Faculty to fight for survival at Life Raft Debate

Published February 23, 2026

When disaster threatens all of humanity, which professor will make the cut to join the survivors?

Six UB faculty members from different disciplines will argue that he or she is worthy of the coveted final spot in the imaginary life raft set to sail to a new society at the 15th annual Life Raft Debate on Feb. 25.

The debate, sponsored by the UB Honors College, will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in 101 Davis Hall, North Campus.

After each faculty member has made his or her case, members of the audience will decide the winner.

This year’s contestants:

  • Joel Black, undergraduate lecturer, School of Law.
  • Kelsey Lewis-Pilcher, assistant professor, Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies.
  • Isabel Porto-Hannes, teaching assistant professor, Department of Environment and Sustainability.
  • Sam Crickenberger, assistant teaching professor, Department of Biological Sciences.
  • Nicholas Smith, assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice.
  • Jon Lopez, clinical associate professor, Department of Biostatistics.

Dominic Sellitto, clinical assistant professor, Department of Management Science and Systems, will serve as devil’s advocate.