Learn Magazine
Spring 2026 • Issue 12
A LETTER FROM DEAN ROSENBLITH
A powerful homecoming. In this issue, I invite you to explore GSE’s return to a newly reimagined Foster Hall—one that reflects our enduring legacy and bold future. Through stories of innovation, scholarship and community impact, I hope you will see how our faculty, students and alumni are redefining what it means to learn, lead and belong.
Cover Story
After a $41 million transformation, the historic building reopens on South Campus—where memory meets momentum
Foster Hall returns as a reimagined home for GSE, where history meets a dynamic future rooted in connection, innovation and community. This cover story explores how thoughtfully designed spaces, sustainable infrastructure and a renewed presence on South Campus are shaping new opportunities for collaboration, learning and impact.
Featured Stories
Led by researcher Scott Sabella, a new grant is helping GSE expand training for rehabilitation counselors to meet rising statewide demand and better support individuals with disabilities. Discover how this initiative is shaping New York’s future workforce.
Read how this grant prepares counselors to expand access, strengthen communities
Alumna Kathi Cellura’s lifelong commitment to teaching and giving continues to shape lives through intentional philanthropy and support for future educators. Her story reflects how small acts of care can create lasting impact across communities and generations.
Read how her giving-forward approach continues to open doors for others
GSE’s new EdM in learning sciences and educational technology prepares students to design innovative, equity-centered learning experiences across classrooms, workplaces and communities. With flexible tracks and hands-on training, the program equips graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving field.
Explore how this program prepares leaders to shape the future of learning
GSE alum Iman Lathan recently earned a prestigious Spencer Dissertation Fellowship for research examining race, gender and athletics in higher education. Her work brings new insight to the experiences of Black women athletes and the systems shaping their educational pathways.
Read how her research is advancing equity in college athletics
From “Ice Ice Baby” to engineering, GSE alum Jennifer McDonel is blending music and STEM through “Little Beats,” using songs to help young children explore concepts like engineering, math and science through play. Her work highlights the power of early, integrated learning experiences.
Read how she’s turning music into a foundation for STEM learning
GSE is welcoming new students with a curated “Welcome to Buffalo” Spotify playlist, using music to celebrate acceptance and introduce the region’s rich cultural identity. The initiative creates connection and community before students even arrive.
Listen to the playlist and see how GSE is welcoming students through music
Points of View
Growing into myself
From Long Island to Buffalo, Samantha Didrichsen’s journey into doctoral study at GSE is one of resilience, self-discovery and purpose. Once navigating anxiety and imposter syndrome, she now leads research on burnout among early childhood special educators—work inspired, in part, by her own experience. Through her PhD, Didrichsen aims to strengthen teacher preparation and support educator well-being across Western New York, transforming personal challenges into meaningful impact for the field.
Digital Divide 2.0: A professor’s dilemma on addressing disparities in tech use, AI tools and digital learning readiness and refusal
Assistant Professor Paris D. Wicker examines a new dimension of the digital divide—students’ refusal to engage with generative AI—and what it means for equity in higher education. Drawing on her teaching and research, she explores how fear, cost and limited AI literacy shape student decisions, and calls for a more critical, informed approach to AI engagement. Wicker argues that without equitable access and understanding, disparities in who can effectively use and evaluate AI will only deepen.
AI in the classroom: A conversation with Ian Mette on equity, ethics and AI in education
As artificial intelligence continues to shape K–12 education, Associate Professor Ian Mette offers a critical, equity-focused perspective on its use in classrooms and schools. In this conversation, he explores how families, educators and leaders can balance innovation with responsibility—emphasizing clear guidelines, ethical use and the importance of human-centered decision-making to ensure AI supports, rather than replaces, meaningful learning.
Quick Reads
Professor Dan Albertson explores how people search, engage with and learn from digital video, while advancing STEM learning in informal educational spaces. His work highlights the intersection of technology, information and real-world learning experiences.
Read more about Albertson
Doctoral student Reza Nahid Sahlan is advancing research on eating disorders and suicide risk, examining how cultural context and mental health intersect. His work is helping identify critical warning signs to better inform prevention and clinical care.
Read how his research is uncovering connections that save lives
GSE alum Dorian Withrow Jr. is using animation to bring mental health lessons to life, transforming personal experiences into creative tools for emotional growth and resilience. His work blends storytelling, counseling and community connection to reach young audiences in new ways.
Watch how his storytelling is turning creativity into a path toward healing
From factory tins to pop culture icons, the lunchbox tells a surprising story of innovation, identity and everyday life.
Read the history of the lunchbox
Discover the latest books and chapters authored by members of the GSE community.
View titles by GSE authors
Chaotic wedding, viral TikTok and a honeymoon surprise—how a GSE staffer turned disaster into joy and internet fame.
Check it out on social media
Bidding farewell and good luck to Raechele Pope as she begins a new chapter.
Read more about Pope
Catch up on what past classmates have been up to personally and professionally.
Review alumni updates
Remembering members of our cherished GSE community who recently passed.
Read the notices
View the Digital Issue
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Keep in Touch
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Learn Magazine is the semi-annual publication of the University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education, designed to connect alumni and friends with the latest news, research and stories from the GSE community. Each issue highlights faculty achievements, student success stories and advancements in education, leadership, information science and school counseling and psychology, offering readers insights into the evolving landscape of education. With engaging content and inspiring features, Learn Magazine serves as a bridge between the school and its extended community, fostering connections and keeping readers informed about the impact and growth of GSE.
Editorial, Design and Photography Credits
Editorial & Creative Director
Amber M. Winters
Director of Content & Lead Writer
Danielle LeGare
Web Design & Production
William J. Belz III
Nicole Mehlman-Davidow
Amber M. Winters
Graphic Design
Stay Graphic Design
Copy Editors & Proofreaders
Danielle LeGare
Ann Whitcher Gentzke
Contributing Writers
Samantha Didrichsen
Nicole Mehlman-Davidow
Karly Rakhimova
Alexandra Saccone
Ann Whitcher Gentzke
Paris Wicker
Contributing Photographers
Dylan Buyskes, Onion Studio, Inc.
Meredith Forrest Kulwicki, UB
Douglas Levere, UB
Maggie Martinez, Sarasota Scene Magazine
Nicole Mehlman-Davidow, UB
Contact Us
To share your ideas and stories, email us: gsenews@buffalo.edu