Fatoumata Makadji (pictured) arrived at Buffalo State in summer 2013 with two suitcases and one set of sheets.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Makadji said. Originally from West Africa, Makadji grew up in Harlem, New York, and is the first in her family to attend college.

When she graduates in May, she’ll be armed not only with bachelor’s degree but also with a strong sense of accomplishment. She’s consistently made the Dean’s List and currently has a 3.55 grade point average (GPA). In the fall, she’s heading to a graduate program in public administration at American University, one of three master’s programs that accepted her.

Four years ago Makadji was an unsure young woman entering Buffalo State through the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.  

Since former New York assembly member Arthur O. Eve founded EOP in 1967, it has served more than 3,600 Buffalo State students. It currently has a roster of 776, many of whom, like Makadji, show the potential for college work despite lower high school grades or test scores.

To be accepted into EOP, students have to show glimmers of college-readiness, EOP director Yanick Jenkins pointed out. EOP students are expected to earn the same grades as their counterparts, and their retention rates are comparable to the campus as a whole.

“In our first meeting at summer orientation, the EOP counselors told us that we should look at this opportunity as a fresh start,” Makadji recalled. “It was definitely a new start for me. In high school, I could do the work, but I didn’t apply myself. They made it clear if we worked hard, we could graduate.”

Jenkins told the group that summer, “You have to be a support for one another. We are a close family. You’ll see when school starts.”

Makadji found that to be the case. 

“One of the things I loved about EOP is that you meet 20 upperclassmen right away,” she said. “You stay connected with them and are paired with a mentor from day one. That made all the difference.

“I am extremely grateful to have been chosen to be part of EOP. I’ve made amazing friends through the program.”

She’s since become a mentor and a resident assistant to the students in the same summer program where she began.

“Fatoumata is an exceptional student who is a caring and nurturing with her first-year mentees,” said Jude Jayatilleke, senior academic adviser for EOP. “She is a well-rounded student who leads by example and is committed toward academic achievement.”

To Jenkins, serving students who have overcome obstacles to come to college—and then soar once they get started—is beyond rewarding.

“We help them to acclimate to the campus as quickly as possible and then give them the specific tools to be successful,” Jenkins said.

Fourteen EOP staff members provide services that include tutoring, academic advisement, and counseling. But their influence extends beyond what can be documented on paper; they provide a family atmosphere so that the students, regardless of their background or circumstances, can find their way.

“Even (staff members) who were not my advisers helped,” Makadji said. “With EOP, you can definitely fall as long as you get up.”

On Thursday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, 285 students, including Makadji, will be honored during the Arthur O. Eve EOP Honors Convocation and 50th Anniversary Celebration. The campus is invited to attend.

“As EOP was founded at Buffalo State, our celebration is to thank the college for 50 years of nurturing and support to the program,” Jenkins said.

To RSVP, call Cathy McCoy at (716) 878-4224. 

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Alexia Matos-Mateo has earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, attaining a 3.61 GPA while serving as a member of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

She will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence at Buffalo State’s 145th Commencement morning ceremony, Saturday, May 13, at 9:00 a.m. in the Sports Arena.

Matos-Mateo has excelled at every opportunity and has worked hard to represent Buffalo State in the best way possible. Her responsibilities on campus have required a sensitivity to the feelings, attitudes, and concerns of fellow students. She has worked tirelessly to follow her dreams, and her achievements speak to her character and work ethic. She is a smart, articulate, mature student who enjoys the process of learning.

In the classroom, her acute understanding and passion for criminal justice is impressive. Her willingness to discuss and analyze challenging concepts elevated the classroom experience for everyone. She was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta international honor society in sociology and the Alpha Phi Sigma criminal justice honor society and recognized in Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, while double minoring in African and African American studies and deviance. She also studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, and Borgne, Haiti, and was selected to co-coordinate a symposium with the Department of Justice.

On campus, Matos-Mateo has demonstrated leadership as an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) resident director as well a resident assistant responsible for programming, marketing, and conflict resolution. She received the EOP Director’s Award as well as the First-Year Mentor of the Year Award from the Residence Life Office. She completed the Student Life Office’s Legacy Leaders Program and Emerging Student Leaders Program and earned a certificate of achievement in student leadership from the State University of New York Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

An Orientation leader and EOP mentor, she has also served as an American Red Cross blood ambassador on campus. She assisted with the Anne Frank Project and Weigel Health Center’s “Take Back the Night” event. Outside of campus, she volunteered with the 9/11 Healing Field memorial event in North Tonawanda and at the Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church food pantry. Her acts of kindness are not random but regular, and she has earned respect campuswide for her generous work.

A recognition ceremony to honor faculty and staff accomplishments will be held on Thursday, October 5, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

The event will recognize Buffalo State recipients of Chancellor’s and President’s awards. In addition, all new faculty and staff members will be welcomed to campus. The entire campus community is invited to participate in this sixth annual event. A reception will follow in the auditorium lobby of Rockwell Hall.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service

Darlene J. Sadkowski
Darlene Sadkowski, secretary 1 in the Academic Commons, is the unofficial office manager of South Wing. She is the first person that visitors to the building encounter, and she greets everyone with a smile and a positive attitude, making them feel welcome. With a wealth of knowledge about the college, she is a go-to resource for information about student services and academic support and advisement.

Sadkowski, who keeps calendars for up to 10 academic advisers, reminds both students and advisers about their upcoming appointments, welcomes students for their sessions, schedules future meetings, processes and files all advisee forms, enters data in Blackboard, and ensures that all advisee information is kept confidential. In short, her work greatly strengthens the advisement process, which is critical to student success.

Sadkowski answers all calls coming into the busy academic support and academic advisement offices and is the conduit between those offices and the rest of campus. Because many people call “academic support” for any academic-related question, she often must redirect calls. She makes sure that callers are routed to the appropriate department and person the first time for prompt service. Sadkowski also trains, coaches, and supervises several student assistants each semester to help with office tasks.

Sadkowski has invested herself in the mission of the college because she cares deeply about students. She deals with situations in a calm, dignified, and professional manner and works collaboratively with all who seek her assistance, including students, faculty, and staff. She is a selfless and dedicated individual who enhances the college with her work. She consistently looks for creative ways to better support student and departmental goals, and her ideas often result in new, more efficient procedures.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

David J. Kukulka
David Kukulka, professor of engineering technology, has demonstrated outstanding research and scholarship throughout his academic career, and his achievements in the area of thermal science engineering have brought international recognition and prestige to Buffalo State and SUNY.

Through his extensive work in the study of fluid properties, heat transfer surface enhancement, and fouling, Kukulka has influenced the next generation of engineers and researchers around the world. For several decades, he has published and presented important and widely cited works, including more than 90 publications in peer-reviewed journals and more than 15 keynote presentations at national and international conferences. He has been an editor for a special issues journal, a reviewer for 12 highly regarded journals, and a contributing member of seven scientific committees.

As a teaching professor and coordinator of the mechanical engineering technology program, he has been highly effective in bringing his research and scholarship into the classroom. Passionate, enthusiastic, and extremely knowledgeable about his field, he teaches upper-division undergraduate courses and is responsible for the senior design project course, working closely with students to develop their own research and creativity. He also supervises the campus’s Baja SAE project, an intercollegiate design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers in which students design, analyze, and fabricate small off-road cars under industry guidelines for participation in regional, national, and international competitions.

His work is innovative and productive, and his designs are unique and used regularly in industry. All his work is well written and documented. Not satisfied simply working in theory, he demonstrates how to apply research results in industrial practice and how to use data from real-world operations in continuing research. In short, he embodies the professional standards expected of a world-class scholar.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities

Thomas S. Weinberg
During his 45 years at Buffalo State, Thomas Weinberg, professor of sociology, has made contributions to his discipline that his peers consider trailblazing. His impressive body of work in the study of human sexual behavior is highly respected for its quality, originality, and profundity. He has established an international reputation as a highly regarded expert in his field. His commitment to scholarship reflects strongly on Buffalo State’s academic mission.

Weinberg’s work spans not only the study of sexual behavior but also subfields in the areas of identity, homosexuality, race, and substance abuse. His active and prolific research agenda includes publishing five books, eight book chapters, 13 articles in peer-reviewed journals, numerous reviews, and multiple encyclopedia entries. His writing, which is clear, unpretentious, and accessible, has appeared in both renowned academic journals and popular culture magazines.

Weinberg, whose theories are based on observations informed by interviews, has consistently given voice to the circumstances and processes of people on the margins of conventional society and has helped the public understand them as part of a wider system. His innovative and comprehensive studies, focusing on the interplay between public and private issues, have made a significant impact on a field of increasing importance in today’s modern world.

In addition to compiling his own research, he is a foundational figure who has positively influenced the lives and work of others. He has encouraged students at Buffalo State and around the world to continue their studies in graduate school. He is widely cited in academic arenas, and his books and articles are used in curricula at institutions around the world. He also has contributed to a more humanitarian and inclusive attitude toward the wide range of sexualities, and his ethical approach and diligence have greatly aided and broadened the counseling profession.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

M. Scott Goodman
Scott Goodman, chair and professor of chemistry, has achieved outstanding accomplishments in leadership and service during his time at Buffalo State. He has willingly met the inherent challenges as a department chair and faculty senator to help the college adapt to new strategies for success. In a student-centric environment, he has used his influence to advance the well-being of both students and faculty. He has served the college on nearly every level, and it is clear that he cares deeply about what happens at Buffalo State and SUNY. He has given extensively and consistently of his time and has both influenced and instigated change at every level of his service.

A rigorous teacher and a prolific scholar with an impressive record of publication, Goodman has taught at a number of universities in the United States and abroad and has used his wide range of experience with a diverse population of students to enrich his classrooms. He has also used his experiences to help devise departmental programs and larger college initiatives. As department chair, he has made extensive curricular changes and has influenced and guided budgetary issues, personnel, and graduate studies. He has also worked on numerous college committees, including the high-level Middle States Working Group and College Planning Council.

As a valued member of the College Senate, he has worked on the Budget and Staff Allocations Committee, developing a comprehensive understanding of how the budgets of Buffalo State and the SUNY system work. An active, thoughtful, hard-working senator, he insists on clear financial reporting and has helped ensure that budgetary priorities would benefit students, faculty, and staff alike, all for the betterment of the institution. He made sure that his fellow senators were well aware of the financial issues affecting the college.

As a SUNY university faculty senator, Goodman has represented Buffalo State with honor and distinction. He has attended every plenary session and presents the positions of Buffalo State with authority. He has earned the respect of his fellow senators, who look to him for his insights and opinions. In turn, he has also ably represented the University Faculty Senate (UFS) to the College Senate, distilling the work of the UFS to keep the College Senate apprised of developments at the 63 other SUNY campuses as well as at System Administration.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

Lori Ann S. Woods
Lori Ann Woods, lecturer in the writing program, is an exceptional teacher who provides her students with rich, invigorating, and meaningful learning experiences. She incorporates a variety of pedagogical methods into her content delivery and readily adapts and changes approaches to meet students’ interests and needs.

While Introductory College Writing is not a course that students traditionally seek out, Woods employs strategies that build enthusiasm and accentuate high performance and quality learning. She has embraced teaching writing and excels at it. She is a writer and wants her students to be successful writers who find their voices and express them across the curriculum and beyond. Her student evaluations consistently validate her successful approach.

During her time at Buffalo State, she has taken on a prominent role in several of the college’s co-curricular learning activities, encouraging students to connect with the broader community and bigger ideas. She is a valued colleague and leader in the Bengal Community of Scholars Program. She has also developed and incorporated several service-learning activities into her teaching portfolio that provide students with engaging ways to achieve course objectives while meeting an identified community need—and she herself is an active volunteer along with the students. In addition, Woods has collaborated with the college’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the English as a second language (ESL) program, serving as a tutor and training upper-class students to serve as peer tutors and mentors.

Woods’s work exemplifies the transformative power of a SUNY education. She uses her own experiences, including presenting at national and international conferences, to enrich the learning environment of her students. Her superb teaching techniques, command of her discipline, and dedication to holistic growth and development of students is evidenced in every project she undertakes. She is always responsive, always focused on student success, and always encouraging students to cross barriers and grow.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

Jo A. Yudess
Jo Yudess, lecturer in the Center for Studies in Creativity, is an excellent instructor and role model. She adeptly applies the concepts and techniques of her primary discipline, creativity, to also teach in the departments of Business, Computer Information Systems, and First-Year Programs, where she creates enriching learning environments that enhance the educational experiences of both undergraduate and graduate students across an array of disciplines.

In the classroom, Yudess uses innovative, engaging, and creative ways to enhance the analytical and pedagogical processes. Her approachable, easy-mannered, and collaborative teaching style creates an environment where students are free to test ideas and concepts with confidence and enthusiasm. With a solid reputation, she is a highly sought-after instructor, as evidenced by the number of departments she teaches in and the strong demand for her courses.

Her contributions to Buffalo State extend far beyond her teaching assignments as an adjunct. She has taken on several prominent roles in the scholarly pursuits of her department. She supervised a three-year department study that incorporated more than 100 groups and examined the degree to which creativity enhanced the effectiveness of a group’s work on a real-world problem. She also continues to serve as an adviser to numerous undergraduate students engaged in research and co-presents with them at conferences. In addition, she is very active in the areas of service learning and professional development.

Her scholarship is widely recognized, and she shares her expertise with many off-campus groups and international audiences. She teaches doctoral-level classes for the University of the Virgin Islands and regularly provides creativity training and consultation in Brazil. These activities provide high visibility for Buffalo State in international arenas.

President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College

Bruce A. Fox
Bruce Fox, university photographer in RITE Services, is an exceptionally talented photographer who has documented the daily stories of Buffalo State with his camera since 2004. His work is used for both teaching and promotional use, and he is particularly adept at capturing the history, expressions, and realism of Buffalo State’s people. Fox’s flexibility, positive attitude, work ethic, and generosity in adjusting his personal life to the college’s schedule are remarkable. He is a great asset to our institution, and his impact has been powerful and far-reaching.

Over the years, he has generated a huge online photo repository where the college community can download high-resolution images of their events and activities. The establishment of this photographic database has given Buffalo State a visual identity to be shared across the community. Fox is omnipresent at college events, balancing concurrent events and seamlessly moving from one to another so that he can continually add to this impressive collection of photos. His work is a staple of the college’s advertising, publications, website, and social media efforts.

He is also a great mentor to his student assistants. He patiently teaches and supports young photographers and provides them with opportunities to practice their skills. He is eager to learn new technologies and is boldly creative and innovative with his photography—a lesson that he passes on to his students. In 2016, he joined students and organizers from the Anne Frank Project on the annual trip to Rwanda and inspired the college community with a documentary photo exhibition and presentation of his trip upon his return.

He is well known on campus for his friendly, enthusiastic, and comforting demeanor, always putting his subjects at ease in order to capture the perfect photo. His service to the college knows no bounds. In addition to his work on campus, Fox volunteers his talents with the Heart Gallery of Western New York to produce its annual photography show depicting children awaiting adoption. The program raises awareness of the number of children seeking a permanent home.

President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College

Rebecca Tate
Rebecca Tate, lecturer of hospitality and tourism, has been an integral and valued member of the department, where she has served as coordinator of the Statler Program, full-time lecturer, and long-term interim department chair. She has excelled in all her assignments and has maintained a strong willingness to go beyond her duties for the good of the department and the college.

As department chair, Tate not only managed the standard operations of the department, such as course scheduling, budgeting, and meeting oversight, but also advanced an exciting agenda for department growth and programming that has benefited both students and faculty. She played a key role in the renovation planning for Caudell Hall, initiated a department-sponsored study-abroad program, and has guided the accreditation process.

Tate has also expanded the reputation of the department by partnering with numerous area organizations on unique career programs, including Hotel Henry, the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, and Erie 1 BOCES. She brings her own real-world experience in the hospitality field to the classroom and the curriculum. Her grant-writing efforts have secured funding that has made life-changing international study opportunities available to more than 75 students.

Tate is enthusiastic and maintains a positive demeanor that is contagious. Whether working with students, colleagues, or industry partners, she brings optimism to discussions, which is helpful in resolving challenges and considering new ideas and policies. She has a lengthy record of accomplishment, service, and dedication to the college and serves as an important liaison between the campus and the wider community. She exemplifies the college’s mission of student advancement, institutional excellence, and engagement in the community.

President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College

Jon J. Lines
Jon Lines, lecturer of political science, is an excellent and dedicated teacher and adviser. He has always gone beyond his stated duties as a non-tenure-track employee to help students and colleagues alike, including serving as interim department chair. He has been a willing and innovative faculty member, leading many new initiatives that have improved curriculum and assessment at the college.

During his time at Buffalo State, Lines has taught a wide range of rigorous courses in American politics and public law, founded and coordinated the department’s public legal studies concentration and legal studies minor, and brought many professional and networking opportunities to students in the department. His contributions go well beyond sparking an idea and talking about the possibilities of doing something new; instead, he takes action to turn ideas into reality. His advice on curricular matters is always timely and relevant, and his work has been critical to the success of the pre-law programs.

Outside the classroom, he founded and advises the college’s competitive and successful Mock Trial team. Through his efforts, the college has hosted a prestigious regional Mock Trial Association competition for the past several years. Because of Lines’s connections in Western New York and beyond, the Mock Trial program and other departmental programs benefit from the attorneys and other professionals in the legal studies field who volunteer to work with Buffalo State students.

Lines’s work ethic, commitment to students, and desire to serve his department are formidable, and he balances these with understanding, an extraordinary ability to teach to all levels of learning, and a strong desire to help students outside the classroom as they prepare for careers. His creative and energetic approach to higher education is exemplary.

President’s Award for Excellence in Service to the College

Amy M. McMillan
Amy McMillan, associate professor of biology, has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service within her department and to the college, taking on increasing leadership responsibilities as her career has progressed. As chair of the Buffalo State College Senate, her leadership has been instrumental in advancing the mission of the college, and she has shown remarkable acuity as a teacher, scholar, and mentor.

As a faculty member, she has served on more than 20 thesis committees, supervised more than 40 undergraduate research projects, and served on most departmental committees. As a leader of the Senate, she has contributed her expertise and good judgment to campus policies and governance and has demonstrated diligence in this time-consuming and demanding job. She is dedicated to ensuring that ideas brought by constituents and the administration get a fair hearing, and she strikes the right balance between leading and facilitating. She has advanced new perspectives on many important topics, including the college’s strategic plan, online education, applied learning, and community policing.

In the community, McMillan assists with many science-related activities, including acting as a science fair judge, presenting research as a visitor to local high school classes, and hosting workshops for the New York State Master Teacher Program. She also represents Buffalo State at numerous SUNY events.

In each of her many roles, McMillan has shown diplomacy, selflessness, devotion, and compassion, doing her best to make academic life both serious and enjoyable for students, staff, and her faculty colleagues. She consistently balances the concerns of very different interests and has always done so in a professional, effective, and conscientious way.

President’s Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Equity and Campus Diversity

Jennifer S. Hunt
Jennifer Hunt, associate professor of psychology, is passionate about equality for everyone. Her scholarship, highlighted by 24 publications and more than 90 conference presentations, reflects this passion through its focus on gender and racial stereotyping, including the study of princess culture as well as the effects of race, ethnicity, and culture on jury behavior. As a direct result of her work on campus, students who are deeply committed to studying gender issues are well prepared for graduate studies and career paths related to gender issues.

Under Hunt’s leadership, the renamed women and gender studies (WGS) program flourished. Her active recruitment of students increased enrollment from four to 50. She spearheaded a revision of the minor, updating the program to reflect the current state of the field and to expand course offerings, including internships, independent studies, and projects. As part of this revision, the program introduced an interdisciplinary course, Introduction to Women and Gender Studies, that serves as an entry point to the minor and as a popular Intellectual Foundations diversity course.

In addition to bolstering the academic side of the program, Hunt has worked to increase campus programming related to gender issues, including hosting speakers for Women’s History Month and developing a WGS book club for students. She also started a brown bag faculty talk series; organized miniconferences featuring faculty, staff, and student research presentations on gender and race; and established an alumni presentation series to connect current students with graduates working in the field. All these efforts have helped add to the inclusive and diverse community on the Buffalo State campus.

Hunt, who has served on the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity and the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women, epitomizes the college’s value of respect for diversity and individual differences. Buffalo State is a better institution because of her considerable contributions to promoting gender equality and the excellence of her leadership of the WGS program.

President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creativity

Hongliang Xu
Hongliang “Jimmy” Xu, professor of mathematics, has demonstrated his excellence as a teacher and a scholar. In his highly productive research work, Xu has shown a consistent ability to quickly progress to the heart of a problem. He is able to discern the mathematical dimensions of new and diverse research problems even if the physical, chemical, or biological context is unfamiliar to him. He develops perceptive insight and acquires the knowledge and understanding of the scientific principles needed to solve the problem. This kind of intellectual aptitude, flexibility, and adaptability defines his success as an applied mathematician.

Before joining Buffalo State in 2009, Xu worked with Herbert Hauptman, Nobel laureate in chemistry, as a senior research scientist at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. He concentrated his research on extending the direct methods technique for solving small molecular structures. At Buffalo State, Xu has continued his research in that area by extending direct methods to x-ray powder diffraction crystallography. Xu is now considered one of the world’s leading experts on the x-ray crystallographic phase problem and computational crystallography. In addition, he has developed new research in sports analytics.

Xu’s scholarly activities include conducting scientific research; mentoring students in their research projects; attending professional conferences, symposiums, and seminars; submitting research grants; and publishing his research findings. He has published 18 articles in refereed journals, participated in eight funded grants (totaling $7.29 million), and made 13 oral presentations at national or international conferences of the highest level in the science of x-ray crystallography.

He shares his expertise with students at Buffalo State, mentoring those who are just starting to create their own research agenda. He has mentored six or co-mentored two applied mathematics undergraduate students for their senior research projects. This mentorship has resulted in seven oral presentations at the college’s Student Research and Creativity Conference. In addition, he has mentored six professional and applied computational (PACM) mathematics graduate students for their internship projects and two PACM students for a research project on sports analytics that was submitted to the Journal of Sports Analytics for publication.

President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement

Jude M. A. Jayatilleke
Jude Jayatilleke, senior academic adviser in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), continually dedicates himself to community service, committee work, and personal and professional development. In turn, he is equipped to provide superior performance in fulfilling his advisement responsibilities for more than 120 students each year. He is a highly caring individual who provides a thoughtful and attentive attitude toward each of his advisees.

Creative, energetic, and sensitive to the needs of first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students, Jayatilleke created and administers the EOP Sophomore Success Program, which has resulted in increased retention of EOP students. He is knowledgeable about international student compliance and regulations and has assisted many international students in their college transition, often assisting them with research and job placement. Adept at event planning, he organizes the annual EOP Honors Convocation and biannual EOP Conference to recognize student achievement and has secured more than $200,000 in grants since 2006 to support programming and professional staff conference expenses.

He is skilled at making effective decisions and leading collaborative efforts across campus. Beyond his position in EOP, he has served on numerous campus committees and teaches a popular course on college success to incoming freshmen. His mastery of institutional and departmental regulations, policies, and procedures makes him an invaluable member of the campus community. An active member of United University Professions, he has served as a board member for membership development and as a campus action project leader.

Jayatilleke has an extremely positive disposition and a unique way of relating to people from all walks of life. He has the uncanny ability to connect his personal life and observations about the world to the work he does with students. His innate feelings of social connectedness and sense of social responsibility drive his commitment to improving the campus community.

President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement

Holly V. Quicksey
Holly Quicksey, director of educational pipeline initiatives in the Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education (CEURE), has demonstrated a passion and a talent for working with students, advising and guiding them on the path to academic success. Her proactive, student-centered approach and attention to detail make her extremely effective. She has an exceptional ability to connect with students on a personal level and help them think critically about important issues in their lives, from finances to family to staying on track to graduate. Most important, she takes the time to listen to students and recognizes that each student is unique and has a distinct set of circumstances that affect his or her education.              

Quicksey has a deep understanding of academics, student affairs, and financial aid. Well informed on these issues, she also works hard to find answers to questions outside her areas of expertise. She has been a leader in University College, CEURE, and the Middle Early College High School program. She has worked collaboratively with the Buffalo Public Schools to help students from Middle Early College chart a path through their high school experience and take courses that allow them to seamlessly transition to Buffalo State. She works behind the scenes to enroll students, monitor their placements, track their progress, and coordinate the team of professionals who assist them.

Quicksey is well versed in academic advising. She understands and appreciates the value of quality advisement and its impact on student retention. She has served as a client manager for MAP-Works, the campus’s retention management system, providing training sessions for faculty and staff advisers and providing feedback and tracking for first-year students who may be at risk of leaving the college.

As a member of the President’s Council on Equity and Campus Diversity as well as numerous other committees, she advises administrators on recruitment and retention issues, coordinates events to showcase faculty members, and organizes annual student recognition ceremonies. She has shared her research on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and her experiences in higher education through presentations on and off campus. With a sharp sense of humor, compassion, and sensitivity, Quicksey consistently upholds Buffalo State’s mission to empower students to succeed.

President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Daniel M. Blum
Daniel Blum, lecturer of history and social studies education, is an excellent teacher and a well-informed educator who puts students’ needs first. He has a gift for connecting with students at all levels. He is widely known as a detailed, highly colorful classroom presence whose lectures and discussion sessions take students on a wild and wonderful ride through the past.

Students consider Blum rigorous yet fair. His classes are creative and fun, and his innovation is demonstrated by the use of props and engaging historical stories to explain ideas. Students are involved in intentional, experiential, and applied learning through various activities that, upon completion, serve as mini-allegories to explain the goals and mission of his class. He sets high expectations for his students, and his overwhelmingly positive end-of-year evaluations show that students respond enthusiastically to his methods. While most of his teaching focuses on introductory-level courses, he is particularly versatile and effective at teaching research and writing seminars for upper-division majors.

In addition to teaching, Blum is engaged in scholarship and professional development activities. He has participated and presented at numerous conferences for historians. He is also a longtime participant and presenter at the Pedagogical Institute and is actively involved in instructor meetings, trainings, and retreats for UNC 100: Mastering the Academic Environment, a college success course for incoming first-year students.

He is active with cross-disciplinary campus committee work, including the Learning Community Steering Committee and First-Year Experience Committee, and other initiatives that support the activities of teaching and student growth. He fosters a healthful, collegial, and effective work environment and truly believes in Buffalo State and its mission. Most important, he inspires students to reach beyond past limitations and become better students and better individuals.

President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Susan M. Keller-Mathers
Susan Keller-Mathers, associate professor in the Center for Studies in Creativity, is a consummate educator who matches her extensive teaching experience with heartfelt dedication to her students. She puts great effort into class preparation—constantly refining lesson plans and trying new activities and assignments to deepen student learning—and always adds a dose of reality to the often-theoretical topics she covers in her courses.

Keller-Mathers arrived on the Buffalo State campus in 1990 as a gifted and talented teacher at Campus West, where she worked tirelessly for 12 years educating elementary students and supervising and training new educators. In 2001, she transferred her wealth of knowledge to the International Center for Studies in Creativity (CSC), where she has advanced from lecturer to associate professor. During her time with the CSC, she has been the only faculty member to have taught every course in the graduate curriculum.

At the center of her scholarship and professional growth is her passion for integrating and supporting creativity in education. She has a close relationship with education programs at Buffalo State, serving as the creative studies liaison to the educational leadership program and the International Graduate Program for Educators. She also regularly advises independent studies, has developed a new online course, and is co-editing a book on professional development schools with her colleagues in the School of Education.

She frequently goes beyond the walls of the classroom to provide opportunities for students to engage in real creative problem-solving facilitation. With the assistance of graduate students, she delivers workshops around Western New York and beyond and has been active with the Western New York Invention Convention. She is a founding member of the Creative Studies Alumni Organization and is an enthusiastic ambassador for both her program and the college.

President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Angela L. Patti
Angela Patti, assistant professor of exceptional education, is a master teacher who actively engages students in learning and truly cares about their success. Dedicated to continually learning and evolving as an educator herself, she serves as an exemplary model for teacher candidates. Patti is known to develop strong relationships with her students and advisees and stays connected with many of them in their subsequent academic and professional careers.

In her time at Buffalo State, Patti has prepared or co-prepared eight education courses and five field experience or student teaching courses. The diversity and number of courses she has prepared or taught demonstrate her deep knowledge of the discipline. Moreover, her participation in a co-teaching pilot shows her willingness to explore new teaching techniques to best meet student needs. She also excels at developing and offering supplemental learning experiences for students. As a leader in the International Professional Development Schools program, she has led two student trips to Chile, delivering life-changing experiences for students.

Patti is involved in a variety of professional and scholarly activities. While at Buffalo State, she has published seven articles in peer-reviewed journals and served as a co-editor for a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal on evidence-based practices. She has also delivered 23 professional presentations at the international, national, state, or local level. She has skillfully linked her scholarship to her teaching activities, developing an expertise in co-teaching and implementing powerful international experiences for teacher candidates.

She is highly engaged at all levels of service, including chairing college committees, serving the community as an adviser for the pilot expansion of the New York State Master Teacher Program in the area of special education, and volunteering at the Explore & More Children’s Museum’s special program for children with autism and their families, “Au-Some Evenings.” Her passion, professionalism, and tireless devotion to students and colleagues make her an integral member of the department.

The Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program will celebrate the academic performance of its students at its 51st annual Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. This year's theme is “Imagine, Believe, Achieve: Invested in Education.”

The EOP Honors Convocation will recognize students who have earned a 3.0 GPA for the spring or fall semester in 2017, including 266 students with a cumulative GPA for the 2017 calendar year.

Andrew Butt, an English major, received this year’s undergraduate President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded by Buffalo State College. It is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement. A GPA of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Butt will deliver the student address at Commencement.

Mohamed Koanda, who majored in computer information systems and earned a 3.9 while minoring in mathematics, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement.

EOP is committed to the intellectual growth of all its students. A variety of activities and programs promote academic success including academic mentoring and advising; freshman academy; transfer academy; first-year peer mentoring; sophomore success; Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society; and many more.

The Honors Convocation will begin with a celebratory duet performance by graduating senior Diamond Smikle and junior Zhanna Reed. Highlights include the presentation of special awards to students, staff, and faculty. The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be presented to Vicki T. Sapp, ’94, ’97, who is the director of student engagement, diversity, and inclusion in the Department of Student Affairs at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Sapp also cosponsors the SAPP Family Scholarship for an outstanding EOP student who has demonstrated financial need.

EOP is proud of the ongoing wonderful work of students, faculty, and staff. The campus community is invited to this celebration and the reception following. 

Baccalaureate Student Address

President’s Medal For Outstanding Undergraduate Student

Andrew Butt has earned a bachelor of arts in English, attaining a 3.88 GPA while minoring in philosophy.

He will address the audiences at the morning and afternoon ceremonies at Buffalo State’s 146th Commencement, Saturday, May 19, in the Sports Arena as the recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student.

A McNair Scholar, Butt is a leader on campus and in the community. He is conscious of how and where he invests his time and energy, choosing roles that allow him to help his peers succeed academically and personally. He is an outstanding example of transferring academic excellence to meaningful involvement in the college community and the community at large.

On campus, Butt serves as an academic mentor and teaching assistant in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Academic Center for Excellence, providing academic skills development, guidance, challenge, and inspiration to students from underrepresented populations. He typically exceeds his designated tutoring hours, engaging students in discussions about writing and navigating college life, and offering midterm and final exam review sessions.

A Dean’s List student, he advanced his own academic goals by taking graduate-level English classes as an undergraduate as well as by authoring several research projects, including two senior theses. He is bright and thoughtful and remarkably observant, empathetic, and reflective in the classroom. His academic work is of the highest quality, both in his understanding a topic and in his ability to express ideas. His academic accolades include the Arts and Humanities Dean’s Award for Excellence in English as well as numerous awards from the Arthur O. Eve EOP. As captain of the college’s mock trial team, he organized students and encouraged wide participation in the American Mock Trial Association’s 2018 Great Lakes Regional Tournament.

Away from campus, Butt has worked full time while also selflessly volunteering with the Salvation Army, Assumption Parish, the Nicaragua Mission Project, and Our Lady of Black Rock Library’s Scholastic Book Fair. He gives of his time out of compassion rather than to draw attention and recognition for his volunteer work. This is the true mark of a humble citizen who leads by example.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award For Student Excellence

Mohamed Koanda has earned a bachelor of science in computer information systems (CIS), attaining a 3.92 GPA while minoring in mathematics.

Koanda will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 9:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 146th Commencement, Saturday, May 19, in the Sports Arena.  

A native of Burkina Faso, Africa, Koanda has been an outstanding member of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Dr. Anna P. Burrell Diversity Scholars Program. After arriving in the United States in 2011 without any knowledge of English, he worked diligently to learn the language and acclimate to life in America. He has a strong commitment to his own education while also caring to make a difference in the lives of others at Buffalo State and the greater community. He always goes above and beyond his duties to ensure that tasks are done completely and efficiently.

Professors consistently praise his work in the most challenging courses. He demonstrates a thorough understanding of concrete and abstract concepts and is a perpetual leader of class discussions, encouraging participation by all students. He applies the skills he learned in computer science classes to his everyday world, including developing a database of reports used by the Residence Life Office.

His passion for knowledge shines through when he is working with other students. As an EOP freshman mentor and tutor in the EOP Academic Center for Excellence and CIS Department, he inspires, motivates, and serves as a true role model. He is able to communicate and cultivate working relationships with both students and faculty members.

Active and engaged on campus, Koanda is a Scholar-Athlete Award-winning member of the men’s track and field team, a University Police student assistant, and a Residence Life resident assistant, where he was named Most Valuable Paraprofessional in 2017. In addition, he completed the National Leadership Development Institute course sponsored by INROADS.

Lavonnie Green, a senior childhood education major from New York City, chose Buffalo State sight-unseen when she was a high school senior.

“A close friend was going here and being an education major, I thought Buffalo State was a good choice,” she said. “I also got accepted into Buffalo State’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides extra support to students from low economic backgrounds and who have other hardships.”

Green definitely had additional hardships besides economics to contend with. Her father died when she was in the fourth grade; when she was just 15 years old, her mother suddenly passed away. Green’s sister, who was 21 years old at the time of their mother’s death, took care of Green for the remainder of high school.

“I know that many people would view losing both parents as an excuse not to go to college, but it motivated me,” she said, pointing to her sister and her high school teachers as champions who pushed her toward college. “My life could have gone so many different ways. I grew up in Harlem and the Bronx, which people think of as ‘the hood.’ Lots of young people end up getting killed or getting pregnant. I could have been a regular statistic. To be in college now is such a blessing.”

Those same dedicated teachers inspired Green to pursue a career in elementary education. She added an extension to teach math in grades seven through nine.

“To me, it’s not just standing in front of a class and teaching a subject,” she said. “It’s connecting with students. You are often with the kids more than their parents are."

Along with working alongside teachers in the Buffalo Public Schools, Green has had the opportunity to teach children in Zambia, South Africa. She spent almost three weeks there last summer through Buffalo State’s International Professional Development Schools (IPDS).

“Kids in Zambia really care about education. They appreciate it because it’s not guaranteed,” she said. “If you don’t pass a test in seventh grade, you can’t continue. That motivates them.”

When Green has her own classroom someday, she hopes to motivate students to love learning just as much.

For now, Green is excelling in her academic classes and classroom immersion in public school classrooms. She also has emerged as a leader in Black Active Minds (BAM). She’s currently the vice president of the campus organization that facilitates discussions on several topics, including the social, economic, and political issues that affect minorities on a global scale. Through BAM, she said she’s met people from different organizations and backgrounds.

“You build friendships and build bonds that you wouldn’t expect,” she said. “I never knew you could love something so much.”

BAM also dovetails nicely with Green’s love for teaching.

“Our motto in BAM is Get a Higher Education to Teach Others. I feel like that’s what I’m doing here,” she said. “Being on the BAM e-board. I’ve learned not only how to run an organization but also how to communicate with others. There are a lot of things I’ve learned through BAM that I can apply to real life.”

Buffalo State’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program will celebrate the exemplary academic performance of its students during its 52nd annual EOP Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 9, at 3:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. 

This year’s theme, “We the People: Believe, Inspire, Achieve,” highlights EOP’s commitment to inclusiveness and working toward the intellectual growth of all students, noted Yanick Jenkins, EOP director.

A variety of activities and programs promote academic success for EOP students, including academic mentoring and advising; freshman academy; transfer academy; first-year peer mentoring; sophomore success; and the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society.

During the honors convocation, Buffalo State will recognize 262 EOP students who have earned a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or higher for the spring or fall semester in 2018. Jude Jayatilleke, senior academic adviser for EOP who coordinates the convocation, said the ceremony provides a way to recognize students who have overcome many obstacles, not only to earn a diploma but also to thrive academically and in extracurricular campus activities.

“Every year we celebrate these exceptional students, but it seems to hold even greater significance now as students are facing more challenges,” Jenkins said. “EOP students come with different obstacles and issues than they’ve had in the past. Some are working full time so that they can send money home to help their families. Some are coming here with no support systems in place outside of the college. Nonetheless, they are thriving at Buffalo State and moving their lives in a positive direction.”

Senior Zhanna Reed is receiving special recognition. An arts and letters major with a concentration in dance, music, and theater, Reed is a recipient of the 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a student. While maintaining a 3.65 GPA, Reed tackled a heavy courseload and performed with multiple campus ensembles including Buffalo State’s Chamber Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, West African Drum Ensemble, and Dance Theater Company. She also landed a starring role in the campus production last fall of the Color Purple.

In addition, two 2005 EOP alumnae will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award: Crystal Rodriguez, assistant professor in the Social Sciences Department at Bronx Community College, and Cassandra St. Vil, CEO of Amateka College Preparatory Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.

After graduating from Buffalo State, Rodriguez earned a doctorate from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and St. Vil earned three master’s degrees, including one from Harvard University, and a doctorate from Howard University. 

“Both Crystal and Cassandra were active and well liked during their time at Buffalo State,” Jenkins said. “They have gone on to do such tremendous things. We couldn’t be prouder.”

The campus community is invited to participate in the honors convocation, which is followed by a reception. For more information, contact the EOP office at (716) 878-4225. 

It’s the last week of classes! Can you believe it? Here’s a look at some of what’s happening this week.

Tuesday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Beat Stress for Academic Success
Caudell Hall 127
Please join Weigel Health Promotions and Counseling Center for healthful ways to predict and cope with stress and manage anxiety. Contact Weigel Wellness Center Health Promotions with questions at (716) 878-4719.

Tuesday, May 7, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Celebration of Community Engagement
Campbell Student Union Social Hall
Awards will be presented during the annual Celebration of Community Engagement which recognizes service-learning, volunteer, and other community engagement partnerships that occurred throughout the academic year.

Tuesday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo State Philharmonia Orchestra and Choirs
Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
The Buffalo State Philharmonia will present its final performance of the 2018–2019 in a joint performance with the college’s Chamber Choir and Chorale. The Philharmonia will perform under the direction of Dr. Thomas Witakowski. The choirs will perform under the direction of Dr. Victoria Furby and Mr. John Fleischman. Tickets are $10 for the general public and free for students. Visit the Rockwell Hall Box Office, call (716) 878-3005 or order tickets online.

Wednesday, May 8, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lavender Graduation
Cleveland Hall 418
This ceremony is an opportunity for graduating LGBTQ+ students to be celebrated and honored for their achievements and contributions they bring to our campus. To learn more and register for this event, visit the Student Leadership and Engagement Office Lavender Graduation web page.

Wednesday, May 8, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bengal Study Night
Science and Math Complex
Studying and exam preparation does not have to be a solitary pursuit. Join in on Bengal Study Night, where there will be a full schedule of reviews, tutoring, games, and pizza. There will even be a visit from therapy dogs to help take the edge off the stress of finals. Check the schedule (PDF).

Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
Vocal and String Chamber Music Ensemble: Henry Purcell's Opera 'Dido and Aeneas' Libretto by Nahum Tate
Ciminelli Recital Hall
The Buffalo State Vocal and String Chamber ensembles will present Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas. Nahum Tate wrote the libretto. It tells the story of a joyous marriage between two monarchs, misled by the evil sorceress causing an abandonment. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Buffalo State Music Department.

Thursday, May 9, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Horizon Health Services Therapy Dog Workshop
Science and Mathematics Complex 169
Weigel Health Promotion hosts Horizon Health Services’ Therapy Dog Workshop. Therapy dogs are a great way to relieve stress. A therapy dog will be present to pet throughout the program. For more information, contact Weigel Health Promotions at 878-4719 or visit the website.

Thursday, May 9, 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Youth Voices Conference
Campbell Student Union Social Hall
The Western New York Network of English Teachers and Buffalo State’s English Education program present the Youth Voices Conference, an annual celebration of the remarkable stories and talents of WNY middle and high school students. The series, now in its sixth year, seeks to reclaim space for the voices of youth and their teachers and to reposition classrooms as learning spaces of meaning, purpose, and power in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Student presentations at the Youth Voices have included short documentary style films, spoken word poetry, and TED Talks based on classroom projects. For more information, call (716) 878-4309 or visit wnynet.org/.

Thursday, May 9, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
EOP Honors Convocation Celebration
Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall
The Arthur O. Eve Educational Oppurtunity Program will celebrate the exemplary academic performance of its students at the annual EOP Honors Convocation. This year's theme is "We the People: Believe, Inspire, Achieve." Highlights of the program include the high points of EOP during the year, as well as the presentation of special awards to students, staff, and faculty.

Friday, May 10, 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Graduate Student Research Fair
Campbell Student Union
The Graduate Student Association will be sponsoring the sixth annual Graduate Student Research Fair.

4-Minute Thesis Contest (4:00 p.m. | Assembly Hall): Thesis completers present their research in a fun, creative forum.  

Graduate School Awards Presentation (5:00 p.m. | Social Hall): Outstanding Master’s Project and Thesis Awardees, as determined by the Graduate Advisory Council, and their advisers will be acknowledged.  

Graduate Student Poster Presentation (after Awards | Social Hall): Poster presentation for graduate students to display and discuss their research with the campus and local community.

End-of-Year Happy Hour Celebration (7:00 p.m. | Social Hall): All matriculated graduate students are invited to attend this celebration.  

SUNY Chancellor’s Award For Student Excellence

Zhanna Reed has earned a bachelor of arts in arts and letters with concentrations in dance, music, and theater, attaining a 3.65 GPA while participating in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).

She will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 1:00 p.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 147th Commencement, Saturday, May 18, in the Sports Arena. 

Reed is an accomplished student who has tackled a rigorous academic workload while successfully managing an ambitious performance and rehearsal schedule. She is a college student with the artistic spirit of a seasoned veteran. In addition, she is a mentor for fellow arts majors, encouraging them to find their niche and prepare for career success. She brings tremendous warmth and positivity, brightening the day of all those she engages with.

Reed’s written work and contributions to class discussions are educated, thought provoking, and articulate. Her studio work is always concerned with improving technique. An EOP academic excellence award winner, Reed earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Service-Learning Course Participant award for her work in the Kinesthetic Learning Methods and Practices course. She also performed in Barbados at an academic conference on dance and inclusivity.

On stage, she starred in the leading role of Celie in Casting Hall Productions’ The Color Purple, modeled in the college’s Runway 9.0 fashion show, and performed at the Buffalo State Scholarship Gala in 2017 and 2018. A member of multiple Buffalo State musical ensembles, she is past president of the Buffalo State Dance Association and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the national honor society for first-year students; the National Honors Society for Dance Arts; and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

On campus, Reed has volunteered at the Buffalo State Child Care Center and with the Anne Frank Project. Outside of campus, she has volunteered at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Salvation Army, regional care facilities for elderly and homeless community members, and Hallie’s Haven, a nonprofit organization that focuses on bringing safety and stability to neglected and abused children.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award For Student Excellence

Hibbah Mojawalla has earned a bachelor of science in childhood education (grades 1–6) with a concentration in English, attaining a 4.0 GPA while participating in the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program and Kenzie Scholars Program.

She will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 9:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 147th Commencement, Saturday, May 18, in the Sports Arena. 

Mojawalla is a proactive student with a genuine focus on learning. She is an achiever who brings an inquisitive mind and tireless work ethic to class and to all her endeavors. Most important, she embodies the college’s mission and vision by empowering herself and fellow students to succeed and develop into leaders for an increasingly global society.

A two-time Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) award winner for academic excellence and winner of the Anna Mae Murphy Elementary Education Scholarship, she conducted original honors colloquium research into how service learning enhances the preparation of teachers. She presented her findings at the Buffalo State Student Research and Creativity Conference. Because of her commitment and perseverance, she graduated a semester earlier than anticipated and immediately began her work toward a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

Mojawalla founded the Buffalo State Muslim Student Association to help build a stronger interfaith community on campus, collaborating with the college’s president to create the first prayer and mediation space on campus and organizing bimonthly congregational prayers as well as interfaith panel discussions. She received the President’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Engagement for completing 1,000 hours of community service.

In the community, Mojawalla has volunteered extensively at Jami Masjid, a Muslim community center in Buffalo. She has worked as a supervisor for the Jami Youth Ambassador Committee, youth leader, girls soccer coach, sports organizer, and fundraiser for various projects, including the food pantry and community shuttle service. She also works as an after-school math tutor and helped raise funds for the community-built playground project at the Universal School, the nonprofit Islamic school at Jami Masjid.

When Mohamed Koanda, B.S. ’18, moved to the United States at age 16, he did not speak English. Now, less than eight years later, the 24-year-old is not only bilingual; he can also speak 10 computer programming languages.

And the recent graduate just accepted a full-time-job offer with Microsoft Corporation, starting in July as a software engineer at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

“Although I knew I always wanted to work for a large technology company,” he said, “I did not think the opportunity would be so soon after graduation.”

Koanda—who studied computer information systems at Buffalo State—was born in Burkina Faso, Africa. He grew up speaking French, the country’s official language, and his native dialect, Moore.

He and his sister moved to America in 2011 to live with their father in New York City, where Koanda enrolled in the Bronx High School of Business.

“It was very difficult to adjust culturally because there was so much I had to learn so quickly,” said Koanda, who completed high school in just two and a half years.

He said he relied on his father, his teachers, and his track coaches to help with his English language skills. He also watched television, especially the sitcom Martin, to understand how to speak the new language conversationally.  

“My father never attended school and does not know to read, but he speaks English fluently,” Koanda said. “I would read him my assignments in English, and my father would help translate them into French, so I could understand the material better.”

Attending college was always an aspiration for Koanda, who was the first person in his family to earn a college degree.

“I remember I met with the admissions team at the first college I visited,” he said. “I got so discouraged, because I was not accepted because they did not think I could speak English well enough to pass my classes. I was devastated.”

Soon after, Koanda’s track coach introduced him to Buffalo State. He applied and was accepted to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).

Koanda said his EOP counselors played a pivotal role in keeping him motivated. He describes senior EOP counselor Carole Miller-Canestrari as a “second mom.”

“Mohamed is an extraordinary young man who has overcome insurmountable life circumstances to become the person he is today,” said Miller-Canestrari. “I know this is just the beginning of his successful career and life.”

Koanda said Miller-Canestrari and the staff in Buffalo State’s Career Development Center helped him prepare for his postgraduate journey. After applying to several internships and full-time positions, Koanda accepted an opportunity to participate in Camp Dojo, an intensive 14-week coding program in California’s Silicon Valley.

“The program was very intense,” Koanda said. “We were coding 90 hours a week, with usually only one day off.”  

He said the experience gave him the skills and expertise to be competitive in the tech industry. Shortly after Camp Dojo, Koanda relocated to Seattle, Washington, for a 16-week apprenticeship with Microsoft, after which he applied for employment and was hired.

Miller-Canestrari credits Koanda’s ambition for much of his success. “His love for knowledge and education is beyond anything I’ve experienced,” she said.

“I have always been the person to keep going after what I want,” Koanda said. “I try to never give up. I’m a fighter.”

But, he added, Buffalo State provides the support services that all students need to succeed.

“Get help from the Writing Center, find an academic tutor, go to the Career Development Center,” he said. “If I could give new students any advice, it would be to take advantage of the resources at Buffalo State.”

Koanda received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence at the 2018 Commencement ceremonies. Read his Commencement profile.

When students come to Buffalo State, they’re immersed in rich and challenging academic subjects; however, they are not on their own when it comes to acing those subjects or figuring out everything it takes to succeed in college.

As part of Buffalo State’s Academic Commons (AC), students receive advising, get help with coursework, and hone strategies for study, note-taking, and test-taking. They can also connect with the campus’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The goal is to enhance students’ skills, abilities, and confidence so they stay in school and graduate.

“There is no single strategy to improve retention and student success,” said Academic Commons director Aimee Woznick, who oversees the nearly 30 academic advisers, tutors, and other personnel associated with the center. “Instead, we’re taking a more holistic approach to student support.”

Currently, AC services are scattered across campus—from Twin Rise to Buckham Hall. But starting in summer 2020, the AC will provide all services on the first floor of the renovated E. H. Butler Library.

In a “one-stop shop” of services, the new AC will house the Writing Center, the Math Center, EOP’s Academic Center for Excellence, the Advising Center, and SAS, which includes a new testing center.

“The Academic Commons will enhance each office’s capacity to serve students while adding many new features that improve reception, triage, scheduling, program visibility, collaborative learning, and student convenience,” said interim provost James Mayrose. “This vision should increase student use of these campus services significantly and transform the culture of learning at Buffalo State.”

The AC began in 2016 with the Oishei Drop-in Advising Center, funded by a $75,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation. Campus administrators, including President Katherine Conway-Turner and former provost Melanie Perreault, conceptualized the AC as a place to centralize all academic support services.

A $2.19 million Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education is covering the ongoing costs of the AC, along with data analytics and monitoring of retention efforts. With the AC, the campus can realize the “Remedial Pathways” and “Finish in Four” initiatives articulated in the SUNY Completion Agenda. The following is an overview of two of the services included under the AC umbrella.

Advising
All first-year students start out with a professional staff adviser who not only helps them select courses but also connects them with other campus resources. Once students earn 24 credits (typically in their sophomore year), they transition to a faculty adviser in their major who can offer guidance on next steps, be it graduate school or a career. Advisers reach out to students three times a semester or more, depending on student need.

“Advisers work with students to find out what success looks like to them and how to explore their areas of interest and set goals,” Woznick said. “Advisers also connect students to critical services if they’re facing challenges such as food insecurity or mental health stressors.”

Tutoring
Nationwide studies, including one from the Journal of College Reading and Learning, indicate that students who regularly go for tutoring increase their grades by a letter or more. This is why Woznick hopes that more students will take advantage of this free service.

Currently, more than 2,000 students enrolled in courses ranging from Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics to Calculus III get help each year with their coursework through a professional, faculty, or peer tutor within the Math Center, currently located in Buckham Hall A203.

Meanwhile, the Writing Center, located in Butler Library 310, handles approximately 4,000 appointments a year. Rather than just fixing grammar or other technical issues, the Writing Center helps students develop ideas and build stronger writing skills to make students independent writers, noted the center’s director, assistant professor of English Maggie Herb.

Students also receive tutoring in a multitude of other subjects, including music, biology, and French.

Woznick pointed out that tutoring isn’t only for students at risk of failing a course.

“Some students with an A– in a course will go to tutoring to get an A+,” she said.

Future
When the AC moves into its permanent home, its increased visibility should result in more students connecting with a range of service areas, Woznick said, especially first-generation students early in their college careers.

“It’s a huge cultural shift coming from high school to college,” she said. “There are lots of pieces to put into place before a student feels successful.”

Every year, about 200 new students enroll in the Educational Opportunity Program at Buffalo State College, where they receive counseling, tutoring, and assistance with transitioning to college, all in order to help them be successful. 

Students chosen for the program have shown the capacity to be successful in college but face disadvantages—financial, academic, or both—and need some extra support. For Jocelyn Tejeda, ’06, a senior EOP counselor, working with EOP is “near and dear” to her heart. Tejeda is an EOP graduate herself. She recently sat down with the Marketing and Communications Office to explain why she does what she does.

Q. As a native of the Bronx, how did you end up in Buffalo?
I did my undergraduate work at the University at Buffalo. I majored in business, international business. During this time, I was very involved with student organizations and clubs on campus and loved all the student interaction. As I approached my senior year, I realized I did not want to go back to New York City or work in a corporate setting. Luckily, I had a mentor, Vicki T. Sapp, who was also an EOP alum and understood some of the challenges I was having. I shared with her my passion for working with college students, and she suggested I look into the field of higher education, and think about graduate school.

Q. What’s your graduate degree from Buffalo State in?
I completed my master’s degree in student personnel administration, which is now known as the higher education and student affairs administration program at Buffalo State, and I haven’t looked back since.

Q. After getting your graduate degree at Buffalo State, where did you go?
I’ve worked at several institutions. I worked at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where I spent a few years doing work in residence life. While there, I became the associate director for the ALANA Center. I then went to Rutgers University, where I did a lot of work in student leadership, women’s empowerment, career readiness, and program planning. 

Q. How did you make your way back to Buffalo State?
I moved to Buffalo to be closer to my partner and take on a temporary position in Residence Life at Buffalo State. Ten months turned into five years, and it’s been great working in EOP as an alumna giving back to my students.  

Q. How long have you been working in the EOP office?
I’ve been with EOP since the summer of 2016.

Q.Why did you want to work with EOP students?
Because I was that student. As an EOP and first-generation college student, I did not know how to navigate the college application process, let alone college itself. My EOP counselor, faculty, and staff who were invested in me helped me succeed and graduate. My life circumstances contributed to my lack of preparation and knowledge, but they did not define who I was or where I would go in life. EOP believed in me and gave me the chance to reach my maximum potential and thrive. They taught me how to advocate for myself and seek support, and they shared resources with me that would help me develop personally, socially, and academically. EOP is invested in the whole student. I’m so grateful for EOP, because without it, I think my journey would have looked very different. The program felt like home, with people who understood my story, challenged me with love, and cheered me all the way across the graduation stage. I want to help students work through challenges and succeed as well. As a department, our goal is to give our students the tools they need to succeed, whether it’s by participating in our EOP Summer Academyprograms, connecting with our academic mentors via the Academic Center for Excellence, or celebrating their achievements through our annual EOP Honors Convocation event.

Q. Does your background help you relate to students?
Absolutely. I believe my experiences in coming from a low-income background, where education was the way out, helps me relate. My parents immigrated to this country from the Dominican Republic wanting to create a better life for my siblings and me. We grew up in a neighborhood where poverty and violence were prevalent, yet we were instilled with the message that education and our values were key. I grew up in New York City, so going away to school and being away doing everything on my own was overwhelming sometimes. I had to figure out how to make good decisions, support myself financially, and sometimes questioned whether I belonged as a young Latina from the South Bronx at a large institution, more than 400 miles away from home. I believe these experiences have helped me understand my students better and have equipped me with the skill set needed to support them in their college journey.

Q. On a more technical level, what are some of the things you do to help students get through this journey
I think a large part of what we do is a mix of coaching and intrusive counseling. The first thing we do is build trust with the student and help them understand what EOP is, what it has to offer, and how we can support and guide them. I sometimes give my students tough love, but also provide a space to listen to what’s happening in their lives. As counselors, we all have a different way of counseling, but it is all aligned with the mission and vision of the department, the college, and the program.

Q. What keeps you going in the job? What does a win look like for EOP?
A win for us can mean a lot of things. It can look like a student getting off of probation, and going from a 1.5 GPA in their freshman year to a 3.0 by their senior year. It is when a student realizes that they need to focus on their mental health and mental wellness, and actually utilize the resources available on campus. It looks like a student who arrived on campus very shy, and is now thriving in leadership positions and serving as a role model for their peers. It also looks like a student who just didn’t know what they wanted or felt lost and now has a plan for what they would like to do next. And sometimes it can look like helping a student who establishes boundaries, whether with family or friends, in the interest of doing well academically and engaging in self-care. And the ultimate win is seeing our students graduate and go on to do amazing things as alumni while breaking the stereotypes of what low socioeconomic students are capable of.

Q. Now that you’ve been back in Buffalo for a few years, what do you think of the city?
Buffalo has changed a lot in the last decade. I’m excited to see the direction it’s moving in. I think it’s a great place for students and young professionals to get head start and awesome for opportunities around innovation and entrepreneurship. I’m excited to be back.

Photos by Bruce Fox, college photographer

After more than a year of construction, the newly imagined Academic Commons in E. H. Butler Library is gearing up for its grand opening in March. This one-stop source for all students will be home to a variety of services to promote academic success, like the Math Center, the Writing Center, and the Tutoring and Learning Center.

With the IT Help Desk, Student Accessibility Services, the Educational Opportunity Program Academic Center for Excellence, and the Advising Center, the Academic Commons unites helpful tools and services in one location to make navigating campus life a lot easier. And with newly improved study spaces and a Starbucks café, this welcoming, student-friendly gathering place makes group collaborations and study sessions more comfortable and convenient than ever before. Not sure what kind of help to look for? The “Ask Us” desk serves as a quick and easy directory for students to find what they need.

Witness the incredible transformation taking place in the Academic Commons in this Buffalo State College photo gallery—including 10 stunning “before and after” animated GIFs that highlight the big changes.

Photos by Bruce Fox, Campus Photographer