Supporting teaching and research initiatives among and between faculty members at SUNY Old Westbury got a boost recently when the campus held the ribbon-cutting of its new Teaching, Research, and Innovation Center for Excellence, known as TRICE.
With 52 students, faculty and staff on hand, TRICE opened on December 8, 2025. The collaborative space, located in the E-Wing of the Campus Center, provides faculty with a space on campus to share ideas and have open conversations regarding research and teaching efforts.
“The goal of TRICE is to give faculty the opportunity to delve into their respective areas of expertise and ultimately inspire students,” said President Timothy E. Sams. “Through the active research, up-to-date knowledge of best teaching practices and the sharing of innovative ideas among faculty, our students will benefit through engagement with educators who are developing high-quality work in their field of study.”
In short, the space has been intentionally designed to build and support a community of scholars among the faculty.
“When faculty develop their craft, they can create an environment that gives students the best education,” said Associate Provost Michael Kavic. “TRICE gives faculty a place to experiment and share ideas, which will better enable them to give talks, do groundbreaking research and be authors on publications.”
TRICE supports research efforts in three components: the initiation, sustenance and celebration of research.
“Getting a new research project off the ground can be intimidating or challenging, but creating a sense of community and unity within TRICE can help our faculty engage in conversations and create a sense of excitement,” Kavic explained.
The teaching initiatives within TRICE will be led by the campus’ Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and its faculty-led Teaching and Learning Resources Committee. Both groups on campus support pedological development at Old Westbury.
“CETL and TLRC will use the TRICE space to host seminars, activities and discussions that all focus on innovative techniques that will give students the best experience in the classroom,” Kavic said. “When we build a community of scholars, it is for the benefit of our students.”
In addition, the Office of Grants Management and Funded Programs will offer workshops focused on post-award management, while the Office of Sponsored Research Programs will provide sessions on pre-award processes.
Constructed at a cost of nearly $30,100, TRICE consists of three distinct areas. The first has several desktop workstations loaded with specialty software to support research and grant development. The second features a large table with a whiteboard and screen to support teleconferencing, presentations and discussions. The third area acts as a small lounge to promote casual conversations.
Throughout TRICE are displays of recent faculty achievements, including recently published books, papers and art.
The scheduling and use of TRICE will be done via a committee led by Nicole Sieben, associate professor of secondary English education, and Amy Hsu, associate professor in the School of Education, who are the respective leaders of CETL and TLRC, along with Meseret Tzehaie, director of grants management for the campus through the Research Foundation of SUNY, and the Jennifer Jones, director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Banner Photo Caption (from left to right): Associate Provost Michael Kavic, Teaching, Learning and Research Committee Chair Amy Hsu, President Timothy Sams, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Director Nicole Sieben, and Director of Grants Management Meseret Tzehaie cut the ribbon on the campus' new Teaching, Research, and Innovation Center for Excellence.