Ribbon-cutting marks homecoming for Graduate School of Education

The Graduate School of Education was officially welcomed back to its original home in Foster Hall last Friday with a special ribbon-cutting at the newly renovated South Campus building.

GSE Dean Suzanne Rosenblith welcomed the nearly 100 attendees, including university leaders, faculty, staff and community partners, who gathered to celebrate the occasion by recognizing the student artists who contributed to the new mural now greeting visitors in the foyer.

“One of the most striking and meaningful elements of Foster Hall is the 53-foot mural that rises through the building — an artwork that does far more than decorate the space,” Rosenblith said. “The mural is a visual expression of GSE’s mission, priorities and values.”

Created in last summer through a collaboration among GSE, Buffalo Public Schools and the Mayor’s Summer Youth Internship Program, the artwork reflects themes of diversity, education, growth and inclusion.

Rosenblith reflected on the significance of the historic building, which holds nearly a century of history for both the university and the city of Buffalo

“This renovation reflects not only an investment in historic structure, but an investment in people — our students, our faculty and staff, and our community partners,” Rosenblith said, noting that the thoughtfully reimagined space is designed to support collaboration, access and community-connected work.

President Satish K. Tripathi emphasized the institutional and civic impact of the move.

“I’m delighted that you could join us as we celebrate the grand opening of Foster Hall,” Tripathi said. Calling it “a proud day for the Graduate School of Education, the University at Buffalo and for our city,” he described the relocation as more than symbolic.

“The return of the Graduate School of Education to its original home in Foster Hall marks more than a relocation,” he said. “It represents a bold step forward.”

Tripathi highlighted the university’s mission to serve the greater good and strengthen its community engagement. “We have placed the school of education in the heart of the city because this is where its work matters most,” he said. The renovated building, he added, preserves its historic character while transforming into “a dynamic, technology-rich environment for 21st-century learning and discovery.”

Laura Hubbard, vice president for finance and administration, ruminated on Foster Hall’s architectural and historical importance.

“The beginning is always today,” Hubbard said, quoting author Mary Shelley. “It’s a fitting thought for reflecting on a building that is historically significant while also finding itself renewed and reinvented for new beginnings.”

Hubbard noted that restoring Foster Hall fulfills key milestones in UB’s comprehensive master plan for revitalizing the South Campus as a hub for professional schools. Renovations included a new façade, maximizing natural light throughout the building and transitioning to a more energy-efficient thermal network to reduce UB’s carbon footprint.

“With Foster complete, we have restored all of the historic buildings that face Main Street,” Hubbard said. “A newly designed Foster will shape all who enter on this day and for many days in the future.”

Michele Agosto, director of arts for Buffalo Public Schools, spoke about the impact of the Mural Mania program, which began as a one-year summer pilot in 2012.

“This mural is proof of what happens when we trust young people with real responsibility and give them the tools to succeed,” Agosto said.

She explained that the student artists researched UB’s history, explored contemporary social justice issues and worked alongside professional artists to design and execute the mural. For the first time, participants were paid as interns for their work.

“These students didn’t just rise to the occasion — they exceeded expectations,” Agosto said. Since its inception, the Mural Mania program has produced 10 murals throughout Buffalo, each telling a story about place, identity and possibility, Agosto said.

Representing the student perspective, GSE doctoral candidate Sarah Hale shared her personal journey to UB. Originally from Texas, Hale said she found both community and purpose in Buffalo and within GSE.

She noted that universities shape communities — and are shaped by them in return. “Now that we are on South Campus in Buffalo’s University District, we are situated in one of the city’s many hearts, working alongside the Buffalo community so that we can learn and grow together,” she said.

Hale added that the renovated space is already fostering innovation and collaboration. “I can already tell that amazing things are going to come out of this building,” she said. “Truly amazing things are going to happen here.”

In her closing remarks, Rosenblith underscored the significance of the day.

“Foster Hall is more than a beautifully restored building. It is a place layered with memory, purpose and possibility,” she said. “It reflects a school rooted in history, committed to community and focused squarely on the future.”