Meet Our Honors Leaders

Wynni Benson (she/her)

Hi everyone! My name is Winifred Benson. I am a senior double majoring in Speech-Language Pathology and Philosophy at Buffalo State. I am in many organizations at Buffalo State that involve me helping others! I have adored my time with the Honors Program so far; it has given me numerous opportunities that I may never have had. I have met many amazing people in the Honors Program, including some of my best friends! I am a native Buffalonian and love going to Delaware Park or the Elmwood Village. I love reading, cooking, making crafts, playing video games, watching movies, drinking coffee, and meeting new people! I am so excited to meet all of you future students at Buffalo State!

Ceci Brooks (she/they)

I am a major in Psychology and minor in Art Therapy. I want to work with kids and people with disabilities and either be an art teacher or art therapist. I am currently an art specialist at an after school care program and I love it. I am so excited to be an Honors Leader so I can help new students be on the right path for their success as students and people!

Mimi Byrne (she/they)

Wassup, I'm a Graduate Student and TA in the Biology Department at Buffalo State. I got my Bachelor's degree in biology here and was an RA throughout. I'm really into hockey and baseball, and I also like playing video games. See ya around!

Joe Cannizzaro (he/they)

I will be entering into my fifth year here at Buffalo State University within the Philosophy Major and English Education Minor. A lot of my educational focus and research has been rooted within creating mindful learning environments based on Zen practices and differentiated educational tools. I am beyond grateful to be an Honor Leaders; the Honors Program has been such a large portion of my educational journey in creating connections between professors and educational ideologies. I am hoping that by serving as an Honors Leader I will be able to help future incoming students find their own pathways to success and learn to value all portions of their college experience.

Tyler Chen (he/him)

Hello, my name is Tyler Chen and I am a Senior at Buffalo State. I am a Business major with a concentration in Business Marketing. I love playing board games and trivia. I can't wait to spend time interacting and ensuring that incoming students get the best experience.

Aoife Clune (she/her)

My name is Aoife! I am a Junior at Buffalo State University this year, and am double majoring in English Literature and Public Relations with a minor in Fashion. This is my second year as an Honors Leader, and I am so excited to meet my mentees!

Mary Teresa Comerate (she/her)

Hi everyone! I'm currently a junior pursuing a degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Photography. I enjoy being creative, hanging out with friends, reading, and watching motorsports in my free time. I'm excited to be returning as a part of the Honors Leader Program and can't wait to meet you all!

Chelsea Daley (she/her)

Hello! My name is Chelsea, and I am a Junior pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology. I enjoy listening to music and hanging out with my friends in my free time. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all and giving you a great first-year experience!

Jamie Ervolina (she/her)

Hi Buff State Bengals! My name is Jamie Ervolina and I am a sophomore studying psychology! Outside of academics, I love to read books about history or murder mysteries, but at the end of the day, any genre is fine. I am super excited to be working with new Honors students as the Honors Program is full of opportunities to get internships, make new friends, and overall the best space for you to grow as a person. I hope you come to love the Honors Program just as much as I do!

Alyja Giscombe (she/her)

Hey! My name is Alyja Giscombe and I am a returning Honors Leader. Currently in my junior year, my major(s) are Writing, Arts/Letters with a concentration in Dance, and Environmental Geography—yes, I'm a triple major. I'm also a creative in other ways, one being digital music. I look forward to connecting with you all within the upcoming academic year!

Danae Hardy (she/her)

Hello mentees, my name is Danae! I’m currently a junior here at Buffalo State. My major is Childhood Education with a concentration in Liberal Arts. I also serve as a Resident Assistant on campus. The Honors Program has allowed me to succeed in smaller classroom settings and connect with professors. I am excited to meet you all this fall!     

Morgan Harrington (she/her)

Hi! My name is Morgan Harrington and I am a senior at Buffalo State and a returning Honors Leader. I am earning a dual degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. In addition to being involved with the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program I am also the treasurer and philanthropy chair for Sigma Delta Tau and am very active within the psychology department. In my free time I enjoy being involved with research on campus and love to read. I cannot wait to meet you all! I look forward to all the opportunities we will have to help you guys feel more than welcome here at Buffalo State.

Bella Mathewson (she/he/they)

Hey there I’m Bella! I am a sophomore majoring in English Education. I’m super excited to get to meet new students as an Honors Leader and help with the college experience. I love to hang out with friends and play video games in my free time. I’m also in the school Esports club, where I’ve met a lot of new friends!

Hannah McMahon (she/her)

Hello, my name is Hannah McMahon and I’m a junior at Buffalo State. I’m a Business major with a concentration in Marketing and Spanish minor. Being a part of the Honors Program has given me the opportunity to meet a ton of amazing people and take classes that are interesting to me. I can’t wait to get started and help future students succeed at Buffalo State!

Noah Roberts (he/him)

Sophomore, Fashion and Textile Technology major.

I'm a fashion designer. I enjoy sewing, traveling, and meeting new people. I am super excited to help you all adjust to college life.

Cameron Rosenthal (she/her)

Hey! My name is Cameron and I am a sophomore majoring in Criminal Justice as well as double minoring in Psychology and Legal Studies. I currently play on the Women’s Volleyball Team and love to surround myself with positive people. I love the outdoors, animals, and art. I’m so excited to meet all of you as well as getting to be someone you can turn to for advice and support. Let’s have this new year be one of the best ones yet! Go Bengals🧡🤍🖤

Jennifer Segura Lopez (she/they)

I am going to be a junior this fall semester, and I am an English Education major (7-12). I am a Community Assistant in the residence halls! I love reading books and going to bookstores. Additionally, I love listening to music and will always be open to recommendations. Lastly, I love swimming and going to Yoga!

Jaliyah Simmons (she/her)

Hello, my name is Jaliyah. I am currently in my sophomore year as a social work major. Some of my interests include volleyball, dancing, and crocheting. And I am so excited to be a part of this year's Honors Leaders team!

Calogero Tiermini (he/they)

My name is Calogero, and I am a graduate student in the Literacy Specialist program and a second year Honors Leader. I am the Graduate Assistant at the Writing Center, and earned my degree in Social Studies Education. I love to talk about writing and literature, as well as all things history! I was an RA on campus for almost 4 years, and I've been super involved with the Honors Program. I've lived in or around Buffalo for most of my life, and in my free time I love to listen to music, watch movies, and play video and board games of all kinds!

Sarah Zakeri (she/her)

Hello! My name is Sarah, and I’m a junior. I’m a Fine Arts and Psychology major with an Art Therapy minor. I enjoy playing video games, hanging out with my pets, and creating art! This is my second year as an Honors Leader, and I love meeting wonderful new people and helping incoming Honors students navigate their first semester! Welcome to the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program!