Bulletin Board

Sam Abramovich, associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor in the Departments of Information Science and Learning and Instruction, is part of the inaugural class of SUNY’s AI for the Public Good Fellows.

Tasha Austin, assistant professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction, received a UB Exceptional Scholar–Young Investigator Award for 2025 and an Early Career Award from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Research Special Interest Group.

Yunjeong Chang in the Department of Learning and Instruction has been promoted to associate professor.

Myles Faith, professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, received a UB Exceptional Scholar–Sustained Achievement Award for 2025.

Virginia Flood, assistant professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction, received an award from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program.

Wendy Guyker in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology has been promoted to clinical full professor.

Megan Iantosca, along with coauthors Shelley Kimelberg, Ryan Taughrin and Danielle Lewis, received the honorable mention for the Sociological Forum Inaugural Author Award, highlighting groundbreaking contributions to educational sociology.

Jaekyung Lee, professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, was named a University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor.

Xi Lu, assistant professor in the Department of Information Science, earned a Best Paper Award at the Association for Computing Machinery CHI 2025, a premier global conference on human-computer interaction.

Tim Monreal, assistant professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction, received the Ina J. Ferguson Chatmon Parent Advocate Award at the Buffalo Public Schools Family and Community Engagement Summit.

Sarah A. Robert, professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction, received the 2025 Association for the Study of Food and Society Book Award, Edited Volume Category, as well as the 2025 Best School Meals Book in the World, awarded at the 30th Annual Gourmand Food Book Awards. She has also been promoted to full professor.

Stephen Santa-Ramirez in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy has been promoted to associate professor.

Michele Shanahan in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology has been promoted to clinical full professor.

John Strong in the Department of Learning and Instruction has been promoted to associate professor.

Rebecca Vujnovic in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology has been promoted to clinical full professor.

X. Christine Wang, professor of learning and instruction and senior associate dean for interdisciplinary research, received the University at Buffalo’s President’s Medal during the 2025 commencement ceremony. Wang also received a UB Exceptional Scholar–Sustained Achievement Award for 2025.

Tiffany L. Bromfield, a doctoral candidate in the higher education PhD program, received the Best Presentation Award at the Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers (NEACUHO) Annual Conference in October 2024.

Sarah Hale, a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, was named the 2025–26 Graduate At-Large Representative for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J.

Jayda Holmes, Kingsley Arthur, Phoenix McClinton and Sunettee Sharpe, master’s students in the higher education and student affairs program, received the Esther Lloyd-Jones Case Study Competition Award at the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPANYS) Conference in Fall 2024.

Rahnuma E Jannat, a student in the school psychology PhD program, received the APA Division 16 School Psychology Blue Ribbon Award for Top Student Poster at the 2025 American Psychological Association Conference in Denver. Her poster was titled “Cyberbullying: Association with Adolescents’ Global Self-Worth and Peer Support.”

Kendall Klosko, a student in the higher education and student affairs master’s program, received the “Of The Month” Award from the National Residence Hall Honorary of the National Association of College & University Residence Halls, Inc. in April 2025 for her conflict mediation and thoughtful programming. In May 2025, she was named Advisor of the Year at the University at Buffalo Residence Hall Association Awards.

Iman Lathan, PhD student in education, culture, policy and society, was selected as a 2025 NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellow, one of the most prestigious awards available to doctoral students in education research.

Erin MacDiarmid, a PhD student in the higher education program, received the Robert E. Valenti Memorial Scholarship Award in March 2025 from the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education. In April 2025, she also received the Outstanding Leadership Award from UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Taylor Smith, a student in GSE’s English for speakers of other languages education program, was named a Fulbright recipient, carrying GSE’s commitment to global education into communities around the world.

Shay Valley, a student in the higher education PhD program, received the Class of 2000 Anna Furgiuele ELP Award from the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education in November 2024. The award supports professional development expenses for higher education students.

Russel Bassarath, a recent graduate of the UB Teach program, was recognized as a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador, sharing his experiences and inspiring others to follow a similar path.

Laureen Cantwell, a recent doctoral graduate in the Department of Information Science, received the 2025 ALISE Eugene Garfield Doctoral Dissertation Award. This prestigious national honor recognizes outstanding dissertation research in library and information science.

Yanely M. Reyes, a recent graduate of the early childhood/childhood education program, received the SUNY Association of College Council and College Trustees (ACT) Nancy L. Zimpher Scholarship for Teacher Education. The award recognizes her outstanding academic performance and extraordinary commitment to her campus and community.

Nicole Mehlman-Davidow, assistant director of communications and web, was the overall female winner at the sprint distance in the A Tri in the Buff at Evangola State Park. Following that performance, she placed in the top ten among women at the Barrelman Olympic distance triathlon and took first place in the women’s 30-34 age group.

Carly Ogletree in the Office of Research has been promoted to post-award finance manager.

Eduvijez Sanchez, assistant director of recruitment in GSE’s Office of Admission, was accepted into the 2025 NAGAP Leadership Academy. She was also recognized through UB Human Resources’ Pillars of Pride program for August 2025. This peer-to-peer recognition highlights the importance of empathy, integrity and effort.

Ryan Taughrin, assistant dean for enrollment management and a PhD student in GSE’s higher education program, received a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

“Sovereign Learning: Black Home Education From Historical Necessity to Contemporary Choice,” featuring Cheryl Fields-Smith, PhD  |  Sept. 13, 2025

“The Black History 101 Mobile Museum and the Million Man March,” featuring Khalid el-Hakim, PhD  |  Oct. 11, 2025

“If We Don’t Get: A People’s History of Ferguson” and “Reflections on 10 Years of Black Lives Matter,” featuring Stefan Bradley, PhD  |  Nov. 8, 2025

“Voices Still Crying out From the Wilderness: Lessons From Black Educators 20 Years Post Katrina,” featuring Daniella Cook Sumpter, PhD  |  Dec. 13, 2025