Administration John J. Hurley President John J. Hurley was appointed the 24th president of Canisius College on Monday, October 19, 2009 by the college’s Board of Trustees and assumed the position on July 1, 2010. He is the first lay president in Canisius College’s 140-year history. A 1978 alumnus of Canisius College, Hurley has served as executive vice president of Canisius College since 2007 and vice president for college relations since 1997. In these roles, Hurley is the designated senior administrative official, responsible for the college’s strategic planning, integrated marketing, legal and compliance issues and athletics marketing. He also oversees the college’s advancement operation, which includes development, public relations, creative and Web services, alumni relations and government relations. Hurley currently directs all phases of the college’s current campaign, A Legacy of Leadership, which has a $90 million goal. He also led the college to the successful conclusion of its Imagine Canisius fund-raising campaign (1997 – 2000), which surpassed its $30 million goal by $8.8 million. The Imagine Canisius capital campaign was the most successful fund-raising effort undertaken by Canisius College and was recognized in 2001 as the top fund-raising accomplishment among the nation’s 28 Jesuit colleges and universities. Hurley played a significant leadership role in the college’s $142 million capital investment in the campus, and negotiated the college’s acquisition of the HealthNow building on Main Street. Plans are underway to convert the building into a comprehensive state-of-the-art interdisciplinary science center at Canisius. Hurley is the architect of the college’s innovative Employer Assisted Housing program, which offers incentives to Canisius employees who purchase homes in neighborhoods surrounding the college. He also led the branding initiative that developed the college’s positioning statement Canisius College: Where Leaders are Made. A native of Buffalo, Hurley graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Kenmore and earned a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in English and history from Canisius College. He was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Notre Dame School of Law, where he earned a juris doctor degree in 1981. Prior to Canisius, Hurley practiced law for 16 years, including 13 years at the Buffalo firm of Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber. He concentrated his practice in the areas of secured lending, bankruptcy and insolvency, creditors’ rights and acquisitions of troubled companies. Hurley was appointed by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec to serve on the Fidelis Care New York Board of Directors, a health maintenance organization that serves the poor in New York State. He is also chair the Bishop’s Council on the Laity for Bishop Kmiec. Hurley is a past member of the city of Buffalo’s Charter Revision Commission and past president of the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Board of Trustees. He is the recipient of the 2002 Canisius College Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers. Hurley is also a recipient of the college’s LaSalle Medal (1996), the highest honor conferred upon an alumna/us for service to alma mater, and was inducted into the Signum Fidei Society of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (1998). Hurley is the son of Doris Y. and the late Paul B. Hurley. He is married to Maureen O’Connell Hurley, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Rich Products Corporation in Buffalo. They have three children: Caroline, Brian and Millie.
Dr. Ellen Conley Vice President for Student Affairs Ellen O. Conley, PhD, a member of the Canisius Community since 1970, was named vice president for student affairs in 1998. One of her many accomplishments in her role as vice president includes spearheading the upgrade of the athletics program at the college. Dr. Conley earned a bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock State College (1967), advanced education degrees from the University of Pittsburgh (1968) and Buffalo State (1973) and a doctorate in higher education from the University at Buffalo (1981). During her tenure as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Conley supported the formation of the School of Education and Human Services, developed a mentoring program for new faculty, initiated the development of majors in criminal justice and environmental science and guided the initiative to implement a Master of Science in Organizational Communication and Development. She also established the Fine Arts Department and facilitated the development of MusiCanisius, which has since evolved into the ArtsCanisius program. While acting dean, she coordinated the promotion of the school’s graduate education program to the Canadian market and guided the implementation of the Master in Sport Administration. From 1987-89, Dr. Conley was the assistant director of athletics for women’s sports and financial aid, and from 1987-90, she was the athletic scholarship coordinator. Under her direction, the women’s athletic program was formed and grew from one club level team to seven varsity teams. In addition, she implemented and monitored an athletic scholarship program for men’s and women’s non-revenue producing sports. From 1982-1990 Dr. Conley served as chair of the undergraduate Physical Education Major Program and Coordinator of the Physical Education Graduate Program. In 1989, she developed alternative curricular tracks for physical education majors to enhance enrollment, and in 1986, she co-wrote the New York State Professional Preparation Council’s position paper for “Strengthening Teaching in New York State.”