News & Articles

*EdSAFE AI Alliance* (2026)
**Smigielski Named to the Women in AI Fellowship Class of 2026**

Kristen Smigielski was selected as a member of the 2026 Women in AI Fellowship through the EdSAFE AI Alliance, joining an international cohort of leaders working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, education, and responsible technology development.
Read More: https://www.edsafeai.org/fellowship/2025-women-in-ai-fellowship-1

*Buffalo Rising* (2026)
**Kristen Smigielski, Ph.D.: Teaching, AI, and the Art of Inclusive Learning**

In this feature profile, Kristen Smigielski discusses her work at the intersection of inclusive education, early literacy, and responsible AI, reflecting on her journey from classroom teacher to researcher and her commitment to designing human-centered educational systems that support both students and educators.
Read More: https://www.buffalorising.com/2026/01/kristen-smigielski-ph-d-teaching-ai-and-the-art-of-inclusive-learning/

*American Journal of Education Forum* (2025)

**Social-Emotional Learning in Modern Education: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Path Forward**

This research-informed article by Cherrelle Hall and Kristen Smigielski examines the evolution of social-emotional learning (SEL) in modern education, highlighting both its demonstrated benefits and ongoing challenges related to equity, cultural responsiveness, and implementation across diverse student populations.
Read More: https://sites.psu.edu/ajeforum/2026/01/29/social-emotional-learning-in-modern-education-progress-pitfalls-and-the-path-forward-by-cherrelle-hall-kristen-smigielski/

*The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Technologies and Trends in Education* (2025)

**Book Review**

Kristen Smigielski authored a published review included in this volume examining emerging applications of artificial intelligence in education, highlighting innovations in teaching, personalized learning, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI integration in schools.
View the book: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Artificial-Intelligence-Technologies-Education/dp/B0FVPYCK35/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2W506CI9KGDWD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QmDZpAFOziX5-1hev7mhBw.ZNGK4_tOXglghLI-rbBo6tWER1CZZ_XIVxrGlmbtlHQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+graham+ai&qid=1771376117&sprefix=brian+graham+ai%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1

*American Journal of Education Forum* (2025)

**Empowering Online College Instructors Through UDL: Engaging and Inclusive Strategies**

Drawing on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, this article by Samantha Didrichsen and Kristen Smigielski explores strategies to help higher education instructors create more accessible, engaging, and inclusive online learning environments while strengthening faculty confidence in digital pedagogy.
Read More: https://sites.psu.edu/ajeforum/2025/05/31/empowering-online-college-instructors-through-udl-engaging-and-inclusive-strategies-by-kristen-smigielski-and-samantha-didrichsen/

*Oxford University Press* (2024)

**Teaching Music to Students with Differences and Disabilities: A Practical Resource (2nd Edition)**

Kristen Smigielski contributed a chapter to this practitioner-focused volume edited by Alice M. Hammel and Roberta L. Yee, which provides classroom-tested strategies and lesson resources to support inclusive music instruction for K–12 students with diverse learning needs.
Link to Purchase on Oxford University Press
Link to Purchase on Amazon

*UB Learn Magazine* (2025)

**Anything but Artificial: X. Christine Wang Is Personalizing Learning with AI**

Kristen Smigielski is quoted in this UB Learn cover story highlighting Dr. X. Christine Wang’s leadership in responsible AI for early literacy through CELaRAI, reflecting on the importance of ethical, trustworthy, and publicly accessible AI that supports teachers and learners.
Read More: https://ed.buffalo.edu/magazine/issues/spring-2025/cover.html

*American Journal of Education Forum* (2025)

**Learning from Other Industries: How AI Innovations Can Revolutionize Education**

In this research-informed article, Kristen Smigielski examines how AI innovations in industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail offer lessons for education, highlighting opportunities for personalized learning, improved decision-making, and administrative efficiency while addressing critical concerns around equity, bias, and ethical implementation.
Read More: https://sites.psu.edu/ajeforum/2025/06/02/learning-from-other-industries-how-ai-innovations-can-revolutionize-education-by-kristen-smigielski-ph-d/

*University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education* (2025)

**AERA 2025 Social Media Takeover**

Kristen Smigielski hosted an Instagram takeover for the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education during the AERA Annual Meeting, sharing insights into her research on inclusive music education and offering a behind-the-scenes look at life as a doctoral scholar, educator, and research professional.
Read More: https://www.instagram.com/ubgse/p/DIwGGm-RDn2/

*American Journal of Education Forum* (2025)

**Teacher Preparation for Increasing Classroom Diversity: Cultural Competence and Inclusive Strategies**

In this research-informed article, Kristen Smigielski examines gaps in teacher preparation for increasingly diverse classrooms and argues for stronger training in cultural competence, inclusive teaching practices, and emotional intelligence to better support students with disabilities.
Read More: https://sites.psu.edu/ajeforum/2025/03/12/teacher-preparation-for-increasing-classroom-diversity-cultural-competence-and-inclusive-strategies-by-kristen-smigielski/

*University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education* (2025)

**GSE Scholars Present Research at the AERA Annual Meeting**

Kristen Smigielski presented two research papers at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Denver, including work examining music educators’ emotional competence, self-efficacy, and preparedness for inclusive education for students with disabilities.
Read More: https://ed.buffalo.edu/landing/aera-2025.html

Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI (CELaRAI) (2024)

Smigielski Joins CELaRAI as Research Project Manager

Kristen Smigielski joined the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI (CELaRAI) at the University at Buffalo as Research Project Manager, supporting interdisciplinary research and partnerships focused on advancing early literacy through responsible artificial intelligence.

Kappa Delta Pi (2025)

Using AI in the Classroom: 5 Simple Steps to Enhance Your Teaching

In this article, Kristen Smigielski outlines practical strategies for educators to integrate artificial intelligence into lesson planning, differentiated instruction, and ethical classroom practices while supporting inclusive and effective teaching.

*American Journal of Education* (2024–2025)

**AJE Forum Student Board Member**

Kristen Smigielski served on the American Journal of Education Forum Student Board, contributing to scholarly dialogue on contemporary issues in education and supporting the journal’s engagement with emerging education researchers and practitioners.
Read More: https://sites.psu.edu/ajeforum/2024/09/15/meet-the-aje-student-board-for-2024-2025-ay/

Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (2024)

Marcella L. Kysilka Doctoral Student Scholarship Recipient

Kristen Smigielski was named a recipient of the Marcella L. Kysilka Doctoral Student Scholarship, a national award recognizing doctoral scholars in education for their academic achievement and commitment to advancing educational research and practice.