SUNY Empire Spotlight: Oct. 2024

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 30, 2024) The latest news on research efforts, awards, grants, and media appearances from Empire State University faculty and staff.  

Luis Camacho, assistant professor in the School of Business, was recognized with the “Excellent and Distinguished Academic and Scientist Friend of the Universidad de Orienta Award” in San Miguel, El Savador on October 5, 2024.  

Valeri Chukhlomin, professor in the School of Business, published “AI-Driven Strategies for Local Businesses in the Global Economy: SUNY Microcredential in Advanced Artificial Intelligence for Economic and Business Analysis” with Upward Mobility Books.  

Michelle Eades-Baird, associate professor in the School for Graduate Studies, and Dan Nyaronga, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, published “Psychological, Informational, and Material Factors Impacting Girls’ Menstruation-related School Absenteeism in Rural Tanzania” in the East African Journal of Education Studies.  

Karis Jones, assistant professor in the School for Graduate Studies, published “Fandoms in the Classroom.” The book, published with Myers Education Press, examines how to keep school-aged children more engaged in the classroom using their interests and roleplay to reimagine education.  

Elise Kermani, adjunct professor, screened four films at The Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, New York on October 13, 2024. Kermani’s films use mythology to tell stories with different perspectives, often incorporating artistic dance and music.  

Maureen Kroning, interim dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health, delivered a keynote address at the New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) 70th annual conference. Kroning was asked to speak because of her impactful research on the nationwide nursing shortage, community health, and how New York State legislation can help.  

Tom Mackey, professor in the School of Arts and Humanities, co-edited “Teaching Digital Storytelling: Inspiring Voices Through Online Narratives,” with Dr. Sheila Aird, former director of European Programs. Aird and Mackey also co-authored a chapter on framing. The book emerged from their co-teaching of Digital Storytelling, a legacy course at Empire State University that was revised as a virtual exchange between students in the U.S. and in Prague, Czech Republic. Mackey was also the keynote speaker for the XI Simposio Internacional, organized by the University of Magdalena in Santa Marta, Colombia. The conference focused on challenges and opportunities with artificial intelligence in education.  

Raul Manzano, visiting assistant professor in the School of Arts and Humanities, received a merit award for “Between Good and Evil,” an oil painting, at the 2024 Center for Contemporary Arts National Juried Art Competition in Abilene, Texas.  

Jenny Mincin, associate professor in the School for Graduate Studies, was invited to the editorial board for the “Palgrave studies in Disaster and Emergency Management.” The journal provides state-of-the-art summaries of the field of disaster science and emergency management. The series aims to transfer evidence-based scholarship that enables researchers, practitioners, and students to impact science, practice, and policies. Each volume addresses social and global inequities in an effort to reduce human suffering. The series sets an agenda for future research, policy, and practice interventions needed to move scholarship and emergency management forward. The Board is currently soliciting proposals for short volumes or authored monographs and edited collections that address critical topics of concern worldwide. Mincin plans to contribute to the series as well.  

Shaun Richman, program director in the School of Arts and Humanities, published “Misjudging Labor” in The New York Review. 

Jason Russell, professor in the School of Graduate Studies, was named an external faculty associate of the Global Labor Research Center at York University in Toronto, Canada.  

Gayle Stever, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, published a new book “Parasocial Experiences: Psychological Theory and Application” with co-author David Giles. The book, published with Oxford University Press, presents a combination of theoretical and applied approaches to parasocial relationships.  

Lynette Stewart, associate professor in the School of Human Services, was named to “The Qualitative Report” editorial board. Stewart will help carry out the journal’s editorial mission, provide guidance and mentorship to new authors, and review manuscripts along with a team of academic peers and editors.  

Nan Travers, director of the Center for Leadership in Credentialing Learning, co-presented “Miles to Go: The Journey of Credential As You Go” at the 2024 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

President Lisa Vollendorf published an Op-Ed on autism-supportive education on the Presidents Forum. Vollendorf discussed Empire State University’s work as an autism-supportive institution and encouraged other university leaders to examine their systems and see how they can better serve learners of all backgrounds and expand access to higher education. 

Melissa Wells, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, authored an issue of the National Association of Special Education Teachers “The Practical Teacher,” “Supporting Students with Disabilities in Transitional Services: Advocating for Post-Secondary Success.”  

Melissa Wells, Christine Paige, executive director of Empire Online, Winifred Storms, Interim Coordinator of UG Academic Advising Services, Shannon Pritting, director of library services, open and digital learning assets, and Associate Provost Robert Sanders presented “From the Ground Up: Care and Collaboration through Access and Affordability” at the 86th Annual Association for Continuing Higher Education Conference on October 15, 2024.  

President Vollendorf appears on The Rant podcast

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 30, 2024) Preisdent Lisa Vollendorf appeared on The Rant Podcast on October 29, 2024 discussing opportunities to reimagine who is served in higher education.

The episode, titled “Designing a University for Working Learners,” examines the future of higher education and Empire State University’s role offering online, accessible higher education to thousands of people across the globe.

Avriel Epps highlights artificial intelligence’s role in connection and bias in virtual lecture  

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 29, 2024) Empire State University welcomed Avriel Epps for a virtual talk on artificial intelligence and using technology as a tool for connection rather than a tool for disconnecting from others. The talk, held on Oct. 16, 2024, and facilitated by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, was funded by Empire State University Foundation Board Member Tina Evans ‘97 and Wayne Evans, who funded the inaugural lecture in a series titled “A Snapshot in Time: Navigating the Wider World.”  

Epps is a prominent scholar in the field of artificial intelligence, specializing in bias, identity, and human development. As a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles, Harvard University, and recipient of numerous awards and grants, Epps has dedicated her career to studying the impact of artificial intelligence on digital literacy and algorithmic bias on marginalized communities and adolescents. She brings a unique perspective combining data science, developmental psychology, and real-world experience in ed-tech and entertainment to her research.  

Epps discussed her observations in technological inequities and algorithmic bias and how they impact life for diverse communities across the country, including map and road design, facial recognition, and virtual translation tools that can exhibit gender bias. Epps specifically pointed to generative artificial intelligence and their depictions of certain populations lacking diversity, representation, and complexity. Epps also touched on the risks algorithmic bias and social media pose to children and young adults, and the lack of research that closely examines these issues.  

“Literature on algorithmic bias overlooks a developmental stage as an intersecting identity factor that might privilege or disadvantage certain individuals’ research, and developmental science has found evidence of harmful and differential effects of screen time and social media use on youth of color,” Epps said. “What we have, then, is youth of color who are marginalized by their race and ethnicity and their gender, also their age, among potentially many other intersecting identities. They may face higher risks of differential impact and treatment by these algorithmic systems.”  

Epps also discussed her model, Socio Algorithmic Systems Bio-Ecological Model of Development (SASBEM), which examines how predictive technology may influence and fundamentally change bio-ecological systems and developmental processes, focusing on black youth, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the correlation of algorithmic bias to anxiety and other conditions.  

Epps said her research has found a relationship between algorithmic bias and anxiety, particularly in young people. Epps said people are more likely to use a selfie filter when experiencing anxiety and those filters contain algorithmic biases that can influence those feelings further. Despite this, Epps said she has found that engaging in ethnic identity development has shown to counteract the relationship between algorithmic bias and anxiety.  

“This suggests that ethnic racial identity exploration, which is the process of going out to learn more about your ethnic or racial group, its history, its culture, good things about it, and instilling a sense of pride in who you are, it suggests that kind of exploration may act as a protective factor against the anxiety that is correlated with experiencing biases in selfie filters,” Epps said.  

Epps said there is much work to be done to eliminate algorithmic bias, especially those that exacerbate existing forms of marginalization and oppression and artificial intelligence can be used to both remove bias and correct historical social injustices.  

“I think it will be nearly impossible to escape the harms of algorithmic bias until our culture is able to adopt a technology development framework and ethos of how technology should be built in our society that both meaningfully grapples with historical and present-day injustices and also prioritizes community empowerment and self-determination,” Epps said.  

SUNY Chancellor visits veteran’s memorial championed by SUNY Empire alum  

by

(BUFFALO, NY — OCTOBER 28, 2024) State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr., visited the African American Veterans Monument in Buffalo, New York on Oct. 2, 2024. The monument was organized by Robin Hodges ’22, a leader and veteran student at Empire State University.  

Hodges graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management and economics in 2022. Now, she is working towards an MBA in business management with a concentration in project management. Hodges serves as an organizer and on the board of directors for the African American Veterans Monument, located at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.  

“The African American Veterans Monument is very important to me,” Hodges said. “It serves as a powerful symbol of the contributions and sacrifices made by African American veterans, who have often been overlooked in history. Helping to organize this monument was a deeply personal project, born out of my respect and admiration for these veterans. The process involved collaboration with veterans’ organizations, local governments, and the community to gather the necessary resources and support. It was not always easy, but the collective effort was driven by the shared goal of honoring these veterans and giving them the recognition, they have long deserved.”  

Hodges said she considers Chancellor King’s visit to the monument an honor and that her experiences in the military are essential to who she is, her journey as a SUNY Empire student, and her role as a community leader.  

“Serving in the Navy instilled in me discipline, resilience, and a deep sense of service to others, it shaped my values and strengthened my commitment to supporting veterans and their families,” Hodges said. “Having my work recognized by SUNY Empire and SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., is an incredible honor. It is a humbling experience to see something I care so deeply about being acknowledged at such a high level. The Chancellor’s visit to the monument is not only a personal honor, but also a significant moment for everyone involved in this project. I hope that people will learn the importance of recognizing and honoring the contributions of African American veterans. This monument is a legacy, and I want it to serve as a reminder for generations to come that their stories matter and should be respected and remembered.”  

Since the monument’s unveiling, Hodges said she has worked to raised awareness on the significant roles African American veterans have had throughout history and the monument is crucial to connecting veteran communities.   

“What truly stands out to me about the monument is that it is the first of its kind in the nation,” Hodges said. “It is not just a structure; it is a symbol of inclusion and recognition. Since its unveiling, it has raised awareness about the significant roles that African American veterans have played throughout history. The monument has had a meaningful impact on our community by fostering greater unity and pride. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Families of veterans, community members, and even those who are not directly connected to the military have expressed their appreciation. The monument has helped educate the public and bring much-needed recognition to these veterans.”  

Hodges said she hopes to continue this work and make the monument a focal point for honoring veterans in Western New York.  

“My focus is on ensuring that the African American Veterans Monument remains a lasting symbol of pride and remembrance,” Hodges said. “We are currently working on initiatives to restore and upgrade key features, such as the commemorative brick pavers and pillars, to preserve its integrity. Additionally, we are seeking a national designation for the monument, which would elevate its significance on a broader scale. There are also plans to host more events around key dates like Veterans and Memorial Day, keeping the monument a central focal point for honoring veterans. We are exploring educational programs to share the stories of African American veterans with the community and the world, ensuring their contributions are never forgotten.”  

Reason & Respect: Promoting diversity and inclusivity through a virtual space  

by

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (Oct. 24, 2024) — For four years, Empire State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been holding “Reason and Respect” sessions. The virtual, one-hour discussions are a way for university faculty, staff, and students to explore sensitive topics and diverse perspectives through education.  

“The goal is to create an inviting space where community members can share their identities, celebrate their uniqueness, and learn about one another,” Ade Byron, program manager for the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said. “It encourages everyone to engage in meaningful conversation that highlight what matters most to our community.”  

Byron said the topics for each session are designed to coordinate with affinity months, designated months recognizing heritage, awareness, history, and appreciation. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will also create specific themes for conversations in collaboration with participating members of the university community and members of the DEI Council and events and communications working group.  

“When organizing a session, we are keeping a lot in mind: ensuring that our participants represent a wide range of perspectives and experiences, emphasizing intersectionality, and fostering an inclusive and accessible dialogue,” Byron said. “We want to create a space where individuals feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves, asking questions, and being vulnerable.”  

The key to creating these sessions is collaboration with the broader university community, DEI council, and events and communications working group. Each session is developed by meeting directly with participants and discussing what they feel is important to share with the university — including points of pride and other topics — giving the university community a chance to hear about personal stories, the need for inclusivity, and the work needed to promote diversity from their peers.  

“I hope the university community takes this opportunity to learn from one another and build meaningful connections through these sessions,” Byron said. “In a virtual environment, it can be challenging to truly get to know the people we share this space with. However, by engaging in intentional conversations about our identities and values, we can open doors to genuine connections and enrich our collective experience through the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and cultures.”  

Empire State University to serve as early voting location in Rochester 

by

(ROCHESTER, NY — OCTOBER 23, 2024) Empire State University will host early voting at its Rochester location at 680 Westfall Road. Early voting will be held from Saturday, October 27 through Sunday, November 3. This location will also have an ASL interpreter on site.  

The Rochester site has hosted the Board of Elections since 2019, when early voting went into effect in New York State. SUNY Empire’s participation is part of the university’s commitment to the democratic process through civic and community engagement. During the 2020 Presidential election, 10 percent of all in-person early voting in Monroe County happened at this location.

Here is the schedule for early voting: 

Saturday Oct. 26: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Sunday Oct. 27: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Monday Oct. 28: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Tuesday Oct. 29: 12:00-8:00 p.m.  

Wednesday Oct. 30: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Thursday Oct. 31: 12:00-8:00 p.m. 

Friday Nov. 1: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Saturday Nov. 2: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

Sunday Nov. 3: 9:00-5:00 p.m. 

For more information, visit the Monroe County Board of Elections website. Video of Empire State University’s Rochester location are available in our media kit.  

Adjunct professor screens four films at The Center for Performance Research 

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 22, 2024) Elise Kermani, an adjunct professor, screened four films at The Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, New York October 13, 2024. Kermani’s films use mythology to tell stories with different perspectives, often incorporating artistic dance and music.  

“I am very excited to bring my films to New York audiences,” Kermani said. “All of them were shot along various coasts of America: ‘JUSTICE’ along the East River of the Upper West Side of New York City, ‘SAND’ along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, and ‘WITHOUT FAME’ and ‘Agamemnon’s Daughter’ on the West coast.”  

“WITHOUT FAME” takes inspiration from Homer’s “Odyssey,” incorporating ancient Greek as the film delves into the life of Odysseus’ mother. “SAND” examines the relationship between industry, nature, and humanity. “Agamemnon’s Daughter” is a modern interpretation on the mythological figure of Iphigenia; and “JUSTICE” explores the meaning behind Plato’s Cratylus and the purpose of the universe.  

Kermani is an adjunct lecturer of media art at Empire State University. She said her films represent a combination of her philosophy of life and art. 

“I reach back into ancient history and mythology for inspiration and to show what is universal about being human,” Kermani said.  

Kermani said she prefers her films to be screened in a theater with a live audience, but all are available to watch on Vimeo.  

Psychology professor dives into parasocial relationships in new book 

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 18, 2024) Gayle Stever, professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, analyzes the dynamics of parasocial relationships in a new book, co-authored by David Giles, titled “Parasocial Experiences: Psychological Theory and Application.” The book, published with Oxford University Press, presents a combination of theoretical and applied approaches to parasocial relationships.  

Stever and Giles are well-revered in the field of parasocial relationships and previously co-authored “Understanding Media Psychology,” which is currently undergoing revision for a second edition with Routledge. Stever has been quoted in leading publications like Billboard and The Boston Globe with her expert analysis on parasocial relationships and how celebrities, artists, and media personalities are perceived by the public.   

Giles addresses theoretical traditions and how they relate to parasocial relationships, including psychoanalytic theory and dream analysis. Stever offers her insight from the participant observer, which she conveys through interviews with famous actors who have active fan groups, including Alexander Siddig, Nana Visitor, Robert Picardo, and Denise Crosby.  

Stever also explores the implications of a newer dynamic within parasocial relationships with the use of Cameo, a website where fans can purchase a custom-made video, for a fee, on a variety of topics from their favorite celebrities.  

“My work on parasocial attachment that started with my doctoral dissertation in 1994 and has continued as I have worked to establish this concept as distinct from the parasocial relationship is explored in a chapter linking classical attachment theory, like infant-caregiver or adult romantic attachments, to this newer form of media attachment,” Stever said.  

Stever said parasocial relationships have always existed in pop culture and the increase in access to like-minded fan communities on the internet has caused them to become an even more visible aspect of pop culture.  

“All one has to do is go back to the era of Elvis or Beatlemania to see that these influences in our culture have been significant as a part of mass media culture,” Stever said. “I would argue that while there might have been fewer celebrity targets, the followers for each of these were more numerous. Look at Michael Jackson, who sold more copies of “Thriller” in the 1980s. Celebrities of that scale are harder to find in a more niche market, although arguably Taylor Swift would meet that criterion. Does she have more followers than did Jackson? Hard to say, but possibly not. So, I would say not more prevalent, but perhaps more visible.”  

The book releases Oct. 25, 2024 with Oxford University Press.  

Union Plus Grant Program sees success in first year  

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 16, 2024) Empire State University’s Union Plus program is celebrating one year and its first cohort of graduates. The program offers union members and their families reduced undergraduate tuition credits, fee waivers, and access to high quality, flexible, and affordable education.  

The partnership began in August 2023 and saw an immediate positive response from AFL-CIO unions across the United States. Since its inception, the program has generated incredible growth leading to increased enrollment at Empire State University. 158 students enrolled with the program for the 2023-24 academic year. Now, 175 students are enrolled in just the Fall 2024 semester, already surpassing total enrollment in the program for the first year.  

“Union members do important work across industries, sectors, and US regions,” Alejandro Galindo, assistant director for corporate partnerships, said. “This benefit provides the members access to education that makes them better union members and helps them advance their careers from anywhere in the US. In addition, members and retirees can help their spouses and dependents to access our high-quality degrees as well.”  

As the program progresses, Galindo said employees with the Union Plus program are attending conferences to connect with union members across the country and bring SUNY Empire’s online, accessible, and flexible programs to them.  

Students who enroll with the Union Plus Grant Program benefit from an application fee waiver, prior learning credit fee waiver, and a $250 tuition reduction, per credit. The program is not just utilized by union members and their families in New York, but serves students in New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Texas, Hawaii, and other states across the country.  

President Lisa Vollendorf discusses autism-supportive education on Presidents Forum

by

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — OCTOBER 15, 2024) President Lisa Vollendorf published an op-ed for the Presidents Forum to discuss Empire State University’s commitment to autism-supportive education.

SUNY Empire was designated as a first-of-its-kind autism-supportive institution in 2022 and the university continuously works to support neurodivergent students through flexible, virtual education. As the rate of autism in the United States continues to grow, SUNY Empire has made it a priority to provide support systems through the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES).

“Before I joined SUNY Empire, I did not have any training or education in supporting individuals with autism,” President Lisa Vollendorf said. “I did not fully understand the role that online institutions could play in helping expand access to higher education for autistic and neurodivergent students, faculty, and staff. I now have a deeper appreciation for a simple fact: a commitment to inclusion requires a commitment to building universal design into all aspects of our teaching, learning, and operations.”

Vollendorf strongly encouraged university leaders to examine their systems and see how they can better serve learners of all backgrounds and expand access to higher education.

“At Empire State University, we believe that online institutions are uniquely positioned to expand educational opportunities to learners from all backgrounds, including the growing number of autistic and neurodivergent individuals in the United States today,” Vollendorf said. “I invite others to join us to create truly inclusive colleges and universities that are welcoming to all.”