Scene on Social

#BackToSchool

Starting the year off right on social media

BY DELANEY REH

The beginning of a new academic year at GSE warrants a celebration! That’s why plenty of GSE students and faculty shared their triumphant moments across social media platforms during the first week of classes. Their posts created quite the buzz online by expressing enthusiasm about furthering their academic and professional pursuits at our institution.

On Aug. 29, there were numerous posts tagging @UBGSE and hashtagging #UBGSE to commemorate the kick-off of new scholarly chapters. Students and faculty shared their scholastic adventures, including embarking on new positions, degrees and scholarships.

Posting moments of pride about educational and career advances on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook creates a sense of community and empowerment here at GSE.

For example, Timothy Monreal and Naomi Thompson, assistant professors of learning and instruction, snapped selfies outside their new office spaces.

A photo of Tim Monreal pointing at his office sign in Baldy Hall.

And Dawnavyn James shared a post expressing her excitement about starting her doctoral degree studies at GSE.

Dawnavyn James shared a photo of her UB name badge from student orientation.
Naomi Thompson pictured in a selfie next to her office door nameplate in Baldy Hall.

Professor Christopher Hoadley joined in by sharing a new phase in his career. After working at New York University for the past 14 years, he joined the UB faculty and will be leading a new initiative in learning sciences. “We’re cooking up big plans, not only for academic programs, but also for interdisciplinary research initiatives that envision how the learning sciences can support more just, more resilient, and more innovative communities in Buffalo and beyond,” he said.

Zoom image: Chris Hoadley on LinkedIn: I've spent 14 years on the faculty at NYU and am moving on to a new phase of my career. This fall, I'm going to be moving to the University at Buffalo (SUNY's flagship campus) to lead a new initiative in learning sciences. We're cooking up big plans, not only for academic programs, but also for interdisciplinary research initiatives that envision how the learning sciences can support more just, more resilient, and more innovative communities in Buffalo and beyond. Four deans and the provost came together to support a vision of how the state's preeminent public university can anchor new kinds of knowledge building in and for the community. A cluster faculty hire (in education, engineering and computer science, psychology, and architecture) and a new learning sciences PhD program are just the beginning. It's thrilling to imagine what we can do. Buffalo is called the city of good neighbors, and the encounters I've had there have led me to believe it. And yet, no place is safe from the cancers of bigotry, exploitation, or disrespect of nature. The traumas of the tragedies in Buffalo and beyond underscore for me the need for all of us to be good neighbors, and for all of us to support learning, growth and understanding. HG Wells once said, "Civilization is in a race between education and catastrophe. Let us learn the truth and spread it as far and wide as our circumstances allow. For the truth is the greatest weapon we have." I'm looking forward to working with my soon-to-be colleagues--and more importantly neighbors--to try making our scholarship, our teaching, and our research serve these pressing needs. #UBuffalo #UBGSE #UBEngineering #BuffaloArchPlan #UBCAS #learningscience