Our Team
Some of us were captivated at an early age – whether due to living in a three-generation household, receiving treatment for a serious medical condition, or working with children who had disabilities. Others gravitated towards the practical nature of improving people’s lives through design. A few of us simply came for a job, and ultimately stayed to enact change. Whether personal experiences led us to the IDeA Center, or the IDeA Center exposed us to different design perspectives, our team of dedicated designers, engineers, occupational therapists, urban planners, and psychologists strives for results that empower, inspire, and create an inclusive community for all.
Core Staff
Affiliated Faculty Researchers
Victor Paquet, Sc.D., M.S., AEP
Chair and Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo
James Lenker, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP
Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University at Buffalo
Beth Tauke, M.A., M.F.A.
Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, University at Buffalo
Korydon Smith, Ed.D., M.Arch
Professor, Chair – Department of Architecture, University at Buffalo
Graduate Student Research Assistants
Ji Min Choi (Urban and Regional Planning)
Shashank Dhar (Computer Science)
Meghan Donahue (Human Factors Engineering)
Joseph Johnson (Human Factors Engineering)
Taylor Mortorff (Architecture)
Lakshmi Narasimhavihari Vemuri (Computer Science)
Alexis Ziegler (Architecture)
Visiting Scholar
Erica Isa Mosca – Politecnico Milano (Milan, Italy)
Debi Francis – D’Youville College (Buffalo, NY)
