Eight faculty members at the University at Buffalo have been named SUNY Distinguished Professors — the highest rank in the State University of New York System. Four of these appointments went to women.
Suzanne S. Dickerson is a professor in the School Nursing. A senior scholar in hermeneutic phenomenology, Professor Dickerson directed the International Institute for Hermeneutic Phenomenology for six years. She co-authored the book Doing Hermeneutic Phenomenological Research: A Practical Guide (SAGE Publications 2020). Dr. Dickerson is a graduate of Niagara University in New York, where she majored n nursing. She holds a master’s degree in adult health and a doctor of nursing practice degree from the University at Buffalo.
Melanie Green is a professor and chair of the department of communication. Dr. Green studies how stories can change human behavior. A key focus of her research is the concept of “transportation into a narrative world,” a reference to the immersive experience individuals have when deeply absorbed in a story. Dr. Green is a graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she majored in psychology and literature. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from Ohio State University.




