Academic Convocation
The 2025 Academic Convocation was held on Tuesday, September 9, at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. The ceremony honored the 2025 SUNY and Buffalo State award recipients.
Submission Information
Faculty and Staff may submit awards, recognitions, grants, and previous SUNY awards information using the appropriate forms below. Awards and grants accepted for the current year will have been received or announced between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, and meet the criteria stated below for each category.
Submit Awards and Honors Received
Submit Awards & Honors Received
Deadline: TBA
Faculty and staff who received significant awards and recognitions from academic, professional, or service organizations at the international, national, or state levels may submit their award information for consideration.
Buffalo State University, City of Buffalo, local organizations, and WNY-area awards are not included. Submissions meeting the criteria will be listed in the printed program that will be provided at the ceremony in 2025.
Submit Grants Received
Submit Grants Received
Deadline: TBA
Faculty and staff may submit information on significant grants they have received at $50,000 and above. Submissions meeting the criteria will be listed in the printed program that will be distributed at the ceremony in 2025.
Submit SUNY Awards Previously Received
Submit SUNY Awards Previously Received
Deadline: TBA
Faculty and staff who received SUNY awards—such as the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence—while previously serving at another SUNY institution any time during their careers may submit their award information. Submissions meeting the criteria will be listed in the printed program that will be provided at the ceremony in 2025.
Welcome New Faculty & Staff
As a warm welcome to the Buffalo State community, the names and titles of all new faculty and staff (as provided through the payroll system from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025) will be listed in the printed program that will be provided at the ceremony in 2025.
2025 Honorees
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service
Ann Delmont
Administrative Assistant 2, Academic Affairs Vice President's Office
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service
Lisa Marie Anselmi, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor, Anthropology
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service
Brandon Kawa, M.S.
Director, International Graduate Programs for Education
Tristin Salter, M.A.
Program Coordinator, Continuing Professional Studies
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
Tao Tang, Ph.D.
Professor, Geosciences
Buffalo State President's Awards
Atta Ceesay, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Natalie Szymanski, Ph.D.
Director, Writing Program
Maria Garrity, M.S.Ed.
Senior Systems Programmer, Information Technology Services
Brooke Capotosto, M.S.
Instructional Designer, Instructional Design and Distance Learning
Jikai Du, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Engineering Technology
Lorna Perez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
Amy Wilson, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Higher Education Administration and Adult Education
Stephen Saracino, M.F.A.
Professor, Art and Design
Gang "Gary" Hu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Computer Information Systems
Kristen Pastore-Capuana, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
Past Ceremony Programs
Please contact the Academic Affairs Office, (716) 878-5550, to request programs from previous years not listed below.