David A. Carson, chair and professor, and Martin F. Ederer, assistant professor, History and Social Studies Education, presented papers at a historic display unveiled at La Memoria Potenza del Futuro: Biblioteche, Archivi, Musei, Collezionisti Privat: Protagonisti Nell’unire il Tempo, the 12th annual workshop of Teca del Mediterraneo, held in Bari, Puglia, Italy, June 26–27.

Carson and Ederer’s participation was part of a collaborative research partnership proposed by the honorary vice consul of Italy for Western New York among the Buffalo State History and Social Studies Education Department, Teca del Mediterraneo, the Apulian Historical Institute for the Study of Antifascism and Contemporary Italian History, St. Anthony of Padua Church in Buffalo, and the Consiglio Regionale della Puglia to study Italian immigration to Western New York. The first project of the collaboration emphasized the story of Buffalo-born artist and author Thomas Sgovio, who ended up in Stalin’s Gulag in the Soviet Union before returning to Buffalo later in life.

Carson’s contribution to the conference was “The Idea of America: Why Immigrants Came,” and Ederer’s paper was “Buffalo, New York, and its Italian Immigrant Community.” Both papers were published, along with papers submitted by Jean Richardson, Gary Marotta, Kenneth Mernitz, and Alex Blair, all of the History and Social Studies Education Department, in a catalog of the display and a collection of articles by Italian, American, and Russian historians and archivists establishing the context of the exhibit.

Buffalo State College will host the American showing of the exhibit and a similar conference in September.

John Cabra, assistant professor, Creative Studies, presented a two-day workshop in Spanish for Manpower Inc. in Mexico City, a Fortune 500 company. The workshop was titled, “Innovation at Manpower. ”

William Grieshober, adviser, Small Business Development Center, presented a four-day training course, “Managing the Audit Engagement,” to managers and supervisors of the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection Regulatory Audit at all nine of their regional offices throughout the United States from May through August.

Gerald Mead, lecturer, Design, was a presenter in a peer-to-peer session at the “Empire State Partnerships Summer Seminar” at Long Island University July 19–23. He was the guest speaker for a “UB at Noon for Distinguished Alumni” event on June 18, presented his work to the Batavia Society of Artists on August 11, and conducted an assemblage workshop at the Coonley-Ward Artist Community in Wyoming, New York, July 8. He also served on the Buffalo State College Young Alumnus Achievement Award selection committee, judged theBuffalo Niagara Art Association Exhibition at the Kenan Center in Lockport, juried the entrants for the Chautauqua Craft Alliance’s 2009 Festivals at Chautauqua Institution, and had work included in the following exhibitions: Collage Assemblage, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, New York, August 29–October 17; 6 x 6 x 2009, Rochester Contemporary Arts Center, June 6–July 12; and COLOR, 464 Gallery, Buffalo, June 5–14.

Ann K. Lupo, lecturer, History and Social Studies Education, served as lead writer and coordinator for the just published “A Facilitator’s Guide to Using the PBS Program ‘Your Life, Your Money,’” to be aired nationally on September 9 at 9:00 p.m. As one of the educators who revised the grade 12 economics curriculum for the New York State Education Department, Lupo was tapped to write and lead a team of area teachers and technology experts in creating a guide that teachers, community advocates, and others can use to help young people become financially literate for life. The program is filled with straightforward information and practical guidance for young adults. Through compelling real-life stories of young people dealing with various financial and lifestyle scenarios, “Your Life, Your Money” addresses such topics as banking and credit, investments, budgeting, insurance, and self-employment. The program is hosted by Donald Faison (Scrubs, Clueless) with insights from leading personal finance experts such as Michelle Singletary and Beth Kobliner. Lupo was also the lead writer and coordinator for WNED’s award-winning “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo” educator’s guide.

An original oil painting by Lin Xia Jiang, professor, Fine Arts, and his former student Justin Dahl will be unveiled at Canisius College on Wednesday, September 9, at 12:15 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge of the Richard E. Winter Student Center. Commissioned by Canisius College, Journey of Dreams represents aspects of the diverse populations of Asians and Asian Americans and their cultural backgrounds. The painting will be permanently displayed in the college’s Bouwhuis Library.

Richard Herdlein, associate professor, Student Personnel Administration, presented “Assessing Programs for International Students: Enhancing the Journey of Discovery” at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) international conference, held at University College Dublin, Ireland, June 11–13. The conference theme was “The Impact of Internationalization on Student Services.”

John Thompson, associate professor, Computer Information Systems, edited the spring 2009 issue of theJournal for Computing Teachers, a publication of the Special Interest Group of Computing Teachers (SIGCT) for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The issue has contributions from authors from the USA, Australia, Finland, Israel, and Singapore.

Ron Smith, professor and chair, Communication, served on the preliminary jury for the 2009 Gabriel Awards, sponsored by the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals. The Gabriel Awards honor works of excellence in broadcasting that serve viewers and listeners through the positive, creative treatment of concerns of humankind. The Catholic Academy is the United States affiliate of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication. Members work in Catholic radio and television production, Diocesan communications, Internet and new technologies, film studies and media literacy, academic communications, distance learning, public relations, media relations, and publishing.

Lynn Rogers, student employment coordinator, Career Development Center, received the 2009 SUNYCDO Award for Excellence in Programming for “Student Employment Week” at the SUNY Career Development Organization annual conference in Watkins Glen, New York, June 3-5. Student Employment Week was created to honor and develop the connection between students, employers, and the community in which they work while showcasing the efforts of the Career Development Center. A week of activities, including food giveaways, recognition gifts, job-search advice, an “appreciation night,” and an awards reception provided enjoyable, high-visibility methods of promoting student employment services.