around the country; a second year because my wife briefly considered ... We
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NUMBER XXXVII | Fall 2013
HONORS TODAY
HONOR A BULL
Letter From the Editor Karyn St. George, Ph.D. Senior Assistant Director, Honors College Editor, Honors Today
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hat better way to learn about something than to do it? This issue of Honors Today embraces this notion as our alumni, current students, and faculty share their stories of how they turned their goals, aspirations, and academic ability into a tangible and quantifiable reality. You will read accounts from those who have brought what they learned in traditional classrooms to distant villages in the Dominican Republic, to the poor on the streets of Syracuse, NY, and to research labs right here at UB. There is no substitute for the power of transformative human experiences and the stories in the pages that follow demonstrate this perfectly. Matthew Helm applied the knowledge and values he gained while in the Honors College to the homeless in Syracuse, NY by starting a clinic to care for their needs. In New York City current Honors Scholar Ariel Judson brought her theatrical training to life and got a sneak peek “behind the scenes” through several internships. Honors Alum and UB professor Albert Titus exemplifies experiential learning through his own cutting-edge research in biomedical engineering. Honors Alumni and close friends Arin Dandes and Kelly Jakiel Copps reunited in Buffalo, bringing their creative skills center stage and launching their own theater company as a tribute to those who helped lay the groundwork for their success. Dylan Burns travelled “across the pond” to England, taking a course that culminated in a final project challenging him to actively connect what he had learned in the classroom to his experience abroad. And the list goes on…. Finally, our Honors College Director, Andy Stott, emphasizes “learning by doing” in his own career path, enabling him to realize first-hand that his vision to be a standup comic wasn’t exactly as he imagined. The stories included in the pages that follow demonstrate how experiential learning, along with hard work and determination, can transform the path one travels through school, work, and life. I hope you are inspired to continue your own journey of transferring what you know - to what you do.
“ T he only source of knowledge is experience” ~ Albert Einstein
Honors On the Inside… EDITOR: KARYN C. ST. GEORGE, Ph.D.
[email protected]
From Comedy to The Academy: Learning by Doing
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Andrew McConnell Stott Dean of Undergraduate Education Director of the Honors College Professor of English
Law & Economics
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William Paul Chapman Honors Scholar, Class of 2006
Changing Sides: From the Editor: Here I am holding my “golden ticket” to see President Barack Obama speak on campus on August 22, 2013. What an amazing experience!
Former Honors Scholar Albert Titus now excelling on other side of the desk Page 4 Patrick S. Broadwater Sr. Copywriter/Editor, Undergraduate Admissions
Second Generation Theatre Company
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Arin Dandes Honors Scholar, Class of 2009
Telling Stories: From Past to Present On the Cover: Members of the Student Philanthropy Team, HonoraBull: John Billingsly (Honors Scholar, Class of 2014), Nigel Michki (Honors Scholar, Class of 2016), and Stephanie Kong (Honors Scholar, Class of 2016) Photo: Meg Bragdon
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Dylan Burns Honors Scholar, Class of 2016
GPS, VH1, and Star Wars: A Stone Crusade
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Adam Sokolow Honors Scholar, Class of 2005
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
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Andrew Wilsey Honors Scholar, Class of 2015
Opportunities to Serve
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Matthew Helm Honors Scholar, Class of 2012
I am an Actor University Honors College University at Buffalo 106 Capen Hall Buffalo, New York 14260-1700 (716) 645-3020 honors.buffalo.edu
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Ariel Judson Honors Scholar, Class of 2013
HonoraBull Alumni Updates
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Nigel S. Michki Honors Scholar, Class of 2016 Member of the HonoraBull Team N U M B E R
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From Comedy to The Academy Learning by Doing
Andrew McConnell Stott Dean of Undergraduate education Director of the Honors College Professor of English Some of you may know this, but most will not: for a few years in the 1990s, I was a stand-up comedian. It was something I’d wanted to do since I was a child, but being more of the quiet back-of-the-classroom type than a twirly theater kid, I never really found the opportunity, or, more importantly, the courage, to give it a try. It wasn’t until my mid twenties that I started, by which time I already had a PhD in English and was teaching at a university in London. I’d found myself at one of life’s moments when it’s necessary to give oneself a kick up the arse and approach things a little differently, so I signed up for a night class taught by an ex-performer. It was as eccentric as you might expect – a room full of misfits, malcontents, a guy who looked like he’d been defrosted from a glacier, and, most horrific of all, lawyers who thought they were funny. For twelve weeks, our instructor taught us how to write material, stand on stage and hold a microphone, and prepare for our glorious careers in show business. It was all great fun and very affirming, but there was only one problem – none of us had ever done a show. It’s difficult to describe exactly what it feels like to be booed off the stage at the Comedy Store, but I’ll give it a try. Imagine standing frozen in a hot circle of light having endured days of crippling anxiety and the feeling that wherever you go, you’re being hunted. You speak, but your words are neither crisp nor recognizable. They don’t issue from your mouth at all, but from a mournful cat wailing somewhere over your shoulder. You try a joke – one of the ones that killed in class – “I filled in one of those personality tests. Apparently I’m happiest when on fire.” Not silence exactly, but sharp glints from beer glasses and the sense of something vast and hostile uncoiling in the darkness. Then a murmur, not dissimilar to the ambient noise of an airline terminal or the mute, concussive sounds of underwater. Not hating you, just ignoring you. You speak again, the mood alters. A whistle, a catcall, and then the swell of the mob, igniting like a tank fire, kicking the door in and demanding what it’s owed, eviscerating you in a squall of angry barracking. So sudden and consensual is their fury that it would be impressive were it not so terrifying. Now slow clapping, and jubilant chant of “Off. Off. Off. Off. Off. Off. Off. Off.” A final weakling attempt to be heard, but you’re merely a mangled remnant. You replace the mic and return backstage where the other comics refuse to look at you lest you infect them with your leprous death. 2
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Which leads me to the topic of experiential learning. That we learn best by doing is a truth that goes back as far as Aristotle. Everybody knows that, and at UB there have been experiential learning opportunities for as long as there’s been a campus. Yet with an increased emphasis on workforce preparedness, and the desire of students and families to know how their studies will intersect with the real world, the university has begun to refocus its attention on the value of this important educational tool. Last year, for example, over 6000 UB students engaged in some kind of experiential learning, whether it be an internship, undergraduate research or study abroad. As always, the Honors College takes the lead, with students on its Freshman Honors Colloquium clocking 8000 hours of service in the city of Buffalo alone, while also availing themselves of the generous alumni donations that allow us to offer support for their research and creative projects, and their studies overseas. Not only are these great experiences, but employers are demanding them too. A 2013 survey of employers conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that 74% of employers want colleges to better emphasize the applicability of knowledge and skills to real world settings through hands-on experiences. Not only that, but a similar percentage wanted to see a commitment to community involvement and knowledge of global cultures. Experiential learning cements the theory to the practice, exposes students to genuine challenges and instills in them a confidence that cannot be imparted with in-class instruction alone. My experiences as a stand up, for example, have helped me in my job as an academic. Thankfully, no subsequent work experience has come anywhere close to the mauling I received at the Comedy Store, but having survived it, it’s helped me deal with a lot of things. I can handle myself in front of an audience, and unresponsive students don’t faze me at all – even difficult but necessary conversations with parents and co-workers are made easier by the knowledge that nothing can be as bad as that night in London. Experiential learning is the future, and with the right blend of opportunities and rigorous instruction, we are certain that we will produce exceptional graduates who are able to make an immediate impact on their communities. And what of my comedy career? Well, after 300+ gigs and a short and rather insane stint at drama school, I decided that I wasn’t a natural born performer and that I was more comfortable in academia than showbiz. I’d also found myself at another one of life’s moments when it’s necessary to give oneself a kick up the arse. So I moved to Buffalo…
Law& Economics William Paul Chapman Honors Scholar, Class of 2006
The Honors folks asked me to share a story, so here goes. My name is William Paul Chapman, but I go by Paul to confuse people. I am short, “stocky,” and am typically found with a bountiful beard. Over the past weekend I injured my knee juking a safety in a pick-up flag football game in which no score was kept. I grew up in a rural area south of Rochester, spending all of K-12 in the same school district, and graduated from Livonia High School in 2002. I then spent four years at UB, graduating with a B.A. in the spring of 2006. I ended up with three majors: Economics, History, and Psychology. At different points in time, I planned to pursue a Ph.D. in each of these fields (and although I am now pushing 30, there is always a chance). In fact, in the fall of 2006 I was all set to re-enroll at UB to pursue an additional B.A. in mathematics, in preparation for applying to Economics Ph.D. programs. But like many a future law student, at the last minute I decided “Nah, law school seems easier,” so instead I signed up for the LSAT. I took it that October, and submitted applications the following month. In December, I was admitted to Harvard Law School, and I decided to accept and go there. But first, I deferred for a year two separate times: an initial year to travel aimlessly around the country; a second year because my wife briefly considered attending law school at the same time as me only to subsequently regain her senses. I finally made it to Cambridge and started school in the fall of 2009. My three years of law school were enjoyable on the whole – certainly easier than a full-time job. I was pretty sure from early on that I did not want to practice law, but figuring out an alternative path took a while. As luck would have it, though, I stumbled upon an opportunity that seemed tailor-made for me in my third year, and that is my job today. I graduated in May 2012 and started working as a Senior Economist at Legal Economics – still in Cambridge – that July. Basically, my job is to manage the preparation of expert reports, which are then submitted in support of a litigant’s
claims. The experts themselves are typically professors with extensive histories both of published academic work and of serving as expert witnesses. Most of the work we do is in antitrust, where the expert reports end up being of pivotal importance, as they are typically the key piece in proving anticompetitive impact (or in rebutting claimed proof of impact) and in calculating a reasonable measure of damages. I work closely with the experts as they apply the relevant economic theories to the facts of the case, and typically am in charge of moving a report from an expert’s outline to an initial draft, which is then gradually and collaboratively fine-tuned into a final report. Part of the job also involves exchanges with counsel at the law firm that has retained the expert, which means that even though I am not an attorney – and never had to take the Bar – I regularly interact with Associates and Partners at varying levels of the law firm hierarchy. For the most part, though, my job is to think about complex economic issues, look into the relevant facts underlying those issues, and to come up with prose that correctly and convincingly conveys how theories and facts go together. I also get to bat ideas back-and-forth with ultrasmart fellow staff members, and with the experts themselves. There are, of course, some long days at the office. But there are also some nice respites, and the hours I am expected to bill are far more humane than those the great majority of “Big Law” associates have to bear. I currently live in Watertown, to the west of Cambridge, and am able to ride my bike on the Charles River bike path to and from the office most days, which does a lot to improve my quality of life even on the long days (though not so much on the cold and snowy days). While at UB, I also ended up with a wife. We met in the romantic, early-morning-seminar confines of a class called “Comparative Fascism.” We married in 2005, right after she finished up her degree coursework and right before I started my senior year. We are expecting our first child in November. N U M B E R
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Photo courtesy of Douglas Levere
Changing
Patrick S. Broadwater Sr. Copywriter/Editor, Undergraduate Admissions
Former Honors Scholar Albert Titus now excelling on other side of the desk lbert Titus doesn’t have to look very far to be reminded how much has changed since his days as an Honors Scholar at the University at Buffalo. All he has to do is look outside the third-floor window of his Bonner Hall office. A series of temporary trailers, engineering department facilities for more than two decades, has been replaced by the majestic Davis Hall. Directly behind Davis from his point of view, a few hundred yards away, is Greiner Hall, the state-of-the-art residence hall for sophomores.
could be argued that the change has been for the better.
“I was in those trailers as a student,” said Titus, who earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at UB in 1989 and 1991, respectively, and returned to the university as a faculty member in 2001. “When I was an undergrad here, the Commons didn’t exist. Natural Sciences didn’t exist. Downstairs in Norton was a cafeteria. I used to eat lunch there every day.”
Since returning to his alma mater, Titus has been lauded both as a research and a teacher. He was presented with the Young Investigator Award in 2006 and received UB’s Teaching Innovation Award in 2010. However, his research in the field of biologically inspired visual systems gradually led him in the direction of bioinstrumentation – using sensors or instruments to record physiological data – and the burgeoning field of biomedical engineering.
The memories of his UB student days have faded a bit over the years, but they were still particularly strong in his early days as a professor. Titus did a lot of his master’s work in the Bonner labs, so he would occasionally flash back to those days as he walked down those same halls as a faculty member a few years later. “But now, having been here so long in the other role, it’s more like I have to stop and remember that I was a student here,” he said. “More and more has changed. Fewer and fewer things are like they were.” The same might be said for Titus and his career, though like UB, it 4
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An electrical engineer by training, Titus and his wife Ann Bisantz – they met as undergrads in the then-Honors Program in 1985 – earned their doctorates at Georgia Tech in 1997 then moved to Batavia, the halfway point between their new jobs. Bisantz joined the industrial and systems engineering faculty at UB, while Titus landed a teaching job at Rochester Institute of Technology. A few years later, Titus joined Bisantz at UB, taking a position in the electrical engineering department.
He has worked on a project related to improving x-ray detection, developing systems to see x-ray images in high resolution in real time, which can be used for things like inserting stents accurately in the vascular system. And he is currently in the early stages of a collaborative project with Jessica Castner of the School of Nursing, investigating how asthma patients can use personal technology devices, such as their smartphones, to monitor their condition. “The idea here is: Can you have something that you can plug into your smartphone, you blow into it and it records your data?” Titus
said. “It knows based on that day what’s your lung capacity, for example, or your volume flow for that day, or for that time of day. The data can be tracked and stored, and once you have all that electronically, you can check to look for patterns. If you have many people using these things in an area, you can start to pinpoint different issues.” The application of engineering principles and concepts to biological and health care systems is a relatively new phenomenon. As technology has improved, biomedical engineering departments have sprouted up on campuses across the country, bringing together researchers from various fields whose work intersects in new and interesting ways, all with an eye on engineering better solutions to improving human health. UB had long had a presence in this area, but formed the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2008 to formalize its existing collaborations. Titus helped to shepherd the program through the New York State Department of Education approval process, and became chair in 2012. The undergrad program was formally approved in 2010, with master’s and Ph.D. programs approved last year. “In general, the ideas where the most interesting things tend to be happening are at the intersections of two things that didn’t used to intersect,” Titus said. “To push these two areas together they thought were very different, then where they overlap, you’ve got a lot of interesting stuff that can happen. That’s really where biomedical engineering is right now.
“It follows the trend nationally, both in terms of engineering as well as biomedical engineering being a very fast growth area.” For Titus, focusing on the administrative aspect of his job has been rewarding in its own way. “I’ve been involved with it since the beginning, so it’s really been the core of what I’ve been doing for the past four or five years,” he said. “It’s definitely in some ways orthogonal to research because research is fun, it’s rewarding. While this has been rewarding, you can see what’s happened. I can look at it and point to something tangible and say, ‘This has gotten done, and this is the impact I’ve had on it.’ It’s good in a different way. “It’s its own headaches and its own difficulties, but certainly if you choose to do it, you must be doing it for some reason.” Part of his new role involves recruiting students into the department, and on this Titus works closely with the Honors College. The department has an interest in pursuing the most academically gifted students and, coincidentally, those are the types of students who typically are interested in biomedical engineering. Over lunch with prospective students, Titus draws on his own Honors experience to let them know how the program can enhance their education as it did his. Not only did Honors provide Titus with the opportunity to meet his future wife – be careful who you meet, he teases them – but it was also a place for him to learn and live with like-minded individuals who were different in many ways, but shared similar interests or a
“Having been on both sides of the desk now, being a student and coming back as a faculty member, you learn to see things differently and hope you can still picture what it’s like and feel what it’s like to be on the other side of the desk.” similar way of looking at the world.
“In our department now, there are people who are doing tissue engineering, they’re doing nanoparticles for cancer detection, cancer monitoring and diagnostics, people doing orthopedics, tissue strength and structure. When you study those things, it becomes how can you use that information to predict how diseases are either developing, how they might develop or if they will develop? Then knowing those things, can you do stuff to try to prevent things based on that?”
At the time, the Honors Program was only a few years old and accepted only a couple dozen students each year. But like so many things at UB, change was unavoidable. However the guiding principles of the program remain intact. “Going into it, I was not quite sure what to expect, but by the end or a few years into it, it was clear that it was very positive and it provided a very different view of the university and a lot of opportunities. It was a great experience,” Titus said.
While Titus does keep his hand in teaching and research, his administrative role as department chair takes up much of his time. The department has grown substantially in the past few years, jumping from less than 50 in the first year to close to 220 undergraduates this fall. “The growth has been very fast, faster than expected,” Titus said.
“Having been on both sides of the desk now, being a student and coming back as a faculty member, you learn to see things differently and hope you can still picture what it’s like and feel what it’s like to be on the other side of the desk. “Some things have obviously changed a lot, but then again some things really didn’t change at all.” Photo courtesy of Douglas Levere
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Arin Dandes Honors Scholar, Class of 2009
T
he seeds for Second Generation Theatre were planted years ago in UB’s Department of Theatre and Dance. Kelly Jakiel Copps (Honors Scholar ’08) and I were music theatre majors while Kristin Bentley (UB ’07) studied theatre performance. We spent most of our days in the Center for the Arts taking classes or rehearsing for various departmental productions. In what little free time they had, Jakiel Copps and Bentley also directed a student-run variety show that was written, rehearsed, and then performed every semester in the Katharine Cornell Theatre on campus. At various times in their collegiate years they both talked about running their own theatre company in the future. After graduation we kept in touch despite going our separate ways. I went to New York City soon after graduation and immediately hit the pavement. After several months of auditioning with hundreds of other hopefuls, I decided to take a break. I came home to Buffalo to regroup and figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. I auditioned for that upcoming Buffalo theatre season and was hooked. A few years (and many shows) later, I am very happy to be a member of this theatre community. The story behind Second Generation Theatre picks up speed in the fall of 2012. Once again, Jakiel Copps, Bentley, and I were back in Buffalo at the same time,
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settling into our lives and artistic endeavors. Buffalo has an impressive amount of high-quality, professional theatre and the three of us are each employed as actors and performers for various local theatre companies. As actors, we often discuss shows we wish companies would produce, or roles we would love to tackle. During one such conversation over brunch, Bentley and I started discussing the musical ‘Into the Woods’ by Stephen Sondheim, which would ultimately become our first production. We love the music, the story, the characters, and the important lessons it teaches. While the characters overcome great obstacles to get what they most wish for in life, they soon find that what you want may not always be what you need. This powerful message resonated with us and we thought it would move others as well. A show that could generate such passion and excitement seemed like the perfect production to launch a new company. A phone call to Jakiel Copps was made, and the Second Generation Theatre Company was created. Our name, Second Generation Theatre, reflects our respect for those who have come before us as well as our hope to nurture future generations of theatre artists. Some of the leaders in the Buffalo theatre community were our professors during our years at UB. We learned so much from their teachings, both in the classroom and onstage, and we want to continue the work they do in our community.
Through live theatre, they entertain and enlighten their audiences, improving the quality of life for many people season after season. We find theatre to be integral to our own quality of life, and want to share that gift with others.
2015 season are also in the works. We hope to build a reputation for producing high-quality work as we learn and grow in the next few years. Second Generation Theatre’s long term goals include finding our own theatre space and producing more musicals and plays each season. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but the future looks bright and promising. We are grateful to have the support of Buffalo’s vibrant theatre community.
Our premier production, ‘Into the Woods,’ was a resounding success for our fledgling company. We assembled a creative team, cast, and crew from Buffalo’s incredible talent pool of actors, directors, Second Generation Theatre founders: Kristin Bentley, Arin Dandes, and designers, and musicians. The time I spent as a UB Kelly Jakiel Copps Their heartfelt support for Honors Scholar certainly our new endeavor was encouraging, and our shared helped prepare me for this next step in my theatre love of the musical was inspiring. We marketed the career. I always looked forward to the intellectual
Our name, Second Generation Theatre, reflects our respect for those who have come before us as well as our hope to nurture future generations of theatre artists. We find theatre to be integral to our own quality of life, and want to share that gift with others. show on television, in print, through social media, and using guerilla marketing tactics. The production ran for three weekends at the New Phoenix Theatre on the Park and elicited very positive feedback from our audience members, some of whom had come back to enjoy the show a second time. The support we received from local theatre artists and media contributors was overwhelming. Buffalo is the city of good neighbors, and we were lucky to experience that old adage tenfold during the production process. We are currently busy planning and organizing our 20132014 season productions of Neil LaBute’s play ‘Some Girl(s)’ and Stephen Sondheim’s musical ‘Assassins,’ both of which will be presented at the New Phoenix Theatre. Plans for Second Generation Theatre’s 2014-
debates that took place in my Honors seminars, and when students who are passionate about learning come together, fantastic ideas emerge. We also learned to think critically and articulate complex ideas, a skill I have found extremely useful as a performer and as co-founder of a theatre company. The Honors College requires its students to go above and beyond, to think outside the box, and to step outside their comfort zone. Starting a company was certainly outside of my comfort zone. As I learned in the classroom and in life, taking a risk can lead to great rewards. For more information on Second Generation Theatre Company, visit www.secondgenerationtheatre.com or follow us on Facebook. N U M B E R
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T E L LS IT NO GR I E S 8
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From Past to Present
Cliffs of Dover
Dylan Burns Honors Scholar, Class of 2016
What is the first thing you would do in a foreign country which you have never visited? If your response is anything but “buy a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts to split with a group of complete strangers,” you and I clearly have different priorities. Never having traveled abroad before (I think we can all agree that Canada doesn’t count when you live in Buffalo), I was still in a state of both bewilderment and awe when I exited the Manchester airport on a cool and foggy English morning. My program mates had been separated on multiple flights, so a rest stop along the route to Nottingham, the city that houses our host institution, Nottingham Trent University, was the selected rendezvous point. Naturally, a couple jokes about needing to travel to another continent to get the best doughnuts from a company long-departed from Buffalo, in combination with some sugary delight, was the best way to break the ice and usher in our month of fun (and studying). I was able to travel to England through the support of The Fulbright Summer Institutes Program. This program is a special sect of the Fulbright Commission that provides funds for and access to a study abroad opportunity for American students to study in the United Kingdom, and vice versa. It is aimed at providing a structured, yet still malleable first experience in a foreign country, and one that hopes to affect the way in which participants think about community, interaction, our studies, and ourselves. I was selected out of an undisclosed number of applicants across the country, along with 61 other students, after submitting an application and essay followed by a telephone interview. During the first two weeks of the program, while my mind still slightly faltered at grasping the reality of such a new and different environment, I greatly enjoyed the predetermined structure of the course which I was enrolled. We toured many historic sites, such as Wollaton Hall (or Wayne Manor if you follow the new Batman movies) and other stately homes and museums during the first week, which focused on museum curating and exhibition presentation. We explored the linguistically creative sides of our minds during the second week, in tandem with touring sites pertaining to famous authors such as the birthplace of D.H. Lawrence and Lord Byron’s Homestead. Our small group began to bond over wonderful adventures, such as sharing a pint at the oldest pub in England (which is built partially in a cave), discussing the potential reality of the tale of Robin Hood (which centers on Nottingham), and even waterskiing!
, Nottingham Green’s Mill Wallaton Hal l, Nottingham
Bath The last week was reserved for a final project aimed at focusing Roman Baths, on the intersection our studies and our interests in the first three weeks of the program. The specifics of the project were left intentionally vague to allow us to take the rigors of a purposely rigid program and manipulate it into as free of a conceptual culmination as desired. The coordinators of the program, as well as my instructors, simply said “Do something that reflects your experiences in Nottingham.” Rather than highlighting the details of my stay in England, I wanted to explore something new with my project, so I focused on interactions with the people and the built environment as a whole. at a T
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I centered my project on one concept that I repeatedly returned to as I faded into the pulse of the community each day. A city could have the most magnificent structures and ideas in the world, but all of it would mean nothing were it not for the people who visit it and contribute to its distinctiveness. As a civilization, we often pass by hundreds of strangers without giving them a second thought; my project focused on moving past this. I composed a series of questions aimed at prying as gently as possible into the minds of complete strangers. But what should I ask? My list of questions progressed through a series of trials and adjustments, but eventually I decided on the following: “ If you knew no one would judge you, what would you do differently?” “What do you sometimes pretend you understand that you really don’t?” “Why do you matter?” “If you could give one piece of advice to anyone, what would it be?” I approached anyone in the city who looked available or potentially willing to answer these questions, while trying to get as wide of a range of perceived demographic as possible. As my questions became more open-ended and thought-provoking for my new-found friends, I heard some very intriguing answers.
I made a point of getting a brief snapshot into their lives and also asked each person if I could take a photograph of him or her. For me, this was a truly eye-opening project. Each person has a story to tell, good or bad, different from our own. Each life is shaped by people and events. Similarly, every city is shaped by the people who live in it. Everyone has something to teach and a story to tell and my goal was to slow down and try to hear a few of them. Sometimes you have to ask the right questions, though, or you’ll never discover any of this. As a rising sophomore in the School of Architecture and Planning, I am pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Architecture and a minor in Environmental Design. With such a forcedly strong focus on architecture in my studies, the opportunity to explore topics uncommon to me with a diverse range of group mates was extremely intriguing, beneficial, and fun. I hope to further explore the topics with which I dabbled while abroad. I know that my experiences have had a resounding effect on my many aspects of my studies. I would like to heartily thank Elizabeth Colucci, Beth Tauke, William Kresse Ph.D., and Sabrina Vircillo-Franke, for their support and help surrounding this wonderful opportunity. Also, to the instructors, my program mates, my family, and all of the nameless people with whom I spoke, thank you for making this one of the greatest experiences of my life.
GPS, VH1, and Star Wars: A Stone Crusade
Adam Sokolow Honors Scholar, Class of 2005
hile collecting data for my bouldering guidebook, my weekly dose of excitement was comprised of scaling rocks in the woods while avoiding rattlesnake bites and brier stings. Although academically trained as a physicist, my obsession for bouldering makes me wonder at times whether my other doctorate is in climbing. On weekends during graduate school at Duke University, I would frequent my favorite boulder field “Moore’s Wall” located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. What started as a hobby grew into a research endeavor. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is free from ropes. In many ways, climbing is a simple sport where the available friction is used to overcome gravity. The technique, however, can be quite complex. “Reading the rock” and adapting one’s body mechanics, often on the fly, allows for climbing “smart”, not hard. Depending on its expanse, a boulder field often has
hundreds of house-sized boulders. Although there are often easy ways to the top of an individual boulder, climbers set out to find more difficult or acrobatic ways. Climbers obviously have psychological issues. These pathways to the top of the rock, or boulder problems, are given a grade of difficulty based on the Hueco scale. This “V-scale” is a rating system created by John Sherman, which starts at V0 (an “easy” climb) and continues up in numbers to more difficult grades of V14 and above (super human). Along with the grade, the boulder problem is also given a name. Typically these names are humorous, intimidating, provocative, or perhaps N U M B E R
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for rocks and perhaps the greatest archive of North Carolina rock climbs. With JP’s help I was able to fill in the gaps of my knowledge of Moore’s Wall. Through him, stories about locals and their adventures rose to the surface. These stories are included in the guide in a manner that is reminiscent of a VH1 Pop-up Video. While using the guide to figure out where you are, small blurbs of information provide back-stories pertaining to the cold rock you are staring at.
simply inappropriate. At Moore’s Wall, some of the most classic problems pay homage to the film Star Wars - which was new in theaters when the area was being developed in the late 70s - with names like “Oh-V1-Kenobi”, “R2V2”, and “V3PO”. In conjunction with the history of their development, the names, grades, and locations of boulder problems comprise the meat of a climbing guidebook. Witnessing first-hand attempts to rename classics and knowing the benefits of climbing guidebooks, I decided to create one for Moore’s Wall. Prior to my guide, all of the boulder problems at Moore’s were carried on by an oral tradition. A seasoned climber would provide a newer one with the “beta” (information). These new climbers would surface and then later disappear and new climbs would develop and older ones would be rediscovered. A boulder field is ever-evolving, which presented quite the conundrum while writing a guide. On the one hand, there was the need to record the history of the area and on the other was the need to preserve the discovery aspect of climbing. By necessity then, the guide had to omit climbs so that future generations could experience discovering a “new” boulder off an established trail. Perhaps the most challenging part of writing the guidebook was tracking down the locals that were involved in the development of the area. There were a handful of residents who had been in the area long enough to witness the ebb and flow of climbers. A friend of mine, John Provetero, was one of them. JP had an incredible super power - with a single glance of a picture of rock, he could identify the climb and where it was located in North Carolina. He is an encyclopedia
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While simultaneously in graduate school for physics, I would try to squeeze in extra time for the guide. The project took about two years to complete, including map-making, picturetaking, and writing descriptions of the climbs (not to mention countless hours spent just wandering in the woods in search of an unsussed - climbing lingo for untouched - boulder). During the map-making phase I made use of my academic training and put together a home-built GPS unit. A “West Coast Chopper” flat-brim hat, bought on clearance from Target, served as its mounting platform. The hat was quite the fashion statement. Armed with a blinking LED to inform me it was fully operational, the GPS unit triangulated my position, and wrote the coordinates to a jump drive. Thus, by walking around the large boulders in the boulder field I was a pencil on a map of a much grander scale. There were easily 200 boulders total that I personally took laps around through all seasons of the year. At times I was fortunate to have the support and company of my wife Sarah, but most times, left to my own devices, I was alone in the woods wearing a ridiculous hat.
“Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is free from ropes. In many ways, climbing is a simple sport where the available friction is used to overcome gravity. The technique, however, can be quite complex.”
Currently I am at the Army Research Lab as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education post-doctoral fellow doing materials research in soft tissues under high strain-rates. This type of work draws on the tools and insights from my entire background and was made possible by the incredible faculty at UB. Everyday I get to work on exciting problems that are relevant to saving lives, that press the boundaries of our understanding of biological tissues, and that bring up new physics. I get to explore these issues and, on occasion, still get to walk around the woods with a silly hat.
Oh, The Places You'’ll Go! “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go...” Andrew Wilsey Honors Scholar, Class of 2015
his past March, I traveled to the Dominican Republic through the Honors College Alternative Spring Break Program to volunteer with an organization called Outreach 360. This service trip allowed a group of UB students to travel to Monte Cristi, where our mission was to teach English to children in both recreational and engaging ways. At the week’s close, however, I realized how much the children taught me! They gave me insight about life’s simple pleasures, showed me a culture of support and compassion, and encouraged me to embrace each and every moment! During the week our goal was to have the students speak as much English as possible, and to engage them in the simple act of learning- motivating them to continue on with their education. In the Dominican Republic, parents face extreme economic hardships and prefer their children start working rather then going to ‘play’ at school. The choice to attend school comes from these five to twelve year olds, who sometimes walk up to ten miles just to get an education. I found this determination most astounding, especially at such a young age. My time spent in the Dominican Republic with fellow Honors Scholars was one of the most amazing experiences I have had as a student. One of the greatest forces of education is learning outside of the classroom, a concept fostered by the Honors College. I have come to learn that travel is one of our wisest professors, teaching us about our world’s different cultures, distinctive customs, and unique wonders. Experiencing other cultures and lifestyles provides an opportunity to broaden students’ minds with more than just graphs and equations. While only spending seven days in the Dominican Republic, I was still able to learn so much about our world and myself – things not easily taught in the classroom. As our plane touched down in JFK after our trip was over, I had already decided I would be spending my summer volunteering! I spent the next month researching different opportunities across
- Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
the globe and discovered International Volunteer Headquarters- an organization with a service-teaching program in Kenya. Come the first of June, I was stationed in a tiny, remote village on the coast of Kenya with limited electricity, houses that were made from tin or sticks and mud, and no knowledge of the native tongue, Swahili. Luckily, I had the experiences from my Honors College trip to the Dominican to draw upon. Outreach 360 had several phrases to help volunteers adjust, for example, “It’s not about you. Jump right in. Be flexible and creative. Communicate love.” The lessons I learned through Outreach 360 and from the other UB volunteers allowed me to grow by completely immersing myself in an entirely new culture. I was the teacher for the fifth grade and explored subjects with my group of ten students ranging from math, science, and English to religion, government and even a little German. Working from 8am to 5pm with these children, I quickly became attached, cheering with them over every victory and challenging each and every one of them to reach their fullest potential. Once again, I focused not only on learning the material at hand, but I encouraged my students to care about their education, motivating them to continue on past primary school. My time spent at the school flew by as my days were filled with learning, love and laughter. One of the most beautiful experiences was to see my students growing right before my eyes. The memory of my own students in the Dominican Republic and in Kenya running up to meet me and recalling the sight of their faces, eager to learn and full of love, still brings a wide smile to my face. Both trips left me with the reminder to live my life to its fullest, taking advantage of all opportunities offered to me. By traveling I’ve witnessed how others experience life differently, allowing me to share with my peers another perspective of the world in which we live. The Honors College supported me on this journey and I look forward inspiring my fellow Honors Scholars to also explore the vast world around them. N U M B E R
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Opportunities to Serve
Matthew (fourth from the right) and his classmates travel to the Dominican
Matthew Helm Honors Scholar, Class of 2012
While it has been just over a year since I completed my last class at UB, I have already been able to reflect on, and gain a true appreciation for, the many opportunities that were provided to me by the Honors College. My advisors, mentors, and classmates consistently stressed the importance of service throughout my time at UB. All of them led by example. Dr. Junzhe Xu of the UB Psychiatry Department not only served as a research mentor, but she was also a role model to me because of the kindness and compassion she showed towards her patients. Professor Sheldon Berlow not only helped me become an effective teaching assistant for his Conversations Through the Disciplines Honors seminar, he took a personal interest in broadening my perspectives. I had many outstanding classmates in the Honors College who also inspired me to become a better person. Now, as a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University, when opportunities to serve arise, it seems only natural to step up and try to help, and to emulate my teachers and classmates from UB. Upstate Medical University classmate Stefanos Haddad and I started to volunteer at the Syracuse Rescue Mission to help the homeless. We came up with the idea to set up a foot clinic to provide clients with footwear and foot care. Fourth year medical students Jessie Sassani and Caitlyn Foote worked with us to secure a $9,000 grant from the AOA Medical Honor Society. The clinic has been running monthly since February and has been a blessing for the homeless we serve, as well as for the Upstate Medical students and other volunteers who have a chance to get to know and help the less privileged. 12
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Republic.
Many of my UB friends and classmates have generously volunteered their time to make the clinic a success. The project has gone so well that the community is now asking us to start a new clinic down the road to reach others who lack access to health care. Three of my classmates here at SUNY Upstate are also UB Honors College graduates - Tim Kuchera, Adam George, and Alisa Anderson. The family-like environment and connections we made in the UB Honors College have continued, even after graduation. Not only has the volunteer group helped in the Syracuse area, but medical students and others from the Syracuse area had the opportunity to go on a one week medical mission trip. Phil Wade from UB’s chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association partnered with The Chapel at Crosspoint and SUNY Upstate students for a successful mission trip in the Dominican Republic. We provided care to the rural poor who often scavenged in Santo Domingo’s garbage dump. The connections I made at UB allowed these groups to come together for a successful trip. Dr. Gina Prescott, a faculty member from the School of Pharmacy, and others were instrumental in covering the many needs we encountered. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and all the role models that helped guide me towards service and helping those in need. My UB training has given me the knowledge, ability, and confidence to help those around me. I am thankful to UB for providing me with so many opportunities to grow and mature, and I hope to keep that momentum which was started at UB.
Ariel Judson Honors Scholar, Class of 2013
I am an I
Actor
am an actor. I study my art all year long, both through my all over New York City, picking up and dropping off contracts and supplies from major recording studios and Broadway classes and performances. When deciding what I should be theaters. One of my biggest projects was attending all doing during my summers, I thought about the areas of the rehearsals for the musical numbers and assisting the executive entertainment industry that I don’t generally learn about in producers who worked with the talent. I was amongst some school. I am originally from Long Island, close to New York of my personal acting heroes, working closely with them to City, a major hub in the professional performing arts world. make the show run as smoothly as possible. The most surreal I knew I needed to take advantage of this close proximity to part of the entire experience was seeing my name in the credits learn about the business and production of the work I am so on television when I watched the show back on my DVR! I passionate about sharing with the world. During the spring semester of my freshman year, I sent my resume to any source was given great advice from a teaching assistant in one of my classes at UB that I will always remember. She said that with that I could in New York and through hard work and a little any job, you must make yourself invaluable and unforgettable luck, I landed two incredible internships. because there are hundreds of other As an Honors Scholar, I have always people waiting to replace you. While been told that good grades alone are I was working, I always had her voice not enough to set you apart from a in the back of my mind. Because I group of applicants in the real world. I listened to her advice, I was asked to know I am not alone in trying to take come back the following summer as advantage of every opportunity to go a production assistant and eventually above and beyond and to get involved worked with the same company in co-curricular experiences while at on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day UB. The University has so much to Parade. That same summer, I also offer in terms of clubs, organizations, worked for an off-Broadway, weekly community projects, and social events improvisation show called Naked that allow us to pursue our interests in a Fishbowl, where I helped with while gaining leadership experience. marketing and preparing the venue I spent the first half of the summer of for the production. Comedy has 2011 working as a production intern always been one of my greatest for the 65th Annual Tony Awards. I passions, so working with the show never imagined working for a major provided insight into that world national televised event, but I’m sure and allowed me to network with that even if I had, my fantasies could performers and managers who I am not have lived up to the reality of the still connected with today. actual experience. Every morning I The following summer, while I would show up to the production continued my work with the Tony office located in the basement of Ariel (right) engages the crowd at the Macy’s Awards, I knew I wanted to learn the Beacon Theatre. Each day held a Thanksgiving Day Parade! even more about the industry. The different set of tasks for me to complete. UB Theatre Department sent out an email advertising an Of course, I did the cliché intern stuff like getting coffee and internship program with A&E Networks working in their lunch for the directors and producers, but I also went on runs N U M B E R
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scheduling department in New York City. I thought this would be the perfect way to understand how television shows move from production to the screens at home. I applied for and got the internship! My responsibilities included helping to develop the schedule for the A&E, Bio, and Crime & Investigation Networks. I created research documents about our competition and sent out weekly newsletters to every department. Another project I worked on was screening new and old programs in order to both create marathon packages and to decide if a new show would work for our network. It was truly amazing to see my work have such a direct impact on what was put on television while learning so much about what goes on behind the scenes in the industry. After spending two summers learning about the business of “the business”, I finally decided to explore the artistic side of my craft. Through a connection of a professor, I was put in contact with a well-established director in New York named Erica Gould. She decided to take me on as her assistant for the summer, working with her on staged readings, workshops, benefits and productions of new works. For the first time, I was in the professional rehearsal
process from the side of the director. By helping Erica work with fabulous actors on creating new characters I was able to meet some really great playwrights and see plays from inception through to live performance. I have also taken on an internship at the People’s Improv Theater, working in the box office as a work study in order to take classes there after I graduate for a reduced price. This will be great for me in the long run allowing me to continue my training as a performer after I graduate for little to no cost, which is so rare in NYC. During my limited spare time, I have also been able to work on set as an actor for television shows and films. I felt that it was time to get my foot in the door on the performance side of the business, using the knowledge that I had gained from my previous experiences. My goal has always been to make sure that I am an informed actor who knows a considerable amount about what goes on behind the scenes. I am confident that I have accomplished this goal through the connections I have made and the knowledge I have gained. I know that I will have a successful career in the entertainment industry.
HONOR A BULL “To foster a sense of commitment to the Honors College and the success of its students through philanthropic education and activities.” Nigel S. Michki Honors Scholar, Class 2016 Member of the HonoraBull Team
That is the mission of the HonoraBull team: a group of students, overseen by the Honors College staff, whose goal is to educate their peers on the importance of philanthropy in a college setting. Donations are of paramount importance in any higher-education institution’s budget, and in the case of the Honors College, donations go directly towards scholarships that fund current Honors Scholars’ projects; however this may not be apparent to the student receiving such aid! To that end, the HonoraBull team educates their peers on the importance of philanthropic engagement and encourages current Honors Scholars to ‘pay it forward’. The HonoraBull team recognizes that students have a limited budget, but 14
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also knows that every extra penny counts and the more students that participate, the faster those pennies will add up! “Operation: BankaBull” encompasses that idea. The mission, if the student chooses to accept it, is to pick up a “bull bank” and fill it with spare change. At multiple points throughout the year, students will have the opportunity to turn in their collected change, celebrate their collective effort, and engage in a dialogue about the importance of their actions. But what happens with all that spare change? Contributions directly support current Honors Scholars by funding their academic projects and activities. The team is hoping to raise enough funds to award their first grants during the coming spring semester. This creative and enthusiastic team has a variety of other ideas in development; an Honors senior giving campaign, incorporating philanthropic education into the Honors curriculum, campaigns with alumni, and even a card-board boat race! More information will be released as the year progresses, so be sure to watch for new ways to be HonoraBull! As alumni, how can you get involved? Simply log onto honors. buffalo.edu/alumni/operation-bankabull.php, fill out the form, and we will send you a bull bank to get started collecting your spare change!
Alumni Updates 1988 Karen (Shute) Kraeger
Karen recently started work both as an elementary gifted specialist and as a part-time faculty member at Kennesaw State University.
1989 Stephanie Argentine
Stephanie was recently promoted to Vice President Talent Management & Organizational Development at Rich Products, Buffalo NY. She joined Rich’s in 2010 as Director Talent Management & Organizational Development.
1990 John Neumann
John’s band Kontrol Cow released their first CD this summer, “twenty-two” which he produced and also played lead guitar. He and his wife Barb are moving to Allentown, PA for John to take a job at SPTS Technologies.
1993 John Spierre
What they’re doing now…
Karin Townson
Matthew Sweeney
Karin is a professor in the School of Physical Therapy at her “other” alma mater, the University of Puget Sound.
Matthew recently moved to the Rochester, NY, area where he and his wife Jill live with their four children: 8yrs., 6yrs., 3yrs., and 1yr.
2000
2005
Jeanine (Butzek) Qasim
Erich Devendorf
Jeanine works at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Derivatives Operational Risk Management.
Erich has taken a position with the Air Force Research Laboratory specializing in cyber defense.
2001
Sujata (Sofat) Gill
Phillip Edwards
Phil recently started as the Assistant Director of the University Center for the Advancement of Teaching at The Ohio State University.
2002
Danielle (Wilbur) Muehlbauer
Atul Jain
Atul recently joined the faculty at the University of Chicago as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. Gillian Julius
Scott Sobieraj
Scott is a cardiologist at Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates.
1995
2003
Joseph Szustakowski
Dmitriy Akselrod
1996 Samantha Dow
Samantha recently joined the legal department of ING U.S. as Counsel. Renee Lansley
Renee is a visiting lecturer at Framingham State University, where she teaches courses in Modern American and African American History. She and her husband Joseph (Honors ’95) celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this September. They live outside of Boston with their two sons, 5yrs. and 7yrs.
1999 Dana Lukin
Dana started as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. He is also an attending physician in the Division of Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center.
Danielle is finishing up her final year of orthopaedic surgery residency at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She will be attending Philadelphia Hand Center for a hand surgery fellowship in 2014.
Gillian and her husband (Harold Hotchkiss, Honors ’01) have moved to San Ramon, California where Gillian has accepted a job as Agile Leader for GE Software.
John is living in Florida with his family.
Joseph is head of Biomarker Development Bioinformatics at Novartis, where he leads a team of scientists that sequence and analyze the genomes of human patients. He and his team recently discovered a gene responsible for a rare, inherited kidney disorder and published their findings in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/23687361 for more information.
Sujata will be graduating in June from Georgetown University Hospital and will complete her residency in general surgery. She is also applying for a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Join us on Social Media! Like us on Facebook: University at Buffalo Honors College
Dmitriy started a new job as a radiologist. He has two kids and one on the way! Pascal Cohen
Follow us on Twitter: UBHonors
Pascal is the Sr. Manager of Marketing & Air Service Development for the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and the Niagara Falls Airport. During the past three years, he was successful in attracting Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air to service the Niagara Falls airport. He is also actively working with the air carriers at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to expand flight capacity and destinations served.
Join us on LinkedIn: University at Buffalo Honors College
2004 Kelly (Sayles) Currie
Kelly is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow at the University of Colorado in Denver. Narasimhachar (Simha) Prativadi
Simha graduated from his radiology residency and is doing a fellowship in MRI at the University of Rochester.
Kevin Kurtz
Honors Scholar, Class of 1993 Kevin Kurtz’s latest children’s book is entitled A Day in the Deep. It is a non-fiction book about deep sea animals such as vampire squid and angler fish. It’s the third illustrated children’s book about nature Kevin has written that has been published by Sylvan Dell Publishing. You can find out more about Kevin and his published works by visiting http://kevinkurtz.homestead.com
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Alumni Updates 2008
2012
Kenneth Heidle
Kasey Buecheler
Kenneth graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently completing his residency in Emergency Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA.
Kasey received a scholarship to study at Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute. She has a part-time job teaching English to young children and also tutors adults.
Tracy Stepien
Ross Cole
Tracy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a PhD in Mathematics and is now a Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Arizona State University - a three year postdoc position!
Ross is currently a second year medical student at UB Medical School.
2009
Sara Frank
Sara is working as a physical therapist at Kessler Rehabilitation Center and will be getting married March 16, 2014 to Justin Jarmus. Lesthia Isaacs
Catherine Nicastro
Catherine is a Latin teacher at East Aurora High School in East Aurora, NY. Yekaterina Merkulova
Yekaterina is entering her 5th year in the MD/PhD program at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She is pursuing a PhD in neuroscience with a focus in neuroelectrophysiology. She also recently completed a mentoring program through the New York Academy of Sciences where she taught science in a Brooklyn public middle school for two semesters.
2010 Jeffrey Ackerman
Jeffrey is a mechanical engineering PhD student and research assistant at Purdue. Last year he received the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, which will continue to fund his research for two more years and he expects to graduate with his doctorate in 2015. Cindy Sideris
Cindy recently began working in the Development & Alumni Relations Department at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Lesthia completed her first year of the School Psychology PhD Program at UB and worked at a Summer Treatment Program for children with ADHD. Ryan Lazarus
Ryan works as a Private Equity Analyst at Bloomberg LP in Manhattan. Christine Robertson
Christine works for Upatate New York Transplant Services (UNYTS) as an Eye and Tissue Recovery Technician. She harvests tissue from cadavers for human transplant including skin, bone, nerves, veins, and heart valves. She was recently promoted and is now an Eye and Tissue Recovery Team Leader so in addition to harvesting the previously stated tissues, she also harvests corneas and oversees and coordinates the entire recovery process. Julian Rothschild
Julian is a 2nd year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Josh Yankowitz
2011 Joshua Adams
Josh is attending Binghamton University’s School of Management where he will pursue his MBA.
Joshua is in the 3rd year of his MD/PhD program at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
2013
Erin Cotter
Megan Klyczek
Erin is attending the University of Texas at Austin for a MA/PhD in English. Laura Habberfield
Laura was promoted to a Senior Analyst of Sales & Operations Planning for the Omnichannel Team at Toys”R”Us.
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What they’re doing now… De Chang Daniel Lim
Daniel was accepted into the PhD Social Psychology Program at Northeastern University. Amanda Martin
Amanda is a Master’s student at Bowling Green State University. Joseph Swerdlin
Joseph is an Intern at Storefront for Art and Architecture, a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of innovative positions in architecture, art and design.
Marriages
Joshua Adams (2011)
was married in July in Kenmore, NY. He and his wife Stephanie live in Houston, TX where she teaches 3rd grade math and science. Sujata Sofat (2005)
was married this year and lives in Crystal City, VA just outside of DC with her husband who is a Palliative Care Fellow in DC. Scott Sobieraj (2002)
married Channa Kolb, MD, who he graduated from UB Medical School with in 2006.
Births
Jeanine (Butzek) Qasim (2000)
and her husband Naeem welcomed their son Gabriel on February 19, 2013! Erich Devendorf (2005)
and his wife Caitlin welcomed their first child, Violette Elizabeth on March 17, 2012.
Megan will graduate from the accelerated nursing program in May 2014 and then will continue on to a DNP program.
Attention UB Honors Alumni!
Derek Peloquin
To update our records please log onto honors.buffalo.edu/ alumni and complete the alumni update form.
Derek is continuing to work towards a PhD in Nanoscale Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
*We would also like to include a photo of you (and/or your children) with your update! Photos can be e-mailed to Karyn St. George at
[email protected].
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Thanks to you,
I’ve helped kids get hands-on education. Senior chemical engineering major Phillip Tucciarone has led UB students south for spring break, not to Florida but to the Dominican Republic to teach English to schoolchildren. Back in Buffalo, he’s part of UB’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership program, helping high-schoolers get hands-on with science. Why UB? “I am passionate about educational equality, and felt I would have more diverse interactions here.” He was grateful to receive a scholarship from UB supported by private philanthropy because “I don’t have financial support from parents.” Co-author of two papers in peer-reviewed journals, the nanomaterials researcher received a prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. “Research has been the most important and gratifying part of my time at UB. I love being confused, specifically for the gratification of finding answers.” The best reason to support
UB is what students like Phillip will do in the future.
The best public universities have the strongest private support. www.giving.buffalo.edu
Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Buffalo, NY Permit No. 311
University Honors College University at Buffalo 106 Capen Hall Buffalo, New York 14260-1700 (716) 645-3020 www.honors.buffalo.edu
Alumni: RequestABull!
We want you to participate in Operation BankaBull!* Just log onto honors.buffalo.edu/alumni/operationbankabull.php and provide us with your name and address, and we will send you a bull bank to get started! * see article on page 14 for more details
