Arts - Buffalo State College

Welcome to the 14 th annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration!
Our Celebration draws undergraduate and graduate student presenters from all academic areas of the Buffalo State
community and includes creative works conducted during the ‘Year of the Arts’. This year’s program is the largest Celebration
to date with over 375 posters, oral papers, and visual and performing arts presentations. The growth in this campus-wide
event is confirmation that Buffalo State places a high value on the teacher-scholar model of learning in which faculty
engage students through research, scholarly and creative activities integrated directly into courses and independent research
experiences.
The Student Research and Creativity Celebration calls attention to our students’ discoveries as they explored their
disciplines in search of answers to open-ended questions, and as a result of applying novel ways to create works of art. In their
own way, each student has helped contribute new knowledge and gained a deeper understanding of the research and discovery
process. Some of the activities presented this weekend are ongoing and results are preliminary. Other presenters already have
shared their work at national and international professional meetings and conferences. But
whether the work is in its earliest stages or near completion, our students are learning about
the value and importance of communicating and sharing the knowledge gained or exhibiting
a new work of art. And, every student presenter has benefitted from the commitment of a
dedicated mentor (or mentors) that provided the right mix of encouragement, feedback, and
guidance throughout each step of the research, scholarly, and creative process.
Undergraduate research continues to gain momentum on campuses across the country.
Buffalo State is proud to contribute its voice in conversations about effective models for
integrating undergraduate research into the curriculum and evaluating the impact of
undergraduate research. This year a Buffalo State fine arts student was featured on the cover of
the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Quarterly and another Buffalo State student
was invited to share their research at CUR-sponsored “Posters on the Hill” in Washington, DC. Three Buffalo State students
took part in the SUNY Undergraduate Research Showcase in Albany and students in the arts, education, natural and social
sciences, and computer science traveled internationally and nationally to present their research findings and display their
works of art. In addition, undergraduates conducting research, scholarly, and creative projects are being offered assistantships
in excellent graduate programs at universities across the country. Buffalo State student research, scholarly, and creative
activities are on the move!
The Student Research and Creativity Celebration is the culmination of many months of planning and requires the support
and assistance from individuals and offices across the Buffalo State campus. There are 46 Celebration Coordinators that help
promote the event at the department and program levels, and a number of faculty that play an important role by serving as
moderators for oral sessions and monitors in the poster sessions. Students also play an important role in running the event,
from showcasing their scholarly and creative works during the opening reception to helping presenters register and find their
way to the correct location for their presentation. I gratefully acknowledge all these individual efforts and enthusiasm shared
by the campus for this annual celebration.
I hope you enjoy listening to and meeting the student presenters. I am certain you will be impressed by the diversity and
quality of their presentations. Thank you for attending our Celebration of our students’ achievements and supporting our
student presenters and their faculty mentors.
Enjoy the program!
Sincerely,
Jill Singer, Ph.D.
Professor of Earth Sciences
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
Welcome!
1