The Daily Bulletin

I am pleased to announce the members of the 2024 Presidential Advisory Commencement Committee. This committee represents Buffalo State’s dedication to advising, planning, and executing the spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies for the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and School of the Professions.

Commencement Advisory Committee Leadership

• Chair: Gliset Morales, Associate Professor, Exceptional Education Department
• Vice Chair: Molly Holinger, Assistant Professor, Creativity and Change Leadership Department
• Immediate Past Chair: Marcus Watson, Associate Professor, Individualized Studies
• University Marshal: Howard Reid, Professor, Psychology Department
• President’s Representative: LeVar Burke, Chief of Staff, President’s Office
• Provost’s Representative: Kimberly Jackson, Deputy University Marshal, Academic Affairs Office
• Operations Subcommittee Chair: Bernadette Matre, Director, Events Management Office
• Communications Subcommittee Chair: Brian Kantz, Director of Creative Services, Marketing and Communications Office
• Honorary Doctorate Subcommittee Chair: Jennifer Toohey, Associate Professor, Theater Department
• Secretary: Ann Delmont, Administrative Assistant 2, Academic Affairs Office

Committee Members

• Katelyn Brickhouse, Director, Alumni Engagement Office
• Julian Cole, Interim Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
• Carol DeNysschen, Dean, School of the Professions
• Kathy Doody, Professor, Exceptional Education Department
• Ricky Fleming, Professor, Music Department
• Clemon George, Assistant Professor, Health, Nutrition, and Dietetics Department
• Abdollah Hajikandi, Assistant Director of Academic Services, Educational Opportunity Program
• Luke Haumesser, Director, Student Leadership and Engagement Office
• Amy McMillian, Director, Muriel A. Howard Honors Program
• Lisa Morrison-Fronckowiak, Interim Chief Diversity Officer, Equity and Diversity Office
• Shantell Reid, Assistant Professor, Fashion and Textile Technology Department
• Raquel Schmidt, Associate Dean, School of Education
• Gehan Senthinathan, Assistant Professor, Social and Psychological Foundations of Education and Adult Education Department
• Amy Wilson, Chair and Associate Professor, Higher Education Administration Department
• Shawnte Wilson, Director of Roar2Success, Enrollment Management
• Gabriella diSpirito, Graduate Student
• Lisa Michael, Undergraduate Student
• Tahynnis Newsome, Undergraduate Student

I want to take this opportunity to stress that the committee’s mission is to reaffirm our university’s reputation as an emblem of academic excellence and to create an environment that radiates pride and accomplishment among our graduates.

Our goal is to ensure that every attendee—faculty, staff, alumni, guests, and graduates alike—has a warm and engaging experience. We want our graduates to leave with a sense of pride and a clear understanding of their new status as Buffalo State alumni. We also aim to strengthen the ties between our graduates and their faculty and staff members through increased interaction during the week leading up to Commencement and at the ceremonies. This will serve to reaffirm that our faculty and professional staff are not only integral to the academic journey of our students but are also pivotal to the celebration of their accomplishments.

The committee’s work is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and unity that characterizes our campus. Their efforts will ensure that our Commencement ceremonies are a celebration of academic excellence and a unifying force among all members of the Buffalo State community.

I would like to express my profound gratitude to the committee for its dedication to this Herculean task, with special thanks to Kimberly Jackson, deputy director of commencement operations; Gliset Morales, committee chair; and Molly Holinger, committee vice chair. I trust that they will meet and exceed our expectations, and I look forward to their recommendations.