Henry Zomerfeld, B.A. ’11, received the 2023 Rising Champion for Justice Award from the Erie County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project. The award recognizes individuals who are committed to providing pro bono legal services. Most recently, he represented a family from Afghanistan in obtaining permanent residency status in the U.S. after fleeing their homeland when the Taliban regained control. Zomerfeld is a senior associate at Hodgson Russ LLP in the firm’s Buffalo office.
Sharifa Johnson, B.S. ’13, received her bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Buffalo State and her master’s degree in applied nutrition from Canisius College. She has worked in the health and wellness industry for over 10 years, serving in several roles, including a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) diabetes prevention coach, a health educator, a wellness coach, and most recently, a nutrition research support specialist at the University at Buffalo. She created a health podcast, now known as The Mental Health Diet, during the start of the pandemic as away to help people overcome anxiety and depression. After three years, the podcast was broadcast on the FAM TV Plus App, Channel VP 1006.
Andrea Wright, B.S. ’13, B.A. ’13, is happy to announce that she has just taken a job with the DCPCS school system as a math coach. She is also working on her Ph.D. and will graduate in 2024.
Shantel Coleman, B.S. ’14, M.S. ’19, has been working as a public relations specialist at the Martin Group for over a year. She has assisted with the Super Bowls in Phoenix (LVII), Los Angeles (LVI), Tampa (LV), Miami (LIV), and Atlanta (LIII). She was also a teammate at the 2023 NFL Draft and a media assistant at the 2023 Hula Bowl. She obtained Front Office Sports’ NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Certification in 2022 and was a member of the 2021 cohort of the Marcus Graham Project Sports Marketing Workshop by the Washington Wizards. She also had the opportunity to assist at the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend. She has become an avid traveler and loves to explore new places. She said it has been a blessing to be a part of the action and working in public relations and media.
Brian Punch-Eastman, B.S. ’15, married his college sweetheart, Chevagne McAlmont-Winston, B.S. ’15, M.S. ’18, who works in the Buffalo State Admissions Office. The couple moved into their first home with an 8-year-old pit bull mix named Snickers and most recently fostered a dog from Texas named Zero.
Breanna Rodriguez, B.S. ’15, met her husband freshman year (January 2012) in Perry Hall. The two started dating shortly thereafter and got engaged in May 2021 in Central Park in New York City. They got married last year, in May 2022, in Putnam County, New York. She said the two would never have met if not for Buffalo State.
Amy Smith, B.S. ’15, has explored various teaching opportunities in the Western New York area since graduating from Buffalo State. In 2019, she received her master’s in school librarianship, and she is now a school librarian for the Orchard Park Central School District. She married her husband in October, with many Buffalo State friends in attendance.
Michael Smith, B.S. ’15, is currently working as a certified exercise physiologist. He is also enrolled at Liberty University in the master of science in exercise science and wellness program.
Miranda Galligan, B.S. ’16, obtained her bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College in 2016, followed by a master’s degree from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Acquiring the necessary experience to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), she eventually established her own private practice, Attune Therapy, which specializes in providing comprehensive psychotherapy services. Her practice offers assistance with a wide range of mental health conditions, such as trauma, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. With a commitment to compassionate care and evidence-based approaches, the team strives to empower individuals and guide them toward improved well-being. She is deeply grateful to Buffalo State for providing her with the exceptional education that has played a vital role in shaping her journey and contributing to where she is today.
Daniel Klein, B.S. ’16, B.S. ’18, got a job after graduation as a resident teacher at the West Buffalo Charter School. In the 2019–2020 academic year, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he moved back downstate to help his parents while working remotely. The following school year, he started as a building substitute teacher at J.V. Forrestal Elementary in Beacon, New York. The next year, he moved to Brooklyn, where he has most recently worked with fifth and third grades. He thanks Buffalo State and the wonderful education departments on campus.
Jacob Sandler, B.Mus. ’16, earned a master of sacred music from the Jewish Theological Seminary and has been ordained as a hazzan (cantor). He now lives in Highland Park, Illinois, where he serves on the senior clergy team of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, a major Conservative movement synagogue and spiritual home to about 1,000 Jewish family units. Sandler has been able to serve his community leading prayer services, holiday programming, and educational opportunities for all ages (2–102), creating opportunities for music of all kinds. He feels so fortunate to be using his vocal, pedagogic, and ethnomusicological skills regularly.
Melzie Case, B.Mus. ’17, M.M. ’19, is in her seventh year teaching chorus and general music at Batavia Middle School. In March 2023, she was inducted into the Batavia City School District Musicians of Note Hall of Fame. She is also in her first year as the Music Department chairperson for the Batavia Central School District.
Lori Consola, B.A. ’17, was married on October 22, 2022.
Terron Grant, B.S. ’17, was a panelist at the Diversity in Commercial Real Estate Conference hosted at Columbia University in July.
Darra Kubera, M.S. ’18, and Brian Gould were married on June 24, 2023, in the courtyard at the Mansion on Delaware in Buffalo. Kubera earned a master’s degree in public relations from Buffalo State. She works as the director of communications for FOS of CannonDesign. Gould works as a development and operations (DevOps) engineer for FedEx Logistics. The couple celebrated with a honey-moon in France.