Cheryl Albers, associate professor, Sociology, published “Faculty Development Benefits of Teaching in a First-Year Learning Community” in the August 2007 edition of the Journal of Learning Communities Research.This study used frameworks from social sciences to examine the unrecognized forms of faculty development that result from structured, collaborative teaching. The results indicate that sustained collaboration has a positive impact on the campus culture.

Zhang Jie, professor, Sociology, and director, Center for China Studies, published his article “Degree of Suicide Intent and the Lethality of Means Employed: A Study of Chinese Attempters,” coauthored with Huilan Xu, in theArchives of Suicide Research 11 (4): 343–350.

Aimable Twagilimana, professor, English, and Coordinator, African and African American Studies Interdisciplinary Unit, had his book Historical Dictionary of Rwanda (Historical Dictionary of Africa series) published by Scarecrow Press (October 2007).

Deborah Silverman, assistant professor, Communication, participated in a panel presentation, “Ethics in Public Relations,” as part of the Public Relations Society of America’s Northeast District Conference in Rochester, New York, on October 4.

Richard Herdlein, associate professor, has been appointed chair of the Student Personnel Administration Department. Herdlein was honored by the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPA-NYS) for his Outstanding Contribution to the Profession at the annual professional conference in Albany, New York, October 7–9. Herdlein and two former graduate students, Christine Frezza and Joanne Dina, have coauthored an article accepted by the Journal of Negro Education titled“Deans of Women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Story Left Untold.”

Zhang Jie, professor, Sociology, and director, Center for China Studies, published his article “Validating a Short Version of the Suicide Intent Scale in China,” coauthored with Cun-Xian Jia, in Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying 55 (4): 255–265.

William Raffel, lecturer, Communication, presented his paper “Defining Celtic Music: The Marketplace Meets Tradition” at the 27th annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium, held at Harvard University October 5–7. The paper addresses the evolution of “Celtic rock,” with discussions of authenticity and the marketing of folk/world music. The paper will be submitted for publication in the proceedings of the colloquium.

Rafika Merini, associate professor, Modern and Classical Languages, and students in two of her classes were interviewed on April 19 by Radio-Canada reporter Sebastien Perron about their thoughts on the Virginia Tech massacre and the gun control issue, as well as on Buffalo State’s response to the Virginia Tech tragedy. The interviews aired on April 23 as part of a documentary that also included University at Buffalo and Penn State professors’ reactions. Students were asked questions in French and in English and were exposed to professional reporting.

Bruce Bryski, associate professor, Communication, has been named chief political analyst at WLVL-AM 1340. Based in Lockport, New York, WLVL serves Niagara and Erie counties. Bryski is a frequent guest analyst on local radio and television discussing media and political issues.

Lisa Marie Anselmi, assistant professor, Anthropology, participated in the Archaeology Workshop on Site Chronologies as part of the 2007 Conference on Iroquois Research at the Rensselaerville Institute in Rensselaerville, New York, on October 6.