Saquib Ahmed, assistant professor of engineering technology, Sourav Biswas, assistant professor of chemistry, Joaquin Carbonara, professor of mathematics, and five Buffalo State students have published their paper “An Integrated Assessment of Next Generation PV Technologies” in the American Journal of Energy Engineering 11 (4): 100–109. The Buffalo State student authors are Joseph Wikar, Mechanical Engineering Technology; Nicholas White, Mechanical Engineering Technology; Tyler Body, Mathematics; Leanna Tse, Electrical Engineering Technology; and Michael Vullo, Chemistry. This is the first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary work from Buffalo State’s Center for Integrated Studies in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Saquib Ahmed is the center’s founding director.

Jason Knight, associate professor of political science, public administration, and planning, was awarded a $30,000 grant from Erie County to support his spring 2023 sabbatical research on affordable housing and the deliberate exclusionary nature of regional zoning codes, which support embedded racial and economic segregation in the City of Buffalo. As part of this work, he developed the program and list of speakers for the second annual Erie County Housing Summit, hosted at the Rural Outreach Center on September 20. As the lead speaker for the event for the second year in a row, Dr. Knight laid out the need for increased affordable housing development across all geographies in the county and discussed the role of exclusionary suburban zoning in limiting housing options and opportunities. His final report will focus on socially just actions that Erie County and its communities must take to create opportunities for all households. His work continues to support the actual practice of social justice by supporting local governments, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in addressing the systemic inequality embedded in our local housing, land use, and neighborhood reinvestment systems.

Joelle Leclaire, professor of economics and finance, was interviewed for two articles by MoneyGeek: Stagflation in Economics and Understanding the Main Types of Debt. The MoneyGeek website publishes educational, expert-driven advice and tools to encourage people to make informed financial and life decisions.

Joy Guarino, director of global engagement, has received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Dance Education Association (NYSDEA) in acknowledgment of her exemplary leadership, scholarship, artistry, philanthropy, and service to dance education for the past 15 years. Nominated by two Buffalo State alumna, Rachel Repinz and Enya-Kalia Jordan, Ms. Guarino was recognized at the 2023 National Dance Education Association conference in Denver, Colorado, in September.

Sourav Biswas, assistant professor of chemistry, served as a faculty career panelist for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) postdoctoral association on September 20, during National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2023. The aim was to assist young researchers from national labs in making informed decisions about their career paths by hosting a discussion on the most probable choices following the completion of a postdoc. The panel included representatives from industry, academia, and national laboratories.

Deborah Silverman, chair and associate professor of communication, has been elected to the executive board of the national Commission on Public Relations Education as secretary for a two-year term in 2024 and 2025. Dr. Silverman previously served as chair of the commission’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The commission issues periodic research reports and recommendations on undergraduate and graduate education in public relations for universities, accrediting bodies, and professional organizations in the United States and abroad.

A poem titled “The Week,” by Elizabeth Mariani, lecturer in the College Writing Program, is included in the anthology Italian Trans Geographies, edited by Danila Cannamela, Marzia Mauriello, and Summer Minerva (SUNY Press). Two of her poems, “Capsule” and “From Her Podium,” have been published in the Waiting Room (Nervous Ghost Press).

Naila Ansari, assistant professor of theater, recently choreographed The Color Purple at Shea’s 710 Theatre. This was a musical adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, which tells the story of Celie, a young woman who has experienced abuse since the age of 12. The musical featured a variety of music genres, including jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music, and blues, and was a celebration of love and life, choreographed by Ms. Ansari. The play received positive reviews and sold out, with audiences demanding another run of shows. Audience members called it a "magical" and "spine-tingling production." Ms. Ansari and an exceptional cast and creative team all contributed their vast talents to make this show a triumph.

The creative team, cast, and crew included Buffalo State current faculty and alumni. Marcus Watson, associate professor of Africana studies and individualized studies, served as the dialect coach, and Karen Saxon, lecturer of music, served as the musical director. Alumni included Sarah Norat-Phillips (director), Gabriella McKinley (Celie), Amber Greer (co-prop design), and Emma Connaire (assistant sound designer). They partnered with the Family Justice Center of Erie County, offering free services and support to help break the cycle of abuse. The Color Purple ran from September 14 to October 1 in Buffalo.

Dan MacIsaac, chair and professor, and David Abbott, instructional support specialist, of the Physics Department spent three days (September 22–24) at the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland, attending the opening kickoff workshop of the 2023 physics Departmental Action Leadership Institute cohort, funded and hosted by the American Physical Society. Together with other academic physicists and representatives from national professional physics organizations, Drs. Abbott and MacIsaac discussed and investigated Effective Practices for Physics Programs. Buffalo State physics has committed to an intentional multi-year-long departmental change effort to improve the education of our students and to support a thriving and vibrant Buffalo State physics experience via improved recruitment and retention.

Ken Orosz, professor of history and social studies education, presented the paper “Mirror Images? A Comparative View of Social Policy in Cameroon and Palestine under Mandate” at a conference providing global context to the British Mandate in Palestine. Recordings of the conference, which was held September 11–12 in Jerusalem at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, are available online. Dr. Orosz’s presentation occurs on Day 2 at the 4:55:00 mark.