Gamified growth

By Alexandra Richter

Using Suit-A-Bull, a gamified career-readiness app, the students were working toward earning a digital badge that recognizes newly developed skills — in this case, networking. 

The student engagement and success app is fun and interactive, featuring stackable badges customized to School of Management students. The school’s Career Resource Center piloted the app in early 2025 and officially launched it last fall.

“I’ve grown so much since I began using the app for my Introduction to Management course,” says Selena Huynh, BS ’29. “With each mission and event, I am learning, growing and creating a clearer picture of what I want to achieve while I am a student at UB.”

Each digital badge ties classroom skills to future careers. Built on the Suitable platform, the app integrates research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers to help students understand career readiness and their own strengths in the eight NACE competencies: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology.

“Studies show gamification significantly boosts motivation and engagement, turning academic challenges into rewarding milestones,” says Caitlin Rush, senior associate director of the Career Resource Center.

The Academic Exploration Badge that students were working toward on the night of the 43North Finals was designed by Celine Krzan, clinical assistant professor of entrepreneurship, to encourage undergraduates to connect with the UB campus and the broader Buffalo community, while helping them think purposefully about what they want to focus on during their academic journey.

For many students, networking events offer a natural way to test classroom learning. Abigail Nembhard, BS ’29, used the opportunity to take a new professional step, all while working her way up the Suit-A-Bull leaderboard.

“I set up a LinkedIn account to connect with people in a professional way,” Nembhard says. “I know the business world revolves around networking. By connecting with peers, future mentors and potential employers, I can learn about their experiences and grow professionally.”

After each event, participants use the Suit-A-Bull app to reflect on what they learned and how it connects to course concepts. 

“Students are able to connect the experiences to what we discussed in class, particularly in my course’s focus areas of corporate social responsibility and innovation,” says Krzan.

Other badges in the app include Campus Connections, CRC 101, School of Management Scavenger Hunt, Management Volunteer Program and a UB Empowered Badge, which includes completing four Leadership Lab activities. Many of these badges are earned outside of the classroom itself. For example, at the UB Bulls homecoming football game, students could check in on the app to earn skills in teamwork and engagement.

“I may never have gone to a sporting event at UB if I had not been prompted in the app,” says Huynh. “Suit-A-Bull has helped me explore the campus, try new things and find school resources.” 

As first-year students use the app, they also discover the Career Resource Center, available exclusively to management students. Matt Pietrafesa, BS ’29, first used the app in his seminar taught by Krzan.

“Suit-A-Bull encourages use of the CRC and even helped me find where it was located,” says Pietrafesa. “I look forward to taking advantage of their resources as I learn more about my own interests.”

Huynh also learned about the CRC — and its workshops, résumé review and career advising appointments — during the app’s scavenger hunt and her class’ recitation.

“Now I will feel more comfortable reaching out to the CRC because I have a better understanding of how it can benefit my academic and professional growth,” she says.

As students continue on their academic journey, the CRC is a crucial partner in their success. And now, behind the scenes, advisors and faculty can view results in Suit-A-Bull to see where students excel, where support is needed and how they compare with NACE benchmarks. The result: clearer goals, stronger résumés and more confident, job-ready graduates.

“A lot of first-semester students think, ‘I don’t need career help yet,’” says Rush. “But we shouldn’t be the last stop on the train; we should be one of the first. We’re here for them every step of the way.”

The app’s innovative approach is already drawing attention. At the Pathways Conference hosted by Suitable in Philadelphia last July, the School of Management received the Program Growth award for successfully launching the app and demonstrating a strong commitment to student engagement and success.

“Suit-A-Bull is now part of our students’ routine. This is how we engage, share and celebrate,” says Krzan. “Often, we might think gamification makes things more complicated, but when you layer it into your course and make sure the experiences add value, students want to participate in it. We are giving them something in return beyond points or a grade.”