When: March 17 from 4:30–5:45 p.m.

Where: BACON 115 and Zoom 718 6340613

Invited Speaker: Saverio "Sam" Marrazzo, CIO, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc.

Presentation: "From Road Rage to Road Recognition – Using GPUs, Video Streams, and AI Models, We Detect and Map Potholes In Real-time!"

From Reactive to Proactive: The AI Advantage – Why waiting for problems isn’t an option anymore—predictive analytics and machine learning are transforming road maintenance, resource allocation, and public safety.

AI Isn’t Just for Tech Giants – How cities, businesses, and even small organizations can leverage AI, automation, and real-time data streams to work smarter, not harder. What’s Next? The Future of Data-Driven Problem Solving – From potholes to public transit, energy grids, and even government operations—AI is reshaping the way we think about efficiency.

About Our Speaker:

Saverio “Sam” Marrazzo – Technology Innovator & AI Strategist Chief Innovation Officer at BNMC in Buffalo, NY, where he leads the development of cutting-edge technology strategies that drive innovation, security, and economic growth. With over 25 years of experience in IT strategy, architecture, and management, Sam has held leadership roles at Fortune 200 companies including Praxair, Avnet, and McGraw Hill, where he specialized in IT strategy, project management, and emerging technologies. Sam’s expertise spans AI, blockchain, healthcare, and sustainability, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology and user experience. He has been instrumental in launching impactful platforms such as: Ognomy (Telemedicine for Sleep Apnea) – Revolutionized sleep studies by enabling remote diagnoses and streamlining patient care. Green Project Technologies (ESG Emissions Tracking) – Developed an AI-powered platform to help private equity and law firms automate sustainability reporting. QAS.ai (AI for Endovascular Procedures) – Led the development of a real-time AI assistant for surgeons to improve decision-making during complex medical procedures. GrowerStats (Food-as-Medicine Initiative) – Created a platform integrating prescription-based nutrition programs with point-of-sale systems to improve food accessibility in underserved communities. Postpartum Depression Gaming Platform (University of Memphis) – Co-developed an AI-driven engagement platform to improve mental health research and survey participation. Blockchain Innovations at University at Buffalo – Contributed to blockchain-based projects in supply chain, digital identity, and data security. As an Adjunct Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Management, Sam has been teaching Product Management for over five years, mentoring students through real-world consulting projects. He also co-created a Co-Op program that bridges academia and industry, giving students hands-on experience with local businesses. Sam serves on the Board of InfoTech WNY, actively advising startups and emerging tech companies such as OrderApetit, Ognomy, and Green Project Tech. A United States Navy veteran, he holds a BA in Business Systems from Daemen University and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His mission? To bridge the gap between traditional industries and modern AI-driven solutions—using technology to solve real-world challenges and drive economic growth. Location Data Location: (42.8864, -78.8784) Source: GeoIP Estimation

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “Impacts of sex ratio Meiotic drive on stalk eyed flies,” presented by Dr. Josie Reinhardt on Monday, March 17, 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: Meiotic drivers are selfish genetic elements that violate the law of segregation, being passed to offspring at super-Mendelian ratios. In male stalk-eyed flies (Teleopsis dalmanni), an X-linked meiotic drive polymorphism drives at about 95% efficiency via a sperm-killing mechanism and is associated with reductions in length of male flies' sexual ornament (the eyestalk). We recently assembled and annotated a genome to map multiple inversions trapping variation on the drive X chromosome, and discovered a promising candidate gene for drive in a region of inversion overlap, a partial duplicate of a testes-expressed chromatin binding gene called JASPer. In addition, new whole genome sequencing evidence from a close relative indicates a likely shared origin of the drive X chromosome in these two species, despite earlier evidence suggesting distinct patterns of genetic divergence. Finally, we recently found evidence that drive male flies are more aggressive than their non-driving counterparts when matched for ornament size.

Please let your students know Fall 2025 scholarship applications are available now in the CAPS Scholarship Portal! Students may apply for Fall 2025 scholarships until April 17th.

https://buffalostate.academicworks.com/

From the Bylaws and Elections Committee Chair

Nominations for the two open At-Large positions can be submitted between Monday, April 21 at 12:01 a.m. and Thursday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m. 

Individuals running for a Buffalo State Senate position in another election may not be nominated or self-nominate for the At-Large Senator positions while the other election is being conducted.  If the other election concludes during the period when nominations are being accepted, eligible individuals may be nominated for the At-Large Senate positions. 

The Senate encourages senate elections conducted by the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Professions, as well as the Professional Staff Caucus (PSC), to be concluded prior to April 21 so that candidates not elected in these elections may be nominated for At-Large positions. 

Turkessa Amoah from TIAA will be on campus for individual consultations with Buffalo State faculty and staff members on Thursday, April 10; and Tuesday June 10 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Cleveland Hall 416.

Appointments are required. Please visit the TIAA website to schedule an appointment or call (800) 732-8353 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. There is no cost for these consultations.

No matter where you are in life—just getting started or planning for retirement—a consultation session can help you create a plan for your goals. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Space is limited. Sign up today.

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “Impacts of sex ratio Meiotic drive on stalk eyed flies.”, presented by Dr. Josie Reinhardt 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: Meiotic drivers are selfish genetic elements that violate the law of segregation, being passed to offspring at super-Mendelian ratios. In male stalk-eyed flies (Teleopsis dalmanni), an X-linked meiotic drive polymorphism drives at about 95% efficiency via a sperm-killing mechanism and is associated with reductions in length of male flies' sexual ornament (the eyestalk). We recently assembled and annotated a genome to map multiple inversions trapping variation on the drive X chromosome, and discovered a promising candidate gene for drive in a region of inversion overlap, a partial duplicate of a testes-expressed chromatin binding gene called JASPer. In addition, new whole genome sequencing evidence from a close relative indicates a likely shared origin of the drive X chromosome in these two species, despite earlier evidence suggesting distinct patterns of genetic divergence. Finally, we recently found evidence that drive male flies are more aggressive than their non-driving counterparts when matched for ornament size.

The Butler Library will be closed all day Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 for the 28th annual Buffalo State Foundation gala, Bengala 2025. The goal of this event is to raise funds for financial assistance and scholarships for all Buffalo State students.

The Library’s StudyQuad space will remain open for regular hours and will be available for use during that time. StudyQuad can be accessed through the library entrance facing Cleveland Hall. The StudyQuad space provides access to 100 desktop computers, printer, scanner, group study room, and tables and chairs of various sizes for studying.  Complete library hours can be accessed here: https://libcal.buffalostate.edu/hours/

Please help get the word out to students! Signs will be posted in the library alerting students this change.

Participate in the mobile silent auction or purchase tickets to the event.  A single full price ticket is $250 and is available through payroll deduction here: bengala_payroll.pdf . At-cost tickets of $150 are available for faculty/staff with a purchase of 5 or more tickets and can be purchased through contacting Elizabeth Grady, gradyes@buffaloststate.edu Visit giving.buffalostate.edu/gala for tickets and more information about our annual fundraiser for our Buffalo State student scholarships and financial aid.

Come celebrate accessibility and diversity with Flame! A band composed of all individuals with disabilities, breaking barriers through music. Event will be held at Burchfield-Penney Art Center Auditorium on Wednesday, March 19th from 6:00PM-8:00PM. 

Additionally, the gallery will be open from 5:00PM-6:00PM for attendees of this event!

Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5 PM

Upton Hall 230

Please join us for an on-campus screening of an AIFIS award winning documentary, Barang Panas (HOT STUFF), part of a trio of Indonesian films that delve into energy policies in Indonesia, corporate ties to those policies, and their detrimental effects on local environments and populations.

We will be joining the filmmakers as they will be joining us live from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor as screening locations around the world will watch the film together and connect via Zoom for a post-screening discussion.

*This event is open to the entire Buffalo State community and general public. 

Sponsors: GETSEA, SUNY/CUNY SEAC, Global Studies Institute, Small Business Development Center, Geosciences Department. 

The New York State Master Teacher Program, the Buffalo State GAC, and Schools of Education and Arts and Sciences present an evening with Dr. Bettina Love on Friday, March 28th, at 4 pm in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. The event is free and open to all students, faculty, and community.
Dr. Love tells the story of her generation, the Hip Hop generation – children of the ‘80s and '90s – who came of age when mass incarceration and educational policies put unmistakable, identical targets on the backs of Black children. Crime reform and education reform merged to label Black children as crack babies, Super Predators, and thugs, and told the nation they were nothing more than an achievement gap. Dr. Love’s presentation vividly explains how the last four decades of educational reform laid the foundation for each book ban, CRT ban, and the never-ending goal of reformers to extract from Black education for their own gain. Her talk will end with a road map for repair, arguing for educational reparations with transformation for all children at its core.
The talk will begin at 4 p.m., with a Q&A with Dr. Love to follow. If you are interested, plan on staying for a post-talk discussion; more information will follow.
Please register for this free event here.