The dean of the School of the Professions has forwarded a recommendation from the members of the Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department and the members of the Hospitality and Tourism Department to merge their previously independent departments to form a new department (name to be determined). Faculty expertise will provide expanded opportunities for student experiences in health, food, recreation, and leisure. The merger will support the continued emphasis on quality teaching, applied student learning, and academic efficiencies.  Merging the faculty and programs is designed to address overlapping areas of study and will create career synergies and industry demand, and create efficiency and resource optimization, and create expanded learning and interdisciplinary skills. This merger is recommended to be effective September 1, 2025.  

The Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department will be merged with the Hospitality and Tourism Department.  Faculty expertise will provide expanded opportunities for student experiences in health, food, recreation, and leisure. The merger will support the continued emphasis on quality teaching, applied student learning, and academic efficiencies.  Merging the faculty and programs is designed to address overlapping areas of study and will create career synergies and industry demand, and create efficiency and resource optimization, and create expanded learning and interdisciplinary skills. This merger is recommended to be effective September 1, 2025, and will be reflected in official documents. The School of the Professions Dean’s Office will work with offices across campus to ensure a smooth transition.

The Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office and the Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner Civic and Community Engagement Office (CCE) have opened the application for two faculty Social Justice Faculty Externship opportunities for summer 2025. This summer partnership initiative focuses on collaborative faculty-community partner connections that deepen understanding and build opportunities to expand and grow equity and justice in our community. The faculty member and community organization each receive financial benefit and funds for materials through a partnership focused on learning and action. Faculty participants will engage in learning opportunities with community organizations that provide leadership in addressing issues of social justice and are then expected to extend their learning to students through curricular change. Organizations benefit through faculty time and attention to a project using the faculty member’s skills and experiences. The application deadline is Friday, March 7.

Buffalo State University is proud to host "W.O.R.T.H.Y.: Holistic Mental Health for Black Students," an empowering keynote and fireside chat featuring international speaker and mental health advocate Nate Evans Jr., on Tuesday, February 25, from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall.

This Black History Month event will provide Black students with culturally responsive tools for resilience, self-worth, and emotional well-being. Attendees will engage in an interactive keynote, followed by a fireside chat and Q&A, moderated by the NAACP Student Organization. 

Why this matters: 

• Many Black students face unique challenges related to mental health, academic pressure, and cultural identity. 
• This event creates a safe space to discuss mental wellness in a way that is culturally affirming and empowering. 
• Nate Evans Jr. will provide practical strategies for self-care, resilience, and navigating mental health in college. 

Please encourage student attendance! Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with students and consider attending to learn how to better support student mental health on campus. 

Free admission—open to all.

This event is co-sponsored by the Student Leadership and Engagement Office, Residence Life and Housing, Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office, Roar 2 Success, Restorative Justice Center, Diversity and Belonging Office, NAACP Student Organization, and other campus partners. 

For more information, please contact sle@buffalostate.edu. 

As of April 24, 2026, the ADA Title II standards for content accessibility in higher education will go into effect. These new content accessibility guidelines were adopted by the Department of Justice and all campuses must be compliant with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1 AA on the date mentioned.

Although this messaging of content accessibility is not new, the date of compliance is important for administration, faculty, and staff to know, understand and act upon. Members of the Electronic Information and Technology Accessibility Committee of Buffalo State, (SAS, IDDL & Library) have collaborated to put together a conference day on April 3, 2025, to bring this message home. The presenters are experts in the field of accessibility from Buffalo State and across higher education.

The Events page on the Student Accessibility Services’ website provides in-depth information of their efforts to raise awareness and support the campus community as we continue our efforts to engage and support our students.

Beyond Compliance: Technology and Accessibility in Higher Education provides professional development opportunities for all. This event is free. You are encouraged to register (Beyond Compliance) for this April 3, 2025, event by March 21, 2025. Hear from experts in the field of accessibility from Buffalo, including our own SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellow, Dr. Kathy Doody, Professor, Exceptional Education, to learn about SUNY’s commitment and her role in advancing accessibility on Buffalo State campus.

Consider attending another free event: NeuroDiverse Ed: Empowering Educators, Supporting Students, on March 25, 2025. The focus of the conference is to provide the tools and resources to assist campus communities on how to help and work with students who are neurodivergent. Please register (NeuroDiverse Ed) for this event by March 19, 2025.

For more information, please contact Sumana Silverheels, Director of Student Accessibility Services.

The Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) will host the Job and Internship Fair on Thursday, March 6, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. This event is open to students from all majors and class years, as well as alumni.

Students, staff, and faculty will have the opportunity to meet with local, regional, and national employers recruiting for full-time and paid internship opportunities. Over 50 employers will be in attendance this year, representing a diverse cross-section of industries. Many of the recruiters are alumni, eager to hire Buffalo State students and graduates! Employer sponsors for the Job and Internship Fair include M&T Bank, Buffalo Lodging Associates, Catholic Health, and Odoo.

The Job and Internship Fair is a great opportunity for our students to explore a variety of jobs and paid internships. Please encourage students to dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their résumé.

More information, including a list of participating employers, is available on the CAPE website.

Each year, the Anne Frank Project (AFP) offers a transformative study abroad experience in Rwanda, Africa, where students engage in immersive learning that focuses on community building, conflict management, and reconciliation practices. These experiences help students develop a strong vocabulary for social justice that can be applied in real-world scenarios. After returning to Buffalo, students continue their journey of personal growth by collaborating on a play that brings their lessons back to local schools. This creative process, story building, is facilitated by AFP faculty.

This year’s student-created play, The Boy in the Jaguar, written by the Rwanda 2024 delegation, tells the story of a young boy who, after the loss of his mother, is mysteriously transformed into a jaguar. As he navigates a mystical world filled with trials and challenges, he discovers that forgiveness is complex, but healing through forgiveness is the key to strength and leadership. The performance is followed by a kinesthetic workshop to help students engage with and activate the central lessons of the story.

For over a decade, AFP’s student plays have toured local schools and community organizations. Due to increasing demand, we are excited to extend this opportunity to the Buffalo State campus community. I invite you to bring this powerful performance and workshop to your classrooms, programs, teams, and offices. After the 30-minute performance, there will be a brief workshop focused on the central theme of the play: "Forgiveness is Messy." This experience is offered free of charge to the Buffalo State on-campus community.  The AFP team is happy to either travel to your location or host you at the Student Union.

Tour Dates: March 10–May 5, 2025
Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Times: 10:00–10:50 a.m. and 11:00–11:50 a.m.

2024 Rwanda Delegation

Jemia Bennett, Early Childhood Education, ‘24
Dylan Carter, International Relations ‘25
Danae Hardy, Childhood Education ‘24
Esteri Iradukunda, International Relations ‘26
Rusi Mbabazi, International Relations ‘25
Jeanvier Nkurunziza, Theater ‘24
Taliyah Oaks, Media Production ‘24
Devon Pernell, Biology ‘25
Seven Soules, Individualized Studies ‘24
Renata Tumusabire, Criminal Justice ‘25
Min Zo, Theater ‘25

For more information about AFP's student-created plays, visit AFP Plays Resources.

Spaces are limited, so please reserve your tour date as soon as possible by contacting AFP's Assistant Director, Jonise Hall, at halljl@buffalostate.edu. 

The campus community is invited to attend the university’s traditional celebration of the 68th Honors Convocation on Friday, April 25, at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. 

In an effort to add to the pomp and circumstance of this ceremonial event, we invite faculty and professional staff to march in the processional. Academic regalia is required. Please complete the Marcher Registration Form by Friday, April 11.
 
If you have been invited to attend the Honors Convocation by a student (honoree) as their guest faculty, we ask that you sit and participate in the ceremony with your student instead of participating in the processional. Academic regalia is optional for guest faculty.
 
Regalia rentals are available to order through the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore until Thursday, April 3. Marchers’ regalia rental pricing and loan request information are provided in the Regalia Section of the Marchers web page. Contact Marybeth Keller, general merchandise manager, or call (716) 878-5509 for more information. If you are also planning to march in Commencement, you will not be required to return the rented regalia until Friday, May 23, after Commencement. If you are not participating in Commencement, rented regalia must be returned by Friday, May 2.
 
A limited inventory of doctoral and master’s gowns, caps, and hoods may be available for loan through the Academic Affairs Office until Monday, April 21. Please contact Cathy Cook, administrative assistant 2, for more information or to place your order.
 
Honors Convocation celebrates the academic excellence of our distinguished students and faculty. We hope you will join us.

I am pleased to announce that David Loreto, our executive director of admissions, has accepted the position of interim vice president of Enrollment Management.

Since joining our community in 2018 as director of undergraduate admissions, David has been instrumental in shaping our use of new technologies in the identification, recruitment, processing, and conversion of applicants. With over two decades of experience in both private and public sectors of higher education, including roles at SUNY Brockport and D’Youville College, David has brought a wealth of knowledge and strategic vision to our institution. In February 2024, he was promoted to executive director when he took on the leadership responsibilities for our graduate admissions functions.

As we move forward, our Enrollment Management staff, under David’s leadership, will continue doing the work to ensure that our new students for the Fall 2025 semester have a smooth transition into the university. We will also continue to work collaboratively to support our current students, keeping them on a successful path to graduation. I encourage everyone to reach out and support David and his staff in whatever manner you can.

As we congratulate David on his new role, let us also reflect on the role each of us plays in making Buffalo State University a place that transforms the lives of our students with relevant, career, community and applied research focused education. Our students’ relationships with caring faculty and dedicated staff are what make our university truly special and what will launch us toward our mission and shared vision.

There is limited funding available for student assistant (non-Federal Work Study) positions for the spring 2025 semester. Please complete this on-campus job description form ASAP. The Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) will post your position(s) to inform the student community of these opportunities. We encourage you to submit your descriptions no later than Friday, March 14, but will accept and post positions on a rolling basis until funding capacity is reached.

Please know that CAPE is here to help promote and advertise the position. The office requesting the student assistant would then follow typical hiring procedures. We ask that you inform us of the names of hired students to ensure they are paid out of the appropriate account and we are tracking the budget allocation effectively. 

We will be holding a workshop on March 26 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. to address the importance of demonstrating professionalism when working in a student assistant position. We will address appropriate attire, cell phone usage, and general professional skills needed in today’s dynamic workplace.

Students will be limited to working 10-12 hours per week at minimum wage ($15.50 an hour). Students may work until the last week of the spring semester.

Once you have hired the student, please email Denise Harris at harrisdm@buffalsotate.edu, so we can track the number of students participating in this program.