The Spring 2025 “Conversations in and out of the Disciplines” series kicks off today as Naila Ansari Catilo, assistant professor of theater, presents “The Power of Joy: A Radical Act of Resistance and Healing in the Face of Trauma.” The talk, followed by a brief Q&A, will begin at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320. A short wine and cheese reception will follow. Everyone is welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the second talk of the spring semester, when Mehwish Sarwari and Patrick McGovern, from Government, Planning, and Philosophy, will present "Blue Helmets as Political Regime Influencers: The Impact of Democratic Peacekeeping Personnel on Democratization in Conflict-affected States."  at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 9, in Ketchum Hall 320.

The “Conversations” series was started 17 years ago by Ann Colley, SUNY Distinguished Professor Emerita of English, to “celebrate and draw attention to the research being done in various departments at Buffalo State University.” Over this time, colleagues from Anthropology, Art Conservation, Art History, Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Secondary Education, among others, have shared their work with the Buffalo State and Buffalo communities.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “The pelagic and benthic life of Mysis diluviana, native mysid shrimp of the Great Lakes,” presented by Dr. Jim Watkins on Monday, March 3, at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 214. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies leading up to the seminar.

Research Seminar Abstract: The native opossum shrimp Mysis diluviana is a critical crustacean of the deep Great Lakes, particularly since the near extiripation of native benthic amphipod Diporeia hoyi. Both are considered glacial “relicts” and Lake Ontario and the NY Finger Lakes represents the far southern extent of their range. While the benthic amphipod has nearly disappeared, the largely pelagic mysid has continued to persist, leading to questions on how the spread of nonnative dreissenid mussels have played a role. Mysids have the unique behavior of diel vertical migration, occurring in a distinct swarm layer at night and then rapidly migrating to the bottom of the lake during the day. Several fish species seek this lipid rich prey. I will present two new approaches to assessing mysid populations both in the water and near the sediment that have led us to a novel hypothesis on what could be causing some recently observed mysid declines in some lakes but not others.

Come join the Instructional Design and Distance Learning online session, Brightspace Ally Training for Faculty and Staff, on Monday, March 3, from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Presented by Meghan Pereira.

This training provides faculty and staff with essential guidance on using Brightspace Ally to enhance course accessibility. Participants will learn how to interpret Ally course reports, improve course materials for diverse learners, and leverage Ally’s alternative formats to support inclusive learning. The session includes hands-on demonstrations and best practices to ensure a more accessible and equitable educational experience for all students.

Please register through the Workshop Registration System. 

The UB School of Nursing’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee invites the campus community to engage in Minding the Gaps: Dialogues on Disparities, a thought-provoking panel series addressing racial disparities and inclusivity within university environments.

On Friday, February 28, and Friday, March 14, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., Dr. Douglas Hoston from Buffalo State University's School of Education’s Social and Psychological Foundations in Education will join a panel of experts to explore the history of racial disparity, otherness, and strategies for creating safe spaces. These sessions will include discussions, interactive breakout rooms, and Q&A opportunities.

The event will be held on Zoom, with a link provided upon registration. Sign up today to be part of these critical conversations.

Save the Date: WORKSHOP -- Augmented Human Intelligence in the Age of AI

Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: BSU Alumni Center
Sponsor: BSU GAC grant

Join us for an insightful and interactive event exploring the intersection of human intelligence and artificial intelligence. This event will feature a keynote presentation and hands-on workshops designed to increase awareness, develop practical AI skills, foster networking, and promote continued engagement with AI.

Why Attend?

✔️ Expand Your Understanding: Gain a deeper insight into AI's impact on various fields.
✔️ Gain Hands-On Experience: Participate in practical workshops designed to help you apply AI skills in your professional context.
✔️ Build Meaningful Connections: Engage with professionals and like-minded individuals to expand your network.
✔️ Stay Engaged with AI: Discover future opportunities to continue learning and applying AI in your work.

Don't miss out—mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details!
For inquiries or to get involved, write to carbonjo@buffalostate.edu

Organizing and Support committee:

BSU faculty leading the project:
Naila Catilo, Angela Thering, Zhen Liu, Joaquin Carbonara

BSU provost office:
Provost Amitra Wall, VP Scott Goodman

DSA students:
Himmat Chahal, Henry McCallion
and others

DSA alumni:
Mounika Gorugantu MS, SUNY Chancellor's award for student excellence 2024
and others

DSA Advisory Board:
Amin Serehali, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Independent Health
and others

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “The pelagic and benthic life of Mysis diluviana, native mysid shrimp of the Great Lakes.”, presented by Dr. Jim Watkins today at 3:00 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center 214. Attendees are welcome to arrive at 2:30 p.m. to enjoy coffee and cookies leading up to the seminar.

Research Seminar Abstract: The native opossum shrimp Mysis diluviana is a critical crustacean of the deep Great Lakes, particularly since the near extiripation of native benthic amphipod Diporeia hoyi.  Both are considered glacial “relicts” and Lake Ontario and the NY Finger Lakes represents the far southern extent of their range. While the benthic amphipod has nearly disappeared, the largely pelagic mysid has continued to persist, leading to questions on how the spread of nonnative dreissenid mussels have played a role.  Mysids have the unique behavior of diel vertical migration, occurring in a distinct swarm layer at night and then rapidly migrating to the bottom of the lake during the day.  Several fish species seek this lipid rich prey.  I will present two new approaches to assessing mysid populations both in the water and near the sediment that have led us to a novel hypothesis on what could be causing some recently observed mysid declines in some lakes but not others.

Headshot Happy Hour: Alumni Career Panel and Networking Event

Join us for an exciting career event open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members! Hear from accomplished Buffalo State alumni as they share their career journeys, offer industry insights, and provide expert advice on in-demand job skills and professional branding. Bonus: Receive a professional headshot taken by our Buffalo State photographer. Enjoy delicious food and drinks while networking with fellow alumni and professionals.

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.
JVL Alumni & Visitor Center
Students can attend for free; for all others, there is a registration fee of $5 per person

Featured Panelists:

Michelle Sawyers, '09, '13 – President and CEO of the YMCA of WNY
Marc Braun, '17 – Human Resources Business Partner at Superior Lubricants Company, Inc.
Michelle Plesh, '89 – Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Excelsior Orthopedics; Buffalo State University Lecturer, Human Resources Management 

Register now to secure your spot!

The Great Lakes Center (GLC) is seeking Great Lakes Faculty Scholars Program applicants for the Fall 2025 semester.  The Great Lakes Faculty Scholars Program will fund a course release for one semester to allow faculty to have the time needed to bring an external grant to fruition. Faculty interested in this program need to show evidence of some preliminary groundwork toward a grant application on any topic relevant to the Great Lakes and/or its watershed, including urban environments adjacent or connected to the Great Lakes.

We seek to bolster collaborations between faculty in any department at Buffalo State with faculty affiliated with the GLC, or to further collaborations between BSU faculty and colleagues at other institutions.  Faculty members in the program may also receive one Huppuch Tuition Scholarship, if needed, to entice a prospective graduate student to help carry out the proposed search.  Huppuch Tuition Scholarships cover all costs associate with full-time, in-state graduate tuition.

The application deadline for faculty seeking a Fall course release is April 1st, 2025.

Great Lakes Faculty Scholars Program information and application materials

The Great Lakes Center mission is to improve the quality of the environment by providing the best possible science to decision-makers concerned with the health and sustainability of Great Lakes resources.  This is accomplished, in part, through high quality research and current graduate and undergraduate education.  The Great Lakes Faculty Scholars Program has been created to advance this mission.

Campbell Student Union: Spring Break Hours

The Campbell Student Union will modify its hours from March 22, 2025, to March 30, 2025.

Spring Break Schedule

Friday, March 21, 2025: 8am-10pm
Saturday, March 22 - Sunday, March 23: Closed
Monday, March 24 - Tuesday, March 25: 8:30am-4pm
Wednesday, March 26: Closed
Thursday, March 27: 8:30am-4pm
Friday, March 28: 8:30am-3pm
Saturday, March 29: Closed
Sunday, March 30: 12pm-8pm (Bengal Kitchen 12-8pm & True Burger 2pm – 8pm)

On Thursday, March 13th from 4:30-6:00pm, Katherine B. Manis, Lecturer in Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics, will co-facilitate Your Mood and Food with Jessica Fitzpatrick, Social Work. Often when people think about their diet, they are focused on improving their physical health. However, a growing body of research shows that “you are what you eat” also applies to your emotional and cognitive wellbeing.

This engaging workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about the connection between mood and food and will sample and create healthy snacks. Participants will leave with a list of recommended foods and skills to recreate the recipes at home as well as a list of mental health resources. Due to room limitations, this event will be open to 25 participants and registration is required by emailing Jessica at fitzpajm@buffalostate.edu. Funded by the Faculty-Student Association.