As I approach my final days as president of Buffalo State University, I am in a reflective mood as I remember the last nine years and the amazing adventures we have been on together. From the first day I stepped onto campus in my formal role as president, I was enthralled with the legacy, possibilities, and promise that create the foundation of this great institution. The story of Buffalo State is one of transforming the lives of students across generations. Today, as a predominantly diverse institution, we continue the tradition of helping students find their path to individual and familial success.
I immediately felt at home at Buffalo State. I had entered a community that valued student success and was committed to lifting students from all backgrounds, cultures, and life situations to new heights. As we say at every open house for new students, “You are welcome here.” We welcome students to an institution where they are valued, where they are seen, and where they will find mentors and supporters to help them find their way.
Over the years, we have accomplished many things together. We have developed and implemented significant plans and organizational changes. We have built and renovated our facilities in ways that increase efficiency and provide state-of-the-art environments where learning can best occur. We have clustered together to rethink curriculum and to augment our education with increased levels of engagement throughout our community. We have considered and incorporated student support efforts while also increasing high-impact practices. We have asked the question, What else should we do to support our students? And we have moved to increase programs that lean into greater successes for them.
These years have also seen significant challenges from the environments around us. The global pandemic accelerated an enrollment cliff that was already threatening higher education and challenging us all to engage in new, creative, and evolving ways to resettle Buffalo State as we moved toward our future. Crises and change are not easy, and while some see opportunities, others see only obstacles. Together we have faced both.
But as I reflect on the last nine years, I appreciate the senior team that has led the work of the campus. I am thankful for the many faculty, staff, community members, donors, friends of the university, and leadership boards that helped us keep student success at the center of our work. It is this terrific team and community that will lead us into our next decade with dedication, innovation, and energy. I will be forever enriched by the thousands of students who have joined Buffalo State and have moved on to become leaders in their chosen fields. It is our students who have fueled my work every single day.
I am a true Bengal, and I always will be. My love for our urban-engaged anchor mission will not diminish as I start another chapter in my life. So to Buffalo State I say, “Live long and prosper,” and may the Buffalo State community always hold high the virtues of excellence, engagement, and social responsibility.
On April 8, 2024, at 3:18 p.m., those of us in Western New York will experience a little less than four minutes of darkness. The total solar eclipse, which occurs when the disk of the moon completely covers the sun, is extremely rare. It’s so rare that it usually only occurs in one location every 300 to 400 years.
To prepare for this exciting event, I have designated April 2023–April 2024 the Year of the Eclipse at Buffalo State University.
Some of you attended the “Countdown to Totality” open house on April 8, when we kicked off the Year of the Eclipse. That was just the beginning. Throughout the year, the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium will feature public programming that focuses on the main players in an eclipse—the sun, moon, and earth—as well as eclipse mythology, history, safety, and connections to art.
Kicking off the Year of the Eclipse at Buffalo State University with the "Countdown to Totality" event held on April 8, 2023.
It begins with “Moons: World of Mystery” this Friday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m. and will be repeated every Friday through June 10 (except for May 19). Fittingly, the planetarium will end each program with a laser show set to songs from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon immediately afterward at 8:30 p.m. Check out the planetarium’s event page to see more programming in the weeks and months to come and to purchase tickets.
In addition, faculty members across campus are encouraged to tie the total solar eclipse into their courses over the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. Kevin Williams, associate professor of earth sciences and planetarium director, will work with the provost and deans to connect with faculty to get them excited and prepared. Dr. Williams and Mary Beth Wojtaszek, associate events manager, are also co-chairing the campus Eclipse Task Force to connect with other offices and departments across campus.
I know that by the time the total eclipse occurs next April, we’ll all be ready!
As I conclude my 43rd year in higher education, I find myself returning repeatedly to the notion that education is the great equalizer. As many of you know, my generation was the first in my family to attend college or even to finish high school. As I reflect on my life, I realize that higher education was the silver bullet that made the greatest difference in my life.
I grew up in a small, rural town, where my family eked out a living through a variety of working-class jobs. In particular, my great-grandmother (the daughter of an enslaved woman), my grandmother, and my mother spent a good number of their working years as household servants. They got up extra early to tend to their own families’ needs before moving on to spend the day helping their white employers’ households hum along.
What made all the difference for me personally—the game-changer—was finding my way to a university to begin my journey in higher education. That journey is a story for another time, but the point is that attending college turned my life around.
When I first came to Buffalo State, I knew this was an institution that understood first-generation students. Here I found a community of people who personally and intellectually believe in the transformative power of education and the right of each individual, no matter their background, to run, walk, or sometimes crawl over the line to graduation and change forever the trajectory of their lives.
At Buffalo State, I met many faculty and staff members who are “first-gens” themselves, doing a wide variety of work. I met students from small villages and large cities who had made their way to Buffalo State seeking a degree to better themselves and the world. They wanted to be teachers, scientists, artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. They were prepared for college, or, if not quite, they were ready to work hard, hoping to find the support they needed here to succeed. They were of every upbringing and hue, every age and faith. Most spoke English at home while others had very different first languages. But they had one thing in common: every one of these students was wide-eyed with hope and promise as they embarked on their Buffalo State journeys.
Not all students have been able to complete the degree they came here to attain. Some found insurmountable obstacles in their path. Whether because of preparation gaps, insufficient finances, individual or family crises, or perceived lack of support, some students have not been able to cross the line to graduation. I still have hopes that those who started but did not complete have been bitten by the education bug, and that they will return some day to obtain that degree, whether it’s here at Buffalo State or at another institution.
I have also met hundreds of Buffalo State alumni who have graduated and who share my view that higher education was what made the difference in their lives. They came through Buffalo State at various times over the last 60 years, and many have told me that they never could have imagined themselves as the principal, the financial adviser, the elected official, or the research scientist that they became. They know that Buffalo State changed their lives, just as I know that my alma mater changed mine.
So as we face the challenges of today and look for creative ways to weather the storms, I have a wish for our campus. Please do not forget that education is the greatest equalizer. Do all you can do to remove the barriers from the road to success for our students. And remember that our campus has been the silver bullet of hope for countless generations of diverse students who needed just a little extra support, including adult, first-generation, and immigrant learners. This is our true north. Let us continue to support higher education as the great equalizer, and let us always work to advance this noble cause.
A message from President Conway-Turner on the tragic death of Tyre Nichols
As we learn more about the tragic story of Tyre Nichols, the young Black man who died following an encounter with police in Memphis, Tennessee, I understand that many of you are angry, confused, and overcome with sadness.
Please know that I, too, feel all of these emotions.
I thought that our country had reached a reckoning after George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in May 2020.
Yet, here we are, less than three years later, reeling from another shocking death. It stretches all understanding that such gross injustice and brutality continues. It’s clear that entrenched racism permeates all parts of the country. Violent acts such as these reveal the dangers of such misguided beliefs.
As educators, we know the vital role higher education plays in dispelling racism and advancing positive reform. At Buffalo State, in particular, diversity, equity, and inclusion lie at the heart of our mission. We proudly embrace individuals of all backgrounds and celebrate our differences daily. We strive to demonstrate love for each other across campus and in our work with the community.
However, when we witness the horrific treatment Mr. Nichols, Mr. Floyd, and countless others, it’s clear that much more education and reform is needed.
I know our Police Chief Stephen Mayoral is equally disturbed by the actions of the officers in Memphis. Chief Mayoral stands with the International Association of Chiefs of Police who released a statement noting that the individuals involved in Mr. Nichols’s death “have betrayed their oath of office, disgraced the law enforcement profession, and brought shame on the officers across the nation who work selflessly each day to protect their communities.”
Please remember that Buffalo State remains a place where we embrace diversity, where we have zero tolerance for any type of discrimination, where we lift up our students, faculty members, and staff who identify as underrepresented minorities. I hold onto that knowledge during difficult times such as these, and I hope it brings you some measure of comfort as well.
Last weekend our region experienced a historic winter event rivaling the Blizzard of ’77. The 2022 blizzard had significant, lasting, and devastating impacts across the entirety of Western New York. Many areas and individuals are still dealing with the aftermath and recovery from this historic storm. Please remember, Bengals, we are strong and resilient! I am proud of our entire community and want to extend my well wishes and thanks to each and every one of you.
Residence Life will continue to have staff on-call and available at the numbers posted in your buildings. Milligan's Food Pantry is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students. Prepackaged bags are available to residential students in need living on campus this week. Students can place an order online at https://deanofstudents.buffalostate.edu/interested-registering-milligans-services.
Thank you to our entire community for your support and patience during the recovery efforts after the height of the blizzard was over. Our campus saw significant snowfall, drifts, and other impacts – as did our entire region – and our wonderful and amazing crews, along with University Police, are working tirelessly to ensure our campus is safe and accessible to return to normal operations at the beginning of the new year. They are truly the unsung heroes, and I am so appreciative and grateful for their dedication. Please join me in expressing an enormous Bengal thanks to all members of our essential staff for their hard work and commitment to Buffalo State!
Buffalo State has been serving as an operation center for the Emergency Transportation Operations of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) and the National Guard, who are helping with storm cleanup in the City of Buffalo. Additional resources have also been provided by Buffalo State to Erie County and the City of Buffalo during the city’s recovery efforts.
Buffalo State has generously received assistance from SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Brockport, SUNY ESF, NYS DOT Emergency Transportation Operations, Chemung County, American Paving, and the Buffalo Psychiatric Center in our storm recovery on campus. We have also kindly been offered assistance from SUNY Albany, SUNY Oswego, and others. Additionally, SUNY Emergency Management, New York State Emergency Management, and Erie County Emergency Management have also aided our campus this week. On behalf of our entire Buffalo State community, I would like to extend a heartful thank you to all of those listed above, and others we may have missed, for supporting our campus during this time! It is truly a wonderful show of support and community across our entire state.
I would like to remind our community of Western New York 2-1-1 Resources available during the Buffalo Blizzard storm cleanup.
911 - life threatening emergencies, including life threatening medical emergencies
716-858-SNOW - Erie County SNOW line is for requests for non-emergency medical assistance, including transportation to dialysis or cancer treatments, and delivery of critical, life-sustaining prescription medications like insulin. This line cannot provide medical advice. Please do not use this line to report unplowed streets, abandoned vehicles, or power outages.
211 - 24/7/365 connection to community resources across WNY - non-emergency resources for storm recovery and connection to basic needs and human service agencies
311 - City of Buffalo Municipal Helpline - up to date info on city response to the Blizzard, can also be used to report unplowed streets, answered 8:30am-6:00pm during the storm recovery, normal hours M-F, 8:30am-4:30pm.
988 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - mental health and crisis support available 24/7 nationwide
Buffalo State anticipates a return to normal operations on Tuesday, January 3, which also marks the first day of January Term (J-Term).
Have a safe, healthy, and happy new year!
Katherine Conway-Turner
President
SUNY Buffalo State College
Welcome to the next installment of “Faculty Engaged,” our 13th episode!
For this segment, we spoke with Arlesa J. Shephard, associate professor of fashion and textile technology, who explains how she ended up at Buffalo State College and why she loves her job. She also discusses why she loves working with our students and the joy she gets from watching her students grow and become more creative as they progress through their college experience.
In addition to watching the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Dr. Shephard is doing.
Welcome to the next installment of “Faculty Engaged!” Can you believe it’s our 12th episode?
For this episode, we spoke with Jennifer J. Toohey, associate professor of theater, who explains why she wanted to work at Buffalo State College, how she got here, and why she loves her job. She also discusses why she loves working with our students, and the joy she gets from watching them perform on the stage.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Jennifer is doing.
For this installment, we spoke with Sammy Naji, a Say Yes success counselor and lecturer in Academic Affairs. Mr. Naji, who works directly with students in the Say Yes to Education program, explains why he wanted to work at Buffalo State College, how he got here, and why his job is so important. He also talks about some of the issues our students face on a day-to-day basis, and how he helps them succeed in their college careers.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Mr. Naji is doing.
Welcome to the 10th installment of “Faculty Engaged,” a multimedia project aimed at highlighting the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty.
For this episode, we spoke with Alexander Y. "Sasha" Karatayev, director of the Great Lakes Center. Dr. Karatayev takes us inside his journey to Buffalo State College, his research with quagga and zebra mussels in the Great Lakes, and the opportunities students have at the Great Lakes Center.
In this insightful interview, Dr. Karatayev also shares how he became interested in studying zebra and quagga mussels, and explains how the mussels have become so pervasive in the Great Lakes.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Dr. Karatayev is doing.
Welcome to the ninth installment of “Faculty Engaged,” a multimedia project aimed at highlighting the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty.
For this episode, we spoke with Kevin Williams, associate professor of earth sciences and science education and director of the new Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium in the newly renovated Science and Mathematics Complex. Dr. Williams takes us on a journey to the stars and beyond as he explains the ins and outs of the planetarium and how he uses it to engage with students across campus.
In this insightful interview, Dr. Williams also shares the history of the planetarium at Buffalo State, and how we’ve been welcoming the campus community and the general public to view the stars since 1964.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Dr. Williams is doing.
Transforming Lives for 150 Years: Memoir of a 1914 Graduate
I had been deeply drawn into the history of Buffalo State College as we prepared for and launched our 150th anniversary celebration. Each piece of information, each story, each individual breathes life into the tremendous legacy of Buffalo State. Today, I share with you the memoir of a graduate from 1914 as written by her granddaughter, our own Catherine Mettille from the College Writing Program. I was so touched by the role Buffalo State played in this graduate’s life that I wanted to share it with our community. Buffalo State has a long history of transforming lives, and here, from the archives, is one more example.
Here I Sit
Figure 1: Alice Condon, Third from left in the dark dress - front row
Here I sit. Waiting with my graduating class of 1914 to have our group photo taken for the yearbook. The photographer has placed us in alphabetical order, “Condon” puts me sitting in the front. My hands are crossed, and I am sitting up straight. My outfit is new. Tailormade by my sister and the nuns at the orphanage where I live. Today, is not just my graduation from Normal College, but a day I receive academic honors and recognition. I have successfully completed the teacher’s program at Normal Teacher’s College in Buffalo, New York. Everyone is proud of me. The yearbook editor just collected each graduating student’s favorite phrase to include with the group photo. My favorite saying is. “Do not waste time.” I have lived by that motto, I never waste time. As the camera man is arranging the rest of the graduates for the picture, my mind wanders back to the time when I became aware of the fragility of life …
It is a small, barely furnished room. My mother is lying on the bed with the midwife looming over her. I hear my mother screaming in pain, and the smell of blood. Finally, the wail of a newborn. Then, silence! My mother died in childbirth. I was only four years old. I remember sitting in a corner of the room looking at my older sister who was holding my mother’s clenched hand. Then, my mother’s hand goes limp. Catherine is standing there frozen, not quite understanding that mother is dead. The midwife is focused on the baby. She gently places the very slippery newborn on the table near the wash basin. She wipes off the afterbirth from our brother, Jack. She places the infant in a soft, old blanket and wraps him in it. She then hands the baby to Catherine and tells her, “Now you must be his mother.” My eight-year-old sister, Catherine, moves from our mother and takes a squirming bundle from the midwife. Catherine then takes him from the midwife and walks toward me to show me our new brother., “Alice, we will both be his mother.” Catherine tells me softly crying. The midwife is consoling father who sits looking blankly into space. He shakes his head and mutters, “Luck of the Irish? The only luck we have is bad luck. What will I do?”
My parents were immigrants from Limerick, Ireland a country still reeling from the Great Potato Famine that had swept through Catholic Ireland thirty years earlier. With few prospects in Limerick at the end of the 19th century, they emigrated from Ireland for a better future in the United States but found limited job opportunities when they arrived. Many companies in New York city had signs in the windows, “Irish need not apply.” So, we moved to Lockport, New York to be near father sister’s family, and for my father to find work on the Erie Canal where Irish laborers were welcome. However, both family support and work were limited in Buffalo’s impoverished Irish immigrant community. Everyone struggled to survive, and few people, even relatives were willing to open their homes to help a struggling widower with three small children.
I do not remember much before that fateful day when mother died giving birth to my brother. However, I remember vividly that day and what happened shortly after her death. My father bundled us all up after mother’s funeral, and took the trolley from Lockport to Buffalo, New York. I remember holding my older, eight-year-old sister’s coat sleeve while she held our newborn brother. My father told us God would protect us. I remember getting off the trolley and walking to a large building. Father pounded on the doors of the building. It was the Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Buffalo, New York.
A nun came out and father pushed us through the door. My sister told me years later that father and the nun argued about his abandoning his children. When it was clear, he was going to abandon us with or without the nun’s help, she relented but told him they only accepted girls. At some point, he grabbed my brother John out of Catherine’s arms and left the two of us standing with the nuns. I would never see my father again.
Figure 2: John, Catherine and Alice
The sister welcomedus into our new home and told us not to worry about John. My sister whispered to me that night before I went to sleep that the nun reassured her John would be safe. Father took our infant brother, John, to Father Baker’s orphanage for boys in Lackawanna, New York (a town just a couple of miles south of Buffalo, New York). The nun assured Catherine that she would make sure that my sister and I would stay in contact with John.
Growing up in the orphanage, I realized very young that there were few options for girls outside of marriage or joining a religious order. These options were even more slim for an uneducated, poor girl. Since neither of these options appealed to me, I decided on an unchartered course for poor girls, education as a profession. I would be a teacher!
I excelled in my studies. My academic success was recognized by the nuns, and the nuns reached out to another religious order to provide me the unusual opportunity to attend Nardin Academy, the exclusive Catholic private school for young ladies in Buffalo. It was a rare opportunity offered a poor, Irish orphan, but the nuns and my sister and brother supported my hard work and with the nuns direct support, and my siblings emotional support I succeeded at Nardin Academy taking advantage of every opportunity offered to learn, grow and socially network.
Figure 3: Alice after graduation with her sister Catherine who became a Sisters of Charity
After I completed my studies at Nardin Academy, I was offered a scholarship to attend Normal Teacher’s College. Partly, this a result of the connections I made at Nardin, but the scholarship was also the result of the great demand for public school teachers in the industrial, flourishing city of Buffalo in the early 1900s. Because industry was booming in Buffalo, there was a demand for labor. So, many immigrants with families flowed into Buffalo, NY to work on the Erie Canal and in the factories.
Nevertheless, this was a time when women rarely graduated high school let alone attended college and even fewer who attended college with the goal of obtaining a wage earning profession, and in that group even fewer who came from my humble background. After today’s graduation, I would be able to teach and earn a respectable income as a professional, and I had achieved this before my twenty-second birthday.
“Alice, Alice, smile…” the photographer calls my name bringing me back to the moment. I look up at his camera. I do not smile, but stare into the camera with the determination that got me here. My early memory of my mother’s untimely death reminds me that life is fragile, valuable and unpredictable. I do not waste time, but I do sit up a little straighter.
Buffalo State College Signed on to ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s Higher Education President’s Commitment
Buffalo State College has joined more than 300 college presidents and chancellors in committing to full student voter registration and participation in all elections through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN). To support full student voter participation of all eligible students, ALL IN and its Higher Education Presidents Council has launched a call to action for higher education presidents and chancellors to fully engage students in electoral participation. A full list of signatories can be found here.
“I am proud to sign the Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation. We are committed to working with campus stakeholders to increase electoral participation in 2020 and beyond. As an institutional leader, I value providing opportunities to empower all eligible voters at Buffalo State College to register and turnout to vote.”
While college student voter participation in elections increased from the 2014 midterm election to the recent 2018 midterm election, less than half of college students made their voices heard by casting their ballots. According to the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, voter turnout at the more than 1,000 institutions participating in the study increased by 21 points from 19% to 40%.
“Today, young people are truly seeing how the decisions their elected officials make impact their everyday lives, and in this critical time, ensuring that they are able to make their voices heard safely is critical,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “We are excited to partner with higher education leaders across the country to change the culture at colleges and universities around engagement in our country’s political process. We are calling on all college presidents to make this commitment to their students, campuses and communities.”
By signing the pledge, Buffalo State College committed to ensuring all eligible students are able to register to vote and cast informed ballots in the general elections and beyond. Further, they committed to fostering campus cultures that support nonpartisan student civic learning, political engagement and student voter participation.
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation. The Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on their campus.
More than 200 campuses, enrolling more than 8.7 million students, have joined the Challenge since its launch in summer 2016.
Welcome to the next installment of “Faculty Engaged,” a multimedia project aimed at highlighting the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty. We’re excited to share our eighth episode today.
For this installment, we spoke with Kathy Doody, associate professor of exceptional education, to learn more about her path to becoming a teacher, how she ended up at Buffalo State College, and how she engages with students.
In this insightful interview, Dr. Doody also shares what inspired her to leave the field of journalism to become a teacher, how students benefit from her personal perspective on exceptional education, and how her experience benefits students and Buffalo State.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the work Dr. Doody is doing.
Over the past few days, two unfortunate matters have converged in our physical and digital campus communities. Following concerns of perceived injustices within our Residence Life division shared on campus and on social media, and a jarring and hurtful comment by an instructor in a video circulating online, members of our college community, including me, are frustrated and disappointed.
Although we have been recognized on numerous occasions for our diversity and social justice efforts on campus, the events of the past few days have made clear that our work to sustain and nurture an equitable and inclusive campus environment is incomplete. We must continue our work and address any and all emerging issues as they are brought forward.
Earlier today, a group of students gathered in the Plaza to express their views on these situations. We support their right to peaceably assemble and make their voices heard. We will continue to listen and provide a forum to come together to discuss these difficult issues.
Video
As I made clear last night, Black Lives Matter at Buffalo State College. I emphasized our support last summer, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to social justice in all that we do at Buffalo State. Our College Senate—a shared governance body made up of faculty, staff, and students on campus—has also formally affirmed support for the movement. But for many of us yesterday, that work felt insufficient as we reacted to the insensitive comments conveyed in the video. Just as free speech and free expression are hallmarks of the college experience, so too should be the values of empathy, sensitivity, understanding, and inclusiveness. We must all recommit ourselves to those qualities while respecting the nuanced protections of the First Amendment.
Our chief diversity officer will continue to gather all appropriate information regarding the situation. During her initial review today, CDO Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney learned that students had concerns about this class last fall, but that a formal complaint was not filed with the Equity and Campus Diversity Office. This news is unsettling. All members of the campus community should feel comfortable coming forward to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office with any complaints of this nature without fear of retaliation. We will rededicate our efforts to making this clear to students, faculty, and staff.
I ask for your patience as CDO Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney completes a deliberative and contemplative evaluation of the matter.
Student Concerns
Last Friday, student staff members in our Residence Life division shared concerns with our dean of students about matters related to policies, personnel, and specific conduct proceedings. We are taking their concerns seriously (PDF, 133 KB). This week, Vice President for Student Affairs Timothy Gordon and Chief Diversity Officer Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney have held forums to engage with student employees on these topics. Because many of the concerns raised by the student employees are protected by FERPA or are related to personnel issues, we are limited in our ability to comment publicly. We are here to support all students, and we will continue to do so. VP Gordon and CDO Rodriguez-Dabney will hold a third forum to engage with student employees in the division on Wednesday. And we will continue to meet with these individuals as needed to find common ground on these topics or to provide information that may be helpful. Where we have fallen short, we are committed to making the necessary improvements in our policies and approaches to improve the student experience.
The National Context
Last summer, I stressed the need for honesty and openness during the racial crisis facing our country. The same remains true today, not only as we process events on campus, but also as the country reacts to the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin. The President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity is sponsoring programming over the next few weeks to help our campus community manage the difficult emotions emerging from the trial and today’s verdict.
Together we will continue to face these difficult situations and any others that emerge. Listed below are some of the ways we’re preparing and supporting one another as a united community, as well as a list of resources available for the entire campus.
The struggle for racial justice has been fought for hundreds of years within the United States, and it continues today. As an educational institution dedicated to the values of equity, inclusion, and social justice, we will continue to advance our collective work to honor our mission and commitment to social justice in all we do both on and off campus.
Programs
“Race and Policing: Discussing the Chauvin Trial”
Wednesday, April 21, 12:15–1:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
“Beyond the Classroom: Black Love”
Thursday, April 22, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
“Beyond the Classroom: Is Black Unity Possible?”
Thursday, May 6, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
Resources
The Counseling Center
Social Justice at Buffalo State
Dean of Students
Equity and Campus Diversity
Crisis Services (off campus)
Employee Assistance Program (faculty/staff)
Celebrating the Magnificence of NCAA Division III Athletes
Today I pause to thank our student-athletes for all they do and the many ways they contribute to our campus. Our nearly 400 Division III student-athletes are important members of our Buffalo State College community. They chose to come to Buffalo State because of our outstanding academic and community programs, but also because they wanted to play their chosen sport. Our student-athletes not only have a passion for their games; they also understand that the lessons they learn on the courts and the fields contribute to their success now and in the future.
In many ways, Buffalo State’s student-athletes have perfected the art of balance. They are up early in the morning and frequently late at night to condition, practice, compete, and study. The skills they learn from their athletic pursuits are transferable across other domains. They practice what it means to lead and what it means to follow as their teams set goals and move toward success. They learn that goals can be personal or collective, and in both cases, they can press through difficult situations to achieve success.
Although our student-athletes are recognizable in their uniforms, playing their sports, they are also seen across campus or within the city contributing in ways that lift our community and our neighborhoods. Our student-athletes are often found leading campus organizations, participating in student governance, and providing service to community members in need. The traits that foster personal athletic ability while cultivating leadership skills place our student-athletes on the road to success in and outside the classroom. Each year, as students are recognized across campus, we see student-athletes garnering many of our highest academic recognitions while also being recognized for their athletic prowess.
This has been an extremely difficult year for all members of our campus community, but especially for our student-athletes. Their athletic competition has been derailed in addition to the many other adjustments we have all had to make to maintain health and safety precautions so that education could continue. Our student-athletes have borne the challenges in ways that represent the Buffalo State spirit: together we will get through this to the other side. They have weathered our current obstacles with agility, fortitude, compassion, and grace.
So today, during NCAA Division III week, I stop to celebrate our student-athletes and to thank them for the many ways they contribute to our Buffalo State community.
Welcome to the next installment of “Faculty Engaged,” a multimedia project aimed at highlighting the extraordinary work of our brilliant faculty. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted our schedule, we’ve adapted, and today we are excited to share our seventh episode.
For this installment, we spoke with Saquib Ahmed, assistant professor of engineering technology, to learn more about his path to becoming a teacher, how he ended up at Buffalo State College, and how he engages with students.
In this insightful interview, Ahmed also shares what inspired him to leave the private sector to become a teacher, how students benefit from his unique use of technology and computer programs, and how his research benefits students and Buffalo State.
In addition to the video, I also encourage you to listen to the full audio of our interview to learn more about the research Ahmed is doing.
Please watch, listen, and engage!
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Watch or listen to past Faculty Engaged interviews:
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.
