DSNA25 in Buffalo, New York

29 – 31 May 2025

Conference Details

About the Conference

The 25th Biennial Dictionary Society of North America Conference will be held at the Buffalo State University, Thursday 29 May to Saturday 31 May 2025. We’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Society! The conference will include moderated panels on lexicographical topics, plenary presentations, receptions, and a banquet featuring the address of DSNA President Kory Stamper, author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.

Registration

Register for DSNA25 here! Please register by 28 May 2025.

  • Early Bird Registration (by 1 Apr): $150
  • Regular Registration (after 1 Apr): $200
  • Student Registration: $50
  • Non-Member Registration: $270
  • Virtual Attendance: $100
  • Friday Banquet Tickets (not included in registration): $65

All amounts are USD.

Lodging

~ Residence Halls at Buffalo State ~

Primary lodging for DSNA25 will be on campus at Buffalo State. This convenient and budget-friendly option offers easy access to conference activities and amenities. On-campus housing must be reserved by 1 May 2025. Book here!

Dormitory suites consist of four single bedrooms and a shared living space and bathroom. These units are available in all-female, all-male, or unisex arrangements, ensuring flexibility and comfort for all attendees. You may request to share a suite with particular conference attendees; be prepared to indicate preferences at booking. Parking and golf cart transportation are also available on campus upon request.

Dormitory rooms are available on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 28-31 May 2025.

  • One night:   $160
  • Two nights:  $220 ($110 per night)
  • Three nights $280 ($95 per night)
  • Four nights:  $340 ($85 per night)

All amounts are USD.

We encourage conference participants to take advantage of the dormitory suite discounting to extend their visit, perhaps to see Niagara Falls or other Buffalo-area attractions. 

~ Other Lodging in and around Buffalo ~

For attendees seeking convenient lodging options near Buffalo State University, we recommend the following hotels; AirBnBs are also available within within close proximity to the university.

Please note that DSNA25 falls during Buffalo commencement season so book accordingly (and consider the dorms!).

Midrange options

  • Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo Downtown
    • Amenities include Free WIFI, parking, breakfast, fitness center, pool, bar
    • downtown location, 3 miles BSU
    • 10 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203
    • (716)-848-1000 primary phone
    • Booking.com  
  • Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel & Conference Center
    • Centrally located downtown, close to entertainment and dining​
    • 4.9 Miles from BSU
    • 2Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202
    • Free WIFI, Valet, fitness center
    • Trip Advisor  
  • Best Western on the Ave
    • Free parking, WIFI, breakfast, fitness
    • 2.7 Miles away from BSU
    • 510 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
    • Trip Advisor 
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown
    • Offers free breakfast, WIFI, fitness center, and proximity to Buffalo’s attractions
    • Downtown, 4.8 miles from the college 
    • 220 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
    • Trip Advisor  
  • Wyndham Garden Buffalo Downtown
    • WIFI, airport shuttle, breakfast
    • Located in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus area
    • 2.5 miles from BSU
    • 125 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
    • Booking.com

Higher-End Options

  • Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HARBORCENTER
    • Luxurious rooms, located in the downtown waterfront area​
    • 4.8 miles from BSU 
    • 100 Washington St. Buffalo, NY
    • WIFI, coffee, bar/lounge area, fitness center
    • Trip Advisor  
  • Richardson Hotel 
    • Boutique historical property
    • .03 miles from BSU
    • 444 Forest Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213
    • WIFI, breakfast, walking tours, fitness center, free parking
    • Trip Advisor

Getting to and around Buffalo

Directions

  1. From Niagara Falls, NY (U.S. Side): Take I-190 S towards Buffalo, then take Exit 11 for NY-198 E (Scajaquada Expressway) and exit at Elmwood Ave. The university is about 25 minutes (16 miles) away. Public Transit: Take NFTA Bus #40 to Downtown Buffalo, then transfer to Bus #20 or #32 to Buffalo State.
  2. From Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF): Drive via NY-33 W to NY-198 W and exit at Elmwood Ave (20-minute drive, 10 miles). Public Transit: Take Bus #24 from the airport to Downtown Buffalo, then transfer to Bus #20 or #32 to reach Buffalo State.
  3. From Peace Bridge (Fort Erie, Canada – Buffalo, NY border): Take I-190 N to NY-198 E, exit at Elmwood Ave. The university is about 10 minutes (4 miles) from the border.
  4. From Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls, Canada – U.S. border): Take Robert Moses Pkwy to I-190 S, then follow the same route as from Niagara Falls, NY (25-minute drive, 16 miles).
  5. From Toronto Pearson International Airport: Note that it is easier to go through border customs at either Peace Bridge or Rainbow Bridge rather than dealing with U.S. airport customs. Options include:
    • Driving (best option): Take ON-403 W to QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) Niagara, cross at Peace Bridge, and follow the route to Buffalo State (2-hour drive, 100 miles).
    • Bus: Take a Megabus or Flixbus from Toronto to Buffalo, then follow local bus routes.
    • Train: VIA Rail to Niagara Falls, then cross into the U.S. and take an NFTA bus to Buffalo.

Addresses

  • Buffalo State University: 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222 
  • STAC Housing Building: 801 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY 14222
    • (Located next to Sports Arena)
  • Buffalo Niagara International Airport: 4200 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14225
  • Peace Border-Crossing Bridge: Buffalo, NY – Fort Erie, ON
  • Rainbow Border-Crossing Bridge: Niagara Falls, NY – Niagara Falls, ON
  • Toronto Pearson Airport: 6301 Silver Dart Dr, Mississauga, ON L5P 1B2

Parking at Buffalo State

  • Buffalo State University provides free parking for conference attendees, whether they are staying on campus or not. Specific parking lots are designated for events, and permits are not required during the conference. 

Rental Services and Public Transit

  • Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)  Located on the ground level of the terminal, near baggage claim, the following rental companies operate at BUF.  For more details and reservations, it’s best to visit the official websites of these companies or the Buffalo airport website.
    • Alamo – (716) 634-9220
    • Enterprise – (716) 565-0002
    • Hertz – (716) 632-4774
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)  Rental car counters are located on Level 1 of the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 parking garages. The following companies operate on-site:
    • Avis – +1(905) 676-1100
    • Enterprise – (833) 813-5266
    • Hertz – +1(905) 676-5857
    • National – +1(905) 676-4000
    • Alamo – (844) 307-8011
  • Uber and, particularly in Buffalo, Lyft offer pick-up services.  
  • Buffalo’s NFTA Metro Buses cost $2.00 per ride. Riders can pay with exact cash (drivers do not give change) or use the NFTA Metro app to purchase tickets digitally and access details, routes, and schedules. 

Call for Papers (closed)

The 25th Biennial Dictionary Society of North America Conference will be held at the Buffalo State University, Thursday 29 May to Saturday 31 May 2025. We’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Society!

The conference will include moderated panels on lexicographical topics, plenary presentations, receptions, and a banquet featuring the address of DSNA President Kory Stamper, author of Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries.

Presentations on any aspect of dictionaries, lexicography, and lexicology, historical or contemporary, are welcome. Those focused on lexicography and the law, artificial intelligence and lexicography, and Indigenous lexicography in the US and Canada are particularly encouraged.

All presenters of conference papers must be members of the DSNA, but you need not be a member to submit an abstract. To join or renew membership, visit https://dictionarysociety.com/join/.

The program will begin the Thursday, May 29, and will run through Saturday afternoon, May 31, 2025.

Please submit abstracts for individual papers, panels, roundtables, and half- or full-day workshops via Google Forms, Monday 25 November 2024 to Wednesday 15 January 2025.

    • Papers/presentations: we invite abstracts of approximately 250 words for presentations of 15 minutes.

    • Panels: We invite panel or workshop proposals in addition to papers. Proposals should include a panel abstract, list of presenters, and presentation abstracts. Proposals for roundtable discussions and extended half- or full-day workshops are also welcome. Please indicate this in the online form.

Information about the sponsor: The Dictionary Society of North America promotes the development, practice, and study of lexicography, and the use, compilation, curation, marketing, maintenance, and scholarly examination of dictionaries and related reference works. It provides forums for discussion and dissemination of information on all these topics, including a peer-reviewed journal, a newsletter, a blog, and biennial meetings. The DSNA was formed in 1975 to bring together people interested in dictionary making, study, collection, and use. Our members include people working on dictionaries, academics who engage in research and writing about dictionaries, dictionary collectors, librarians, booksellers, translators, linguists, publishers, writers, collectors, journalists, and people with an avocational interest in dictionaries. The only requirement for membership is an expression of interest in language, in words, dictionaries and lexicography, or any combination of these.

About Buffalo State and the Buffalo-Niagara Region

Buffalo State University is ten minutes away from the Peace Bridge (which connects the U.S. to Ontario, Canada) and 20 minutes from Niagara Falls. Directly across the street is the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, a newly expanded venue dedicated to 20th century and contemporary art. The AKG is on Time Magazine’s 2024 list of the World’s Greatest Places; it is the sixth oldest public museum in the United States. Located on the Buff State campus is the Burchfield Penney Art Center, which showcases art from Western New York, particularly the works of Charles Burchfield.

Next door is the Psychiatric Hospital, an architectural masterpiece designed by H. H. Richardson and now the home of an upscale hotel (as well as being, still, a mental health facility). Buffalo is a celebrated for architectural tourism: it is one of the few cities to feature buildings designed by Richardson, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as luminaries like Louise Bethune, E. B. Green, and Robert Coles. The Buffalo River is dramatically lined with grain elevators, some of which have been repurposed as art spaces, breweries, and so on.

We are partnering with the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library on an exhibit of lexicographical materials from their astounding rare book collection. This exhibit will coincide with the conference but will open to the public before that, spreading the word about words.