Leigh Duffy, assistant professor of philosophy, presented her paper "The Ethics of Creating Consciousness: Personal Identity, AI and Us" at the American Philosophical Association 2024 Eastern Division Meeting, held January 15-18 in New York City.
Luke Haumesser, director of student leadership and engagement, has been selected as one of four facilitators for the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) 2024 Student Organization Institute taking place June 9-13 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The role will include the coordinating and facilitating of the institute's curriculum. The Student Organization Institute welcomes student affairs professionals from across the country to learn best practices for student organization advisement, leadership development, and risk management strategies and gain valuable resources to take back to their campuses.
Gavin Leighton, assistant professor of biology, published the article "Unfamiliarity Generates Costly Aggression in Interspecific Avian Dominance Hierarchies" in the journal Nature Communications (published online January 6, 2024: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44613-0).
Angela Thering, lecturer in the Social and Psychological Foundations of Education and Adult Education Department, completed the 2023 Learning Engineering Fellowship through SUNY Online and the Open Learning Initiative (OLI) at Carnegie Mellon University. This fellowship was designed for learning designers who are interested in enhancing their skills and knowledge for learning engineering, defined as "a process and practice that applies the learning sciences using human-centered learning design methodologies and data-informed decision-making to support learners and their development."
Leigh Duffy, assistant professor of philosophy, was an invited speaker at Village Yoga and Wellness, where she spoke to teachers in training about the philosophy and ethics of yoga on January 3.
At an Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting held on December 19th, Kelly Frothingham, interim dean of the School and Arts and Sciences, was honored for her dedication to the District. Dr. Frothingham served on the District board of directors for 11 years and she was the Vice Chair of the board for the past six years. Dr. Frothingham was honored for generously contributing her valuable expertise in the conservation and environmental management of watersheds and streams to benefit the District and the constituents of Erie County. In appreciation of Dr. Frothingham’s dedicated service and significant contributions to the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Legislature of Erie County proclaimed December 19, 2023 as “Dr. Kelly Frothingham Day.”
Joelle Leclaire, professor of economics and finance, presented “What Is Government Debt?” at the Lille Post Keynesian Conference “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren: 90 Years Later,” held in Lille, France, December 6–8.
The Buffalo State Center for Integrated Studies in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant awarded by the Glenn Bailey Foundation. The principal investigators are Saquib Ahmed, assistant professor of engineering technology; Sourav Biswas, assistant professor of chemistry; and Joaquin Carbonara, professor of mathematics. Dr. Ahmed is the nanocenter’s founding director. This effort was coordinated by Katie Welstead, director of corporate and foundation relations in the Buffalo State Development Office.
In the proposed project, Buffalo State undergraduate students in STEM majors will be targeted to participate in new coursework, research, and internship opportunities related to clean energy. Juniors and seniors will be targeted, but any outstanding students would be considered to participate. These students will explore next-generation solar technologies using a strategic suite of computational, machine learning, and experimental methods. Conjointly, students will gain experience developing their own research plan, evaluating data, and contributing the dissemination of their research in scientific meetings. These opportunities will fully prepare students for prospective positions in graduate schools for further studies, as well as professional careers in clean energy–related industries.
Jason Knight, associate professor of political science, public administration, and planning, and Russell Weaver, director of research for the Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, prepared and led a session at the fifth annual Anti-Displacement Summit, hosted by Our City Buffalo, on Saturday, December 9. The annual event was co-sponsored by other social justice–focused community organizations, including PUSH Buffalo, the Coalition for Economic Justice, and the Partnership for the Public Good. The session, which was framed as "How to Take the Power Back," focused on a community-rights framework of governance and the role of the city charter in laying the groundwork for (anti-) democratic decision-making. Further, the summit laid out the ways in which a citizen-led ballot initiative could reform the charter and embed community rights and shared decision-making in Buffalo in a way that gives citizens actual power to decide what happens in their community. The focus was on action rather than admiring the problem. Dr. Knight continues his commitment to the actual practice of social justice by engaging directly with community stakeholders and supporting their efforts, through technical assistance and research, to push for socially just systems change.
Ron Stewart, department chair and professor of sociology, was recognized as a 2023 Community Honoree during a special recognition event at the Oakk Room on Friday, December 8. Dr. Stewart was honored for his unwavering commitment to education, leadership, and mentorship and the indelible mark he has left on the Western New York community. Through years of dedication, passion, and service, Dr. Stewart has not only shaped the academic landscape at Buffalo State University but has also been a guiding force in our community, inspiring countless individuals along the way. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul conferred on Dr. Stewart an Executive Chamber Citation for his accomplishments and high standards of professional excellence, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown issued an Executive Chamber Proclamation declaring December 8, 2023, as Dr. Ron Stewart Day in the City of Buffalo in recognition of his contributions to the community.