Commencement Profile: Chelsea Davidson

Chelsea Davidson has earned a bachelor of science in education degree, majoring in elementary education and exceptional education. She attained a 3.84 GPA while participating as a member of Buffalo State’s intercollegiate cross-country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams.

Davidson will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 10:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 143rd Commencement, Saturday, May 16, in the Sports Arena.

A dedicated student-athlete, Davidson leads by example. As a team member, whether in a cooperative learning group, research collaboration, or work environment, she is focused and conscientious in meeting her own responsibilities and encouraging the participation of others. Her impressive grade point average does not fully describe the quality of work she puts into all her endeavors, going beyond requirements to implement assignments with creativity and passion.

She was recently accepted to the selective International Professional Development Schools Program, which includes a three-week travel and service-learning experience in Santiago, Chile, in May 2015. She will use her field experience working with Chilean students in a public school to document similarities and differences in U.S. and Chilean education systems.

Her primary focus is on teaching, and she has a keen interest in researching evidence-based practices for students with disabilities. Outside the classroom, she has combined her interest in athletics and advocacy for individuals with disabilities with her long-term work with Special Olympics. She also developed a program at Maryvale Intermediate School in Cheektowaga, New York, to raise funds to purchase equipment for students with disabilities.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Davidson was elected to the Buffalo State chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. A regular member of the Dean’s List, she was named a Buffalo State Provost’s Scholar for four years and was named to the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Academic List.