During this holiday season, you have no doubt noticed how much unsolicited mail you get from a variety of worthy causes. It is indeed the time of year when our hearts are most open to giving. However, neither the season nor a temporary sense of guilt over one's personal privilege should be the motivation to give. We participate in the SEFA/United Way campaign not for our own self-satisfaction at being generous, but because it is simply the right thing to do. We are indeed the keepers of our brothers and sisters. I consider this a gift I give as a member of the family of humanity and the larger family of life on this planet. Because I cannot do all that needs to be done by myself, I give to the agencies in the United Way who will use my donation to do that work.

We warmly invite you to share your very personal reasons for giving, and we'll feature them in the Daily. Please send your thoughts to campaign co-chairs Wendy Paterson, dean of the School of Education, or Maria C. Garrity, senior systems programmer in Information Technology. We are nearing the end of the campaign. To donate, please go to the e-pledge system and click "Forgot user ID or password" to begin the process, increase your pledge or change your designated agency or simply roll over your pledge from last year. 

Thank you.

The campus community is invited to attend the NYS Employee Assistance Program's monthly webinar "Share a Random Act of Gratitude" on Wednesday, December 11, from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The December WellNYS Everyday Monthly Challenge is to be kind with a random act of gratitude. Join us as we share 10 free or inexpensive ways of showing kindness to others. Participants are encouraged to share a creative act of gratitude in the chat box. This 30-minute seminar will be presented by Linda Carignan-Everts, statewide wellness coordinator.

Please register for this free 30-minute webinar through the WebEx meeting registration page. You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the session.

Career and Professional Education (CAPE) is facilitating the SUNY Incremental Funding for Internships for spring 2025. Student applications are due January 12.  On-campus internship site applications are due December 16.

Each student is eligible to receive up to $950. This funding can be used for general living expenses, professional clothing, and transportation, as well as costs associated with housing or rent. This initiative is a testament to SUNY's commitment to enhancing the educational experience of our students by providing them with real-world, hands-on opportunities that align with their academic and career goals.

Inform Students
If you know of any students who are interested in or are pursuing an internship for Spring 2025, please inform them of this opportunity. Students can apply for this funding by completing an online application in Bengal Connect. Applications must be submitted by January 12.

Looking to Host an Intern?
If your office would like to host an intern for spring 2025, please complete this online form ASAP and no later than December 16. This is a great opportunity to have an undergraduate student work on a special project or initiative. Many of our students do not have access to transportation, so on-campus experiences will ensure that more students have access to this opportunity. Please contact Maureen Huber, associate director of CAPE, with questions.

We are asking for your assistance to support this initiative.

CAPE is available to help students create their résumés, cover letters, and any other professional documents needed to apply for an internship.

Please contact Denise Harris, director of CAPE, with questions.

The Campbell Student Union will modify its hours from November 27, 2024, to November 29, 2024.

Thanksgiving Break Schedule

• November 27: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Bengal Kitchen and retail dining closed)
• November 28-29: Closed
• November 30: Return to normal hours (10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday / 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday)

Please visit the Campbell Student Union website for more information regarding space requests, building policies, rental fees.

Winterim, the period between the fall and spring semesters when a variety of activities are held on campus to support the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of faculty, staff, and students, will be held January 13-17, 2025. 

Winterim is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and learn from one another. If you have a skill, passion, or talent you would like to share with the campus community, please complete and submit the Winterim Session Submission form by Friday, December 6.

Please contact the Professional Development Center, (716) 878-5364, with questions.

Thank you to our faculty and staff for your generous donations to the Buffalo State Foundation Bengala Gift Gathering. Your contributions help make Bengala, scheduled for Saturday, April 5, from 4-8 PM in the E.H. Butler Library, a success in supporting student scholarships and financial aid. There is still time to participate by donating a department experience or purchasing items from our gift registries at Barnes & Noble in the Union or on Amazon. To donate a department experience for the auction, please email Elizabeth Grad, director of development events at gradyes@buffalostate.edu. For registry purchases, items from Amazon will be delivered directly to our office, and for Barnes & Noble, you must visit the desk to access the in-person registry list. Your support makes a meaningful difference for our students, and we truly appreciate your generosity!

Professional Staff Caucus leadership would like to say thank you for all you do. We see you. Thank you for your everyday collegiality, kindnesses, compassion, effort and care.  

Now, it's your turn to thank your colleagues.

Use the new PSC ShareBox to see something nice, say something nice and brighten someone's day. The niceties collected will be posted on the PSC website.

Governor Kathy Hochul has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset today, November 18, in honor of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation worker Dariel Vasquez, who was killed November 9 while battling a forest fire in Orange County.

Film producer Craig Perry will visit associate professor of communication Dorothea Braemer's Advanced Field Production class on Tuesday, November 19, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. Mr. Perry is the producer of the Final Destination franchise (Scream 6 and 7; Ready or Not; Cellar Door) and the American Pie franchise, among many other projects.

Anyone is welcome to join the discussion.

The Chemistry Department will host a graduate student seminar, "Artificial Intelligence-Powered Discovery of Small Molecules Inhibiting CTLA-4 in Cancer," presented by Alyssa Heisler, a graduate student in the M.S. forensic science program, on Thursday, November 21, during Bengal Pause (12:15-1:30 p.m.) in Science and Mathematics Complex 173. Donuts and coffee will be served.

Abstract
The development of small molecules targeting immune checkpoint proteins, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. CTLA-4, an inhibitory receptor on T cells, plays a critical role in downregulating immune responses, and its blockade or inhibition has proved effective in enhancing anti-tumor immunity; however, discovering small molecules that specifically inhibit CTLA-4 remains a complex and intensive process. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly affected drug discovery, especially in targeting immune checkpoint proteins like CTLA-4.

AI techniques including machine learning, deep learning, and predictive modeling are transforming the landscape of drug discovery by enabling faster, more efficient identification and optimization of promising therapeutic drug candidates. AI models can rapidly analyze large datasets that include chemical libraries, protein structures, and biological assays, allowing them to predict molecular interactions with target proteins such as CTLA-4. AI algorithms are advantageous in screening vast chemical spaces, identifying lead compounds that might be challenging to discover using conventional methods.

The ability of AI to integrate diverse data types provides a deeper understanding of how these inhibitors may interact with the immune system and the molecular mechanisms underlying CTLA-4 inhibition. This progress paves the way for more targeted and personalized therapies. As AI technologies continue to evolve, their role in drug discovery is expected to expand, offering opportunities to accelerate the development of novel small-molecule therapies for cancer immunotherapy and beyond.