Faculty Achievements and Awards

Meredith Alberta Palmer, assistant professor in the departments of Indigenous Studies and Geography, is featured as an expert in “America’s Stairway,” a PBS documentary that won a New York State Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary. Palmer, a member of the Tuscarora Nation of Six Nations of the Grand River, discusses the Erie Canal’s devastating effects on Haudenosaunee nations’ ecologies and social and political life. Her research examines Indigenous geographies, colonial technoscience and Haudenosaunee practices of care and resurgence. The documentary is available to stream on PBS.

Kim Chaney, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, is published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. The article "Diversity, equity, and inclusion regression: Perceptions of organizations that fail to persevere in their stated commitments," centers on Chaney's research examining whether assessments of an organization's motivation to be non-prejudiced and anticipated identity safety at an organization are impacted by the organization's perseverance in their DEI commitment. Findings also demonstrate that complying with current anti-DEI norms or legislation for organizations to “survive” in the current climate will need to make significant, tangible commitments to regain trust of marginalized communities.

Victoria Udondian, visiting associate professor in the Department of Art, has been invited to the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia by Koyo Kouoh (May 5 - Nov. 22), the FITE Textile Biennial in France (July 1 - Jan. 10, 27) and the Medina Triennial (June 6 - Sept. 7), which is a new Triennial that will debut in Western New York this summer.

George Afedzi Hughes, associate professor in the Department of Art, is taking part in the exhibition, "More Than A Match: Art of the Game." The exhibition is in commemoration of the FIFA World Cup and features 38 works by nearly 20 artists around the world. Art of the Game features such artists such as Andy Warhol, Kehinde Wiley, Hank Willis Thomas, Peter Phillips, George Afedzi Hughes, Darío Escobar, Juno Calypso, Felipe Barbosa, with selected works from the National Football Museum Collection. The exhibition is currently on display at Arlington Museum of Art in Arlington, Texas until Aug. 2.

Kari Winter, professor in the Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, was appointed to the Scholars’ Advisory Council of the National Women’s History Museum. The National Women’s History Museum’s Scholars Advisory Council is a distinguished group of renowned women’s history scholars who help guide the Museum’s exhibition and programmatic strategies.

John Opera, associate professor in the Department of Art (photography), has been invited to participate in Palomar, a two-part group exhibition at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, on view May 2–July 12, 2026. The exhibition brings together artists whose work engages observation, perception, and the relationship between scientific inquiry and everyday experience.