Creative Education Foundation brings Creative Problem Solving Institute back to Buffalo State, June 14–18

Buffalo State University will once again host the Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI), the world's longest-running creativity and innovation conference, on June 14-18, 2026. Presented by the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), CPSI brings together educators, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and students from around the world for five days of immersive learning in creative thinking, problem solving, and innovation practice. All CPSI programming will take place on the Buffalo State campus, with sessions held in academic buildings and community areas. Full- and multi-day programs run throughout the week for Buffalo State faculty, staff, and instructors with evening events open to the broader creativity community.

As higher education evolves, creativity has become a core competency for student success, faculty innovation, and institutional resilience. CPSI offers Buffalo State faculty and staff access to globally recognized tools that support critical thinking, student engagement, inclusive facilitation, and problem-solving confidence. These methods directly enhance teaching practice, especially in first-year experience, leadership development, and interdisciplinary learning.

The Creative Education Foundation was founded by advertising executive Alex Osborn, whose pioneering work in applied creativity led to the development of Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and the concept of applied imagination. Osborn later partnered with educator and researcher Sidney Parnes, who became CEF's long-time collaborator and co-architect of the CPS process.

Parnes brought CEF's mission to Buffalo State University, where he established what became the university's creativity program-now the Center for Applied Imagination. This academic home helped shape Buffalo State's identity as a global leader in creativity education; Buffalo State stands as the first educational institution in the world to offer graduate-level courses, a master of science in creativity studies, and-beginning in fall 2026-a doctor of professional studies in creativity and change leadership. Today, CEF continues to steward this legacy through CPSI, returning annually to the campus where so much foundational creativity research and teaching took place.

CPSI features hands-on workshops, multi-day immersive training programs, keynote presentations, facilitated creativity sessions, and community-building events. Participants learn practical methods for clarifying challenges, generating ideas, developing solutions, and strengthening psychological safety in classrooms and organizations. The conference is known for its welcoming, high-energy environment and its emphasis on applied creativity-skills participants can use immediately in their work and lives.

Registration Information

Buffalo State faculty, staff, and qualifying instructors may register by visiting the CPSI registration page. Select your registration type:

• For full-conference access, choose the Educator category for your discount.
• For UNC 100 instructors, enter code BNCUNC for 100% off. Limit 12 UNC 100 instructors.
• For the Buffalo State University One-Day Pass (June 15), select "One-Day Registration" and enter code CAI325.

Exclusive for Buffalo State: Networking, dinner, and keynote with Chef Mark Graham
Sunday, June 14 | 5:30-7:30 PM | Social Hall

Chef Mark Graham is a Chicago-based culinary innovator whose career spans restaurant leadership, global product development, and roles with NBC Chicago, the Chicago Tribune test kitchen, Starbucks, and Kellogg. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, he blends Italian heritage, global flavors, and a deep belief in food as a sensory, emotional experience. His interactive keynote will invite the Buffalo State community to literally play with their food, exploring creativity through joyful experimentation.

Register here.

CPSI Night Pass

Register for the CPSI Night Pass and enjoy all evening programming from 7:30-9:30 p.m., including the Night Flight series-experimental one-hour workshops led by elite creativity facilitators.

Register here.

FREE: CPSI Creativity Panel & Creativity Library Dedication
Monday, June 15 | Campbell Student Union & Butler Library | 7:00 p.m.

Join us for an evening exploring one of the most urgent questions in higher education today: How will artificial intelligence reshape creative teaching and learning? Buffalo State University will host a special program on The Future of Creative Education in an AI World, followed by the dedication reception for the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection.

This gathering brings together contributors to The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Creativity in Global Higher Education and national leaders in creativity research and practice.

Program Overview

7:00 p.m. - Welcome
Gerard Puccio connects the evening to The Palgrave Handbook of Applied Creativity in Global Higher Education.

7:10 p.m. - Keynote: Creativity and AI
Sarah Thurber explores how AI is transforming creative thinking, learning, and problem solving.

7:30 p.m. - Panel Introduction and Discussion
Gerard Puccio introduces the panel comprising Camille McKayle, Michael Lehman, Margaret Mangion, and Amanda Lohiser for a dynamic conversation on creative education.

8:15 p.m.- Close

8:30 p.m. - Dedication Reception | Butler Library
Celebrate the opening of the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection and Buffalo State's historic role in advancing applied creativity.

Register here.

Graphic courtesy CEF.