Canisius Magazine - Winter 2022

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2022

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE Advancing a more diverse and equitable living and learning environment

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president’sperspective

College publication schedules are planned months in advance and articles are selected depending on the time of year and anticipated events on the college calendar.

This issue of Canisius Magazine was no exception as we determined to highlight the college’s efforts in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Little did we know that as Black History Month came to an end, the college would make history with the appointment of its first Black president, Steve K. Stoute. Much more will be written about our new president in the months and years to come, I am sure, but for now, Canisius is basking in the moment and imagining the possibilities under his leadership.

I look forward to working with him to insure that his transition to Canisius and to Buffalo is a successful one. I can assure you that we are already off to a great start.

As I think about the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, which President-elect Stoute will inherit, I am reminded of an event held in 2015, when I sat with about 40 of our Black students to hear from them about their Canisius experience. They were candid, direct and challenging in what they had to say. And I am not sure that they realized how deeply their stories of thinly-veiled racism, microaggressions and our failure to fully include them in the Canisius family touched my heart.

We have been working on these issues as the nation has been convulsed by the deaths of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others, and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Our goal at Canisius is to educate young people to become men and women for others, which includes educating them to promote equity among the races, inculcating a sensitivity to the ways in which racism holds all of us back, and preparing them to lead in a world that is and will continue to be increasingly diverse.

We look forward to President-elect Stoute joining the conversation here at Canisius.

features Blue & Gold Briefs

6 Renewing the Earth Canisius commits to Vatican initiative on sustainability

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Faculty Notes

Aging and Autism Seniors on the spectrum face greater health challenges

Cover Story

12 Inclusive Excellence

Advancing a more diverse and equitable living and learning environment

Advancement

18 Meeting the Match Targeted campaign raises funds for critically important phase of Science Hall project

Alumni Spotlights

22 Justice for All

Buffalo City Court Judge Lenora B. Foote-Beavers ’92 advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion in the courtroom and community

<<< 30 Lead Role

Timothy M. Clark ’83 sets the stage for national and international film makers as Commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara Film Office

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blue&goldbriefs

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Canisius Appoints 25th President

College Magazine WINTER 2022 I VOLUME 23, ISSUE 1

Steve K. Stoute brings vision, passion for Catholic, Jesuit education

President John J. Hurley Associate Vice President, Assistant to the President Erica C. Sammarco ’00 Chief Communications Officer

The Board of Trustees concluded a 10-month national search for the college’s next president

& Executive Editor

on February 25, when it announced the appointment of Steve K. Stoute, JD, as Canisius’ 25th

Eileen C. Herbert ’04, MS ’15

president. Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island Caribbean nation, Stoute will be the first person of color to lead the Jesuit institution when he begins his tenure on July 1.

Managing Editor Audrey R. Browka Creative Director Patty Herkey Contributing Writers Mary Ellen Bakowski ’85, MBA ’90 Brandon T. Bielecki ’16, MS ’19 Summer L. Handzlik Martin J. Haumesser Johnson Ly ’20 Tessa M. Pszonak ’21 Sarah J. Sterzinger ’18, MS ’21 Kimberly A. Venti Erin M. Zack ’00, MS ’04 Photography Brianna Blank ’14 Tom Wolf ’86 We are eager to hear your comments about Canisius College Magazine.

Please send correspondence to: Canisius College Magazine 2001 Main Street, Lyons Hall Room 209, Buffalo, NY 14208 Phone 716-888-2790 Fax 716-888-2778 Email ccmag@canisius.edu

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He succeeds President John J. Hurley who retires June 30, after serving 12 years as president and 25 years overall at Canisius.

“President-elect Stoute is an exceptional leader who will bring a vision and passion for Canisius College and Catholic, Jesuit higher education here in

My first goal is to engage deeply with the college community and gather more friends to Canisius.

Western New York,” said Board of Trustees Chair Martin J. Berardi ’79 during his introduction of Stoute to the campus community.

Stoute comes to Canisius from DePaul University in Chicago, IL – the largest Catholic university in the United States – where he is vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff. In these roles, he serves as the president’s senior

I will go anywhere and everywhere

advisor, and facilitates the implementation of the university’s strategic plan,

I am invited so people get to know

the Board of Trustees on key executive and strategic matters.

me, what I care about and what

Upon accepting his appointment, Stoute told the campus community that his

’’

I bring to Canisius.

leads transformative institutional projects and is the administrative liaison to

immediate focus will be to grow the Canisius family.

“My first goal is to engage deeply with the college community and gather more friends to Canisius. I will go anywhere and everywhere I am invited so people get to know me, what I care about and what I bring to Canisius.”

Stoute immigrated to the U.S. in 2000 to attend Seton Hall University, where he competed on the men’s soccer team. He graduated from the New Jersey institution, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned a master’s degree in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a juris doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Postmaster send change of address to: Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

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blue&goldbriefs

blue&goldbriefs

Renewing the Earth Canisius commits to Vatican initiative on sustainability

Canisius College became one of the first U.S. universities to commit to a new, Vatican-led initiative aimed at empowering the global Church to achieve total sustainability.

Laudato Si’ guides Catholic institutions, communities and families on ways to achieve an eco-sustainable lifestyle and society within seven years. As a Laudato Si’ university, Canisius will develop an action plan to integrally and boldly advance each of the seven goals outlined in the initiative: Respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor; foster ecological economics; adopt a sustainable lifestyle; offer ecological education; develop ecological spirituality; and support local communities.

The Laudato Si’ initiative was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical of the same name. It calls for the realization of integral ecology – the idea that ecological, cultural and social issues are intertwined.

Canisius’ online master’s degree programs in education are among the best in the nation, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

technologies and curriculum design, educational leadership and supervision, literacy education, physical education and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

The CAEP-accredited graduate education programs offer online degrees in community and school health, instructional

This is the fifth consecutive year U.S. News & World Report named Canisius to this ranking.

Two Degrees; One Career-Focused Program ©Catholic Church

Canisius Partners with U.S. Cyber Command A new partnership between Canisius and U.S. Cyber Command is heightening the level of deterrence against adversaries in the cyber world.

The joint military command unit enlisted faculty and students in the college’s cybersecurity program to participate in its new academic engagement network (AEN). The AEN collaboration aims to harness cyber research, expand cyber-focused analytic partnerships and promote cyber careers through student outreach and mentorship opportunities at colleges and universities across the country.

Canisius is one of 84 higher education institutions selected for AEN membership, and offers the only technology-based master’s level cybersecurity program in Western New York.

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Canisius students can go further, faster by enrolling in a new 3+2 partner program that pairs a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a master’s degree in social work.

Beginning in fall 2022, Canisius will offer an accelerated BA/ BS-MSW option, made possible through an agreement between the college and the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.

Enrolled students earn their dual degrees in less time (five years instead of six) and are therefore able to enter the competitive workforce sooner.

Thomas A. Chambers, PhD, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, notes that the partnership enables students to combine the top-notch Jesuit liberal arts education that Canisius offers with an outstanding professional program at the University at Buffalo. “Quality, value and strong career outcomes continue to set Canisius College apart,” he says.

The 3+2 program is open to Canisius students who, by the completion of their third year of enrollment, have completed a minimum of 90 credits, including the common core and psychology major requirements.

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facultynotes

facultynotes

Effects of Energy Gels on Endurance Athletes

Aging and Autism

Endurance athletes have long used carbohydrate supplementation to enhance their performance. Recently, however, the market for these supplements has shifted from beverages to highly concentrated energy gels. Athletes consider the gels a more convenient means of carrying energy during competition but little research exists about the effects these gels have and at what frequency they should be ingested.

A new study from Kinesiology Professor Karl F. Kozlowski, PhD, is changing that.

Kozlowski’s research reveals that while manufacturers’ suggested ingestion schedules are sufficient for exercise of less than two hours, they don’t ensure optimal performance through the end of a lengthy training or competition session. Instead, Kozlowski’s findings show that athletes benefit most when they take an energy gel

Seniors on the spectrum face greater health challenges New research from Canisius adds to a growing body of evidence that autism is associated with challenges in aging.

Researchers from the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) and departments of Psychology and Kinesiology studied aging individuals who do not have a formal autism diagnosis but demonstrate elevated autism characteristics. Their findings show those individuals to have greater health challenges. More specifically, study participants reported difficulty with social engagement due to poor physical and mental health including depression and anxiety, and limited satisfaction with life and psychological well-being.

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“While these findings underscore the importance of understanding autism and aging, they also point toward critical avenues for future research,” says Jennifer Lodi-Smith, PhD, associate professor of psychology and assistant vice president for academic affairs.

Lodi-Smith references the need to study the strengths and strategies of individuals who have lived a full life with autism characteristics and to identify ways in which society can support healthy aging for those on the autism spectrum.

The Journals of Gerontology published this latest research, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. Principal researchers included Lodi-Smith, Jonathan D. Rodgers, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and Karl F. Kozlowski, PhD, professor of kinesiology.

every 30 to 45 minutes during training or competition of two hours or more.

“To maintain blood glucose levels and optimize performance, it appears more beneficial to ingest energy gel packets more frequently than the manufacturers’ current recommendations,” Kozlowski says.

“The maintenance of blood glucose levels demonstrated by this feeding schedule helps preserve muscle glycogen and thus improve the athlete’s performance during the final stages of competition or training.”

Kozlowski’s findings are published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. His collaborators include April Ferrentino-DePriest and Frank Cerny, from the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Chapter & Verse The American Indian Library Association (AILA) selected Eric Gansworth’s book Apple: Skin to the Core for its 2022 Youth Literature Award in the young adult category. Conferred biennially, the award identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations

by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America whose works present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.

Gansworth is a professor of English and creative writing at Canisius.

Apple reflects on his life growing up in an Onondaga family but living among the Tuscaroras, and the history of Native peoples in the U.S.

H. Jeanette Willert, PhD, delves into the human condition in her latest book of poetry, it was never Eden. Home and family, loss and tragedy, memory, nostalgia and reflection are all elements of this carefully crafted collection, which is Willert’s second. She previously published Appalachia Amour, a 2017 recipient of the Morris Memorial Chapbook Award.

An emerita professor of teacher education, Willert is the former director of the Western New York Writing Project, which is an affiliate of the National Writing Project.

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facultynotes

facultynotes

The Truth About Cats and Dogs Prediction of ‘pandemic pets’ proves false

Suchak Awarded Grant to Study Stress in Cats Malini C. Suchak, PhD, is advancing her research related to reducing stress in cats, courtesy of a new grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Contrary to early reports suggesting millions of Americans would welcome “pandemic pets” into their homes, dog and cat ownership did not increase during the Covid-19 shutdown. In fact, it saw a slight decline from pre-pandemic numbers, according to a new study by Christy L. Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC).

The associate professor of animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC) will use the $12,280 award to increase the use of accelerometers (specifically designed FitBits for cats) to monitor the daily behaviors of cats housed in animal shelters, as well as in foster homes.

The pandemic also appears to have resulted in some changes to how pets were acquired. Hoffman’s research found that the proportion of cats and dogs adopted from pet stores and breeders increased during the pandemic, while those acquired from shelters and rescues decreased.

“Improving their welfare while in the shelter is essential for facilitating timely adoption, as cats who are comfortable and well-adjusted are more likely to be adopted into new homes,” Suchak explains.

Suchak developed the activity logger and a corresponding algorithm in 2021 as a way to gather data remotely. Based on her findings, Suchak will identify strategies that animal shelters can use to reduce stress in cats.

This is Suchak’s second grant in support of her research. The Williams and Charlotte Parks Foundation for Animal Welfare awarded her funding for the project in summer 2021. She is collaborating on the research with Christy L. Hoffman, PhD, associate professor of ABEC.

“This may have been due to reductions in the overall number of animals available for adoption from shelters during the pandemic, as well as the public’s limited access to shelters during this period,” she notes.

In Memoriam

Of those who did adopt pets during the pandemic, the majority were younger individuals and those in households that included children.

More importantly, the vast majority of those who acquired pets during the study period still had them when the data was collected.

Canisius College is mourning the loss of three retired faculty members.

Rev. Michael R. Pastizzo, SJ, adjunct professor of religious studies and theology, passed away on December 16 at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, CA. He was 87.

Father Pastizzo arrived at Canisius in 1996 and taught theology, Christian art, Christian faith through art, and theology and film. His scholarship focused on the legacy of American painter William G. Congdon, whose works became renowned for their persistent spiritual elements.

Hoffman’s research was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

She co-authored the study with Melissa Thibault, senior manager for research strategy and research at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Rev. Michael R. Pastizzo, SJ

Paul A. Young MS ’64, EdD

Emeritus Professor of Chemistry Rev. Paul J. McCarthy, SJ, died on January 18 at Murray-Weigel Hall on the campus of Fordham University. He was 97.

Father McCarthy came to Canisius in 1960, and remained at the college for his entire teaching career. Throughout his tenure, Father McCarthy maintained an active interest in spectroscopy research and co-authored nearly 50 articles on the subject in various chemical journals. In 1977, his students and alumni recognized him with the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award.

Paul J. McCarthy, SJ

Paul A. Young MS ’64, EdD, emeritus professor of education, passed away on January 22 at the age of 87.

Young taught 40 years at the college and served several terms as chair of the Education Department. He is the author of Niagara Falls: Survivor of the Ice Age, which examines the natural history of the Niagara River and its gorge. Young was also a recipient of the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award.

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An Agenda for Action

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

The spring 2022 semester marks the half-way point in Canisius’ five year Racial Equity Strategic Plan to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) living and learning environment.

failing the students – for whom the opportunity to attend Canisius was the highlight of their lives – because they didn’t feel as if they were a critical part of this community.”

It’s the latest step in a journey that began more than 50 years ago when Canisius students Robert H. Maloney ’71 and LeRoi C. Johnson ’71 encouraged then President Rev. James M. Demske ’47, SJ, to further open the doors of the largely white institution that sat in the midst of a largely Black neighborhood.

DEI has been a strategic priority at Canisius ever since. The development of the Racial Equity Strategic Plan is the college’s most deliberate effort, to date, to craft and implement a blueprint for a culture in which “we’re exploring our blind spots, our prejudices and addressing racism where it exists,” continues President Hurley.

It is a plan designed to be sustainable and systemic, with ideals incorporated into the day-to-day life of the college – rather than a single program, lecture or magazine article.

“But like most of American society, our journey hasn’t moved far enough or fast enough,” acknowledges President John J. Hurley.

Advancing a more diverse and equitable living and learning environment

The college hastened efforts in 2016, following a meeting between President Hurley and the Afro American Society.

“That was an eye opener for me,” President Hurley recalls.

“I walked away with a sense of sadness and thought we were

Bennie D. Williams ’11, MS ’13 had just begun his freshman year in 2007 when he received a taste of what it was going to be like as a minority student at Canisius College.

He recalls entering a class for his childhood education major. Looking around the room, Williams realized he was the lone student of color.

“It was definitely a culture shock,” says Williams, who arrived at 2001 Main Street by way of an Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) Scholarship. “Here I was, a first-generation college student who graduated from Buffalo’s predominantly Black Bennett High School now attending the predominantly white Canisius College.”

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Against this backdrop, Williams remembers how professors and the occasional classmate asked him to “provide the Black perspective.”

He “struggled with having to speak on behalf of an entire population” and when he did, the “discomfort” felt thick enough to cut.

“It was isolating and I didn’t know what to do, where to go or who to speak with about what was happening,” says Williams, who is now assistant dean of students and director of the Multicultural Center. “Canisius wasn’t having intentional conversations about these types of situations back then.”

A lot has changed since Williams was a student.

Bennie D. Williams

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“You can have a very diverse institution but if the culture is not inclusive, then it will never truly be a healthy learning environment able to provide a high-quality education to all.”

- Bennie Williams

“College campuses give us a window into the lives and experiences of other individuals,” says Fatima L. Rodriguez Johnson MS ’98.

“So if we do this well, we will create a culture at Canisius in which students from all different areas with all different lived experiences

can learn, can ask really important questions and can challenge their attitudes and perceptions of those different from them, thereby widening their world views.

That’s what higher education is all about.”

Rodriguez Johnson is associate dean of diversity and inclusion at Canisius and the first person to hold this newly-created position at the college. She is charged with ensuring that DEI practices are essential elements of a Canisius education. To do this, Rodriguez Johnson spent the initial months following her 2019 recruitment to the college analyzing and evaluating data from a pair of campus climate surveys conducted prior to her appointment.

“From all the different stakeholder groups surveyed, the same areas of concern kept resurfacing,” she remembers.

The feedback received called upon the college to address the homogeneity among the students, faculty and staff, the lack of diversity in the academic curriculum, and opportunities to improve social structures that build community, relationships and a sense of belonging.

These three areas of concern - among others - became the priorities for the Racial Equity Strategic Plan (see Priorities, pg. 17).

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Diversity Matters

Academic Equity

Fatima L. Rodriguez Johnson

Canisius looks a lot different today than some alumni will remember from years past.

This year’s incoming class hails from 24 states and six countries.

Students of color represent 33 percent of the Class of 2025 – “making it the most ethnically diverse first-year class in college history,” states Danielle D. Ianni, PhD, vice president for enrollment management.

The transformation is emblematic of society at-large.

“Canisius is committed to standing in solidarity with and advocating for everyone – of all abilities, identities, life experiences and perspectives.”

Fatima L. Rodriguez Johnson

According to the Pew Research Center, America is more racially and ethnically diverse than ever. Moreover, data suggests that by 2055 no single race or ethnicity will have a majority in the United States.

The inevitability of a more diverse student population and thus, workforce, means that institutions of higher learning not only have a responsibility to prepare students for the world they will encounter but must lead the way via the diversification of their campus communities and the creation of a climate of support for such change. The very nature of Canisius being Catholic and Jesuit compels the college even further.

“Canisius is committed to standing in solidarity with - and advocating for - everyone, of all abilities, identities, life experiences and perspectives,” says Rodriguez Johnson. “This is consistent with the college’s mission and will help ensure that all Canisius students rise to their highest potentials.”

The thrust towards diversifying the student body starts with the applicant pool.

If colleges are to attract well-rounded, academically-qualified students who represent a broad range of backgrounds, passions and personalities, then today’s admissions counselors must recruit where diversity thrives.

One of those places for Canisius is Buffalo Prep.

Founded by community leaders, Buffalo Prep works to close the educational equity gap by providing academic access and opportunity to underrepresented students and those from historically disadvantaged families.

“Our students are more than capable of thriving academically.

They’re brilliant,” says Buffalo Prep’s director of college counseling, David Johnson. “We’re here to give them the added support they need to be able to get into and succeed in the high schools or higher education institutions of their choice.”

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Increasing the number of racially and ethnically diverse students is an important first step. But a truly equitable campus community must have opportunities for all students to learn and gain understandings of underrepresented groups or cultures.

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“They need to be able to see themselves in the curriculum,” says Rodriguez Johnson. “What we teach at Canisius suggests as much about us as what we do not teach.”

Updates to the college’s core curriculum and, more specifically its diversity and global awareness attributes, stalled when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Still, the Racial Equity Strategic Plan is an assurance that the incorporation of broader perspectives across the academic curriculum remains a significant goal for the college.

Despite some obstacles, Canisius continues to make strides.

Ridwhan T. Miah ’25

Canisius is in the second year of a first-of-its-kind partnership with Buffalo Prep.

The academic alliance aims to get high school students and their families “thinking strategically about the college admissions process” while “introducing them to the value of a Canisius education,” explains Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions Matt R. Kwiatkowski MBA ’16.

“Throughout the year, we’re inviting Buffalo Prep students to campus for programming related to admissions, financial aid, scholarship opportunities and career counseling,” adds Kwiatkowski, who developed the partnership with Johnson, his Buffalo Prep counterpart. “While they’re here, we show students all the reasons why Canisius is a premier option for them.”

Ridwhan T. Miah ’25 was one such student.

The son of first-generation immigrants from Bengali, Miah hardly considered Canisius an option at the onset of his college search.

His sentiments changed with each campus visit.

“I never thought I would find my fit as a student of color at a primarily white institution like Canisius,” recalls the ULLC scholar and integrated marketing communications major. “But everyone I met during my college search made me feel comfortable that my experience being American and Bengali mattered and that I could contribute in meaningful ways to the campus community.”

Miah graduated from Nichols High School and was one of 12 Buffalo Prep students to enroll at Canisius during the pilot year of the partnership (a 264 percent increase over the previous three years). The enrollment team is already seeing a record number of applications from Buffalo Prep students for fall 2022.

“In order to build a more diverse campus we must first open doors to minority and underrepresented students,” says Ianni.

“The partnership we’ve created with Buffalo Prep helps us do this and we’re using the same model to develop new partnerships in areas such as Rochester, Syracuse and New York City.”

A recent audit of the academic curriculum found 22 course offerings related to race and ethnicity, “more than initially thought,” acknowledges Thomas A. Chambers, PhD, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, where the majority of those courses are taught. And though “it is important for the college to offer courses that think about race and ethnicity as a most basic intellectual underpinning, Canisius must make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.”

Chambers is referring to a proposal for a new major in race and ethnicity under consideration by the Academic Programming Board. The major would explore the ways in which both have historically evolved, their relationships to power and inequity, and how race and ethnicity intersect with other social groups including gender, class and culture.

The endorsement of such a program would address what Chambers calls “a growing demand by students” to further conversation in this important area. Moreover, a new major in race and ethnicity could help address deficiencies in corporate settings, where matters of equity and inclusion are a growing priority.

Jasmine M. Thomas ’22

The Borders and Migrations Initiative (BMI) developed by Modern Languages Professor Richard Reitsma, PhD, provides an educational outlet for students interested in justice issues for immigrants and refugees. Immersion East Side engages students in field experiences throughout Buffalo so they become more attune to the cultural, political, economic and religious influences of the college’s neighbors.

And the New Buffalo Institute (NBI) aligns Canisius research, service and academic programming with community organizations to respond to the city’s most acute needs.

“We’re a predominantly white institution located in a largely Hispanic and Black neighborhood so programs like these help build connections between Canisius students and the community,” comments Jasmine M. Thomas ’22, chair of the Student Senate Diversity Committee. “Being able to attend worship services at True Bethel Baptist Church or volunteer in the Fruit Belt – a neighborhood that’s endured so many hardships – is one of the best ways to learn about other people, where they come from and their traditions, and break down cultural barriers.”

A 2020 Jobs Trend report by Glassdoor indicates that the recruitment of DEI specialists will become an increasing priority in the coming years as employers seek to improve their corporate culture through the staffing of new and diverse employees.

“Today’s businesses need people who have cultural literacy beyond their own world,” Chambers says.

As work progresses around a race and ethnicity major, Canisius professors are finding innovative ways to introduce new coursework and initiatives that advance academic equity across campus.

Under the direction of Janet McNally, the All-College Honors program added a philosophy and second English writing requirement as a way to introduce new perspectives into the classroom. “We’re looking at the Honors curriculum in a holistic way,” explains McNally. “By adding these two new components, Honors professors can develop more diverse reading lists that offer different viewpoints to students.”

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Safe Places & Brave Spaces Heightened diversity and equity on college campuses bring with it improved cultural awareness and a more educated citizenry.

Yet if not accompanied by inclusion, then a more racially and ethnically diverse community will remain excluded.

Inclusion on a college campus is the act of “welcoming, supporting, respecting and valuing all individuals and groups,” explains Williams.

He notes, “You can have a very diverse institution but if the culture is not inclusive, if people don’t feel a sense of belonging, then it will never truly be a healthy learning environment able to provide a high-quality education to all.”

Williams returned to alma mater in 2020 to become custodian of inclusivity at Canisius. His role is to harbor safe places and brave spaces – not just for racially and ethnically diverse students but also for geographically, religiously and gender diverse students.

Building Momentum Whether a multicultural student center or student clubrooms, modern day college campuses house an array of places for students to explore and express themselves without feeling marginalized.

To move the DEI needle, however, Canisius must also encourage students to leave their comfort zones and lean into some challenging conversations. In this respect, the Racial Equity Strategic Plan calls for the campus community to collaborate on extracurricular programming that questions perceptions, and encourages respectful and intelligent conversations, self-reflection, and action on racial, social and civil issues. “After all,” notes President Hurley, “a college education is all about the search for truth.”

“So many of my high school friends didn’t think Canisius would have a support structure for minority students, like myself, but I knew I found a home in the ALANA Student Center when I visited campus prior to my freshman year,” recalls Jasmine Thomas.

Since the implementation of the plan, student clubs and college departments have offered more than 50 intersectional education events on campus. Each presented an “opportunity for individuals to listen, learn, unlearn and sometimes relearn,” says Williams.

“The Witness to Injustice Project” focused on the experiences of Indigenous and Native American communities. “LGBTQ+ 101” offered an introduction to gender identity and insight on how to be an effective ally to those who identify as such. “Microaggressions are Not So Subtle” explored verbal, behavioral and environmental indignities.

“Being able to cross-collaborate enables us to be more creative with our programming,” adds Thomas. She points to “an increase in interactive educational events that attract wider audiences,” such as the Soul Food Dinner, the Latin American Student and Friends (LASAF) Carnival of Cultures and the Always Our Children Retreat, sponsored by the Unity club.

“Because our students are coming to us with so many different identities, different needs and different perspectives, we as an institution need to be able to effectively engage with them,” adds Williams.

The ALANA Student Center provides African American, Latinx American, Asian American and Native American students with a physical reprieve – outside the classroom. “It’s a place where we can feel safe being and expressing our authentic selves because we’re with others who know what it’s like to come from a different culture or background,” Thomas adds.

Racial Equity Strategic Plan Priorities (2019 – 2024)

Nafisa Shamim ’22

• Community • Cross Collaborative Educational Programs • Curriculum & Academic Initiatives • Intersectionality • Recruitment & Retention • Training and Skill Building

Solving generations-old struggles to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion can be a difficult journey but the rewards far outweigh the efforts – particularly in higher education.

Research shows that students who experience a sense of belonging are more motivated, and more engaged in the living and learning environment of the campus. Moreover, students who feel seen are more likely to use their voices to feel heard. In doing so, they challenge others to think in new and diverse ways. Ultimately, “higher levels of student success are achieved by all,” says Rodriguez Johnson.

But that’s not exactly how Bennie Williams measures success.

For him, success comes in the form of a simple note from students like Nafisa Shamim ’22, who “just wanted to say thank you.”

The criminal justice, political science and sociology major reached out to Williams following a campus-wide communication he sent during finals week last spring. Williams’ memo reminded the Canisius community that Muslim students were celebrating Ramadan and to be mindful of the religious traditions that accompany the Holy Month, which include fasting from sun up to sun down. “It was so incredibly special,” says Shamim, who adds it was the first time in her Canisius tenure that the college took an intentional and informative approach at generating awareness about her religion.

“Notes like that from Nafisa, that’s my energy,” says Williams.

“That’s why I am in this line of work. That’s why I returned to Canisius. It’s what keeps me going every day.”

Visit canisius.edu/magazine to read the full list of priorities related to the Racial Equity Strategic Plan.

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Cabrini Foundation Delivers 2nd Boost to PA Studies

New grant provides scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds For the second time in two years, the college’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program is the recipient of a generous grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. The most recent $330,000 award supports the program’s goal to boost diversity in the allied health workforce across Western New York by providing scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds who pursue PA graduate degrees at Canisius.

“I am passionate about helping to reduce health disparities in our community, particularly for women of color who are often most at risk, but positions working Program Director Aimee S. Larson, DMSc, PA-C in inner-city health facilities tend to pay less,” adds Menos.

“This scholarship gives me the opportunity to help the community without worrying about the financial implications.”

Our PA curriculum is focused on primary care with a special interest in meeting the needs of the underserved.

Stacey Menos ’23 is among 14 recipients of a Mother Cabrini Health Foundation scholarship. She and her cohorts each receive $45,000 in aid and a myriad of resources to support them through their academic journey.

Help Us Meet the Match

Targeted campaign raising funds for important next phase of Science Hall project Canisius has embarked on a fundraising campaign to support the critically important next phase of renovations to Science Hall.

The $17.6 million project includes the development of 60,000 square feet of classroom, laboratory and office space on the second floor.

The college will finance the project with a $4.4 million challenge grant from New York State, which must be matched on a 3:1 basis, and with proceeds from the sale of its Health Science Building.

“Completion of these renovations will provide new and modern space for two of our largest majors - biology and ABEC (Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation),” says Sara R. Morris, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “Bringing these majors together on one floor with new facilities that enhance the learning experience will foster collaboration and support student and faculty interactions essential to student success.” The second floor will also house the master’s degree program in anthrozoology.

To date, $3.5 million in commitments have been secured, including a $1 million gift from John W. ’66, HON ’02, MD and Valerie, PhD, Rowe. Canisius also received $500,000 gifts from The John R. Oishei Foundation and alumni John B. ’72 and Patricia Z. ’74, MS ’01 Connolly.

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“We are extremely grateful for these lead gifts and for the generosity of all our alumni and friends who are supporting the Science Hall project,” says Kimberly A. Venti, vice president for institutional advancement. “The Canisius community understands what this space means to our students and the academic excellence of our science programs.”

“This scholarship made it possible for me to focus entirely on my studies rather than worry about work,” says Menos, a firstgeneration Haitian-American. “It’s changed my life.”

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care and bridge gaps in health services. The foundation is named for the patron saint of immigrants who, over the course of her lifetime, established 67 hospitals, orphanages and schools to serve poor immigrant communities across the United States.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has been a strong supporter of the Canisius PA Studies program. In February 2021, the organization awarded Canisius a $767,000 grant, bringing its total support to nearly $1.1 million for student scholarships, support services and laboratory equipment.

“The generous support from the Mother Cabrini Foundation is helping Canisius to change the healthcare landscape of the region,” said Program Director Aimee S. Larson, DMSc, PA-C. “Our PA curriculum is focused on primary care with a special interest in meeting the needs of the underserved. With this support from the Foundation, Canisius is able to educate future practitioners who are more racially and ethnically representative of the patients they serve.”

Canisius College welcomed its first cohort of 30 students into the PA program in January 2021. The second cohort began in January 2022.

Over the last decade, Canisius has invested more than $47 million in the purchase and development of Science Hall, the largest capital undertaking in the college’s history. More than half of the building’s renovations have been completed, including the lower and first levels, as well as a portion of the third level.

Science Hall opened in 2012 with classrooms and laboratories, as well as a large commons area used by students and the neighborhood community. The building currently houses the departments of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, as well as the George E. Schreiner '43 MD Pre-Medical Center, the Institute for Autism Research and most recently, the college’s new Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. The third level of Science Hall is home to the Catholic Health System.

To make a gift to support the next phase of renovations to Science Hall, please return the giving envelope included in this issue or contact Kimberly Venti at (716) 888-8220 or ventik@canisius.edu.

Pictured (r-l): Marie-Pierre Mfuamba Mukendi, Alice Merci Iradukunda, Eryn Broshar, Kalifala Fane, Nadia Blanchard, Hannah Huang and Sophia Poppert Alvarez WINTE R 2022 CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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The Battle Against Addiction One family turns pain into a positive at Canisius

MORE THAN A GAME

Hilary White graduated from Canisius College in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She was pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling when she lost her fight to opioid addiction, a national public health crisis with devastating consequences. Originally prescribed medication for her anxiety, White spiraled downward as she suffered from what is commonly known as ‘addictive brain.’

Her parents, Thomas G. White ’80, MD and Sandra B. White, established the Hilary Grace White ’12 Scholarship Fund at Canisius College. The scholarship provides a total of $15,000 over two years to a student who has completed an undergraduate course of study and been accepted into the graduate program in mental health counseling at Canisius.

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“The scholarship provided additional financial support, which allowed me to focus on expanding my knowledge and skills in the program,” says recipient Rue J. Robinson ’17, MS ’20. “But it offered more than financial aid,” she continues. “Connecting with the White family deepened my personal awareness and connection to the devastation of this opioid crisis. At a professional level, this motivated me to explore substance use counseling and treatment programs in greater detail to truly understand where the structural changes need to happen.”

Robinson is a clinical therapist at Genesee County Mental Health where she provides psychotherapy and psychoeducation, and screens patients for risk factors of substance misuse.

“It’s been an honor to uphold Hilary’s character far beyond my time at Canisius,” she concludes. “I hope future applicants uphold Hilary’s legacy for years to come.”

The Whites established the Hilary Grace Foundation to honor her life and virtues.

Connecting with the White family deepened my personal awareness and connection to the devastation of this opioid crisis. Rue J. Robinson ’17, MS ’20

Demske Society Celebrates 40 Years Members of the Rev. James M. Demske ’47, SJ, Society are invited to commemorate its 40th anniversary during a reception on Thursday, June 23, when Canisius will honor the foresight and commitment of those alumni and friends who have included the college in their estate plans. The event will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Loyola Hall.

Members of the Demske Society will receive an invitation to this special celebration.

To learn more about making an estate gift to Canisius College and membership in the Demske Society, contact Mary Ellen Bakowski ’85, MBA ’90 at 716.888.2235 or at bakowskim@canisius.edu.

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®

Thank you for being on our team This fall, the Canisius College Athletics Department, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Advancement, launched More than a Game, a six-week crowdfunding campaign to support studentathletes and varsity teams. The campaign ran from October 18 December 1, 2021 with 1,183 donors rallying together to provide a total of $285,906 - surpassing the campaign goal of $275,000.

“Canisius student-athletes continue to do remarkable things on the field of play, in the classroom and in the community, and all while facing ongoing challenges as a result of Covid-19,” shared Athletics Director Bill Maher ’89. “I am grateful that the efforts of our athletes and coaches have been rewarded by so many contributing to this critical fundraising campaign. The success of this effort helps our programs reach their goals and raises the bar for future campaigns like this.”

The More than a Game campaign provided alumni, family and athletics boosters a platform to directly support the Blue & Gold Athletics Fund or direct their gifts to a specific team.

Each program had a dedicated campaign page highlighting specific goals and priorities while displaying the progress of their campaign. In addition, each individual campaign page highlighted the generous donors who made gifts to the program.

Women’s basketball was among the 20 varsity teams to benefit from the More than a Game campaign, securing $9,915.

“We will use these gifts to enhance the overall experience of our student-athletes and to provide resources that will elevate us to the next level,” said Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh. “Our program is so much more than a game. It centers around relationships and teamwork, fosters personal growth, educates and empowers, and provides life changing experiences and opportunities for our young women, ultimately preparing them for life after the game.”

Gifts to the men’s lacrosse program totaled $26,918 and support the team's goal of becoming the premier program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and beyond.

“The More than a Game campaign was a great success for the men’s lacrosse program, as it allows our staff to continue to provide an excellent student-athlete experience for the young men within our program,” explains Head Coach Mark Miyashita ’03.

The commitment and generosity that our alumni, family and friends have shown through their support of the Golden Griffin student-athletes and the More than a Game campaign continues to be inspiring. Thank you!

Campaign Highlights: $285,906 Dollars > 1,436 Gifts > 1,183 Donors > Average Gift: $188.59 Top Three Teams (Dollars):

Top Three Teams (Gifts):

Ice Hockey: $75,658

Ice Hockey: 189

Men’s Basketball: $38,760

Rowing: 155

Men’s Lacrosse: $26,919

Baseball: 153

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... the more diverse our voices in the court system, the better our resolutions will be.

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Opportunity knocked again when Foote-Beavers was named executive assistant and chief of staff to Justice Gerald J. Whalen ’79 of the state Appellate Division’s Fourth Department. She was the first African American and first Buffalo resident to serve in the position, which she held until her January 2020 election to city court.

Growing up, her parents moved to Williamsville to ensure a good education for Foote-Beavers and her sister. She took full advantage of the opportunity, playing flute in the band at Williamsville East High School and helping the school win state music competitions.

Story: Martin J. Haumesser I Photo: Tom Wolf

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It was a series of opportunities throughout her life and career that led Foote-Beavers to become acting Erie County Family Court Judge in September 2021, where she handles custody, visitation and family offense cases. She also continues to serve in her elected role as Buffalo City Court Judge.

“As a woman of color in the legal profession, I understand the challenges African Americans and minorities face in a field still largely dominated by white males,” Foote-Beavers explains. “That is why I always try to spread the message – the more diverse our voices in the court system, the better our resolutions will be.”

Buffalo City Court Judge Lenora Foote-Beavers ’92 advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion in the courtroom and community

The following list includes the names of Canisius alumni who currently serve as judges or justices of the United States and New York State Courts in Erie County.*

“These roles gave me a chance to really dive deep into law, help others and address inequities within the city,” she recalls.

Throughout her tenure, Foote-Beavers has become a well-known advocate for diversity and inclusion, and ensuring fair justice from the bench.

JUSTICE for All Alumni on the Bench

For Buffalo City Court Judge Lenora B. Foote-Beavers ’92, success is about opportunity.

United States Courts H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. ’58 U.S. Magistrate Judge, Western District of New York William M. Skretny ’66, HON ’15 Senior District Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York Lawrence J. Vilardo ’77, HON ’19 District Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

After high school, Foote-Beavers enrolled in the music program at Buffalo State College but had to change her tune when she became pregnant freshman year. With her parents’ support, the teen mom turned challenge into opportunity and enrolled in the paralegal program at Erie Community College (ECC). A professor recommended she continue her studies at Canisius. The college’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship made that possible.

Foote-Beavers majored in political science and pre-law, and excelled in her studies. Upon graduation, several Canisius professors encouraged her to take the LSAT and pursue law school.

“I never imagined going to law school but they gave me the confidence I needed,” she recalls. “When I enrolled at the University at Buffalo School of Law, I felt well-prepared by my studies at Canisius.”

After earning her juris doctorate, then city of Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello ’69, HON ’96 appointed Foote-Beavers coordinator of the “Save Our Streets” program. In that role, she collaborated with local, state and federal agencies on programs aimed at eradicating drug activity and related crimes. The work led to her appointment as assistant corporation counsel for the Buffalo Common Council, then general counsel for the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency. The New York State court system later tapped her to become support magistrate for Family Court.

Foote-Beavers spent a decade in the position, which paved the way for her current work as an acting family court judge.

When not on the bench, this past president of the Minority Bar Association of WNY champions equity issues throughout the region.

Her conviction that education replaces an empty mind with an open one led Foote-Beavers to become certified in diversity and inclusion training. She uses her expertise to “elevate the cultural competence” in public, private and non-profit settings, where Foote-Beavers often presents on topics of implicit bias, diversity and racism.

She also advocates for the development of family-sustaining jobs for women and the creation of policies and programs to support them via her role on the Western New York Women’s Foundation. Her leadership on the True Community Development Corp. Board is helping to revitalize and restore Buffalo’s most underserved and underutilized communities. And Foote-Beavers’ service on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors abets hundreds of local children to overcome adversity and realize their full potentials.

Empowering young adults to unlock their potential is why FooteBeavers facilitates judicial internships for female law students, as chair of the Internship Committee for the National Association of Women Judges. It’s why she serves in an adjunct role in ECC’s Paralegal Department, “where it all started for her,” and why she works hard to secure financial support for those students, by way of scholarships, capital campaigns and workforce training partnerships, as a member of ECC’s Foundation.

Foote-Beavers’ fierce advocacy on behalf of young adults is equally extensive at Canisius.

The former Trustee mentored Canisius students contemplating legal careers as a member of the Desmond Law Society. Similarly, Foote-Beavers offers professional and personal support to female students and young alumnae by way of her seat on the Women’s Leadership Council.

“I was once a single mom starting on a career path to public service that was greatly influenced by Canisius College and the Jesuits,” Foote-Beavers concludes. “I hope others see that if I can do it, anyone can, and that they take advantage of any opportunities afforded to them.”

New York State Supreme Court

Erie County Court

Buffalo City Court

Mark J. Grisanti ’88 Mark A. Montour ’80 John F. O’Donnell ’67 Frank A. Sedita ’83 Mary L. Slisz ’80

James F. Bargnesi ’92 Susan Eagan ’93

Patrick M. Carney ’78 (Housing Court) Philip Dabney ’98 Craig D. Hannah ’92 Lenora B. Foote-Beavers ’92

Gerald J. Whalen ’79 Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

Erie County Family Court Kevin M. Carter ’86

Erie County Surrogate’s Court Acea M. Mosey ’92

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1990s

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’91 BS Rev. James A. Konicki retired from the New York State Department of Labor in October 2021. He served as director of unemployment insurance integrity and employer services.

John J. Hurley as he retires after serving 12 years as president and 25 years overall at the college.

Honor President Hurley’s service by including a gift to the Hurley Family Endowed Scholarship, Canisius Fund or another designation of your choice by using the enclosed giving envelope.

Visit canisius.edu/celebrate to leave a tribute message for President Hurley or to make a gift to the Hurley Family Endowed Scholarship.

President Hurley will remain in office until June 30, 2022.

Alumni Events Stay connected to Canisius and your classmates Canisius College will enshrine seven new members into its Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 17. To be eligible for induction, studentathletes must be acclaimed as one of the outstanding athletes in the history of the college and must continue to live lives that reflect favorably on the college.

Members of the 58th induction class are Cory D. Conacher ’11 (hockey); Allison K. Daley ’11, MS ’13 (women’s lacrosse); Shane S. Davis ’10 (baseball); Adam D. Jones ’11 (men’s lacrosse); Alan J. McGreal ’10 (men’s soccer); Cameron P. Norton ’09 (softball); and Frank R. Turner ’10, MS ’11 (men’s basketball).

Mark G. Evans ’83 will receive the Rev. Paul J. Dugan ’45, SJ, Award, presented to individuals whose acts or efforts have significantly benefited Canisius athletics. Evans is an ardent supporter of and respected donor to the Golden Griffins.

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Saturday, April 2 | 4:30 p.m.

Naples, FL Alumni Mass & Reception Naples Sailing and Yacht Club

Friday, June 3 - Saturday, June 4 Reunion Weekend Class years ending in 2s and 7s

To register for any or all of these events, visit www.canisius.edu/alumnievents

’92 BS, ‘98 MBA David O. Faturos was promoted from senior vice president of finance and business development to chief financial officer at Rich Products. Faturos joined the company in 1994 and has been instrumental in leading Rich’s growth by acquisition strategy over the past five years.

Georgia (Bauman) Dachille ’87, MBA ’98 BS, Accounting Career Highlight: Georgia Dachille, chief innovation, strategy and transformation officer at Rich Products, was tapped to oversee the company’s new Transformation Office.

In this newly-created role, Dachille is tasked with forming an organized, focused strategy and governance process around the company’s portfolio, productivity and digital transformation initiatives.

Career Notes: Dachille is a 30-year veteran of Rich Products and has held several leadership roles there. She most recently served as executive vice president of global supply chain and technology. Previously, Dachille was senior vice president of finance and business development.

1960s ’65 BA Harry S. Colburn ranked in the top 10 of the U.S. Masters Swimming for 2020-21. He competed in four events in the 75-79 age group: 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100 yardbackstroke and 50-yard backstroke.

1970s ’77 BS John M. Kalinowski, a board certified chaplain, was appointed coordinator of the loss and healing ministry for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, NJ.

1980s ’81 BA Mark S. Carney was appointed general counsel for the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA). He previously served as a commissioner at the ECWA. ’83 BA Steve T. Brown joined the reporting team of WXIN/WTTV FOX 59 in Indianapolis, IN. He spent the past eight years at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo working as the station’s investigative reporter. ’83 BA Eileen Hudson-Wolmering, chief advancement officer for OLV Charities, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.”

Hudson-Wolmering was honored in the Non-profit Leadership category.

’84 BS James R. Deuschle retired as chief financial officer of Rich Products. Since joining the company in 1994, he has steered Rich’s financial leadership, planning, reporting and information systems while overseeing the company’s global supply chain and risk management teams. Deuschle is a member of the Canisius College Council on Accountancy. ’86 BS Joseph C. DiStasio, chief financial officer for BestSelf Behavioral Health Inc., received Business First ’s C-Level Executive Award, which recognizes Western New York’s most effective corporate leaders. ’87 BA Marie A. Cannon, commissioner of the Erie County Department of Social Services, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.” Cannon was honored in the Public Policy category. ’87 BA Kevin J. Kline was appointed special adviser for compliance and risk management at Guess & Co. Corporation. He recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as assistant special agent in charge of the division in New Haven, CT.

’92 MSED James P. McIntyre Jr., PhD, is the new dean at Belmont University’s College of Education in Nashville, TN. He was director of the Center for Educational Leadership and assistant professor of practice at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. ’92 BS Hon. Acea M. Mosey, Erie County Surrogate Court Judge, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.” Mosey was honored in the Public Policy category. ’92 BS Thomas W. Heltz II joined the Tompkins Bank of Castile in Rochester as vice president and commercial banking relationship manager.

Previously, he was vice president and senior relationship manager at Citizens Bank. ’94 BS Mark A. Johnson, vice president and community development manager for Truist Financial Corporation, is a 2022 honoree of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Masked Award. The award recognizes those who are “beacons of hope” and “keep doorways of opportunity open for deserving students and the greater community.” ’94 BA Scott L. Sroka joined the U.S Department of Justice as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of New York. He was a senior investigative attorney for the Office of the Inspector General at the National Science Foundation. ’95 BS Michael J. Moran was appointed president of Mount Carmel Medical Group in Columbus, OH. He will lead Mount Carmel’s network of more than 250 primary care and specialty care providers throughout Central Ohio.

Moran previously served as chief operating officer for Inova Medical Group, and owned and operated his own physician practice management consulting company. ’96 BS Gregory A. Burkhard joined the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Buffalo as a physician assistant.

He previously spent nearly 24 years as a physician assistant with UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

’96 BS Jeannette S. Kreher was named a 2021 Wellness Champion

by Business First. Kreher is the organizational development project manager at Kreher Family Farms in Clarence, where she develops wellness initiatives for the 400 employees of the fourth-generation family business. ’96 MBAA Sanjay Chadha, chief operating officer at UBMD Internal Medicine, received Business First ’s Excellence in Healthcare Award.

Chadha is credited with the financial turnaround of UBMD Internal Medicine during one of its most challenging years. ’99 BA, MS ‘04, MS ‘10 Lorenda D. Chisolm, EdD, is the new assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for the Schenectady City School District (SCSD), and the first African American woman in the district to serve in the position.

Chisolm was director of school review in the Office of Shared Accountability for the Buffalo City School District. ’99 MSED Sara L. (Beilein) Capen, executive director at Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, received Business First ’s C-Level Executive Award, which recognizes Western New York’s most effective corporate leaders. Capen works to preserve, protect and promote the natural, cultural and historic resources along the Niagara River Corridor. ’99 BA Thomas M. Gannon joined H&R Block as vice president and chief government relations officer. He leads the company’s representation in legislative and related regulatory matters with national, regional and local government by providing policy direction, coordinating government affairs initiatives and lobbying.

Gannon was vice president for U.S. government affairs at Mastercard.

2000s ’01 BA Kevin M. Eddy, a corporate litigator, was elected partner of Blank Rome LLP in Pittsburgh, PA. Eddy represents companies in the energy, construction and manufacturing industries on a wide range of matters involving contracts, compliance, class actions, environmental claims and government regulation. ’02 BA Gretchen E. Szymanski, director of clinical services for Child & Family Services of Erie County, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.” Szymanski was honored in the Inspiration category. ’03 BA James E. Bialasik was appointed superintendent for the SpringvilleGriffith Institute Central School District.

He was principal of Springville-Griffith Institute High School and previously served five years in leadership roles at the Sweet Home Central School District.

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alumninotes which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace.

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Chandra L. (Banks) Redfern ’99, MS ’03 BA, Criminal Justice & Psychology

’07 MS Andrew J. Bowen, principal of Country Parkway Elementary School in the Williamsville Central School District, was named Educator of the Year by the Western New York Region Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

Career Highlight: Chandra Redfern was promoted from chief operating officer to chief executive officer at Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC) Inc. The organization delivers comprehensive, coordinated, family-focused human services to low income and disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Lockport.

’07 BA Andrew J. Kruse is the new director of business operations and residential services for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Cleveland. He was associate director of Oakleaf Services for the UCP of Greater Cleveland.

Career Notes: A 20-year veteran of BFNC, Redfern has used her vast experience to help manage a $21 million redevelopment of the agency’s Westminster Commons project, which turned a historic but rundown facility on Buffalo’s East Side into an 84-unit apartment building for lower-income seniors, people with behavioral issues and individuals at risk for homelessness. The center also includes a medical clinic and an on-site Evans Bank branch.

’07 MSA Ashley Lynn was promoted from assistant director of player engagement to director of player engagement for the New York Giants.

She is the first woman to head player engagement for an NFL team.

’03 BS, ‘18 MBA Steven M. Chizuk is the new chief financial officer for the Lineage Group, a non-profit, senior care provider. He most recently served as director of budget for the Erie County Medical Center Corporation.

’05 BA Daniel J. Leonard, associate principal at Wendel, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace.

’03 MBA Joseph Ondesko was promoted from senior vice president and assistant treasurer to corporate treasurer at NBT Bank in Norwich, NY. Ondesko joined NBT in 2020. He previously served as chief financial officer, chief investment officer and chief information technology officer at Bank of Arkon.

’05 BA Finune O. Shaibi, director of accountability and assessment for the Clarence Central School District, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace.

’04 BS Peter V. Burakowski, co-founder and vice president of strategy for HELIXintel, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace. ’04 BS Sarah E. (Kuenecke) Alexander is the new vice principal at the Newton International School in Suzhou, China. ’05 BA Lindsey E. Dotson, assistant development director at BestSelf Behavioral Health, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace.

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’07 BS, ‘14 MBA Amy L. (Saeva) Fogle was appointed chief executive officer of Milestone Consulting LLC and its parent company, Seventh Amendment Holdings, which is a suite of companies that provides guidance and support to plaintiffs and attorneys before, during and after litigation. Fogle has more than a decade of experience in financial services, including positions at Nottingham Advisors, Citi and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

’05 BS Robert A. Krajewski, a PGA certified professional in teaching and coaching, won the Rolex Tour Championship Title, his second major championship in 2021. Krajewski posted a 10-under par 134 total going 68 in round one and 66 in round two. ’06 BA Kathryn A. (Olmsted) McIntyre is the new principal of St. Amelia School in the Town of Tonawanda. She is the former assistant principal at St. Gregory the Great School in Amherst. ’06 MBA Jennifer M. O'Neill, a founding partner and chief financial officer at Buffalo Film Works, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list,

’12 BS Craig M. Ryan joined IMAGINiT Technologies in Albany, NY, as an account executive. He was a regional sales representative at Transfinder.

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’13 BS Jason Rubinstein was named assistant general manager at MOVATI Athletic in Ontario, Canada. He is also a pitching coach for Team Ontario Astros Baseball.

’08 BS Jeffery J. Scharoun joined the New York State Education Department as an occupational school supervision associate. He was executive director of Buffalo Animal Adventures. ’08 BA Kelly R. (Fischbach) Castillo was admitted into the Global Field master of arts program at Miami University. As part of her Earth Expeditions course, she traveled to Belize to study coral reefs, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars and other wildlife while learning the methods communities are using to sustain them. ’08 BA Lauren A. (Fish) Suttell was promoted to partner at the law practice of Lippes Mathias LLP. She provides corporate and regulatory counsel to a variety of healthcare providers, and has advised in the acquisitions and sales of private healthcare practices, and the formation and organization of unique healthcare affiliations and collaborations.

‘09 BA Maeve E. Huggins joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York as an assistant U.S. attorney. She was assistant corporation counsel for the city of Buffalo.

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’05 BS, ‘13 MBA Jennifer L. Hasse is the new associate human resources manager for Milk-Bone.® She was director of human resources at Elderwood.

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’07 BA Richard Pillitteri is a new financial advisor for Kemp Financial Group Inc. in Ontario, Canada. He previously spent more than 10 years as a financial advisor for Freedom 55 Financial.

Rodney R. Reisdorf Jr. ’03, MBA ’05 BA, Computer Science Career Highlight: Rodney Reisdorf co-founded and is the chief executive officer of Verivend, a cloud-based platform that manages business-to-business transactions. The company recently won a $500,000 prize in Buffalo’s 43North venture competition and was deemed “one of Buffalo’s most promising startups” by Business First.

Career Notes: Prior to co-founding Verivend, Reisdorf was director and client service delivery leader for Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory, broking and solutions company.

In 2020, he became NovoEd certified in venture deals.

’13 BS Kevin F. Cheney was promoted from onboarding lead to onboarding manager at Squire, a software technology platform that helps small business entrepreneurs run and grow their businesses. ’13 BS Mariel E. Klein was promoted from business services analyst to business services administrator for the city of Durham, NC.

Ashleigh M. Maciejewski ’15 BS, Biology Career Highlight: Ashleigh Maciejewski founded AccomoDental, which provides dental care to patients who struggle with access. The business offers house-call dental services to people with limited mobility, cognitive impairments, emotional limitations or special needs.

Career Notes: Maciejewski has experience treating patients in a variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centers and private practices.

She completed her general practice residency at Erie County Medical Center and is a member of the Special Care Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association and American Dental Association.

2010s ’10 MSED Timothy J. Manastersky is the new assistant men’s hockey coach at Union College in Schenectady, NY. He previously spent nine years as head coach at Curry College in Milton, MA. Manastersky is also host of “The Coaching Project” podcast.

Williams came to the college from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, where he served in a number of capacities within the institution’s Student Development Division.

’11 BS Jeffery M. Amplement was promoted from assistant manager of grants and government affairs to planning project manager at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA).

’10 BS Jonathan C. Tretter was promoted from senior manager to director of enterprise advisory services at Freed Maxick CPAs in Batavia, NY.

’11 MS Holly L. Hubert, founder and chief executive officer of Global SecurityIQ, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.” Hubert was honored in the Entrepreneur category.

’11 BA Emily R. (Marciniak) Louis is the new community manager for Yelp in Buffalo. She most recently worked as a donor relations manager for People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH). ’11 BA, ‘13 MS Bennie D. Williams was appointed assistant dean of students and director of the ALANA Student Center at Canisius College.

’14 MS Caitlin M. Daley joined the Partners for Community organization in Springfield, MA, as a young parents program manager. In this role, Daley works to empower young parents to pursue a path to economic mobility through education pathways and job readiness. She previously was the interim director of residence life at Western New England University.

’14 BS Patrick V. Scherer, a certified financial planner, joined Congress Wealth Management as a new financial advisor. He was an assistant vice president of wealth planning for Wilmington Trust. ’15 MS Turner A. Battle joined Middle Tennessee State University’s men’s basketball team as a new assistant coach. Battle comes to the university from East Tennessee State, where he spent the 2020-21 season helping to lead the Bucs to the SoCon semifinals. ’15 MBA Tyler F. Pendleton is a new commercial loan officer for BankOnBuffalo. He previously served five years as a mortgage analyst for The Community Preservation Corporation. ’16 MSA Nicole Sasu-Twum joined the University of Delaware Communications and Creative Services Department as assistant director. She serves as the primary contact for women’s basketball, volleyball, cross country, rowing, and track and field. Sasu-Twum is the former director of athletic communications at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.

CL ASS ACT

’11 MBA Elias A. Farah, a principal attorney at the Farah Firm, was appointed deputy supervisor for the Town of Cheektowaga.

’10 BA Elizabeth Hole was promoted from program director to director of outpatient operations at Horizontal Health Services. She joined the organization as a senior counselor in 2014.

'11 MBA Adam M. Desmond, vice president and regional market executive for Tompkins Bank of Castile, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40” list, which recognizes individuals who do outstanding work in the community and workplace.

’13 BA Tanner A. Gelatt was promoted from graduate enrollment coordinator to assistant director of graduate recruitment for the University at Buffalo’s School of Nursing.

’14 BS Joseph M. Foy is a new investment analyst associate at Ogorek Wealth Management in Williamsville.

He was a transaction capture analyst for Citi.

’11 MSED Matthew J. McMahon is a new construction superintendent for D.R. Horton in Tucson, AZ. He also works as an official for NCAA baseball. ’12 MSA Kyle Browning was promoted from inventory control specialist to assistant buyer at Costco in Issaquah, WA. ’12 MBA Lisa LaTrovato, donor relations manager for HauptmanWoodward Medical Research Institute, received Business First ’s “Women of Influence Award.”

LaTravato was honored in the Community Supporter category.

Preston J. Ross ’20 BA, Political Science Career Highlight: Preston Ross joined the Meridian International Center as an executive assistant to the organization’s chief executive officer and liaison for its Board of Trustees.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the non-partisan, nonprofit public center works to strengthen engagement between the United States and the world through diplomacy, leadership and culture to solve shared global challenges.

Career Notes: Prior to his work at Meridian, Ross was secretary for the Congressional Black Associates and a staff assistant for the Office of U.S. Representative Suzanne M. Bonamici (D-OR). He is currently a master of arts candidate in Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced Academic Programs, where he is pursing governmental studies.

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’16 BS Trisha G. (Hulbert) Izzo was promoted from digital specialist to associate user experience and design analyst at Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. She also works as a freelance graphic designer.

’18 MS Robert C. Chalwell Jr., PhD, was appointed chief executive officer and executive director of the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts in Concord, CA. He joined the school in 2020 as principal.

’17 BS Morgan L. (Williams) Saidian is a new zookeeper on the carnivores team at Monroe County’s Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY. She previously worked as an animal keeper at the Buffalo Zoo.

’19 BA Branwyn M. Wilkinson is the new campus experience and event manager for undergraduate admissions at Roberts Wesleyan College. She was an administrative associate in the Canisius College COPE Office.

’18 BA Donnett Hickson, a juris doctor candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Law, joined Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP in Buffalo as a law clerk. ’18 MSA Peter Westenberger is a product support specialist at SupplyHouse.com in New York City.

He previously worked as a recruiter for Manpower in Buffalo.

’19 MS Lauren E. (Smolensky) Sanzone joined the medical device company ResMed, in Savannah, GA, as a benefits and wellness coordinator. She is responsible for promoting and engaging colleagues in wellness initiatives.

Sanzone is the former health and wellbeing coordinator for McGraw Hill.

’19 MS Maia Szulik is a new research assistant at The Institute for HumanAnimal Connection in Durham, NC, where she works to improve the living relationships between humans, animals and the environment. Szulik was a boarding supervisor at Green Beagle Lodge in Chapel Hill, NC. ’19 BS Matthew G. Mcleod signed on as a forward with the Cincinnati Cyclones professional ice hockey team and member of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League (ECHL). He also works as a business development representative for Fload, a computer software company in Toronto, ON. ’19 MSA Michael A. Whitfield joined Aspira Women’s Health in Long Beach, CA, as a regional account director.

He previously worked as customer experience manager at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, also in Los Angeles.

Canisius Magazine welcomes photos! If you would like to submit a picture to coincide with your alumni note, Baby Griff or wedding announcement, simply Email it to alumnote@canisius.edu.

Due to space constraints, we are not able to publish all images submitted.

2020s ’20 BS Emyle A . Watkins, disabilities desk and news reporter at WBFO-FM Buffalo, received the Self Advocacy Media Award from New York State’s Self Advocacy Association. The award annually recognizes an individual who helps bring attention to issues that impact people with development disabilities. ’20 BS, ‘21 MBA Samuel D. Kuczkowski joined the CPA firm of Lumsden McCormick as a staff accountant. ’21 BS Jacob T. Randall is the new merchandising coordinator at New Era. He was the marketing and client services associate at Emerge Capital Management.

Canisius College takes pride in its alumni and joyfully shares news of their lives and achievements. Supportive of our Catholic Church’s teachings, publication of announcements provided to us by our alumni does not necessarily imply an endorsement by Canisius College.

baby griffs THIS ISSUE'S FEATURED BABY GRIFF

Olivia Jean

a daughter, born September 28, 2021 to Matthew R. Kwiatkowski MBA ’16 and Jessica Kwiatkowski

Heidi G. (Maines) Beil ’07 and Brandon Beil, a daughter, Charlotte Genevieve, born October 31, 2021

Melanie (Reimondo) Brem ’12 and Gary Brem Jr., a son, Asher, born November 18, 2021 Christian N. Capron ’12 and Jessica A. Warner ’14, a son, Christian Peters, born September 23, 2021

Amanda L. (Steiner) Carpenter ’15 and Travis Carpenter, a daughter, Vivian Grace, born November 8, 2021

Brittney Heller ’10 and Patrick Hurley ’10, a daughter, Sadie Mae, born May 19, 2021

Amber (Lindke) Mante ’09 and Thomas Mante, a daughter, Elle, born July 13, 2021

Sarah Signorino ’04, ’08, MS ’12 and Jerod Sikorskyj ’04, ’13, MS ’20, a son, John, born June 23, 2021

Weddings

Stephanie M. Khoury ’15, MS ’17 and Bobby Stroud Jr. ’14 November 20, 2021* Photo: Ivory Season Photography

Brian M. Almendinger ’13 and Ashley E. Donahoe September 17, 2021

Cory P. Cullen ’17 and Karah C. Burlow September 8, 2021*

Julie M. Roessler ’14, MS ’16 and Michael Boyce November 27, 2021

Megan R. Tafelski ’12 and Christopher Keating October 23, 2021

Phillip B. Ciallela ’07, MS ’15 and Britney Godfrey July 16, 2021

Jeannette S. Kreher ’96 and Donald Heberling Jr. October 9, 2021

Patrick V. Scherer ’14 and Julia Nauer July 30, 2021

Catherine K. Vivacqua ’06, MS ’10 and Jeremy Rossignolo September 4, 2021*

Katherine M. Costello ’12 and Matthew Welker August 7, 2021

Georgia N. Lazarakis ’12 and Adam Beehler October 2, 2021

Katie E. Sewastynowicz MSEd ’12 and Michael Marrone September 25, 2021*

*Indicates married in Christ the King Chapel

Marguerite Mohr MSEd ’56 August 26, 2021

Paul J. Faber ’67 September 19, 2021

Patricia E. Webber ’82 October 24, 2021

Edward C. Sobolewski ’58 November 5, 2021

James A. Stewart ’69 November 5, 2021

Michael J. Herod ’84 February 9, 2014

John M. McGhee ’60 November 10, 2021

Charles A. Lestition ’71 September 29, 2021

Karen L. (Peresan) Dake ’86 December 5, 2021

Wallace S. Piotrowski ’60 October 6, 2021

Paul L. Cimmerer ’72 October 25, 2021

Miriam A. Aquino MS ’94 October 2, 2021

Peter A. Burns ’62 December 1, 2021

Grace M. Schaefer ’75 September 26, 2021

Kathy A. (Toepfer) Possinger ’98 October 22, 2021

Robert J. Riley ’63 November 27, 2021

Shawn J. Grimm ’76 November 18, 2021

Karen M. Frieder ’02 September 22, 2021

Sr. Aileen Marie Wroblewski MS ’66 October 10, 2021

Walter B. Ward ’82 October 1, 2021

Stephanie N. (Mathous) Bossinger ’10 December 3, 2021

IN MEMORIAM William J. Howard ’50 November 27, 2021 Joseph L. Kunz ’51 November 3, 2021 Joseph R. Cristina ’53 September 29, 2021 Richard J. Izzo ’53 November 17, 2021 Edmund P. Szpaicher ’54 October 29, 2021 Jerome E. Schmidt ’55, MS ’57 August 16, 2021 Robert P. Wagner ’55 December 2, 2021

Kathleen (MacLeay) Wesolowski MS ’13 and Kyle Wesolowski, a daughter, Charlotte, born August 7, 2021 28

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D A LE E L O R

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E G A T S E H T ETS S 3 8 ’ K R A CL .

M Y L H A T N O O I T TIM A N R TE N I D N A L A F O R E N O F O R N AT I O N I S IS M M O C S A RS E C I F F O FILM MAK E M L I F A R A G A I N O T HE B UF FA L

Story: Martin J. Haumesser Photo: Tom Wolf Photography

When Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro spent four days filming in Buffalo for his latest movie, “Nightmare Alley,” Timothy M. Clark ’83 was the man behind the scenes making things happen.

As commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara Film Office, Clark

oversees film productions shot in Western New York by directors and studios,

large and small. His role encompasses everything from helping directors like del Toro scout locations and assisting film crews with logistics, to protecting the privacy of the movie stars and coordinating a myriad of people required to set and film the scenes. It would have been a much different story if Clark had followed the script as an accounting major at Canisius College.

When he started at Canisius, Clark planned to join his brother, Paul T. Clark ’73, in a family accounting business. That changed when he switched to communications and his professor, the late Marilyn Watt, PhD, encouraged him to go into the news business.

“Her encouragement was a turning point that set me on a path to the work I do today,” Clark notes.

An internship at WKBW-TV Channel 7 put him behind the scenes, and upon graduation, Clark became an evening assignment editor at the station. He then worked at WGRZ-TV Channel 2 before entering the political field, during which time he served as regional representative to the late New York Governor Mario Cuomo and as press secretary for two Erie County executives. Former County Executive Joel Giambra appointed Clark interim film commissioner and within a few years, he took on a permanent position in the role.

“The combination of television production work and experience in government prepared me very well for the film commissioner role,” Clark says. “Understanding the filming process and working with officials for permits and so forth are part of my daily repertoire.”

Clark currently plays a leading role in the location and development of two new movie studios and sound stages in the area, which will help sharpen the focus on Western New York and generate more job opportunities. He explains that the area continues to attract Hollywood film makers for its tax incentives (filming in the region is an average 30 percent less than other cities), one-stop permit processing and logistical assistance but mostly because of its many geographical and professional assets.

“Film makers are in awe of our architectural gems, the beauty of the water, and the work ethic of a diverse and talented pool of tradespeople in our area,” he concludes.

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Canisius College Magazine 2001 Main Street | Buffalo, NY 14208 | canisius.edu

For aspiring doctors like Alyssa Deacon ’22, it’s not enough to acquire a set of technical skills. Success also depends on being able to appreciate the social, cultural and economic detriments of health. For Deacon, that meant traveling to Central America to meet patients in their own communities, and to observe and assist the doctors and dentists who care for them.

The immersion experience is one of many educational opportunities this biology and psychology major has had during her tenure at Canisius.

As a CEEP recipient, she engaged in scientific research, both in and outside the lab. And in her role as president of the Undergraduate Student Association, Deacon advocates on behalf of the student population.

INVEST IN SOMEONE

Special

Such real-life learning experiences prepare students like Deacon for real-life successes, and are made possible by gifts to the Canisius Fund, which not only help ensure an affordable education but also support so many critical learning experiences outside the classroom.

Make your Canisius Fund gift today by visiting canisius.edu/give.

Alyssa Deacon Class of 2022

CANISIUS FUND

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