AI, milestones, total eclipse mark UB’s year in photos

When looking back at 2024, it’s not surprising that artificial intelligence dominated the year at UB.

In January, Gov. Kathy Hochul designated UB as the home of Empire AI, the $400 million public-private consortium that aims to put New York State at the forefront of responsible AI innovation. Later in October, Hochul returned to campus, joined by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and Empire AI consortium members, to announce that Empire AI’s first servers were up and running in the university’s Center for Computational Research.

In September, the Department of Education awarded UB $10 million to establish the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI, which will focus on harnessing the power of AI to transform early literacy instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse learners in K-2 classrooms.

And all year, faculty and staff members across campus worked to incorporate AI into their research and teaching.

Meantime, the campus continued to grow and develop, as UB embarked on one of the most significant periods of construction in its history — with $1.64 billion in construction planned over the next decade. Renovations to the Student Union Lobby were completed, while Crosby Hall, the hub for student studios in the School of Architecture and Planning, reopened after a lengthy renovation. Work continues on the renovation of Foster Hall to become the home of the Graduate School of Education as part of the school’s move to the South Campus.

UB’s student-athletes are now training in the new Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center on the North Campus. And UB broke ground for Russell L. Agrusa Hall, a new engineering building for student innovation and leadership on the North Campus.

During the year, many schools and programs celebrated milestones: 100 years for the School of Management, 90 years for the School of Social Work, 50 years for the Zodiaque Dance Company, 40 years for Oozefest and 30 years for the Center for the Arts.

But what arguably was one of the most memorable events of the year took place in April: the total eclipse. Cloudy skies failed to deter students, faculty and staff from flocking to campus for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

All of this and much more of everyday life at UB was documented by University Communications photographers Douglas Levere and Meredith Forrest Kulwicki. The pair completed nearly 600 assignments — a new record for UB photographers..

This collection highlights just some of the most memorable images Levere and Forrest Kulwicki created in 2024.

Check out UBNow for more stories and photos of life at UB.