#buffalostatefaculty

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I am proud to introduce a new multimedia project we are calling “Faculty Engaged.”

As SUNY’s urban-engaged campus and an anchor institution for our wonderful city, Buffalo State College is committed to serving the community and creating unique opportunities for our students to connect to our region and enrich their educational and personal development. 

That commitment to service and engagement is fostered by our exceptional faculty. Through this new series, we will be highlighting the amazing and thoughtful work of some of our engaged faculty members. 

For our first episode, we traveled to Old Fort Niagara this summer to visit with Susan Maguire, associate professor of anthropology, as she led Buffalo State’s Archaeological Field School. Throughout the academic year, we will feature the outstanding work of other community-engaged faculty members—so stay tuned!

I invite you to engage, watch, and listen!  

Listen to the full interview

[kateconwayturner]

Last year, we introduced “Faculty Engaged,” a new multimedia project to highlight the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty. We had set out to release six episodes throughout the 2019–2020 academic year, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our schedule before the final two installments could be produced. Fortunately, we gathered footage and interviews for our final two subjects before social distancing became the norm, and today we are excited to share our sixth episode. 

We spoke with Pixita del Prado Hill, professor of elementary education, literacy, and educational leadership, to learn more about the many ways she connects with a global community of educators and mentors students, both inside and outside the classroom.

In this insightful interview, del Prado Hill also shares what inspired her to become a teacher, how students benefit from her unique study-abroad program, and how her work as co-director of the Professional Development Schools Consortium helps encourage and sustain faculty development.

In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about some big plans involving the Professional Development Schools and the Global Book Hour.

Please watch, listen, and engage!

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Watch or listen to past Faculty Engaged interviews:

Susan Maguire

Sarbani Banerjee

Rick Fleming

Gary Solar

John Torrey

[kateconwayturner]

Last year, we introduced “Faculty Engaged,” a new multimedia project to highlight the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty. We had set out to release six episodes throughout the 2019–2020 academic year, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our schedule before the final two installments could be produced. Fortunately, we gathered footage and interviews for our final two subjects before social distancing became the norm, and today we are excited to share our fifth episode.

In February, we visited with John Torrey, assistant professor of philosophy and Africana studies, to learn more about his career, research interests, and outstanding commitment to mentoring Buffalo State students. We also caught up with Dr. Torrey in September via Zoom to check in and see how he was navigating the pandemic and remote teaching.

In addition to the video episode, I invite you to listen to the full audio of our interview from February, which includes a discussion about the college’s popular Africana studies program.

Later this semester, we will share our sixth episode, which was also filmed before the pandemic.

Please watch, listen, and engage!

________________________________________________________________

Watch or listen to past Faculty Engaged interviews:

Susan Maguire

Sarbani Banerjee

Rick Fleming

Gary Solar

[kateconwayturner]

Welcome to the third episode of “Faculty Engaged,” our new multimedia project that highlights the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty.

In this episode, we visited with Professor Rick Fleming of the Music Department to learn about his passion for teaching, performing, and engaging with the community. 

We will continue to feature the outstanding work of other community-engaged faculty members throughout the year—so stay tuned. Please watch, listen, and engage!

Listen to the interview

________________________________________________________________

Watch or listen to past Faculty Engaged interviews:

Susan Maguire

Sarbani Banerjee

[kateconwayturner]

Welcome to the second episode of “Faculty Engaged,” our new multimedia project that highlights the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty.

In this episode, we visited with professor Sarbani Banerjee of the Computer Information Systems Department to learn more about her career and her department’s work to engage K–12 youth and high school teachers, as well as her outstanding commitment to mentoring Buffalo State students.

We will continue to feature the outstanding work of other community-engaged faculty members throughout the year—so stay tuned. Please watch, listen, and engage!

Listen to the full interview

________________________________________________________________

Listen to past Faculty Engaged interviews:

Susan Maguire

[kateconwayturner]

Research and Creativity: The Buffalo State Way

It was a totally enjoyable experience to attend the 19th annual Faculty and Staff Research and Creativity Fall Forum on Thursday. As I made the rounds in Houston Gym to appreciate the research displayed on posters and to engage in conversations with faculty members about their research projects, I was amazed at the diversity of research being explored on campus.

Hibajene Shandomo presented on “The Impact of Internationally Trained Educators on Youth at Risk, including Refugee Population in the U.S.A. classrooms”

The research covered all academic areas and varied in focus, but many projects tackled applied issues. From the exploration of the aged yellow hue in the Indian yellow pigment to the factors behind the economic growth in China, I was truly enthralled by the projects discussed. I am always impressed by the deep knowledge of our faculty and staff and the enthusiasm they have for their research areas.

Jing Zhang discussing her research topic and presentation: “A Comparison on Elementary Mathematics Textbooks among U.S., Mainland China, and UK”

And I was not disappointed this year! I agree with Provost Perreault, who shared the excitement of learning about new areas.  This wonderful event is an affirmation that Buffalo State faculty and staff members are strong researchers who address complicated and often applied questions. And it is rewarding to see how they cultivate the love of research and creative efforts within our students.

Provost Melanie Perreault welcomes and congratulates participants 

I personally had a wonderful time exploring the projects displayed and only wish I had had more time to spend chatting with faculty, puzzling over new questions, and learning more from our research experts. But then there will be next year, and I can’t wait to see the research projects that will be shared with our community.

Presentation on “Clinical Skill Development for Graduate Clinicians: Five Essential Elements of Intensive Summer Proramming” by Sara Mann Kahris and Theresa M. Cinotti, Speech-Language Hearing Clinic

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City of Buffalo as Classroom and Partner

As I move through the city of Buffalo, I often engage others in discussing the many ways that Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students are involved in the workings, projects, agencies, and businesses in Buffalo; however, it is also rewarding to hear the many ways that the city of Buffalo is tied to the curriculum we teach on campus.

Many of you have heard me quote Laura Hill Rao, director of civic and community engagement, about the steady increase in service-learning courses on campus. These courses connect students to service-learning opportunities that both enrich the educational process and contribution to the community while also requiring significant reflection. The number of courses has more than doubled during the last five years, and this year, 2,341 students enrolled in 143 service-learning classes.

But as I dug deeper and asked the deans to share the number of classes that are tied directly to the city of Buffalo, I was amazed. The list was long and impressive, and we see that classes linked to our city have emerged across most disciplines. I will mention just a few of the many ways our classes are connected to the city.

The official banner of the city of Buffalo

In the School of Education, we see deep and long-standing bonds with schools throughout Buffalo. These include a long list of public schools and several private and charter schools. Much of this work is done through the Professional Development Schools Consortium, where P–12 schools work in concert with Buffalo State to facilitate high levels of learning for all students enrolled. Our work within the Buffalo area schools is nothing short of legendary. As I meet with members of local schools, they never fail to mention the many outstanding teachers in their schools or districts who are Buffalo State graduates.

At the Professional Development Schools Consortium retreat

Within the School of Natural and Social Sciences, we also see impressive connections to the city of Buffalo. Did you know that Anthropology 418: Physical Anthropology connects with Forest Lawn Cemetery? Or that Anthropology 322: Research Methods in Primatology has students studying at our local zoo? And Political Science uses the city of Buffalo as a case study in urban development for Political Science 215: Urban Government. We also have a long list of history and museum studies courses that explore the history, archives, and artifacts of the many peoples, places, and organizations within and around Buffalo.

Throughout the departments within the School of Arts and Humanities, we see many direct connections to the city of Buffalo. Some of the courses and projects that stood out to me were the “Youth Voices Speaker Series,” which brings together students and teachers across the city to share the creative work occurring in their English classes; the many courses that connect our theater and music programs to community members; FAR 322: Intermediate Photography II, which sends students out to capture the life of the city and the surrounding environment; and COM 303: Print News I Reporting, which links students to the issues emerging in Buffalo, including those facing our city’s leaders.

And within the School of the Professions, faculty members are also connecting their students to Buffalo. In Business 404: Marketing Research, students partner with the Buffalo State Civic and Community Engagement Office to provide market research for local businesses. In Computer Science 435: Service Learning and Computing, students collaborate with high school students to share expertise in coding skills. In Creative Studies 680: Designing and Delivering Creativity Education, students work under the tutelage of faculty members with organizations throughout the city to provide creative and effective solutions to problems they are experiencing. From assisting Compass House in increasing volunteer participation to helping local restaurants increase sales, students lend what they are learning in creative studies to real-life problems.

At this summer’s Computer Science for High School (CS4HS) Students showcase

So as I have pondered our connections to Buffalo, I have been impressed with the many ways across varied disciplines that Buffalo State faculty members are manifesting our urban-engaged commitment. Our relationships within the city of Buffalo are reciprocal: We partner with every aspect of Buffalo in ways that advance our city partners and allow the city of Buffalo to be an extension of the classroom. And these relationships also allow the community to be a co-instructor, partner, and significant part of the learning process for our students.

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Table Talk: A New Tradition Beginning Next Fall

There are many members of the campus community whom I see regularly in both formal and informal ways; however, some members I see rarely. I look forward to an opportunity to have a relaxed chat and an uninterrupted conversation with faculty and staff members across campus.

Beginning in September 2018, I will start a new tradition that I am calling “Table Talk.” One Friday each month (normally the first Friday) at 4:00 p.m., I will invite a dozen members of the campus community to join me in the Fireside Lounge in the Campbell Student Union for coffee, conversation, and one of our new Bengal cookies.

A view of the Fireside Lounge

The invitees will be a random group, and you will receive an invitation via both e-mail and regular mail. I look forward to our conversations and sharing our thoughts and perspectives. Thank you for accepting my future invitations and engaging in Table Talk.

[kateconwayturner]

25 Years of Service to the Buffalo State Community

If you walked by the Social Hall on March 17 around noon, you may have heard lots of laughter and words of congratulations. The event that generated such enthusiastic responses was the yearly celebration of faculty and staff members who have served at Buffalo State for 25 years. The audience contained our 13 honorees and family, friends, and colleagues who joined us for the celebration.

The 13 employees crossing the 25-year mark this year: Patricia Alessandra, Robert Baumet, Daniel Cunningham, Maria Garrett, Marybeth Keller, Rainelle McLeod, William Mitchell, Raul Neira, Kevin Railey, David Reinecke, Jerrold Richmond, Thomas White, Michael Zborowski.

What an honor it was to be in the presence of this dedicated group who has worked so hard to bring the mission of Buffalo State alive. During the ceremony, we heard of the tremendous commitment of each person honored, the many goals they have met over the last 25 years, and the projects that have been conceived and executed for the betterment of our college. It was wonderful to stop our busy work lives to toast these important members of the community.

Honoring our colleagues who are in their 25th year of service at Buffalo State College.

In addition to learning of the many professional accomplishments of these individuals, I learned a few other things. I learned that among the honorees were someone who loves archery, a colleague who can impersonate a TV star, and yet another who loves avocados (holy guacamole!).

I deeply appreciate the many ways each honoree has contributed to the college for the last quarter century, and I look forward to their future contributions. Special thanks to Provost Perreault and Vice President LeVine, who, through their introductions, allowed the audience a glimpse into some of the contributions and personal interests of our amazing honorees.

Above and below: Family, friends, and colleagues joined the 13 honorees at the annual luncheon on March 17, 2016

It was obvious from the hearty laughter and good wishes that our Buffalo State community is a great place to work and a great college in which to make significant and important professional contributions.

View more photos from the 25 Years of Service Celebration

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Emeriti Faculty and Staff Remain Connected to Buffalo State

This week I had the opportunity to host and meet over 80 retired or soon-to-be-retired members of the Buffalo State community. Some, like Tom McCray, associate professor of communication, and Joyce Owens, a former cleaner with Custodial Services, are making their transition to retirement this academic year, while many others recounted that they had been retired for many years; however, what was clear was their level of commitment to Buffalo State and the values of the Buffalo State community. 

With Joyce Owens, who retired this past year from Buffalo State

Retirees shared the many ways they continue to serve Buffalo State and how they remain engaged with their disciplines, their communities, and their families. Among the many activities discussed were trips to Uganda to train social work students, assistance to Buffalo community members with immigration concerns, social science research projects, teaching part time at Buffalo State, and translating materials into other languages. I also heard stories of how retired members of the Buffalo State community are balancing family, travel, and golf while still making significant contributions to issues of interest. It is clear that retirement has been a transition for many; this new state has opened doors, opportunities, and other important interests.

With Kathryn Hartrick and former Buffalo State Athletic Director Fred Hartrick 

So I applaud the many and layered contributions that these faculty and staff members have made (and continue to make) to the Buffalo State community. It is exhilarating to know that “the engaged” Buffalo State way has not diminished for so many of our retired faculty and staff; it has merely taken a different form.

With retired faculty member Proves Banks Jr. and Luci Banks

I look forward to visiting with this segment of our Buffalo State community as they continue to participate in the life of the college, act as docents for our many wonderful cultural institutions on and off campus, and participate in the intellectual and community life of Buffalo.