Faculty and Staff Achievements Roundup: Knight’s urban planning work recognized
This is part of a monthly series highlighting the honors and achievements of Buffalo State University faculty and staff. The roundup is compiled from the previous months’ submissions to the Daily Bulletin and department newsletters.
Jason Knight, associate professor of the newly formed Government, Planning, and Philosophy Department, utilizes an equity-centered approach as an urban planner and affordable housing expert for the Western New York region, a role that has recently earned him much recognition. In February, Knight was invited to serve as a panelist and panel chair for University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning’s Annual Clarkson Visiting Chair Week; Knight was a reviewer for this year’s Clarkson Chair Alex Schwartz’s book Housing Policy in the United States.
Knight was also recently awarded a $30,000 grant from Erie County to investigate zoning codes in all 44 municipalities following a co-authored report on the affordable housing crisis in Erie and Niagara counties. In April, he will appear on the WBFO’s What’s Next podcast to discuss this report.
“Professor Knight’s work exemplifies what it means to bring theoretical work to bear on practical questions of justice,” said Jason Grinnell, chair of the Government, Planning, and Philosophy Department. “The grant is clear evidence of his value to the larger community. The students in his courses truly experience Buffalo State’s ‘urban engagement’ learning outcome.”
Through scholarship, public service, and advocacy, Knight remains a critical force in confronting the housing crisis and its role in perpetuating economic and racial segregation.
In addition to Dr. Knight’s paneling at UB School of Architecture and Planning’s Annual Clarkson Visiting Chair Week, here are some other recent outstanding achievements by Buffalo State faculty members:
Dorothea Braemer, associate professor of communications, presented Connie: The Powers and Possibilities of Community Engagement, a half-hour documentary that aired on WNED-TV. The film highlights the life and work of the late Constance “Connie” Bowles Eve, a Buffalo-based activist, women’s advocate, and inspirational community leader.
Joaquin Carbonara, professor of mathematics and data science and analytics, published “Augmenting Intelligence: The Convergence of ML/LLMs and Statistics” in the Wiley journal, Stat.
Kim Chinquee, associate professor of English, published flash fiction, “Breaking Bread,” in the literary journal Ghost Parachute. The piece has been selected as a Best Microfiction 2025 and will be included in the corresponding anthology published by Pelekinesis.
John Drager, professor and director of the Teaching and Learning Center, presented his paper, “Disagreeing with integrity: public education’s role in thoughtful discourse” at SUNY’s Public Good U in Albany.
Brian Kantz, creative services director in the Marketing and Communications Office, was recognized by the Professional Staff Caucus’ kudos program for his positive attitude, efficient and conscientious work, and general contributions to the Buffalo State campus community.
Joseph A. Miller, associate professor of art and design, published two paintings in The Literary Times Magazine, issue 04 “Dark & Dreary.”
Brent Paterson, associate professor of art and design, was accepted to present his work on creating immersive media for planetariums, virtual reality, and video games using only free and open-source software art the upcoming Libre Graphics Conference in Nuremburg, Germany in May.
Lorna Perez, associate professor of English, as part of her SUNY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justic (DEISJ) Fellowship, co-presented a webinar with Milo Obourn of SUNY Brockport on “Critical Disability Studies in the DEISJ Curriculum.” Additionally, Perez has been invited to join the Just Buffalo Literary Center board of directors.
Leasa Rochester-Mills, director of academic standards, published “The reception on campus: difference in students’ experiences deploying cultural capital in college” in the British Journal of Sociology of Education. Rochester-Mills was also recognized by the Professional Staff Caucus’ kudos program for her commitment to student success.
Macy Todd, associate professor of English, published “A Dream About Reality: Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023)” in Bright Wall/Dark Room issue 138: Best of 2024.
Jennifer Toohey, associate professor of theater, completed a yearlong certification in Vocal Combat Technique for coaching and teaching vocal extremes for theater and media.
Mark Warford, associate professor of modern and classical languages, published an edited volume: Transglobal Humanities: Meeting the Moment (Vernon Press, March 2025).
Jie Zhang, SUNY Distinguished Professor of sociology and director of Buffalo State’s Center for China Studies, coauthored and published “Validation of the Malay version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 among Malaysian undergraduates” in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry; “Adult Children’s Dependence or Support: Which Increases Life Satisfaction for the Chinese Elderly?” in Annals of Psychiatry and Mental Health; and “Trend Variation and Related Factors of Suicidal Ideation in College Students” in Chinese Mental Health Journal.
Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.
