “We took information from several databases,” said Mix, “and used GIS to show the information on a map of the city. We also used census data.” The project demonstrated not only the usefulness of GIS, but also suggested that greater use of GIS could improve the quality of the data. Mix used GIS when she served as a transportation engineer with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“We are working to expand the GIS course offerings,” said Mix, “because GIS is so widely used. Corporations, government agencies, academic institutions including school districts, and nonprofits all are using it.” This summer, she is teaching a course introducing students to ArcGIS, the most widely used GIS software in the world. The course will incorporate extensive hands-on experience using customized data sets and lab exercises.

To earn the GIS minor, students must complete three required courses in geography and planning and one elective from among four geography and planning courses relating to urban analysis, corporate applications, environmental assessment and planning, or interactive and Web-based mapping, respectively.

Geography and planning majors must also complete two courses from Computer Information Systems (CIS); non-majors must complete GEG 390: Quantitative Methods in Geography and Planning or an equivalent upper-level statistics course and one CIS course. Students can choose from among five CIS courses.

By Tony Astran

Fifty graduate students in the Exception Education Department will formally present their master’s projects on campus as part of the third annual Exceptional Education Graduate Research Symposium on Saturday, April 25. Nearly 300 guests are expected to attend.

The event begins in Classroom Building C122 at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. President Muriel Howard and Ronald Rochon, dean of the School of Education and associate vice president for teacher education, will provide opening remarks before introducing the keynote speaker, Leonard Baca. Baca, a professor of education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will present his research on response-to-intervention techniques for instructors working with English-language learners.

The symposium continues with 18 presentations spread over three 30-minute sessions. Groups of students will present their research studies focused on academic and behavioral outcomes for a wide range of students with disabilities from preschool to high school. Topics include teaching children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder how to self-monitor their attention, the effects of background music on academic performance for students with mild disabilities, and comparing teacher-assisted and computer-assisted oral reading programs for elementary students with learning disabilities. Each presentation will end with a question-and-answer period.

Theresa Janczak, assistant professor of exceptional education, planned the event with department colleagues Mark Posluszny, associate professor, and Lisa Rafferty, assistant professor. She said students must submit proposals in order to participate in the symposium, just as they would for a professional conference.

“The symposium is a culminating activity that showcases the hard work of our graduates and celebrates their accomplishments,” Janczak said.

She said she hopes attendees will see that the students’ findings have practical implications for classroom instruction. “The projects show that research can inform teaching,” she said.

Janczak and her colleagues will conduct a post-event survey to gauge how the experience of presenting projects affects students’ views of conducting research. She expects many of the students to submit their findings for publication and to present at statewide and nationwide conferences. Others may broaden their studies as they pursue doctoral degrees.

Faculty, staff, students, family members, and a number of local school administrators and teachers will attend the symposium, which is open to the public. The event is funded by the Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee, the Exceptional Education Department, the School of Education Dean’s Office, and the Research Foundation at Buffalo State College. For more information, please contact Janczak, 878-5313.

By Phyllis Camesano

A unique collaboration comes together on April 25 when the Buffalo State College Technology Department and the Burchfield Penney Art Center present Runway 2.0, a day of fashion with two events featuring the collections of Buffalo State fashion and textile technology students and professional Western New York designers, all set against the panoramic backdrop of the Burchfield Penney’s East Gallery.

The student fashion show from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. benefits the Buffalo State Fashion Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $5 presale and $7 at the door.

The evening performance from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. includes student designers alongside Western New York professionals with $40 and $100 tickets benefiting the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State.

“The day exemplifies the potential and power of collaboration between the college and the Burchfield Penney,” said Erin Habes, lecturer of technology, who produced last year’s student fashion show, staged at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.“It will be an exciting day.We hope everyone will dress to the nines and be awed by the collections, the space, and the entertainment.”

In addition to a raised runway that winds through the East Gallery, guests can expect paparazzi, a Joan Rivers character working the red carpet, strobe lights, and live music by Them Jazzbeards.

In producing the event, Habes worked closely with fashion and textile technology program coordinator Elaine Polvinen, technology lecturer David Brinson, and Susan Lojacono, manager of development events for the Burchfield Penney, as well as Buffalo State students and community volunteers.

Fashion and textile technology students have spent the semester designing a women’s or menswear collection that reflects the current Charles Burchfield exhibition The Romance of Urban Decay.Concepts will be presented to a review panel that will select finalists to be featured in the runway shows. At the evening performance, an external and internal jury will select the recipient of the $1,000 Nancy Belfer Senior Collection Award. Collections by Western New York professional designers, including Adam Lippes, will also included in the evening show.

“The Burchfield Penney is happy to host the second iteration of Runway in our magnificent East Gallery,” said Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center. “The celebration of fashion as art in Western New York and at Buffalo State presents an opportunity to transform the museum and to support an important college initiative.”

The Design Department is also contributing to the event, with a special mini-exhibition of shoe art by department chair and associate professor Carol Townsend’s students, as well as a sneak preview of an international felt hat project exhibition by associate professor of design Jozef Bajus’s Buffalo State and Slovakia students. The complete exhibition will be presented at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society after the Runway 2.0 event.

Fashion students and faculty members are contributing designs for T-shirts that will be available at the fashion shows. White Bicycle developed the Runway 2.0 logo for the production. A large array of Romance of Urban Decay designs and products are currently available for customized purchase from the BSCRunway20zazzle Web site, hosted by the Fashion Technology Program. The site is continually updated with new designs and products to be featured at the April 25 events. All purchases benefit the Fashion Scholarship Fund.

Tickets for the student show are available at the Rockwell Hall and Campbell Student Union box offices.General admission tickets ($40) to the evening show include the fashion show, a dessert reception, music by Them Jazzbeards, and dancing following the show.$100 VIP tickets include a 7:30 p.m. cocktail reception, front-row seating, and a swag bag of fashion goodies. Tickets for the evening show are available by phone at 878-3254 or at the Burchfield Penney Visitor Services desk.For more information, visit www.Runway2.org.