Join us for the opening of Anne Frank: A History for Today (organized by the Anne Frank Center USA and presented in collaboration with Buffalo State's Anne Frank Project), Charles Burchfield: By Design, Charles Burchfield: Evidence of Intent, and Snap Out of It! Photographs by Missy Kennedy Cleary on Thursday, September 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Gallery hours are until 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The evening includes music by Concertina All Stars from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For a special treat, Unusually Different will perform Andrew Topolski's Navigator in the East Gallery at 6:00 p.m.

More information is available at www.burchfieldpenney.org. RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends!

General admission to the Burchfield Penney is free for Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff.

The 2013–2014 "Conversations in and out of the Disciplines" series begins Friday, September 20, at 3:00 p.m., as Bridget Chesterton, associate professor of history and social studies education, presents "The Sweet Herb: Ka'a He'e and the Guaraní Treatment for Global Obesity and Diabetes from the 1900s–2010s" in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Everyone is welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the other talks this fall: Mayra Vélez-Serrano, assistant professor of political science, will present "Puerto Rico: The Next 51st State? Reasons, Consequences, and Prospects" on Friday, October 18; Julie Wieczkowski, assistant professor of anthropology, will present "Feeding Ecology of the Tana River Mangabey of Kenya" on Friday, November 22; and Mark Fulk, associate professor of English, will present "William Gilpin, Eliza Knipe, and the Limits of Picturesque Aesthetics in the English Lake District, c. 1780" on Friday, December 6. All talks will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320.

The awards committee of the Exceptional Education Department is now accepting applications for the Geraldine and Gustave Werner Scholarship for undergraduate students and the Joseph and Mary Jean Daly Varga '43 Scholarship for graduate students. Information has been sent to students via ANGEL and Buffalo State e-mail accounts. All qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. For further information, please contact assistant professors Awilda E. Ramos Zagarrigo or Kathy Doody.

The Fashion and Textile Technology Department invites the campus community to the official opening of the exhibit In the Name of Plato on Thursday, September 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the third floor of the new Technology Building. The exhibition will feature apparel from Chinese designer ShaoFang and original work from textile designer ShenLi. Refreshments will be served. All attendees will have the opportunity to meet the designer. Twelve garments will be displayed in the third-floor showcases highlighting the innovative apparel of ShaoFang. Using the elements of air, earth, fire, water, metal, and aether as inspiration, ShaoFang has created unique fabric structures and mixed flowing lines with geometrics. The work of textile designer ShenLi will also be displayed. The exhibit runs from September 9 to 26. For more information, please call ext. 3478 or e-mail fashion@buffalostate.edu.

The campus is invited to join the ROTC Honor Guard in marking the anniversary of the events of 9/11 on Wednesday, September 11. The gathering will begin at 9:00 a.m. around the flags in front of the Campbell Student Union. A moment of silence will be observed at 9:11 a.m. in honor of those who lost their lives, followed by the playing of "Taps."

The campus is invited to observe the swearing-in ceremony of our student, Cadet Omar Rodriguez, at the conclusion of the remembrance ceremony.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning office is accepting applications for two one-year, $2,000 faculty development fellowships to promote the scholarship of teaching and learning on campus. Full-time faculty members, departments, and interdisciplinary groups are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted electronically until 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 25. Anyone interested should e-mail John Draeger, associate professor of philosophy and humanities, or visit www.buffalostate.edu/orgs/castl.

The Anne Frank Project is pleased to announce the introduction of its Community Engagement Center as part of AFP 2013 Transforming Lives.

The Community Engagement Center is part volunteer fair, part networking event, and part dialogue and relationship-building opportunity. The center will host more than a dozen service-based organizations from Western New York in the lobby of E. H. Butler Library and will give AFP conference attendees a place to immediately connect with organizations and individuals “walking the walk” by performing good work in the community.

The key to the engagement center: engage. It is active. It is verb based, and it is people based. The center is about connecting students and community leaders, organizations and volunteers, and like-minded doers with like-minded doers.

The key to the engagement center: you. This cannot happen without your energy, your opinions, and your desire to connect and engage with the wider community.

The Anne Frank Project is proud to welcome you to our first Community Engagement Center.

Next week our campus will be abuzz with scholars, artists, activists, students, and professionals examining this year's theme, "Transforming Lives." AFP is a campuswide social-justice initiative of SUNY Buffalo State. Please encourage your students, friends, and colleagues to redirect their in-class work to the multiple sessions presented by more than 50 presenters from around the globe.

AFP 2013:  Transforming Lives
September 11–13, 2013
SUNY Buffalo State

AFP 2013 mobile app (free)

AFP 2013 desktop app (free)

Please join the Buffalo State community for a campus memorial celebration for President Aaron Podolefsky on Sunday, October 13, at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Members of the college community will gather to recognize President Podolefsky’s distinguished service as Buffalo State’s eighth president and remember the life of our dear colleague and friend who lost his courageous battle against cancer on August 8.

We hope you can join us for this special event to commemorate President Podolefsky’s lasting contributions to Buffalo State and the many lives he touched as a member of our college family. More details will be provided as they become available.

On behalf of the Buffalo State Campus Intercultural Communications Committee, the International Student Affairs Office is delighted to invite all internationally minded faculty, staff, and students to attend our weekly International Student Social Hour, which allows all international students, scholars, and their friends to meet informally.

This informal get-together takes place every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Assembly Hall 1 of the Campbell Student Union.

Coffee, tea, and other light refreshments are graciously shared.

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 18.

Students from all over the world enroll at Buffalo State, and an important part of their orientation is the opportunity to learn firsthand about our cultural patterns, economic and political outlooks, and everyday language skills. These experiences can assist them in class discussions and in their social relations with other students. It also gives them a better understanding of the American culture they will take back with them to their home countries.

The American Host Family Program is designed to give an international student a family with whom he or she can visit, enjoy an occasional meal, celebrate holidays, participate in community sporting and cultural events, and gain insight about our country and culture. The program also gives host families the opportunity to learn about another country’s culture, holidays, and language. (It is important to note that it will be up to the host family and the student to discuss when and how often they will meet.)

International students are often far from home and do not see their families for months or even years. Some students may find the transition from their home country to our country very difficult. Being without their families and friends and adapting to a new culture and a new school can be difficult in many ways. The warm support of an American family can help alleviate their fears and frustrations.

We hope that your family will be interested in participating in this program.

Please call Pat Schindler, graduate intern in the International Student Affairs Office, at ext. 5331 to join the Buffalo State American Host Family Program.