Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences!

Lance Rintamaki | Departent of Communication

Get some tricks for getting the most out of college.

Cody Mejeur | Department of Media Study

Professor Cody Mejeur will share his work and that of the Amatryx Gaming Lab and Studio on narrative and representation in video games, particularly focusing on LGBTQ representation and stories.

The talk begins by examining why stories in video games matter and why one might consider both studying and making video games, using data visualizations of LGBTQ content in games as examples. Next, a quick look at Trans Folks Walking—a narrative game that explores trans stories and representation currently in development at UB. You’ll see a presentation of Amatryx Gaming Lab and Studio’s current projects involving student researchers and designers, including an invitation to join the lab or the media study and design programs at UB.

Wendy Quinton | Department of Psychology

Professor Wendy Quinton will showcase the breadth and versatility of the field of psychology, illustrate how psychological science is critical to our understanding and response to challenges we face in the 21st century, while highlighting the work of UB psychologists in these efforts.

Sarah Vicari '23 | College Ambassador and a Psychology major

Everyone wants the college experience, but what does it actually mean? Sarah will talk about how to navigate the next four years and take advantage of opportunities you may not know you have. Learn how to make the best of your time here at UB, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Nick Henshue | Department of Environment and Sustainability

Students will hear about the many exciting opportunities across UB for extracurricular activities, clubs, internships, expeditions and hands-on fieldwork. You will also learn how crucial it is to participate in these opportunities for their learning and future professional success.

Ryan Muldoon | Philosophy, Politics and Economics Program

The problems humanity faces are complex. From global problems like climate change and Pandemics, national problems like political polarization and eroding trust in institutions, to local problems like segregation, policing and schooling, there is no silver bullet. While different disciplines all have something to contribute to our understanding of these problems, none can explain all of it, or hope to solve these problems. An interdisciplinary training in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) gives you the tools to integrate the insights from different disciplines into a coherent whole. And, with our focus on experiential learning, you’ll graduate with the practical experience of working in teams to solve real problems. You won’t just learn about the world –you’ll help to make it better.

Allison Dwyer Emory | Department of Sociology

Nearly 65 million Americans have criminal records that make it difficult for them to find work, undermining their ability to support themselves and their families. Frustratingly, many of the policies meant to improve access to employment have failed to increase employment levels. Instead, policies like ban-the-box, employment discrimination laws, and limited criminal record access have been found to decrease employment among young men from racial minorities even if they haven’t come into contact with the criminal justice system personally. This research ultimately demonstrates that ignoring the correlation between racial discrimination and criminal record discrimination makes it hard to solve either social problem.

James Ponzo | Department of Africana and American Studies

In “A Talk to Teachers” (1963), James Baldwin underscored the importance of critically examining how society functions and “trying to change it and to fight it.“ Taking heed of Baldwin’s advice, I theorize that both the fiction and nonfiction works of Baldwin, as well as his commentary during speeches and interviews, provide a framework whereby we can reanalyze—and in time eliminate—some of the major obstacles to the advancement of African Americans in this country.

Kaitlyn Flynn | College Ambassador and a Global Affairs major

There are a variety of experiences that can enrich your academic journey, early involvement in these opportunities increases your hands-on experience in your field of interest. This session will focus on Kaitlyn’s experience and how she is making the most of her UB experience.

Patrick McDevitt | Department of History and the Academic Director of the UB Honors College.

Learn tips on how to survive your first year in college with Professor McDevitt.

Outside of Clemens Hall

Center for the Arts Atrium

Start the semester off strong by getting to know your academic department before the first day of classes at the tabling session.