2026 Experiential Learning Fair

Where: Butler Library – Main Lobby

When: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 

Hosted by: Dr. Laurie Buonanno | Department of Business, Economics & Public Administration

Title: Managing and Assessing an Intercollegiate Student Organized Simulation: The SUNY Model European Union

Presenters: Olayeni Abimbola, Lucas Meyer & Julianna Steinberg

The SUNY Model European Union (SUNYMEU) is an intercollegiate three-day student organized, and student-run learning activity sponsored by the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY (IEUSS), the SUNY Office of Global Affairs (with which IEUSS is affiliated), and SUNY campuses. SUNYMEU was invented at SUNY Brockport in 1988 and is currently hosted by Buffalo State University. This poster will document the work of SUNYMEU student directors and the (intercollegiate) SUNYMEU Student Leadership Team, who together oversee the pre-simulation proposal phase and run the simulation itself. Unlike other MUNs and MEUs, students who are matriculated at the participating campuses write and propose the agenda items, ensuring they debate subjects in which they are interested. The student participants select SUNYMEU award winners through a secret ballot during Sunday lunchtime (the last day of the simulation). This presentation will also include the results of the post-evaluation survey, a survey students write, administer, and analyze. The results of this survey are used to help improve the learning experience for future SUNYMEUers.

Where: 1st Floor Lounge Area

When: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 

Hosted by: Social Work Department, Mark T. Boser, M.S.W. & Dr. Amy R. Manning

Students will showcase their internship experiences, highlighting the diverse ways they have learned, contributed, and engaged. The following students will be presenting their learnings:

2:00-3:00 pm 
Araya Abrianna; Hamdi Ahmed; Hazel Arteaga-Martinez; Roclyn Baah; Lamiya Begum; Isabela Bermingham; Hannah Boltz; Max Blum; Cassandra Costanzo; Zachary Cleason; Cassidy Critelli; Joseph Dee; Ellen Marie Beagle; Denisha Garrett; Johnny Guzman; Amanda Harroun; Nick Haffa; Ashly Harris; Nadia Martino; Arianna Martz; Synia Morrison; Khadiza Murshida; Mckenzie Octave; Nicholas Ross; Embri Sanders; Amajah Scott; Jeriesha Thomas; Jaliyah Simmons; Brayden Wall; Paige Whyte

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cadence Aguilar; Freddy Arzuaga; Kylee Bukowski; Sheryl Caldarella; Gerrod Craig; Meaghan Cullen; Sophia Duffie; Basosila Francoise; Jasmine Gilmore; Cidney Hennings; Alana Jacowitz; Jessica Langley; Britney McCarthy; Olivia McKay; Treanah Miles; Sarah Moley; Jennifer Ortiz-Arriaga; Isohie Ogiugo; Morgan Payan; Aaliyah Philip-Graham; Harley Pinto; Fin Pirrone; Wilbur Plunkett; Terell Ray; Keith Robison; Ramsey Ross; Gillian Scozzaro; Brooke Sumeriski; Trionna Williams; Christopher Wright; Jonathan Young
 

Where: Classroom – Butler 210

When: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm; 3:00 pm -3:40 pm

Hosted by: Dr. David Ben-Merre, Professor and Chair of the Department of English

Featuring Honors Students:

• Darling Arias (Forensic Chemistry)
• Julia Lynch (TFA)
• Michael Helfrich (Economics)
• Aidan Scribner (Political Science)
• Lexi Hoffman (Political Science)

Description:

Mock trial is an intercollegiate competitive activity in which you engage in a simulated trial, acting as witnesses and attorneys.  Each year, the American Mock Trial Association [AMTA] puts together a new case, complete with case law, affidavits, depositions, expert reports, evidence, and more.  Colleges across the country (over 800 teams) participate in the national competition, which begins in February and runs to April.  During the fall season, teams (consisting of 6-10 members) learn about the case and compete in scrimmages and invitational tournaments.  Past cases have included, among others: a helicopter art show heist, a chimpanzee killing a writer on a TV show, a millionaire being murdered (allegedly) on a train by his child, and an extension cord love-triangle attempted murder.  Last year’s (criminal) case was State of Midlands v. Charlie Martin: the defendant Charlie Martin was indicted for criminal homicide for causing the death of fellow contestant Rob Armstrong during the filming of reality TV show The Saboteurs. Charlie Martin has entered a plea of “not guilty” and the matter is scheduled for a jury trial.

Where: 2nd floor – Across from Education Curriculum Lab 

When: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 

Hosted by:  Maureen Huber, Associate Director of Career and Professional Education & Phil Auman, Senior Career Counselor.

Put your communication skills to the test in this fast-paced competition! Students will have just 60 seconds to select a topic and deliver a compelling, well-structured response. CAPE staff will evaluate each pitch using a standardized rubric, and a winner will be selected based on clarity, relevance, confidence, and professionalism.

Where: Curriculum Lab (2nd Floor)

When: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 

Hosted by: Dr. Pixita Del Prado Hill, Tamara Riphahn-Horstman, Dr. Julie Henry 

• PDP (Professional Development Partnerships)
  
  • Hailee Cipollina: How does facilitated dramatic play affect collaborative play skills in an early childhood self contained setting?
  • Joseph Cannizzaro: Looking Back To Move Us Forward: How Zen Can Improve The Standardized Curriculum
  • Jennifer Segura Lopez: Project Based Assessments as an Alternative to New York State Regents to Better Serve Students
• IPDP (International Professional Development Partnerships)
  
  • Jasmine Pena: Zambia: Teaching & Cultural Immersion
  • Ciera Watson: Teaching Beyond Borders: A Black Educator’s Experience in Chile with IPDP
• BPE (Bengals Passionate about Education)
  
  • Abigail Gammel
  • Ella Miller
• Collaborating for Inclusion: Buffalo State & KenTon Classrooms in Action
  • Dr. Katie McCabe’s Class 
  • Special and Childhood Education Teacher Candidates, from the Exceptional Education Department, will showcase lesson materials they designed and implemented during the semester while completing fieldwork at Holmes Elementary School in the KenTon School District. These materials will highlight their application of inclusive and evidence-based teaching practices. Teacher Candidates will feature either text sets used to teach about disability in whole-group literacy instruction or targeted intervention materials developed to support diverse learners. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore how these future educators translate coursework into meaningful, student-centered practice.
• Kenya International Professional Development Program (IPDP): A YPAR Story of Intercultural Collaboration & Community‑Engaged Learning
  • Kenya IPDP - Judi Harris and Alexandra Allen
  • Description:  This poster tells the story of the inaugural Kenya IPDP cohort through a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) lens. It highlights how Buffalo State students partnered with schools in Nairobi and Limuru to engage in intercultural dialogue, co‑learning, and community‑based inquiry. The poster features student reflections, images from virtual exchanges, and key themes of identity, collaboration, and global professional growth. It illustrates how students used YPAR principles to examine their own assumptions, build relationships across cultures, and develop actionable insights for future international partnerships.

Where: Global Lounge (3rd Floor)

When: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm 

Hosted by: Justin Crossfox, Center for Global Engagement

Participants are welcome to join the World Trivia Showcase during the Spring Student Showcase.  Bring a cell phone to answer questions from our Buffalo State University Globally minded international students about their home countries, flags, traditions, holidays and historical sites.  Test your knowledge about the homes your fellow students come from. Who knows, you might be one of our prize winners?

Where: Starbucks Café

When: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm 

Hosted by: Joey Nicoletti and Mary Beth Sullivan

The English Department’s Mic Drop Hammer 2025-26 series culminates at the Showcase with incredible spoken word performances. This event will feature Mic Drop veterans from our Honors and EOP collaborations, readings from writers in the new issue of Portrait Literary Magazine, and open mic performers. We’ll also have snacks, prizes and copies of the new Portrait issue. Come hype the performers, enjoy the creative energy, and even share your own work!

Sign up to perform and get your copy of Portrait at 2:30. The show starts at 2:45.

Scheduled performers:
•    Dev Hogan, “Cancíon Para Andres”
•    Mia Marino, “Dust on my Fur”
•    John Mueller II, “Ghost”
•    Sandra Rodriguez
•    Rena Spangler, “Ama”
•    Ava Tatum, “The Conversation”
•    Margot Voisinet
•    Felix Wiggins-Gomez, “Poems from the Duat”

Be sure to stick around and see even more Portrait authors and spoken word performers at the Student Arts Showcase (BPAC) at 7:30 pm!
 

Where: Creativity Suite, Butler Library 208 (2nd Floor)

When: 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm 

Hosted by: Natalie Szymanski

CWP 101 and CWP 102 are the required writing courses for students at Buffalo State that are meant to introduce writers to effectively composing for a variety of audiences in a variety of contexts, from letters to the editor to scholarly research. The work being shared in this showcase go far beyond what is required–or expected. Students will be sharing creative responses to assignment prompts and insightful research we can all learn from. Come see the best of CWP projects at the showcase!

Student Participants:
Sandra Rodriguez; Alissa Grant; Evan Blackwell; Onyx Oriz; V Armour; Adriana Asturias; Ashley Switalski; Adria Zakowicz; Dylan Anzalone; Roland Jenkins; Sequoia Fazzary; Ayoka Shaw

Their CWP instructors will also be introducing them:
Mary Beth Sullivan; Leslie Bennett; Liz Mariani; Joey Nicoletti; Zaibun Pasha; Jane Sullivan; Zachary Malone; Matthew Chandler; Felicia DeLibero; Jane Sullivan; Gregg Bigleri
 

Where: Classroom: Butler 314 (3rd Floor)

When: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm 

Hosted by: Social Work Department, Dr. Kim Zittel-Barr

SWK340: Social Work Theory and Assessment class conducted community assessments of the neighborhoods where they live. Students walked their neighborhoods, took photos, and identified assets. Students received significant training from Mary Perrelli, M.A., GIS Lab Supervisor, on the software. Using GIS, social work students created a StoryMap. This included their own story of the strengths and what could be improved in their neighborhoods. Students will display their interactive StoryMaps on computers for review. These StoryMaps give the audience an inside-view into the diverse lives of our students and the communities where they live.