Center for Applied Imagination

🎓 Congratulations to our recently graduated Creativity & Change Leadership Class of 2026!

We are so proud of the creative leaders you have become. We cannot wait to see where your creative spark takes you!

A team of faculty, alumni and students, help Saira Siddiqi installing mural in the Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection in Butler Library. Come to the dedication reception on June 15 at 8:30 to see the new space!

To register for free event go to the following link. https://creativeeducationfoundation.networkforgood.com/events/101302-cpsi-2026-buffalo-state-university-events

Congratulations to our amazing graduates! What fun!

Dear Creativity and Change Leadership Community,

Join us this Friday, May 8, from 8:30–10:00 AM in Butler Library 210 for an inspiring Wonderbrink breakfast session, co-sponsored by the Center for Applied Imagination and Buffalo State. This month’s speaker, Lorinda John, a graduate student in our Creativity and Change Leadership program, brings a powerful perspective at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and community engagement.

Come support one of our own as she shares her creative journey and professional work, offering insights that reflect the impact of applied creativity in action. Reconnect with fellow alumni and students, and be part of a vibrant creative community. Learn more and register here:

https://wonderbrink.org/events/breakfast/may-9-26/

Dr. Gerard Puccio

Lorinda John – Buffalo State Library, 8:30AM on May 8, 2026 - Wonderbrink Buffalo State Library - Lorinda John - May 8

📚 We are proud to announce that Professor Molly Holinger, alongside alumna Lakshmi Sithambaram, have co-authored a chapter in the newly published book Creators: What Makes Individuals Creative (Springer, 2025)!

Their chapter, The Creativity and Mental Health Debate Through the Lens of the Creative Person, examines the long-standing "mad genius" stereotype and what the research actually tells us.

Using a five-part framework spanning creativity level, domain, personality, assessment methods, and the type and severity of clinical illness, the chapter offers a more nuanced picture: while eminent creators in the arts may show higher rates of mental illness, most everyday and professional creators experience little psychopathology — and often benefit from positive links between creativity and well-being.

🔗 Explore the full book here:

Creators This book explores the nature of creative individuals using the seven C’s of creativity framework, with a focus on identity development and well-being.

Exciting progress at Buffalo State! 🎨

Saira Siddiqui, a Buffalo State graduate and talented local artist, has begun the installation process for the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection. Using innovative VR technology to plan and visualize the space, Saira is bringing her mural to life in a truly dynamic way.

We’re thrilled to see this creative vision take shape and can’t wait to share the finished work!

Buffalo State University’s Day of Giving is here—and this year, we’re supporting the future home of the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection.

This new space in Butler Library will elevate the visibility of the Center for Applied Imagination and celebrate creativity across all disciplines.

I’m proud to lead with a personal gift of $300 and invite you to join me. Every contribution—no matter the size—helps bring this vision to life.

Support the campaign: https://www.buffalostategives.com/campaigns/creative-studies-innovation

Together, we can create a lasting legacy of imagination and impact.

Dr. Puccio

Give to Creative Studies Innovation Suite | Buffalo State Gives 2026 I’m ready to support Creative Studies Innovation Suite on April 22, 2026 during Buffalo State Gives 2026. Learn more about Creative Studies Innovation Suite

✨ Join us for the 2026 Torrance Festival of Ideas!

📅 April 22–23, 2026
🌐 Online & FREE (registration required)

This year’s theme, Creativity and AI, brings together world-renowned scholars to explore the powerful intersection of human imagination and artificial intelligence.

Don’t miss two days of inspiring talks, fresh perspectives, and global collaboration.

🔗 Register now: tinyurl.com/2026torrancefestival

Seats are limited—save your spot today!

Start your day with inspiration and connection!

Join us on April 10, 2026 for a dynamic morning breakfast event in partnership with Wonderbrink, co-sponsored by the Center for Applied Imagination and E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State University.

This gathering offers a unique opportunity to engage with a vibrant community of creative thinkers, leaders, and innovators while exploring ideas that matter in today’s rapidly changing world.

Whether you are an alum, current student, or friend of the Center, we invite you to be part of this energizing experience.

Learn more and reserve your seat at: https://wonderbrink.org/events/breakfast/april-10-2026/.

Thomas Quinn – Buffalo State Library, 8:30AM on April 10, 2026 - Wonderbrink Buffalo State Library - Thomas Quinn - Apr. 13

Ready to strengthen your creative thinking and lead change in an increasingly uncertain world?

Join us for a virtual information session on April 9 from 5:00–6:00 PM (New York/Toronto) to explore Buffalo State’s Advanced Graduate Certificate and M.S. in Creativity and Change Leadership—designed for distance learners.

Discover how applied creativity and creative leadership can elevate your impact, learn about admissions and curriculum structure, and meet the faculty behind one of the world’s leading programs in creativity studies.

Get program details at creativity.buffalostate.edu and secure your spot today via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984987428834?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Information Session: Certificate & MS in Creativity & Change Leadership Join our online info session to explore the Certificate & MS programs in Creativity & Change Leadership!