‘Buffalo State is something special’: Buffalo State legacy family celebrates Commencement
For some families, Commencement is more than a conferring of degrees—it’s the continuation of a legacy. Twenty-four years after their father, Tavis Watson, received his degree in journalism from Buffalo State, Ciera and Tavis Jr. will cross the stage during the university's 154th Commencement.
“I knew from going to Buffalo State how inclusive it was, how many programs there are, and social opportunities too,” said Tavis Watson Sr. “It’s in the city of Buffalo, which is a great place to go to school; it’s a good environment. I encouraged my kids to apply and figured that if it was meant to be, it would be. They would go because they wanted to go.”
Ciera, who will graduate this coming Saturday with her degree in elementary education, said that she wasn’t set on Buffalo State at first, but a campus tour changed everything.
“I was able to speak to faculty and learn about opportunities like study abroad and student teaching,” she said. “It just stood out from other programs. I committed 24 hours later.”
Tavis Jr. started out at SUNY Canton but when he decided to switch his focus to media production, Buffalo State entered the conversation.
“I knew my dad had gone here and that Buffalo State has a great media production program,” said Tavis Jr., who was recently inducted into Rho Psi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association Honor Society. “I had a friend who went here too. I came and took a tour and thought, ‘Okay, I can do the transfer and go to Buffalo State.’”
Ciera and Tavis Jr. said that while some may find being at school with a family member stifling, they have found it easy to maintain their independence.
“We cross paths but we still have separate Buffalo State lives,” Ciera said. “It’s a cool experience.”
“I bump into her, and it’s nice to know she’s here,” Tavis added, “but Buffalo State is a place you can come and have your own journey.”
The Watsons, who hail from Brookyln, New York, have enjoyed Buffalo State’s specialized programs and opportunities. Tavis Sr. was involved with the Educational Opportunity Program during his time as a student. Ciera and Tavis have both traveled abroad to Chile and Tokyo respectively; Ciera leaves for her second study abroad experience to Kenya later this month.
Tavis Sr., who works for the New York City Police Department and was honored in 2011 as NYPD Cop of the Month, said that while he did not end up pursuing a career in journalism, Buffalo State equipped him with knowledge and skills that have gotten him to where he is today. Not only that, but the university also gave him lifelong friends.
“Studying journalism prepared me for this career,” he said. “It taught me social skills, dealing with people, communication. I took speech classes and learned how to interview people. I use all those skills as a police officer. Plus, I met friends I’ve had for the rest of my life. I have no complaints.”
“Buffalo State is something special that I can’t explain. You have to experience it yourself.”
Ciera agreed that Buffalo State is conducive to creating connections.
“Although Tavis and I are blood, I have created another family here,” she said. “There are people from Buffalo State I will be friends with for the rest of my life.”
The Watsons said they enjoy sharing their Buffalo State experiences and memories.
“It’s pretty cool—my mom gets a little jealous sometimes,” Ciera said. “My dad has showed us clips from when he did the ‘Bengal Paws’ [sports recap] show. It’s interesting to see how things have changed.”
“It’s nice to be able to stay connected to the school,” Tavis Sr. added, “to come back and see it and hear how it is for them.”
Ciera and Tavis Jr. agreed that while it feels bittersweet to be graduating, they are grateful for the experiences they’ve had at Buffalo State.
“I just came in as a freshman, I blinked, and it’s Commencement!” Ciera said. “I’m excited, but it’s bittersweet. Buffalo State has a lot of resources and opportunities for an affordable price. The campus is not super small, but small enough that there is community. I’ve gotten so much field experience and feel prepared for my career. Buffalo State is something special that I can’t explain. You have to experience it yourself.”
“I advise people to come here because you meet a lot of new people,” Tavis Jr. said. “Use everything available to you to its fullest extent. Enjoy your time.”
“I’ve recommended it to not just my kids, but other kids too,” Tavis Sr. said. “Buffalo State caters to everyone. It just has all the things.”
Commencement 2026 Details
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | Sports Arena
- 9:00 a.m. (School of Education and Applied Professions)
- 1:00 p.m. (School of Arts and Sciences including Individualized Studies)
- 5:00 p.m. (Master's and Adavanced Graduate Studies)
Celebrating
Undergraduate Class of 2026: August 2025 graduates, December 2025 graduates, January 2026 graduates, May 2026 graduates, and August 2026 degree candidates. Includes bachelor’s degrees. Does not include undergraduate certificates.
Graduate Class of 2026: August 2025 graduates, December 2025 graduates, January 2026 graduates, May 2026 graduates, and August 2026 degree candidates. Includes master’s degrees, certificates of advanced study, and graduate certificates. Does not include post-baccalaureate programs.
More Information
For more information, please visit the Commencement website.
Pictured: Tavis Watson Sr. (left) and Chante Watson with their children Tavis Jr. and Ciera.
Photo courtesy of the Watson family.
