Canisius Magazine / Winter 2021

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE | WINTER 2021

Education Innovation Unprecedented times call for purposeful change at Canisius

president’sperspective

For nearly a year now, more than one person has called to tell me that my job as president of a college is perhaps the last job in the world that they would want. Indeed, the Covid19 pandemic has proven to be the ultimate disruptor for higher education, curtailing classroom instruction, enrollment strategies, on-campus living and intercollegiate athletics, to name just a few parts of our operation. Keeping Canisius open and safe has been a significant challenge and I am happy to report that our faculty and staff have risen to the challenge.

It’s understandable that in a time like this people yearn for a return to normalcy. That’s where there’s more bad news for higher education. I believe that we and all of higher education, particularly in the northeastern United States, are at an inflection point, as so many of the statistics in Audrey Browka’s cover story for this issue of Canisus Magazine make clear.

For years, people have been talking about the exponential increases in the cost of a college education, concerns over outcomes and the return on investment in terms of jobs and careers for graduates, and the lack of reliable data to support our assertion that our students are really learning what we think we are teaching. And this is all arising in a world that is being transformed by technology, artificial intelligence and now, a global pandemic to boot.

So, while the Covid-19 vaccines bring us hope in facing the immediate health challenge, there’s more in store for us as we chart a future path for Canisius. The answers lie in many of the initiatives described in the cover story, and we will continue to look for creative approaches and solutions to keep Canisius vibrant and relevant.

We are joined in our efforts by the contributions of our alumni and friends also highlighted in this issue – contributions of time and expertise in service on our many boards, and generous contributions of resources to make this Canisius education accessible to new generations of leaders. As we navigate our way forward, this support means more to our students, programs and mission than ever before.

I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge the spiritual contributions of so many. I am deeply touched by and grateful for the number of people who assure me that we are in their daily prayers. In a saying that is attributable to both St. Augustine and St. Ignatius Loyola, we are told to pray as though everything depended on God but work as though everything depended on us.

Keep those prayers coming!

features

Blue & Gold Briefs

4 Shaping Up <<<

Canisius cuts the ribbon on a new fitness center for students

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Faculty Notes

Cover Story

Professors emerge as subject-matter experts throughout the extraordinary coronavirus pandemic

12 Education Innovation Unprecedented times call for purposeful change at Canisius

Donor Profiles

22 Inspired Philanthropy Robert W. Wunsch Jr. ’76 gives Canisius an edge to excel

23 Tipping the Scales

Attorney Alvin McKenna ’63 expresses gratitude through giving

Alumni Spotlights

26 Elements of Success A chemistry degree from Canisius proves to be the catalyst for Kristen Kulinowski’s diverse career in disaster preparedness

34 Just Mercy

Zachariah Presutti brings Ignatian spirituality to the incarcerated

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College Magazine WINTER 2021 I VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1

President John J. Hurley Associate Vice President, Assistant to the President Erica C. Sammarco ’00 Chief Communications Officer & Executive Editor Eileen C. Herbert ’04, MS ’15 Managing Editor Audrey R. Browka Creative Director Patty Herkey Art Director Sue Hough Contributing Writers Matthew Gorczyca ’13, MS ’15 Summer Handzlik Martin Haumesser Lauryn Saldana ’20 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 Postmaster send change of address to: Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

Shaping Up Canisius students returned to campus this fall to find the former Penfold Commons converted into the new, well-appointed Penfold-Gareis Fitness Center.

Covid-19 slowed but didn’t stop Canisius from the necessary work of replacing the roof of Christ the King Chapel. The $1.2 million capital project included a complete tear-off of the roof and the repair of water damage to the chapel’s interior walls.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, the renovated facility features an array of cardio machines, such as treadmills, arc trainers, stationary bicycles, areas for weightlifting and CrossFit training, as well as studio space for classes. Changing rooms and showers are also available.

Fitness centers have become a required amenity for college students and, in recent years, Canisius students have voiced their concerns over the lack of general student fitness and recreation space. Prior to the conversion of the Penfold Commons, students shared the Pastor Weight and Aerobic Center in the Koessler Athletic Center with intercollegiate athletes.

The $1 million dollar project was made possible by an estate gift from Robert J. Gareis ’58 and a multiyear commitment from Richard C. ’68 and Karen Penfold. The Undergraduate Student Association also contributed $50,000.

U.S. News & World Report is affirming what many already know:

Canisius is the No. 1 Best Value among colleges and universities in New York State.

The ranking appears in the magazine’s 2021 report of Best Colleges and Universities. In addition to being the No. 1 value in New York State, Canisius is the No. 3 value among 73 regional colleges and universities in the North.

What’s more, U.S. News & World Report placed Canisius among the top tier of Best Regional Universities in the North and Best Colleges for Veterans in the North, with rankings of No. 19 and No. 9, respectively.

WEB EXTRA > R ead more about the U.S. News & World Report rankings at canisius.edu/magazine

WBC Provides Relief to Small Business Owners Amid Coronavirus The Women’s Business Center (WBC) came to the aid of several small business owners whose companies suffered setbacks amid Covid-19.

With assistance from a six-month, $47,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the WBC expanded its capacity to provide additional technical assistance to women-owned businesses in Western New York. An additional $25,000 grant from the KeyBank and First Niagara Foundation enabled the WBC to enhance its “Launch” and “Grow” programs, which assist women in the establishment of their businesses and strategic expansion.

Women-owned small businesses have been disproportionately harmed by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Many needed additional assistance to develop recovery plans, to work through SBA funding opportunities and to support their employees, among other issues.

Pictured (center): Sara L. Vescio, director, Women's Business Center

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blue&goldbriefs New Niche Programs for 21st Century Careers Cybersecurity As cyber threats grow in both sophistication and malice, industries face a persistent challenge in recruiting professionals skilled in protecting digital infrastructure.

Canisius College is responding to this talent crunch by offering a new MS in cybersecurity.

While many universities take a business-focused approach to cybersecurity preparation, Canisius’ program is the only technology-based curriculum in Western New York. It’s further distinguished by coursework that leads to relevant certifications, making graduates immediately more marketable to industries in need of professionals able to perform information security risk assessment, identify potential threats and develop threat mitigation strategies.

Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management Come Under New Leadership The divisions of Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management came under new leadership in 2020 with the appointments of two vice presidents.

Sara R. Morris, PhD, appointed in March 2020, now leads Academic Affairs, the largest division of the college. Responsible for all academic programs, including traditional and online offerings, Morris brings a fresh perspective to the position, one that meets the needs of students and faculty and inspires innovation and collaboration.

3+3 Accelerated BA/BS Plus JD

Morris had been serving as vice president for academic affairs on an interim basis since July 2019. She was previously associate vice president for academic affairs and led the oversight of new curricula in coordination with the New York State Department of Education and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

At the undergraduate level, a new collaboration between Canisius and the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Law gives students an opportunity to get a head start on their legal careers – at less cost.

Morris’ tenure at Canisius dates back to 1996 when she joined the faculty as an assistant professor of biology.

A 3+3 Accelerated BA/BS Plus JD program became available to first-year students this past fall.

The initiative, open to candidates from a variety of majors, enables them to complete their bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees in six years, rather than the traditional seven.

Sara R. Morris, PhD

Canisius’ pre-law portion of the program provides students with the foundational knowledge and hands-on experiences important to their professional development. Candidates are also advised by Canisius faculty to ensure they complete all academic requirements toward their majors by the end of their junior years, prior to advancing to the law program at UB. Students in the program must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Canisius also welcomed Danielle D. Ianni, PhD, vice president for enrollment management. Ianni leads undergraduate and graduate student recruitment, marketing and financial aid. She is responsible for enrolling first-year, transfer and graduate students, and enhancing student retention while maintaining the academic profile of the college.

Ianni is the former director of enrollment operations for the University at Buffalo (UB), where she assisted with the short- and long-term strategic planning to meet enrollment goals and developed enrollment forecasting, predictive modeling and applicant analysis. Her academic scholarship focused on institutional financial aid and bridging the gap between traditional and non-traditional students.

WEB EXTRA > Visit www.canisius.edu/magazine to learn more.

PA Program Heeds Rising Demand for Healthcare Workers

Ianni and Morris report directly to Canisius President John J. Hurley and serve on the college’s senior leadership team.

Canisius admitted the first cohort of students to its new physician assistant (PA) studies program. The 27-month master’s degree program launched in January 2021.

In a healthcare industry that has seen – and continues to see – constant change, the new PA program couples classroom learning with clinical training to develop skilled practitioners trained to follow the highest professional standards.

Students spend their first 12 months participating in lectures and seminars offered by program faculty and distinguished professionals in the field. They then move into a state-of-the-art lab in Science Hall, where simulation examination rooms, mannequins and multiple Anatomage virtual human anatomy tables (pictured right) allow students to practice patient interviews, physical exams and diagnostic testing and procedures.

Students will also have the unique opportunity to engage in simulation exercises at Sisters of Charity Hospital, in collaboration with hospital staff from many disciplines.

As candidates move into the second phase of training, which consists of 15 months of clinical experience, they participate in eight-week clinical rotations in family medicine and inpatient internal medicine, and four-week clinical rotations in emergency medicine, general surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, outpatient internal medicine and behavioral health. Elective rotations are also available in specialties such as orthopedics, critical care, neurology, cardiology, rheumatology and more.

Planning for the physician assistant program began back in 2018 when Canisius recruited Aimee Larson, MPAS, PA-C, to build and eventually direct the new area of study. She has extensive experience in the field of medicine, including eight years of active duty as a combat medic for the U.S. Air Force. Larson’s particular passion is in service to the underserved, with a focus on improved care of military veterans.

WEB EXTRA > Visit www.canisius.edu/magazine for a virtual look at the new simulation examination rooms and equipment.

Danielle D. Ianni, PhD

New Structure for Mission & Ministry Canisius coalesced its mission and identity, campus ministry and community outreach initiatives under a single banner in fall 2020.

The new Office of Mission & Ministry integrates Canisius’ Catholic, Jesuit mission into the culture of the college through mission formation programs, opportunities for service and a focus on faith that does justice. Programming includes retreats, spiritual discernment and volunteer efforts aimed at addressing the critical needs of the college’s community partners.

Overseeing this new area is Rev. John J. Mattimore, SJ, whom Canisius appointed chief mission and ministry officer. Father Mattimore joined Canisius in January 2020 as a campus minister. In his new role, he provides leadership and day-to-day management of the office to ensure that service, justice and spirituality remain conscious in the minds and hearts of the campus community. Father Mattimore reports to Canisius President John J. Hurley.

A native of Western New York, Father Mattimore joined the Jesuit order after graduating from Canisius High School. He previously was a prison chaplain at Rikers Island in New York City and director of Yap Catholic High School in Micronesia.

Rev. John J. Mattimore, SJ

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Positive Results from IAR’s Newest Autism Treatment Program

McNally Named New Director of All-College Honors

An innovative outpatient treatment, developed by researchers at the Institute for Autism Research (IAR), for children with autism is proving to be highly effective.

History Professor Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, who retired from Canisius in July 2020, passed the baton for directorship of the All-College Honors program onto Janet M. McNally ’02.

The program provides academically gifted, highly-motivated undergraduate students with an accelerated and enhanced intellectual experience, which is complemented by co-curricular and extracurricular activities that nurture the academic, cultural and social development of students.

McNally is an associate professor of English and creative writing, and the first woman to direct the All-College Honors program. Prior to her appointment, she taught a variety of honors courses, including contemporary American fiction and poetry, American immigrant workers, and contemporary retellings of myths and fairy tales. She also directed students’ creative honors theses, which requires students to produce original prose or poetry collections.

McNally is the author of two young adult novels, The Looking Glass and Girls in the Moon, and published a prizewinning collection of poems titled Some Girls.

A 2002 alumna, McNally earned undergraduate degrees in English and communication studies. She also holds a master of fine arts degree in fiction from the University of Notre Dame.

According to a newly-published study in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, children with higher functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) who participated in the IAR’s 18-week outpatient treatment (MAXout) demonstrated significant improvements in their social skills, ASD symptoms, social cognition skills and problem behaviors, compared to children in a control group. The improvements were all maintained four to six-weeks post-treatment.

The results of this study add to an accumulating body of evidence that supports the effectiveness of treatments developed by the IAR. Researchers originally tested a summer program format, summerMAX, which clinical trials confirmed to be one of the first effective comprehensive treatments for children with HFASD. Researchers then adapted summerMAX into schoolMAX, which was found to be highly effective for elementary school children with HFASD. In their latest developments, researchers applied their treatment program to an outpatient model, MAXout, and tested its effectiveness.

This most recent IAR study was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. The article was authored by Drs. Christopher Lopata, Marcus L. Thomeer, Jonathan D. Rodgers, James Donnelly and Adam Booth.

WEB EXTRA > Visit www.canisius.edu/magazine to learn more about the results of the IAR study.

English and Creative Writing Professor Eric Gansworth is known for tackling racial stereotypes in his published fiction and poetry. The trend continues in his newest book, Apple: Skin to the Core, which the National Book Foundation named to its 2020 Longlist for Young People's Literature. Apple is Gansworth's 12th book and third young adult novel.

In it, he reflects on his life growing up in an Onondaga family but living among the Tuscaroras and other Native people in the U.S. He shares personal stories about the damaging effects of government boarding schools; of a boy who watched his siblings leave and return only to leave again; and of a young man fighting to be an artist in multiple worlds.

In sharing his journey, Gansworth addresses deeply offensive racial stereotypes including “apple,” a slur common in Native communities, which means “red on the outside and white on the inside.”

Fitzpatrick Lecture Series Comes Under Fresh Leadership The tradition of the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series at Canisius continues this academic year under fresh leadership.

Canisius named Richard A. Bailey, PhD, the new Fitzpatrick Professor of History. In this role, he collaborates with faculty colleagues to bring a diverse and engaging number of prominent speakers to campus.

Bailey is an associate professor of history and chair of the History Department. He joined the faculty in 2008 with an academic focus on early American history, American religious history, African-American history, slavery in the Americas, and race and critical race theory. Bailey is the author of Race and Redemption in Puritan New England and The Salvation of Souls: Nine Previously Unpublished Sermons on the Call of Ministry and the Gospel.

Richard A. Bailey, PhD

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The Hon. Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the United States, inaugurated the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series in 1962. Each year since, the series has welcomed national figures in politics, government, academia and media, including Jane Goodall, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Bernice King.

In spring 2020, the Alumni Association recognized Gansworth for teaching excellence and his contributions to the academic world by conferring upon him the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award.

A clash between disability rights and church-state separation is the focus of a new book co-authored by History Professor Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD. Disability Rights and Religious Liberty in Education tells the 1988 story of Sandi and Larry Zobrest, who sued the Tucson, AZ school district when it denied their hearing-impaired son a taxpayer-funded interpreter in his Roman Catholic high school.

The book examines the complex history and jurisprudence of disability accommodation and educational mainstreaming. It similarly analyzes the thorny church-state issues and legal controversies that informed the case, its journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the impact of the high court’s ruling on the course of disability accommodation and religious liberty.

Dierenfield co-authored the book with David A. Gerber, PhD, an emeritus professor of history at the State University of New York at Buffalo and director emeritus of its Center for Disability Studies.

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Throughout these extraordinary times of the coronavirus, many Canisius faculty emerged as subject-matter experts on topics ranging from the rippling economic effects to the societal impacts of the pandemic.

Via published research, webinars and podcasts, these professors shared their expertise and made news about life and the unprecedented disruptions faced in the Covid-19 landscape.

Pups Prove to be Lifesavers During Lockdown

The benefits of dog ownership on our health and well-being were well-documented prior to the emergence of Covid-19. Now, these pups proved to be lifesavers for many during lockdown.

According to Christy L. Hoffman, PhD, our four-legged friends played an important role in providing their owners with social and mental health support at an unprecedented time. Not only does their companionship help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, their overall relaxing effect “buffers stress levels and reduces anxiety,” explained Hoffman, associate professor of animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC).

Earlier research by Hoffman also demonstrated that dogs help people (specifically women) sleep better, “which may be particularly beneficial during the pandemic.” Dogs also keep their owners active, demanding daily walks. Such physical activity was “especially crucial at a time when gyms were closed,” noted Hoffman.

Make no mistake, the benefits of being home went both ways.

Physics Faculty Assist in Ventilator Effort During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, two faculty members from the Physics Department joined a multi-university effort to develop inexpensive ventilators.

(l-r) Mark P. Zaporowski, PhD, George M. Palumbo, PhD

Julie Anna M. Golebiewski, PhD

Economic Impact of an Outbreak As the nation segued from a health crisis to an economic one, faculty from the Department of Economics & Finance became valued resources for the media and public at-large.

News reporters called upon Professors George M. Palumbo, Mark P. Zaporowski or Assistant Professor Julie Anna M. Golebiewski ’04, almost daily, for insight on the fiscal impacts of the outbreak and projections as to what a recovery may look like.

The news for the Buffalo-Niagara region was often less than optimistic.

Michael H. Wood, PhD and Erden Ertorer, PhD, collaborated with researchers at the University of Florida Center for Safety, Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies to design, build and test an inexpensive version of the lifesaving device.

Wood and Ertorer volunteered to test the ventilators’ electronic control software, which is made of common circuit elements and programmable microcontrollers called Arduinos. The Canisius Physics Department teaches programming of microcontrollers in its Basic Electronics course and introduces Arduinos in its Introduction to Engineering course.

“The local economy will be sick long after the outbreak starts to ease,” anticipated Palumbo.

“This region has historically taken a bigger beating than most during a recession and taken longer to recover.”

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< Christy L. Hoffman, PhD

Big Sports No Longer Big Man on Campus Well before Stanford University announced it would cut 11 of its varsity sports programs and the MAAC canceled or postponed competitions, Canisius Professors Shawn O’Rourke, PhD and Karl F. Kozlowski, PhD, forecast that Covid-19 would result in a whole new ballgame for intercollegiate athletics.

On the April 2020 episode of their “K.O. Influencers” podcast, the professors of sport administration and kinesiology, respectively, asserted that coronavirus concerns, which resulted in the forfeiture of the spring athletic season, would be followed by financial shortfalls at higher education institutions everywhere.

Canisius, for example, lost $450,000 in NCAA distributions because of the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournament. This, coupled with losses in revenue from regular season conference and non-conference games, forced the college to cut nearly 20 percent (or $1.25 million) from its athletic budget in advance of the 2020-21 school year.

Shawn O'Rourke, PhD

“Canisius is a microcosm of what other schools are experiencing,” the duo explained. “The bigger the school, the bigger the losses.”

Within just three months of O’Rourke’s presumption, 23 Division I schools had permanently eliminated 73 programs. Those hit hardest included tennis, soccer, golf, baseball, lacrosse and wrestling.

Although these sports don’t often get ESPN airtime, they – and all intercollegiate athletics – contribute to college life in tangible ways, concluded Kozlowski.

How long the economic downturn lasts “depends on how quickly consumers return to their typical spending behaviors,” said Golebiewski. With no simple answers, she predicts “recovery will happen not in weeks, perhaps not even months but years.”

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Hoffman’s insight on the impact of Covid-19 on human-dog relationships was published by Companion Animal Psychology.

Since the financial fallout can’t easily be supplemented by increased enrollment numbers and retention, the ramifications “will likely lead to the elimination of non-revenue sports within athletic departments,” suggested O’Rourke, co-chair of the Sport Administration Program.

One out of every four jobs in Western New York fell victim to the lockdown and caused the local unemployment rate to spike to 19.2 percent (April 2020), the highest of any metro area in New York State and “among the highest in the nation, on par with such hard hit tourist areas as Las Vegas, New Orleans and Myrtle Beach,” reported Zaporowski.

Palumbo, Zaporowski and Golebiewski are co-authors of WNY Economic News, which provides analysis and forecasts of economic trends in the Buffalo-Niagara metropolitan area and contrasts these trends with those in New York State and the nation.

“It is probably safe to say that dogs have waited their entire lives for the chance to spend so much time with their humans.”

“College athletics is considered ‘the front porch’ of colleges and universities.”

Not only do athletic contests generate excitement and foster loyalty among students and alumni, he explained, they elevate recruitment and admissions.

Michael H. Wood, PhD

“Ultimately, the impact of cutting sports programs runs much deeper than the loss of ticket sales and concessions.”

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EDUCATION INNOVATION UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR PURPOSEFUL CHANGE AT CANISIUS Story: Audrey R. Browka

‘‘

In his epilogue in Canisius College: Celebrating 150 Years, President John J. Hurley called it a “fool’s errand” to predict what may be in store for the institution’s tri-centennial.

After all, Canisius confronted two World Wars, a great depression and a great recession in its first century-and-a-half. The college endured because it innovated and adapted.

The future of Canisius will see us investing in programs that can answer the most frequent question posed by students and their parents, which is ‘When this is all over, will I get a job and more importantly, a career?’

We need to be able to respond with a definitive ‘Yes … but you’ll get so much more.’

‘‘

And now, it must do so again.

President John J. Hurley, Canisius College

WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE Ever since the 2008 collapse of the global financial markets and the sustained recession that followed, higher education and Catholic private higher education, in particular, have been under extraordinary pressure.

The financial troubles are partially attributed to “the hodgepodge system of paying for higher education,” according to a recent New York Times article. That system is dependent on students (and their parents), the federal government and state governments, which traditionally provided the lion’s share of aid.

But in every economic downturn since the 1980s, “states have disproportionately cut college and university budgets.” Following the financial collapse of 2008, states cut inflation-adjusted, per-student spending by 13 percent, “leaving most colleges struggling for resources.”

Further straining enrollment-driven budgets is a decline in demographics that’s projected to spiral further in the future.

At Canisius, tuition accounts for 90 percent of revenue. But in New York—the college’s primary recruiting ground—the number of high school graduates has declined by 10 percent between 2000 and 2020, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), which projects graduate data across the country. Moreover, WICHE estimates the number of high school graduates will drop by another 16 percent through 2037.

Further compounding New York’s demographic decline is an estimated five percent decrease, over the next five years, in the college-age population across the Northeast, which is another enrollment stronghold for Canisius.

The result is more schools—with a large concentration of them located in the Northeast—vying for a smaller pool of students.

This competition was amplified in 2017 with the introduction of New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship Program, which offers free SUNY and CUNY tuition to families and individuals with an annual income of $125,000 or less.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? DECREASING ENROLLMENT

INCREASE IN COMPETITION

DECREASE IN NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Though the nation finds itself amidst a pandemic, the threat is just the latest in a series of disruptive forces that have been thrust upon Canisius — and much of higher education — for nearly a decade.

These challenges can be boiled down to a few general themes: the cost of higher education, the decline in the number of high school graduates in the Northeast, and the return on investment for students in terms of jobs and careers. The very nature of Canisius being a private, Catholic institution adds another layer of complexity to this already difficult equation.

Collectively, these undercurrents have led Canisius to an existential crossroads. One path would see Canisius remain on the pathway that does not embrace change or bend easily to the needs and interests of students and the marketplace. The other is less predictable. It heads in enterprising new directions, but thoughtfully and strategically, to sustain the college’s core values.

Canisius is poised to follow the latter.

“The future of Canisius will see us investing in programs that can answer the most frequent question posed by students and their parents, which is ‘When this is all over, will I get a job and more importantly, a career,’” President Hurley says. “We need to be able to respond with a definitive ‘Yes … but you’ll get so much more.’”

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BALANCING THE BUDGET

REALITY AND RESILIENCE

$

2010-11

2M IN SAVINGS

The challenges are serious, for sure, but under guidance from the Board of Trustees, President Hurley has taken important steps in the past decade to mitigate them.

An initial organizational review in 2010-11 generated nearly $2 million in savings in the college’s operating budget. This was the result of general, across-the-board cuts made in divisional operating budgets, a reduction in administrative staff and greater discipline in filling vacant positions. The following year, Canisius enlisted an outside agency to conduct a comprehensive strategic assessment of the college’s operations. In response, Canisius implemented a multi-pronged approach that improved financial management, executed spending controls, streamlined administrative policies, and began to focus on individual faculty and departmental teaching loads. The implementation of these strategic approaches drove more than $13 million (approximately 15 percent) out of the operating budget from 2012-16.

The following year, Canisius launched Excellence Within Reach, an initiative that reduced undergraduate tuition by 23 percent and brought the college’s sticker price closer to the price students actually paid. The tuition reset resonated with students and families, and by fall 2019 Canisius saw a 15 percent increase in freshman enrollment. It also earned the college a No. 1 ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s latest list of Best Value Schools in New York State.

The rewards, however, were cut short by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Within a few months, the coronavirus shuttered the campus and threatened Canisius’ finances and operations in ways never before experienced. While some colleges and universities decided to ride this storm out and incur staggering operating deficits, Canisius had to move quickly. After furloughing about 70 administrative employees at the height of the spring 2020 outbreak, the Board of Trustees directed senior leadership to fast-track a comprehensive restructuring plan. The college froze salaries, reduced employee benefits and eliminated 71 non-teaching positions. Canisius also made the difficult decision to discontinue low-enrolled majors and programs in several fields, which resulted in the elimination of 22 faculty positions.

Programs eliminated include: classics, communication leadership (MS), creative & performing arts, entrepreneurship, European studies, human services, international business, physics, religious studies & theology, and urban studies.

“These were agonizing decisions because they affected our valued colleagues, our friends — from every level of the college —whose presence and contributions we will deeply miss,” President Hurley stated in a September address to the campus community. “But in the face of this turbulence and pain,” he continued, “Canisius finds itself poised for a brighter future, largely because of the bold actions taken over the past decade and a new vision that will guide and revitalize the college.”

BUILDING ON DEMONSTRATED STRENGTHS No question, Canisius is reputed for its academic excellence.

2012-16

13M IN SAVINGS $

2017-20

12.3M

$

IN SAVINGS

TOTAL: $27.3M REDUCTION IN BUDGETARY EXPENSES 2010-20

COVID’S BUDGET IMPACT LOSS OF ROOM & BOARD REVENUE - $1M LOSS OF ATHLETIC REVENUE - $1.1M LOSS OF AUXILIARY REVENUE - $1.1M

The college boasts a 95 percent acceptance rate among biology and chemistry majors who apply to graduate school and an 80 percent acceptance rate among biology and pre-medical majors who apply to medical school (that’s twice the national average). Similarly, nine out of every 10 pre-law students earn acceptance into the country’s top law schools.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 rankings named the college No. 1 among Best Schools for Undergraduate Teaching in Western New York. Canisius’ undergraduate accounting program ranked in the top 7 percent nationally; finance in the top 6 percent.

Equally impressive are the job placements for accounting, finance and computer science, which are consistently at or near 100 percent.

These outcomes provide a ready answer to that ubiquitous question asked by prospective students and their parents.

“The cost of a college education and a very uncertain job market over the past decade have changed the view of students and their parents,” explains Danielle D. Ianni, PhD, vice president for enrollment management. “By further investing in our already successful programs and remaining alert to new opportunities that meet the interests of prospective students and the demands of the marketplace, Canisius will maintain its relevance and vitality in the years ahead.”

EXPENSE FOR COVID SAFETY - $1M+

Work on this is already well underway.

INCREASE IN FINANCIAL AID - $1M+

At the undergraduate level, each of the college’s academic schools have taken intentional actions to reimagine and revise curricula so that they are more relevant and focus more intentionally on career pathways for students.

ENROLLMENT DECLINE (FALL 2020) - $3M

=

TOTAL BUDGET LOSS - $8M+

Most recently, the College of Arts & Sciences updated, revised and renamed its communication studies major. Now called strategic communication, the program is designed to educate students about the broad value of strategy across all communication interactions, especially in digital media. Arts and Sciences also

INNOVATE, ADAPT, OVERCOME

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This new vision is grounded in Canisius’ mission to provide a transformational Catholic, Jesuit education that fosters the next generation of leaders. Central to the vision are the students and those the college serves.

To achieve this vision, Canisius will concentrate its efforts in three key areas: academic programs that have demonstrated success rates; graduate and lifelong education; and a renewed commitment to improving the core curriculum.

“What students learn and how they learn has evolved, and so too has their definition of quality and relevance,” says Hurley. “Canisius must respond to remain effective partners in their progress toward lives of meaning and purpose in an increasingly diverse city, region, nation and world.”

Concomitant to the academic strategies, Canisius will also continue to successfully engage students through high-impact practices (HIP) that enrich the learning experience, namely through student-faculty research, service initiatives and immersive learning opportunities.

CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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BUILD ON DEMONSTRATED STRENGTHS

introduced a new bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications. This came in response to an anticipated 16 percent climb, nationally, for professionals trained to apply 21st century technology to marketing, public relations, advertising and brand messaging.

Likewise, the exponential growth of data in virtually all aspects of life and industry prompted the proposal of a new undergraduate major in data science. The program is currently in the final stages of approval by New York State.

A new 4+1 dual degree program rolled out by the School of Education & Human Services (SEHS) is the only one of its kind in the region. The curricula enables undergraduates who major in history, English, math and science to obtain their master’s degree in teaching students with disabilities. “They graduate ready to teach in their content areas and in special education,” explains SEHS Interim Dean Nancy V. Wallace, PhD. “Moreover, students complete their teacher education and initial certification in five years rather than the traditional six, which gets them into the workforce sooner.”

The Richard J. Wehle School of Business took a similar job-readiness approach when it launched BUS-X in fall 2018. Required for all undergraduate business majors, the innovative, co-curricular program transforms first-year business students into careerready professionals via three sequential courses: Students explore majors and career paths in their freshman year; start to develop their resumes and interview skills sophomore year; and are aligned with internships or experienced-based projects by junior year “to guarantee that 100 percent of business majors graduate with hands-on practice in their fields of interest,” says Dean Denise M. Rotondo, PhD, who notes “BUS-X is unique to Canisius and will have a direct impact on outcomes relevant to student placements and professional preparation for career success.”

A scaled up version of the BUS-X concept is similarly required for graduate business students.

CANISIUS PROUD ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE RENEW COMMITMENT TO CORE CURRICULUM

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (2016/2019), CANISIUS DEVELOP EMERGING PROGRAMS OF PROMISE

FIRST-YEAR

% SENIOR

Service-Learning

61 Service-Learning

% 87

Learning Community

6

Learning Community

30

Research with Faculty

6

Research with Faculty

36

ENGAGED IN HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPS).

Internship or Field Exp.

67

HIPS ENRICH THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Study Abroad

11

THROUGH STUDENT-FACULTY RESEARCH,

Culminating Senior Experience

82

SERVICE-LEARNING INITIATIVES AND

Participated in at least one HIP

64

Participated in at least one HIP

97

IMMERSIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

Participated in two or more HIPs

7

EXCELS IN THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS

Participated in two or more HIPs 89

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Increasingly, the path forward for Canisius involves graduate and lifelong learning.

Just as higher education reels with a decline in traditional collegeage demographics, it’s concurrently seeing a swell in non-traditional students, defined as those age 25 and over who often have fulltime jobs and families. Historically, the rise of adult, non-traditional learners has increased in every weakened economy since the 1960s.

That growth has accelerated in the past two decades: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in master’slevel occupations will see a 17 percent increase between 2016 and 2026 —faster growth than any other education level. During that same time period, the Bureau also projects employment in doctoraland professional-level occupations to increase 13 percent; faster than the 7 percent average projected for all other occupations.

A May 2020 article by Inside Higher Education explains the educational need this way: “As workers move across jobs and careers, they will constantly need new skills—over many decades—

The college’s strong graduate program portfolio became even more robust this year when Canisius launched its master’s degree program in physician assistant studies (page 6).

“In a healthcare industry that has and continues to see constant change, the role of physician assistants is more important than ever,” says Program Director Aimee Larson, MPAS, PA-C. “Ours develops dedicated and skilled clinicians who follow the highest professional standards and discern greater purpose for their occupational services. They are being trained to become leaders in the medical profession and their communities.”

Also this year, Canisius introduced an MS in cybersecurity (page 6).

The curriculum, which follows standards set by the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency, gives students an intimate look into how computers, networks and software all work together. “Many cyberattacks are carried out with software tools that most malicious users did not create themselves,” explains Jeffrey J. McConnell ’81, PhD, chair of the Computer Science

Though Canisius is pivoting its academic programming to increase its focus on offering degrees and certificates that provide a pipeline to professional careers in high-demand areas, this does not mean the college is abandoning its commitment to its liberal arts tradition.

“It is true that more than half of the 22 positions eliminated last summer were in the liberal arts but the decision reflects the realities of our enrollment environment rather than Canisius’ commitment to the humanities,” explains Vice President for Academic Affairs Sara R. Morris, PhD. “The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest of our three schools so if there is an enrollment decline, this is naturally where the greatest impact will be felt.”

Canisius is a smaller institution today than it was 20 years ago thereby necessitating that it regularly realign and streamline. Still, numerous opportunities to major and minor in the humanities

remain. Canisius continues to offer majors in English, creative writing, history and philosophy, and maintains offerings in religious studies and the arts.

Indeed the college is and will always be mindful of its core curriculum — not just because New York’s charter requires every Canisius student complete 60 hours in the liberal arts and sciences to obtain a baccalaureate degree but because it’s what distinguishes a Canisius education. Through ongoing assessment of student learning in the core, the college is asking important questions about how to deliver a more consistent learning experience for students in the core.

“Our core courses will continue to provide students with the ability to speak and write with eloquence, think critically and globally about difficult issues, and lead ethically in a challenging world, all competencies that are intrinsic to a Catholic, Jesuit education,” Morris continues.

EMERGING PROGRAMS OF PROMISE MS CYBERSECURITY

MS DATA ANALYTICS

MS FINANCE

MS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES

MS SPORT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

WNY TEACHER RESIDENCY

3+3 ACCELERATED BA/BS PLUS JD

NEWLY-INTRODUCED GRADUATE PROGRAMS PROVIDE PIPELINE TO PROFESSIONAL CAREERS to remain employable. This pace of change, fueled by globalization and technology, is fundamentally reshaping the future of work and creating a need for a new kind of lifelong learning.”

With this knowledge, Canisius has spent the past five years investing heavily in the development of new graduate programs that build upon the college’s academic strengths and expand educational opportunities in today’s most high-demand fields. It has been an unprecedented time of growth and innovation: anisius’ MS in finance offers specialized concentrations in C investment research, risk management and data analytics — all areas in which employment is expected to grow 11.5 percent in the next several years. he MS in data analytics complements a growing need, across a T range of industries, for professionals able to apply fundamental scientific principles to interpret large, complex data sets.

Canisius is preparing to introduce a companion program in fall 2021. The MS in business analytics will be a blend of business management and big data. he Western New York Teacher Residency is a two-year graduate T program for individuals committed to teaching in high needs schools. Students are paired with skilled mentor-teachers during their second year of the residency and receive a living wage stipend. Upon completion, graduates receive New York State certification in childhood and special education (grades 1-6).

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CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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Department. “Our students not only learn about these tools, they learn how to engineer them to stop such attacks. This opens up many new prospects for programmers, engineers and software developers eager to advance their careers in one of the world’s fastest growing professions.”

Students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios in a new cutting-edge cybersecurity lab, which will open in Science Hall. Further distinguishing the program are “the college’s academic partnerships with industry-leading cybersecurity boards, which enable us to offer coursework that leads to specialized certifications in Security+ or the Certified Ethical Hacker,” adds Jeffrey Spaulding, PhD, director of the cybersecirty program. “Such certifications are certain to make Canisius students more marketable throughout the industry.”

Certificate programs fill a niche in the regional economy and enable Canisius to broaden its access to non-traditional students.

To that end, the School of Education & Human Services restructured its teacher certification programs to appeal to a more diverse audience of educational professionals. Most recently, New York State approved an 18-credit advanced certificate program in literacy and a 12-credit certificate program in coaching. The School’s advanced certificate in instructional technologies and curriculum design (formerly educational technologies) addresses growing professional needs in K-12 schools.

If Canisius’ 150-year history has demonstrated anything, it’s that the vitality of the institution rests solidly on the college’s ability to constantly adapt and renew the promise it makes to students, which is a transformative education marked by exceptional academics, high-impact teaching practices that engage students and support their success, and service and leadership experiences that prepare them for lives of meaning and purpose.

It’s a promise guided by Ignatius Loyola’s founding inspiration for the Society of Jesus, established nearly 500 years ago.

“Our forebears listened to the needs, wants and demands of the people in front of them and tried to respond in the most effective ways they could,” said Fordham University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, SJ, during a 2019 address at Canisius.

“This is the practicality of the Jesuit approach: meet people where they are, bring them in through their doors and lead them out through ours.”

This is at the heart of a Canisius education and fundamental if the college is to continue developing the next generation of leaders for our world.

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advancement

Thank You!

Canisius 150 Campaign Exceeds Goal

advancement Thank You!

Canisius Fund 150

More than 4,000 Griffins donated $7.3 million to Canisius during fiscal year 2020*– an increase of $1.15 million from the previous year.

Your support of the Canisius Fund, academic programs, athletics, endowed funds and capital projects is an investment in Canisius and the next generation of leaders, and we thank you for your generosity.

TOTAL

$7,331,385

Gifts provided support to the following: TOTAL

$2,286,979

Capital

$161,150 25% ($582,722)

Endowment

$3,316,838

student services and program enhancements

33% ($746,470) current-use tuition assistance and scholarship

Canisius Fund 150 Campaign Annual Fund Restricted

$2,286,979

$1,566,418

*June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020 = Fiscal Year 2020

42% ($957,787)

educational instruction and academic support

*Totals as of May 31, 2020

SESQUICENTENNIAL SOCIETY To mark the 150th anniversary of Canisius and celebrate this special time in its history, the college launched Canisius Fund 150. The sesquicentennial fundraising campaign sought to raise unrestricted, current-use support for student scholarships, curriculum revitalization, facility updates and the transformative experiences that distinguish a Canisius education.

Canisius College is grateful for the early support of this initiative by members of the Board of Trustees, and all other alumni, friends and volunteers who contributed so generously.

Canisius Fund 150 had an aggressive goal: raise $2.2 million – more than double the total raised during the annual fund campaign the prior fiscal year. Some 2,600 alumni, family and friends responded, enabling Canisius to surpass its goal and raise nearly $2.3 million in support of the college.

Anonymous (2) Catherine M. ’72, HON ’15 & Francis Burzik Foundation Jerry G. Jr. ’86 & Elizabeth Canada John R. ’72 & Patricia Z. ’74, MS ’01 Connolly Robert J.* ’58 & Kay Gareis* The Habib Family Joan C. Hurley President John J. ’78 & Maureen O. Hurley Stephen F. ’82, MBA ’87 & Karen M. ’82 Jackson Christopher M. ’83 & Christine Kelly Patrick P. Lee HON ’99 Larry E. ’87 & Julie M. (Coleman) Manth James E. McNicholas Jr. ’68, MS ’97

“We are grateful to so many who generously stepped forward in support of this campaign,” says Martin J. Berardi ’79, chair of Canisius Fund 150 and a member of the Board of Trustees. “Your generosity makes so much more possible for the college and our students, and I’m proud to be part of a truly special community.”

Helping to propel the Canisius Fund 150 campaign past its goal were members of the Sesquicentennial Society, who generously made gifts or pledges of $150,000 or more (see next page).

Their contributions, and those of all alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends who gave, reflect enormous pride for what Canisius has meant to the community and the tens of thousands of students the college has educated over the last 150 years.

Carl J. ’64, HON ’04 & Carol A. Montante and Family Kenneth F. ’70 & Mary Jane Myszka ’71 William J. ’67 & Helen Neff Michael F. ’90, MBA ’99 & Marcy Newman Richard C. ’68 & Karen E. Penfold Michael ’63* & Christine Ryan John L. ’61, HON ’96 & Bonnie Strauss Keith C., MD & Leslie C. Stube Thomas L. Upham MBA ’74 Morton H. ’66 & Carol Wittlin Lee C. ’79 & Julie T. Wortham Robert W. Wunsch Jr. ’76 Gerald Zon ’67, PhD & Victoria Boyd *deceased

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advancement

advancement

Coming Together When the Need is Greatest

Blue & Gold Gala

In response to the Covid-19 crisis, Canisius launched a six-week campaign in April 2020 to raise emergency funds for students experiencing extreme financial hardship. The outpouring of generosity from the college family proved truly remarkable, as alumni, friends, parents, staff and members of the Board of Trustees rallied together to raise $171,650.

Canisius had just put the finishing touches on plans for Canisius 150: A Blue & Gold Gala, when Covid-19 cast a pall on the event intended to commemorate the college’s sesquicentennial. By late March, Canisius made the difficult but judicious decision to cancel the affair, which was certain to be a celebration-of-celebrations, including a performance by Grammy Award nominee Tony Orlando.

“The funds raised assisted students who were struggling to cover sudden and unexpected costs related to housing, travel home, access to technology, health and wellness, and other emergency expenditures,” explains Marya J. Propis ’91, a Board of Trustees member and chair of the Emergency Relief Fund campaign.

Although alumni and friends were unable to gather in their blue-and-gold best, the commitment to this effort stood strong. Under the leadership of Blue & Gold Gala co-chairs Timothy P. Balkin ’81 and Michael G. Christiano ’83, and the entire gala committee, guests and event sponsors generously donated back more than $145,000 to Canisius. These funds helped provide tuition assistance and scholarships for students, and supported the move to distance learning during the spring 2020 semester.

Gustavo Dos Santos ’17, MS ’20 was among the 100-plus students to benefit from the Emergency Relief Fund. He encountered financial hardship when funding was cut for the internship program in which he participated.

“I was able to keep my internship position but I was no longer getting paid and worried about how I would cover the cost of my health insurance,” recalls Dos Santos.

Support from the Emergency Relief Fund provided the necessary aid. Since then, Dos Santos completed his internship, uninterrupted; graduated on time with his master’s degree; and found full-time work as an academic advisor within the School of Architecture at Syracuse University.

“To see how quickly and abundantly the Canisius community came to the aid of our students makes me incredibly proud to call Canisius home,” concludes Propis.

$

171,650 719

Alumni, friends, faculty & staff, and members of the Board of Trustees

150+

The Emergency Relief Fund was launched on April 22 to raise critical resources to support the most immediate needs of students experiencing extreme financial hardships. The generosity of the Canisius community is remarkable.

When the need is greatest, the Canisius community shines brightest!

Students Supported

$

87,206*

awarded directly to students

*As of 9/2020

$

84,444

To fund additional student requests and emergency financial aid appeals received by students and families.

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CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE WINTE R 2021

Canisius used 100 percent of its CARES Act funding to assist 1,289 students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

On behalf of Canisius College, the gala committee extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Blue and Gold Gala's top sponsors (listed below), and the many more individuals and organizations who contributed so generously to this event. Their munificence shines brightly on the college.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: $35,000 Independent Health ST. IGNATIUS SPONSORS: $10,000 Catholic Health M&T Bank MOOG

REV. DEMSKE SPONSORS: $7,000 Bengal Machine BlueCross BlueShield of WNY Lawley National Fuel Richard '68 & Karen Penfold Rich Products Corporation Zenger Group

Venti is New VP for Institutional Advancement

Contributed in six weeks

Emergency Relief Fund

In addition to the Emergency Relief Fund, Canisius received $1,167,415 for student emergency relief through the CARES Act. Passed

by Congress in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided immediate support to Americans impacted by Covid-19.

Institutional Advancement came under new leadership in early 2020, when the college appointed Kimberly A. Venti as the division’s new vice president.

Venti is responsible for the creation, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive multi-year plan to increase philanthropic support to the college. She also works closely with Canisius President John J. Hurley and the Board of Trustees on the development and execution of a high-level major gift strategy.

A proven leader with more than 20 years of fundraising experience, Venti joined Canisius as associate vice president for institutional advancement in 2018. She previously held senior development positions with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Erie County Medical Center and the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine, for which she played a key role in raising funds to build the new downtown medical school.

Venti holds a master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies and a bachelor’s degree in general studies, both from the State University College at Buffalo.

She replaces William M. Collins who retired from Canisius in January 2020.

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advancement

Inspired Philanthropy Robert W. Wunsch Jr. ’76 gives Canisius an edge to excel Story: Eileen C. Herbert ’04, MS ’15 / Photo: Brianna Blank ’14

Robert W. Wunsch Jr. ’76 never misses an opportunity to watch newlyminted Canisius graduates walk across the stage at commencement.

He has regularly attended the ceremonies since the 1980s when they were held in Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.

“It’s a wonderful celebration,” says Wunsch. “Armed with their degrees, the possibilities are endless for Canisius graduates.”

advancement Wunsch places the highest value on his education and credits Canisius for giving him the edge to excel in his profession as a certified financial planner. A management major and member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a national professional business fraternity, his successful career spans nearly four decades with achievements at Marine Midland Bank, HSBC Bank USA and then First Niagara Bank, until his retirement in 2016.

His service to alma mater began right after graduation when he revived the Young Alumni Association at the request of the late George M. Martin ’42, HON ’88, then executive vice president for administrative affairs, who recognized Wunsch as “the man to get the job done.” Later, the reactivated association merged with the Alumni Board. Wunsch served as president of the Alumni Board from 1986-87, a position that garnered him an ex-offico seat on the college’s boards of Regents and Trustees.

His unwavering dedication to Canisius includes chairing his class reunion committees, cheering on Griffs basketball, attending alumni events locally, regionally and nationally, and serving as one of the college’s greatest ambassadors. Accolades for his service include induction into DiGamma Honor Society in 1980 and conferral of the LaSalle Medal in 1997.

Wunsch has raised funds for Canisius since 1976 as his class chair for annual giving call nights. By 1986, he was dubbed the “million dollar man” when, as chair of the alumni division of the annual campaign, he helped raise more than $1 million for the first time in that division’s history. As chair of the 2008-09 annual campaign, Wunsch raised $2.64 million, an increase of more than $256,000 from the previous campaign. The following year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized Wunsch as a Distinguished Honoree during its National Philanthropy Day celebration.

It is his deep reverence for the Jesuits that guides Wunsch’s benevolent philanthropy and was the driving force behind his decision to create the Robert W. Wunsch Jr. ’76 Family Scholarship for deserving business majors. One of Wunsch’s greatest joys is meeting the recipients and hearing about how the scholarships are making a difference in their lives. “I ask them to remember how much their Canisius educations mean to them and share my hope that when they experience their successes in life, they too, will give back.”

Wunsch deepened his decades-long philanthropic relationship with alma mater this year with a planned gift to the James M. Demske ’47, SJ, Society, further cementing his legacy at Canisius. In recognition of his gift, Wunsch is counted as a member of the Sesquicentennial Society, created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canisius (page 19). Wunsch also serves as chair of the college’s Planned Giving Advisory Committee.

Reflecting about his long association and great affinity for alma mater, Wunsch says “It fulfills my life. I’ve made lifelong friendships at Canisius.”

And while the pandemic has put many events on hold, Wunsch says he looks forward to celebrating the graduation of the Sesquicentennial Class of 2020 as soon as it is possible to safely do so.

“I’ll be there to applaud and welcome another great class to the ranks of proud Canisius alumni.”

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CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE FALL 2020

Tipping the Scales Attorney Alvin J. McKenna ’63 expresses gratitude through giving Story: Audrey R. Browka / Photo: Porter Wright Law Firm

Ask Alvin J. McKenna ’63 to encapsulate his five decades as a trial and appellate litigator in Columbus, OH and he’ll answer with the most modest reply, “Rewarding.”

His humble characterization is contrasted by a series of high-stakes courtroom cases in which McKenna’s focus, dedication and years of practice have made the winning difference in any number of trial, labor and employment disputes heard at the federal level.

McKenna’s gritty determination and perseverance on behalf of his clients have earned him numerous accolades over the course of his half-century of practicing. Still, there is one honor that eclipses all others.

In 2001, the Black Law Students Association at Notre Dame Law School inaugurated the Alvin J. McKenna Alumnus of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an alumnus who has a record of accomplishment and service to the African-American and legal communities. It is named in honor of the law school’s first black graduate.

“When they introduced me at the ceremony, I stood up and said ‘No, there’s not a mistake here. I am African-American,’” recalled McKenna.

Born and raised in the inner city of New Orleans, LA, McKenna’s educational journey might never have reached Notre Dame or even Canisius were it not for the Josephites.

This order of priests, whose mission was to serve the young AfricanAmerican community in the segregated South, offered McKenna a scholarship to its newly opened, all boys St. Augustine High School.

“They then worked hard to ensure that all their students continued on to college,” recalls McKenna of the Josephites, who found him a full-tuition, room and board scholarship available at a small Jesuit school in Buffalo.

McKenna was just 16 years old (he skipped the third grade), 1,000 miles from home and utterly unaware of his new surroundings.

The chemistry-turned-political science major embraced campus life.

He became a class officer, participated in Little Theatre, played intramural basketball and joined the Debate Society; all excellent preparations for a future lawyer. McKenna’s academic performances coupled with extracurricular involvements afforded him his choice of graduate schools. In spring 1963, he accepted a scholarship to Notre Dame’s eminent law school.

It’s been more than a half century since McKenna completed his education and embarked on a career highlighted by roles as a law clerk to a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio, an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, special counsel to the governor of Ohio, and first managing partner of the Porter Wright Law Firm, originally founded in 1846.

Still, he’s never forgotten where he came from or how he arrived there.

In addition to his generous annual support to Notre Dame Law School and St. Augustine High School, McKenna has charitably and loyally donated to the Canisius Fund every year for more than 40 consecutive years.

“My entire education, from high school on up, was financed thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations that believed in the importance of educating young people,” McKenna concludes. “Now it’s my turn to help support the next generation. I owe it to them.”

McKenna lives in Columbus with his wife, Carol. They have six children and 15 grandchildren.

To make your gift to the Canisius Fund, visit www.canisius.edu/give.

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alumninews VIRTUAL

alumninews

SAVE TH E DATE:Thursday, June 3, 2021

The Office of Alumni Engagement had hoped for an in-person gathering for Reunion 2021 but after much discussion and reviewing more than 600 survey responses from reunion celebrants, the college has decided to celebrate Reunion 2021 virtually.

Continue a tradition

SAVE DATE

This year, the Office of Alumni Engagement encourages graduates to make a special reunion gift on Giving Day — the college’s 24-hour online fundraising campaign — scheduled for Wednesday, March 3.

Your participation will support Canisius and its students during this important time and help your class to claim the No. 1 spot on the reunion leaderboards. Which class years will come out on top?

Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 3 at 6 p.m. when Canisius alumni throughout the country will TH E come together on this special evening to celebrate their milestone reunion years. Class years ending in 1s and 6s are invited to attend, as well as class years ending in 0s and 5s, whose reunion plans were cancelled last spring. It promises to be double the fun!

Even though we are going virtual, be assured that Reunion 2021 will be fun, lively, entertaining and most of all memorable, as you reconnect with classmates!

Never miss out on all your alma mater has to offer.

Recently moved? Changed your Email address? New telephone number?

If so, you may be missing out on the latest news, events and career resources available to Canisius alumni.

Help us keep you connected. Update your contact information at canisius.edu/updateinfo

Are you celebrating a reunion this year?

Class reunions are not only about reconnecting with classmates but also helping to ensure that future Canisius students receive the same life-changing education and experiences as their predecessors.

Check the chart to find out.

0s

Help your class get a head start and make your gift today at canisiusgivingday.com. Or, call the Canisius Fund Office at (716) 888-2712.

We look forward to “seeing” you virtually on June 3!

1s

5s

6s

2020 2021 2015 2016

2010

2011

2005

2006

2000

2001 1995 1996

1990

1991

1985

1986

1980

1981

1975

1976

1970

1971

1965

1966

1960

1961

1955

1956

1950

1951

Help make it happen And don’t forget - we still need a reunion committee to help make it happen! Alumni interested in volunteering for their class reunion committee can contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@canisius.edu or (800) 201-4952.

Welcome to the Board The Canisius Alumni Association welcomed six new members to its board of directors in summer 2020. The board assists the Office of Alumni Engagement in its mission to develop long-term relationships between alumni and alma mater by engaging them in meaningful ways.

The new members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are:

Michael DeMarco ’05

Senior Vice President, Information Services Group Operations & Technology, Citigroup Inc.

Jenine Dunn MBA ’14 Investigator, U.S. Department of Labor

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Ryan Gilbert ’04

Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Lauren (Sformo) Leavy ’12 Senior Coordinator, Alumni Engagement Events, Virginia Commonwealth University

Shannon McCabe ’09, MS ’11

Senior Business Development Manager, Freestar

Alexander D. Vilardo ’14 Associate Attorney, Colligan Law LLP

The Canisius College Alumni Association Board of Directors is seeking nominations for the following awards, commendations and at-large positions: • Alumni Association Board of Directors • Distinguished Alumni Awards • Distinguished Faculty Award

• Distinguished Senior Awards • LaSalle Medals

Visit canisius.edu/alumni/awards for nomination criteria, deadlines or to nominate an individual.

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alumniprofile

Elements of Success A chemistry degree from Canisius proves to be the catalyst for Kristen Kulinowski’s diverse career in disaster preparedness Story: Martin Haumesser / Photo: Institute for Defense Analyses

alumniprofile Kristen M. Kulinowski ’90, PhD, has always explored the possibilities life presents to her.

After earning a scholarship to Canisius College, the West Seneca, NY, native started out in a combined bio-psychology program.

But sophomore year, she turned her attention to chemistry and discovered the elements on which she would build a diverse career in the sciences.

“I met with Professor Joseph F. Bieron ’59, PhD, about becoming a chemistry major and he welcomed me with open arms,” Kulinowski recalls. “I wanted a career that would have a positive impact on the world – studying in the Chemistry Department at Canisius was the catalyst that helped nurture that ideal.”

Kulinowski is director of the Science and Technology Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., one of three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers operated by the Institute for Defense Analyses.

She leads more than 40 researchers in providing analysis of national and international technology issues for government agencies including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Such technology issues include the federal response to the global pandemic, the role of the national laboratories in fostering technological innovation, addressing barriers students face in pursuing education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and sending humans to Mars.

Kulinowski’s most recent role is the culmination of a career spent largely on the frontlines.

After graduating from the All-College Honors program with a degree in chemistry, Kulinowski continued her studies at the University of Rochester where she earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in chemistry.

While in Rochester, Kulinowski volunteered with the American Red Cross emergency services and served on national response teams for Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the Great Mississippi River Flood in 1993. She later began teaching Red Cross volunteers emergency response tactics and disaster relief interventions. Those experiences, combined with her doctoral work, would shape her career.

In early September 2001, Kulinowski was selected as a Congressional Science and Technology Policy Fellow, a program that sends scientists to D.C. to learn first-hand about federal policymaking, while using their knowledge and skills to address today’s most pressing societal challenges.

Then the September 11 terrorist attacks hit.

As a long-time volunteer with the Red Cross, Kulinowski traveled to the Pentagon on 9/11 to support first responders on the scene following the attack.

“We provided meals for the firefighters and others working at the site,” she says. “While I was there, it aligned with a recurring theme in my career of disaster preparedness.”

Following 9/11, she played a key role as a Policy Fellow in developing language on domestic nuclear preparedness, resulting in passage of the 2002 Bioterrorism Act, which directs government responses to protect the public from threatened or actual terrorist attacks.

That work, as well as nearly a decade of work on the risks of engineered nanoparticles at Rice University, led to an appointment as a Board Member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). Kulinowski spent nearly five years at the federal agency investigating major chemical industrial accidents and making recommendations to help prevent future incidents. She then became director at the Science and Technology Policy Institute.

Currently residing in Maryland with her husband and two children, Kulinowski says of all her career accomplishments, she is most proud of staying true to herself and her ideal of having an impact.

“My advice to students is to figure out what they care most about and stay true to their goals. A broad liberal arts education at Canisius College helped plant those seeds for me.”

Some things just defy the odds.

Such was the case in mid-September when (Ret.) Lt. Col. James E. McNicholas Jr. ’68, MS ’97 received a phone call from Viridiana Nunez, a nursing student in El Paso, TX. McNicholas didn’t know Nunez but she is someone he won’t soon forget.

You see Nunez reunited this 74-year old, first-generation college graduate with something he lost a half-century ago: his Canisius College class ring.

McNicholas received the ring as a graduation gift. He rarely took it off so when it went missing one day in 1970, this U.S. Army officer tore through the Prince Edward Avenue home he and his wife, Dorothy, owned in El Paso, TX, where McNicholas was stationed.

The ring never turned up - until one late summer day in September 2020.

Nunez and her family had gathered for a graduation party when her father, Alberto, pulled out an old class ring marked ‘Canisius College 1968.’ As he explained it, landscapers uncovered the ring while doing yardwork outside the home he and his wife, Maria, rented in the 1990s – on Prince Edward Avenue in El Paso, TX.

Lost and Found

With no Internet and therefore no James E. McNicholas Jr. is reunited with way to search for the ring’s rightful the class ring he lost a half-century ago owner, the couple kept it safely tucked away – until the September graduation party at which Alberto showed the ring to his daughters. While looking at it, Viridiana noticed a name engraved on the inside and her search for James McNicholas Jr. began.

Just a few days later, Viridiana was on the phone with McNicholas, in Buffalo, making arrangements to reunite him with the Canisius class ring he lost so long ago.

“The whole story is just incredible,” McNicholas says. “For me, the ring represented everything that Canisius gave to me, not just book knowledge but something else I was able to develop through dealing and living with so many different people, especially the Jesuits. To have it back after so many years … I just couldn’t be more grateful.”

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CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE WINTE R 2021

alumninotes

alumninotes Public Accountants on June 1, 2020, making him the 101st president of the organization.

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’78 BS, MBA ’93 Carl C. Falletta, of Sarasota, FL, is the newest partner at Florida CFO Group, which provides interim and part-time CFO services. He previously worked as a senior management consultant for International Services and chief operating officer and CFO of Liberty Hardwood.

1980s Joseph M. Hassett ’64, PhD BA, English Career Highlight: The University College Dublin conferred upon Joseph Hassett an honorary doctorate of literature degree in December 2019. The university recognized Hassett for his outstanding work as a scholar, literary critic and champion of Irish writing.

Career Notes: Hassett is an accomplished litigator and partner of the Washington, D.C. firm Hogan Lovells and an internationally-recognized literary scholar of W.B. Yeats and James Joyce. He most recently authored Yeats Now: Echoing Into Life, which explores one of Ireland's greatest poets. He’s pictured (above) with James Joyce.

1960s

1970s

’62 BA Arthur H. Graves was featured in the Press-Republican daily newspaper in Plattsburgh, NY. At age 80, Graves maintains his longtime passion for running, which began on the Canisius cross country team. He runs three to five miles a day, four or five days a week.

’70 BA Michael J. Beecher, MD, is a medical consultant for California's Department of Healthcare Services' medical review branch for audits and investigations. He is one of 13 medical consultants in the state who helps supervise the Medi-Cal program for 13 million low income people. Beecher spent 35 years practicing as an OB/ GYN in San Diego, CA.

’64 BA, HON ’04 Carl J. Montante became executive chair of Uniland Development Co. Montante founded the family-run, privately-held development firm in 1974 and served as its chief executive officer up until this summer, when he appointed his son, Michael J. Montante ’91, the new CEO. ’65 BA Michael W. Shurgot, PhD, a retired professor of humanities at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA, is the co-author of Green River Saga. The novel tells the story of the settlement of the West, illustrating the tensions among such classic frontier characters as greedy ranchers, wealthy landowners, Native Americans and lawmen, just after the Civil War.

’72 BA Ronald H. Luczak, vice president of Travel Team Inc., was elected to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Board of Trustees for a three-year term. ’73 BS Amanda (Cordero) Evans retired from her position as an external stability specialist with Bausch + Lomb in Rochester, NY. ’76 BA Stephen M. Nosek retired after 41 years with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Williamsville, NY. ’77 BA Hon. J. David Sampson, a judge with the New York Court of Claims and an acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the task force on Autonomous Cars and the Legal Profession. ’78 BS Edward L. Arcara, owner of Edward L. Arcara CPA, PC, began a one-year term as president of the New York State Society of Certified

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CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE WINTE R 2021

’80 BS Peter D. Farstad, an adjunct professor in the non-profit management program at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, received the institution’s Distinguished Faculty Award. In addition to teaching, Farstad is the chief administrative officer of LifeSource, which helps facilitate organ and tissue donations for transplantation in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. ’80 BA (Ret.) Col. Robert E. Pecoraro was re-elected as alderman for the city of North Tonawanda and is serving a four-year term. He also joined the Board of Directors for the Western New York Chapter of the American Red Cross and is chair of its Service to the Armed Forces Committee. ’82 BA Mary C. Dillon-Olthaus was promoted from regional director of enrollment marketing and communications at Miami University to regional director of marketing and communications at the Hamilton, OH, school. ’83 BA Patrick J. Murray is a new outreach counselor for MAXIMUS, in Houston, TX, which develops health and human service programs.

He formerly worked as a disaster recovery case manager for Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas. ’84 BA Andrea R. (Emery) Bortner is the chief human resources officer for Grocery Outlet in Emeryville, CA. She previously worked as the chief human resources officer for Maxar Technologies in San Francisco, CA. ’84 BA, MS ’01 Patricia G. Duffy was appointed assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Osceola Elementary School for the Collier County Public Schools in Naples, FL. She formerly worked as assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Pinecrest Elementary School. ’84 BS, MBA ’93 Jeffrey F. Hart became the first vice president of corporate responsibility for National Fuel Gas Company. In this newly-created post, Hart reinforces the company’s commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, community, innovation, satisfaction and transparency. ’84 BS Karen A. Taylor is the new director and strategic human resources

business partner at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. She was previously a sales representative for Heartbeat Medical Inc.

’00 BA Seth A. Trego is a new patient care technician for University of Rochester Medicine - Thompson Health. He previously worked as a home care manager for HCR Health in Rochester, NY.

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’86 BS Rev. Robert E. Reiser, SJ, concluded his term as president of McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, NY on June 30, 2020. Following a sabbatical, he will become the executive director of the Jesuit Schools Network in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 2021.

’01 BA Julie A. (Farruggia) Bastian is now an attorney for Horton Law PLLC, where she practices labor and employment law. She previously worked as corporate counsel for Synacor. ’01 BS Kari A. Brossard Stoos, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education at Ithaca College, gave a keynote presentation and a three-day workshop on "Feeding our Microbes" at the Hamk Wellbeing International Week in Finland.

’88 BS, MSEd ’09 Denise M. (Werner) Cronyn, a licensed real estate agent at Cronyn Realty, recently enrolled in the educational leadership advanced certificate program at Canisius College. ’88 BS Brendan M. Harrington is the new chief financial officer and chief administration officer for the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. He was previously a chief financial officer with Sentient Science Corporation. ’88 BS, MS ’97 David P. Sardo retired in June 2020 following a 30-year career teaching physical education in the Buffalo Public School District. His coaching career, which began in 1987, is highlighted by more than 50 team championships, which were earned by his track and field, cross country and girls’ basketball teams at Cardinal O’Hara, Buffalo Traditional and Hutch-Tech. ’88 BA Karen (Curtin) Taneff is a new attorney for William Mattar PC.

1990s ’90 BS Elizabeth (Catanese) Waite, a math teacher at Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, NY, published Geometry the Easy Way, the 5th edition from the Barron's Easy Way series.

She also received a Yale University Educator Recognition Award for outstanding dedication to students. ’91 BS Mark J. Koziel became the new president and CEO of Allinial Global on August 1, 2020. He was formerly the executive vice president of firm services and global alliances for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. ’91 BS Karen A. Kukoda joined SafeGuard Cyber, in Charlottesville, VA, as the new vice president of strategic partnerships, responsible for the development and growth of collaborative partnerships. Kukoda previously managed global cyber risk partnerships for FireEye. ’91 BS Michael J. Montante was named chief executive officer at Uniland Development Co. He most recently worked as Uniland’s vice president of development. Montante is the second generation CEO for the family-run, privately-held development firm. His father, Carl J. Montante ’64, HON ’04, has held the title since 1974, when he founded Uniland.

José A. Jiménez ’88 BS, Management Career Highlight: José Jiménez was named an Alumni Council Fellow for UnidosUS. The nonprofit organization is the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, and works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.

Career Notes: Jiménez is a principal at PS 290 A.C.E. Academy for Scholars, an award-winning public school in Queens, NY. Under his leadership, A.C.E. has developed project-based practices to enhance experiential learning with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills.

’92 BS, MBA ’98 Michael F. McFarlane is the new senior vice president of finance and administration for Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE), overseeing the Buffalo Sabres’ dayto-day business operations and the financial operations of PSE entities.

He previously served as chief financial officer of Petri Baking Products Inc. ’94 BA Thomas C. Bamrick is the new vice president of sales and marketing for IIMAK, a global developer and manufacturer of printing and imaging consumables for automatic identification, packaging and graphics. He was previously director of global vendor engagement for Ingram Micro Inc. ’94 BA Mary Jo (Slazak) Courchesne, founder and principal rights consultant for Gryphon Publishing Consulting LLC, was named a board member for The Big Easy in Buffalo. The nonprofit organization brings New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region for live performances, music education and professional development. ’94 BS Carolyn M. (Hoch) Powell joined the accounting firm of Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP as its new director of business development. Powell was previously director of international business at Invest Buffalo Niagara. ’94 BA Thomas J. Tobin, PhD, a faculty member at the University of WisconsinMadison, and an internationallyrecognized speaker and author on

topics related to quality in technologyenhanced education, published his most recent book entitled Going Alt-Ac: A Guide to Alternative Academic Careers. ’95 BA Christopher Bopst is a new special counsel at Wilder & Linneball LLP. He was previously chief legal and financial officer for Sam-Son Logistics.

’02 MBA Traci L. (Schubert) Blowers, a customer success manager for Microsoft, became a DECA volunteer with the organization in Bergen County, NJ. Formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), the non-profit prepares high school and college leaders and future entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. ’02 MA Sabatino Cimato became the superintendent of the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District. Cimato is a 22-year veteran administrator of Buffalo Public Schools. He most recently worked as associate superintendent of school leadership for the Buffalo Public School District.

’02 MSA Christopher A. Costanzo is the new outside sales manager for Batavia Downs Gaming. He formerly worked as a sales consultant for Avrij Analytics. ’02 MBA John B. Ende was named executive vice president of North American sales for Rhinomed Limited.

Ende previously worked for Nelson Bach USA. ’03 MBA Jay W. Adolf was promoted from senior risk analyst to risk management supervisor for OneBeacon Insurance Group in Londonderry, NH. ’03 BS Daakeia K. (McFadden) Clarke is the new chief executive officer of the Brooklyn-based New York Liberty basketball team, which plays in the Eastern Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She is the first CEO to lead the organization for which she has spent the previous decade serving in various roles. ’03 BA, MS ’06 Rev. Jason G. Downer, SJ, was ordained a Jesuit priest on August 8, 2020 at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia, PA. He will spend his pastoral year in Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific. ’03 BS Pamela K. (Bath) Lally is a new marketing specialist for Cox Communication in Atlanta, GA. She previously worked as the marketing manager for Chamberlain College of Nursing.

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’95 MBA Maura A. (Heary) MacDonald is a new administrative assistant at Amherst Central High School. She previously worked as a substitute teacher within the Amherst Central School District. ’98 BS, MBA ’04 Darcey L. (Blair) Kemp is the new vice president for student affairs at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Springfield, MA. She formerly worked as assistant vice president for student development, leadership and completion initiatives at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY.

2000s ’00 BS Eric W. Gahan is the host of the EmpowerU Radio Show, broadcast out of Las Vegas, NV. He is also the co-founder, co-owner and head athletic trainer for EmpowerU Online Coaching, which mentors fitness professionals on how to grow their businesses. ’00 MS Tara Ann Pace was promoted from director of clinical services to executive director at Envisions Wellness WNY Behavioral Health.

Mark A. Johnson ’94 BS, Marketing Career Highlight: Mark Johnson, vice president and community development manager for Truist (formerly SunTrust Bank), was named to Virginia’s 2020 Inside Business Power List. Johnson was recognized for his role in overseeing community development activities in the Hampton Roads, Richmond and Charlottesville region of Truist.

Career Notes: As a liaison between the bank and the community, Johnson has been a catalyst for delivering community solutions. He is active on several committees including the ACCESS College Foundation and the United Negro College Fund, and serves as board chair for the Hampton Roads Workforce Council.

WINTE R 2021 CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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alumninotes ’03 BA Nathaniel A. Oliver was named the new general manager for the National Women’s Hockey League Buffalo Beauts team for the 2020-21 season. He was the team’s community manager last season. ’03 BS Jennifer L. Snekser, PhD, is a new assistant professor in the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation Department at Canisius College. ’04 BS Stacy Choczynski Johnson is the new medical director of Soundview Veterinary Hospital in Olympia, WA. She continues to serve as a veterinarian for South Bay Veterinary Hospital. ’04 BA Kimberly J. (Gamble) Greene was named quality manager for Nissha Medical Technologies in Colorado Springs, CO. She previously worked as a quality manager and quality engineer with Caplugs. ’05 BA, MS ’08 Gillian M. Barberich is a high school counselor at Global Concepts Charter School in Lackawanna. She is the former director of Year Round Programs for Horizons at Harley School in Rochester, NY. ’05 BA Ashley A. (Brown) Montanaro was promoted from account director to vice president for account services at the Mower Agency. ’05 BA Lindsay M. Karas Stencel became a partner at Thompson Hine LLP in Columbus, OH, where she oversees the law firm’s early stage and emerging companies practice.

Karas Stencel previously worked as chief legal counsel and managing partner at NCT, an early-stage venture capital firm. She also teaches as an adjunct professor at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. ’06 MS Kimberly A. Harvey is the new assistant vice president of student engagement at Nazareth College. She is the former interim vice president for enrollment management at SUNY Geneseo. ’06 BA Paul R. Loudenslager joined the law firm of Precision Resolution LLC, where he focuses his practice on healthcare lien resolutions in personal injury cases. He previously worked as a solo practitioner. ’06 BS Daniel S. Paolini, chief executive officer for Nexxus Point, received the 2020 Christ the King School Distinguished Alumni Award. ’06 BS Christopher R. Piedici became the new chief operating officer for HARBEC, a turnkey contract manufacturing service provider.

He is also president of Stever Locke Industries, a metal stamping manufacturer.

alumninotes ’06 BS Kathleen E. Scanlon was featured in Oswego County News for her work in helping Syracuse University student-athletes navigate their collegiate experiences. Scanlon is director of student-athlete academic development for the men’s basketball, volleyball and field hockey teams.

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’12 BA Joseph J. Danna is co-owner of a new credit union, Superbia, the first credit union in the United States founded specifically to serve the LGBTQ community and its allies.

’06 BS Jonathan M. Urban was promoted from senior software implementation specialist to director of software solutions with the nonprofit technology division of Brisbane Consulting Group. ’07 BA, MBA '08 Nicole M. (Bzibziak) Bodemer was promoted from financial accountant to associate director of finance for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Kleinhans Music Hall. ’07 BS, MBA ’09 Andrew R. Hahn was appointed vice president of retail investments for Northwest Investment Services, responsible for managing, supervising and directing all retail investment activities. He previously worked as chief financial officer for First Niagara Investment Services. ’07 BS Thomas W. Kallenbach is a senior process manager for debt and extended operations manager with Capital One in Richmond, VA. He previously worked as an account specialist and analyst for SunTrust. ’07 MBA James J. Kanutsu was promoted from project manager to vice president at J.E.G. Contracting. ’07 BS David J. Lever was promoted from cross-border senior tax manager at Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP to principal of the certified public accounting and business consulting firm. An IRS certifying acceptance agent, Lever specializes in identification and delivery of strategic business and tax solutions for international clients entering or expanding into the U.S. through start up or acquisition. ’07 BS Amanda D. (Meyer) McNall received her doctorate degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2020. ’08 BS Thomas J. Fennell was promoted from senior associate to partner at the law firm of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, where he focuses his practice in the area of commercial real estate transactions. ’08 BA Monica L. Stage is a new relationship manager for Trocaire College, responsible for designing and implementing donor and alumni events, projects and activities. She previously worked as a group tour and events manager for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. ’09 MSEd Lisa A. (Covey) Alff was promoted from senior program assistant to program administrator at Advanced Technology International (ATI) in Ladson, SC.

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’11 BA Christopher B. Mackay was promoted from vice president of account reference data to vice president of compliance at Citi.

CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE WINTE R 2021

’12 MBA Michael J. Edbauer, DO, was promoted to executive vice president, chief strategy and growth officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, where he guides the company’s strategy on growth, sales and differentiation in the evolving health market. He most recently served the company as senior vice president, chief strategy officer.

Bethany A. Solek ’01 BS, Psychology Career Highlight: Bethany Solek was sworn in as the 36th president of the local chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. Prior to her presidency, she served as president-elect and treasurer of the association.

Career Notes: Bethany Solek is a special victims prosecutor with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, where she has been assigned for the past six years. She previously worked with the district attorney’s vehicular crimes bureau, and prior to that was an associate at Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP in their Criminal Defense Department.

’09 MBA Lt. Col. Jamey J. Barcomb assumed command of the New York Army National Guard 153rd Troop Command (Brigade) in May 2020.

Headquartered at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, the unit is comprised of more than 1,600 soldiers from units across New York State and provides engineering, security, transportation, medical and explosive ordinance disposal support at home and abroad. ’09 BA Erin E. Brisson is a senior animal laboratory technician for UPSTATE Medical Hospital in Liverpool, NY. She previously worked as a K9 mingle coordinator for Clear Path for Veterans. ’09 BA Daphne L. (Inman) Ross was promoted from communications director to senior director of college success and communications for Say Yes Buffalo.

2010s ’10 MS Alissa Evans was promoted from an assistive technologist to learning strategist at Seneca College in Toronto, ON. She works with students with disabilities to help find the best strategies to assist them in their classroom learning and homework assignments. ’10 BA Kathryn F. Levy became coordinator of assessment and research for Trocaire College. She previously worked as a clinical researcher for Hospice Buffalo.

’10 BS Keith A. Pantling is the new athletic director for Lebanon High School in Lebanon, OH. He was the athletic director for the Little Miami athletics program, also in Lebanon.

'10 MS, MS '18 Bradley W. Rowles is the new principal of Lewiston-Porter High School in Youngstown, NY. He previously was the assistant principal at North Tonawanda High School. ’11 BS, MBA '12 Sean P. Balkin was promoted from associate to senior associate attorney in the corporate and securities practice group at the law firm of Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP. He focuses his practice in the areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions, investment funds and general corporate matters. ’11 BS Cory D. Conacher signed a three-year contract with the Lausanne Hockey Club of the Swiss National League. Conacher previously played for the Tampa Bay Lightning. ’11 BS Angela M. DeDionisio is an associate optometrist at Eye Care Group in Grants Pass, OR. She previously worked part-time as an independent optometrist within Stanton Optical in Medford, OR. ’11 BA Jeffrey Hartinger joined Buffalo-based Quality Solutions Group, which specializes in product development and manufacturing in the United States. He formerly worked as a marketing manager for Mitte, a hardware company in Berlin, Germany.

’12 MBA Lauren Lewis became the new president of the Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association in September. She formerly held the position of networking chair, a role in which she promoted numerous fundraising and networking events for the professional organization. ’12 BS Amadak E. Ubeng recently published her debut novel, Underworld Heaven, which she began writing as a student at Canisius. The book tells the story of a newly-orphaned girl, Rosie, who finds a bottle by a river bank and discovers it contains a journal documenting the secrets of a woman who never ages. The tales that lie in the journal soon intertwine with Rosie’s life. ’13 BS Brianna DeJoy is a new staff photographer for FIFTEEN. She previously was a photographer for Tony Walker & Co. ’13 BS, MS ’15 Cecelia R. Gotham is the new assistant director of donor relations at Fordham University in New York, NY. She previously worked as associate director of regional volunteers and programs at the University of Rochester. ’13 MS Matthew T. Zalucki is a new implementation consultant for Deltek, a computer software firm, in Albany, NY. He previously worked with MM Hayes as an application consultant. ’14 BS, MBA ‘15 Michael G. Anczok Jr., vice president and COO for Superior Lubricants Co. Inc., was named to Business First’s “30 Under 30.” The list recognizes those individuals who are in the early stages of their careers and are achieving at high levels at work and in their communities. ’14 BA Molly A. Burhans, founder and executive director of GoodLands, received the United Nations' Young Champions of the Earth Award for North America. Burhans was recognized for her work in founding GoodLands, an organization which is mapping the Church’s global real estate holdings to help better understand climate change, migration and a range of interconnected ecological concerns.

’14 MS Dan W. Lukasiewicz is a new instructional technologist at Western Governors University, a private, nonprofit online university based in Salt Lake City, UT. He is the former instructional technologist at Bryant & Stratton College in Orchard Park, NY.

NY, a family business that specializes in commercial construction site work and agricultural drainage.

’18 MS Cheyenne C. Hawk was appointed director of ticket operations for the Stockton Heat Hockey Club in Bowling Green, OH. She previously worked as director of membership and ticket operations for the Arena Football League in Columbus, OH.

’14 BS Daniel C. Miller is a new staff therapist for Syracuse University, where he recently completed his postgraduate residency.

’16 MS Cheryl (Perrington) Krouse, co-owner of Samana Salt Spa in Lewiston, NY, is the new director of education and research for the Salt Therapy Association, which generates awareness about the salt therapy industry and its influence on respiratory health, wellness and preventative care.

’15 BS Timothy P. Edwards was named to the Major League Lacrosse roster for the 2020 season. He will play for the Boston Cannons.

’16 MS Brandon Lewis was promoted from academic advisor to undergraduate program coordinator for the School of Public Health at SUNY Albany.

’19 BS Holden R. Garlent was named to the Major League Lacrosse roster for the 2020 season. He will play defense for the Chesapeake Bayhawks.

’15 MS Nicholas V. Mancuso is the owner of Elevate Sports Performance Center in Rochester, NY. The strength and conditioning facility specializes in team training, small group training, personal training and nutrition. Mancuso is the former director of sports performance for Midtown Athletic Clubs.

’17 BS Allison G. Kelley recently earned her MS in biological sciences from Marshall University in WV.

’19 BA Mary C. Russo is pursuing her master’s degree in leadership and innovation at Daemen College while working as a graduate assistant with the school’s events and marketing team.

’15 BA Gabrielle A. Mesches, a clinical research coordinator for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, is a new volunteer peer support facilitator for Step Up for Mental Health in Chicago, IL. ’15 BA Morgan L. Rodriguez is a registered nurse in the Psychiatric Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Health in Syracuse, NY. She previously was a student nurse technician for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. ’15 MS Collin J. Stout is the new coordinator of undergraduate research and student retention for the College of Science at the University of Arizona.

He previously worked as program coordinator for the university’s Office of Recruitment and Engagement within the College of Science.

’17 MS Sean M. McShea is the new senior internal auditor for Wegmans Food Markets in Rochester, NY. He previously worked as an auditor and investigator for the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York.

’18 MS Sarah M. Merritt was promoted from health project coordinator to regional program manager at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

’19 MS Lenika M. Vazquez is the new head volleyball coach at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. She is a former adjunct professor and head volleyball coach at Canisius.

What are You Doing?

?

Have you recently changed jobs? Changed your name? Or moved?

If so, the Office of Alumni Engagement wants to know.

Help us keep you connected and informed about all things Canisius. Visit canisius.edu/alumni and click on “Stay Connected.”

We can’t wait to hear from you!

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’15 BA, MS ‘18 Alexis C. Williams is a school counselor at City Honors School in Buffalo. ’16 MBA Emilie J. (Riester) Beecher is a consultant for workforce solutions at Chamberlain University, which operates 22 campuses nationwide.

She previously worked as a healthcare development specialist for the university. ’16 MSA Jazmyn M. Haywood became the new program coordinator for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at Monroe Community College near Rochester, NY. She is a former substitute teacher within the Rochester City School District. ’16 BS Lee W. Huber was promoted from financial analyst with the Internal Valuation Group at M&T Bank to financial analyst for the corporation’s Mergers & Acquisitions Division. ’16 MBA Chad A. Klotzbach was sworn in as a District 1 representative on the Genesee County Legislature, serving Alabama and Oakfield.

Klotzbach is managing partner of Alleghany Farm Services in Basom,

Elizabeth Ramsey MSA ’12 Sport Administration Career Highlight: Elizabeth Ramsey became the first executive director for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Athletes’ Advisory Council. The newly-created position formalizes the power of the Athletes’ Advisory Committee and allows it to more effectively and professionally advise the USOPC and advocate on behalf of athletes.

Career Notes: Ramsey most recently worked in the front office of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings as its director of basketball operations and intelligence. She’s worked in sports for more than a decade, as a member of the NBA Women in Basketball Operations Committee and with the NCAA. She holds a law degree from Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law. WINTE R 2021 CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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alumninotes

alumninotes

IN MEMORIAM Peter J. Murrett Jr. ’43 December 10, 2019

Chester J. Dompkowski ’57 May 31, 2020

Robert I. Gannon ’66 March 6, 2020

Anthony M. Serra ’76 September 24, 2019

Lucian C. Parlato ’47 March 31, 2020

Robert E. Marusza ’57 March 29, 2020

Annette T. (Sparcino) Mussachio ’66 April 7, 2020

Richard T. Vallone Jr. ’77 April 20, 2020

Edward M. Zehler ’47, MD July 16, 2020

Joseph T. Murphy ’58 December 7, 2019

Alfred E. Skretny ’66, ’90 March 19, 2020

Michael D. Haungs ’78 March 21, 2020

Joseph S. Cutrona ’48 October 3, 2019

Walter A. Palka Jr. ’58 December 30, 2019

James R. DeSantis ’67 September 24, 2019

Herbert V. Morrison ’78 December 17, 2019

John P. Brett ’49 September 23, 2019

(Ret.) Col. John F. Conlon ’59 April 26, 2020

Norbert R. Wessel ’67 October 26, 2019

Joseph F. Schmid ’78 October 3, 2019

Nelson F. Hasselbeck Jr. ’50 October 29, 2019

Catherine V. Divizio ’59 March 21, 2020

Brian E. Keating ’68 October 11, 2019

Br. Maurice Dismas Beique ’80 June 29, 2020

Thomas R. Hess ’50 April 5, 2020

Norbert J. Mruk ’59, PhD January 8, 2020

Robert E. Nesslin ’68 December 19, 2019

James D. Nowakowski ’80, MD June 23, 2020

John V. McFarland ’50 March 13, 2020

John W. Orlowski ’59 December 5, 2019

Maura C. Desmond ’69 March 8, 2020

Suzanne S. Prorok ’80 April 3, 2020

William J. Rae ’50, PhD July 15, 2020

Alfred Skieresz ’59 March 25, 2020

Thomas P. Connare ’70 January 9, 2020

Irene E. (Gapinski) Adamski ’81 September 26, 2019

Paul A. Stephan ’50, MS ’52 December 2, 2019

Ronald G. Basalyga ’60, MD February 13, 2020

Norman H. Dehn ’70 October 28, 2019

Alan W. Meholick ’81, MD October 26, 2019

Edward J. Zimmermann ’50, MS ’57, MA ’65, PhD October 15, 2019

Michael J. Bogner ’60 July 4, 2020

Paul M. Sherrington ’70, MS ’73 September 28, 2019

Deborah A. (Radlowski) Domino ’82 September 22, 2019

Joseph J. Callanan ’60, MD May 29, 2020

Raymond J. Cenni MS ’71 August 14, 2020

Mary Ann (Kuntz) Hoffert ’84 December 12, 2019

Donald J. Norton ’60 May 24, 2020

Gordon L. English MS ’71 August 5, 2020

Daryl L. Johnston MSEd ’84 June 9, 2020

Angeline D. (Brucklier) Padula ’60 March 18, 2020

Karl J. Puzio ’71 March 29, 2020

Florence A. Flakes-Rozier ’85 November 12, 2019

Joseph V. Clonan Jr. ’61 May 12, 2020

James W. Yates MS ’71 June 14, 2020

Donald E. Galluch ’61 June 8, 2020

Thomas C. DiPasquale ’51 June 16, 2020 Ladislaus J. Kostrzewski ’51 December 5, 2019 Frank R. Parlato ’51 March 7, 2020 Robert C. Sippel ’51 April 24, 2020 James G. Stengel ’51, MD March 29, 2020 Eugene C. Tenney ’51 October 31, 2019 Donald D. Fregelette ’52 April 8, 2020 Lawrence W. Grogan Jr. ’52 February 11, 2020 Ida R. (Sciolino) Mruk ’52 April 5, 2020 Giacomo J. Saccomando ’52 October 4, 2019 Dennis P. Heimback ’53, MD January 11, 2020 Franklin R. Weitz ’53, MS ’62 January 5, 2020 Romilda K. (Witek) Plonsky ’54 October 28, 2019 Edward F. Slawinski Jr. ’54 February 14, 2020 John J. Kaluzny ’55 March 29, 2020 Lawrence P. Titzler ’55 April 17, 2020 John W. West ’55 October 21, 2019 Frank D. Guglielmo ’56 May 21, 2020 John J. McCarthy ’56 May 9, 2020 Margaret M. (Fitzgerald) Schwarz ’56 March 23, 2020

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Weddings

Carol L. Adornetto ’09 and Anthony DeVincentis, October 12, 2019 Pictured (l-r) Emil DeVincentis ’77; Heather (Blackmon) Rogers’09; Emil DeVincentis ’04; Kristen (Shelley) Phillips ’08; Bradford Phillips ’08; Kiersten (Coon) Rhoades ’09; Carol (Adornetto) DeVincentis ’09; Okan Oguz ’09; Anthony DeVincentis; Gabrielle (Green) Doherty; Lindsay Adornetto ’07; Rina Hanna-Gregoretti ’11; Julia (Kuczmarski) Thomson ’09; Danielle Becker; and Carrie (Leistner) Joseph ’11. Photographer: Seventh Arrow Studio of Photography

Joseph D. Mills Jr. ’04, MD and Christina Leo October 4, 2019

René R. Pienta ’09 and Joseph R. Orlando ’09 June 15, 2019

Samantha C. Meyer ’15 and Timothy J. Szalkowski ’12 September 14, 2019

Helen Klimas ’85 January 29, 2020

Mark K. Crehan ’05, MS ’08 and Jessica O'Connor September 14, 2019

Samantha P. Orrange ’10 and Jacob M. Slack ’09 September 21, 2019

Julie A. Moslow ’15 and Steven P. Szrama October 26, 2019

Jerome E. Bryk ’72 April 7, 2020

Don E. Darden ’87 February 10, 2020

Alyce M. Herbert ’08 and Jose Narvaez August 31, 2019

Ryan A. Geary ’13 and Katherine E. Kreuz October 12, 2019

(Ret.) Lt. Col. Richard W. McCann ’61 May 24, 2020

Douglas V. Drumsta ’72 December 4, 2019

Jessitine Smith ’87 April 10, 2020

Frances P. Guzzo ’16, MBA ’17 and James H. May IV ’16 November 8, 2019

James D. Ryan Jr. MS ’62, PhD July 10, 2020

Gary F. Kelchlin ’72 August 16, 2019

Charles A. Williams ’88 December 3, 2019

Thomas E. Andruschat ’63 February 7, 2020

Daniel B. Kujawinski MS ’72 January 18, 2020

John G. Gould ’89 September 8, 2019

Henry D. Drew ’63, PhD October 7, 2019

Betty J. McMahon ’72 January 7, 2020

Michael S. Santonato ’89 November 17, 2019

Peter M. Kooshoian ’63 January 1, 2020

Timothy T. Golomb ’73 February 19, 2020

Joseph L. Maciejewski IV ’90 December 30, 2019

Norbert J. Skrzypczyk ’63 January 23, 2020

Martin L. Miller ’73 December 10, 2019

Anthony M. Percival ’91 April 7, 2020

Catherine M. Torre ’63 November 2, 2019

James J. Tricoli ’73, MS ’78 January 12, 2020

Kevin R. Maras ’92 August 17, 2019

Harold H. Izard MS ’64, EdD February 2, 2020

Joseph A. Capuana ’74 June 27, 2020

Laurie R. (Robinson) Radwan ’92 January 1, 2020

Joseph E. Langenbach ’64 April 17, 2020

James R. Golding ’74 October 16, 2019

Michael P. Gordon ’94, MS ’01 May 11, 2020

Lee J. Vaughan ’64 February 29, 2020

Robert J. O’Connor IV ’74 December 5, 2019

John A. Boyd ’99 April 22, 2020

William V. Buccella ’65 February 15, 2020

Christopher J. Owens ’74 April 6, 2020

Donna M. Osinski ’02 December 1, 2019

William L. Holcomb ’65 March 6, 2020

Charles G. Stetter Jr. ’74 August 17, 2019

Alicia L. Lawrence ’05, MS ’07 April 16, 2020

Christine S. (Wegrzynowski) Maricle ’65 November 9, 2019

Florence Helen (Buczkowski) Wagner ’74 February 6, 2020

Brian A. Bauer ’06 December 18, 2019

Richard G. Boehm ’66 October 19, 2019

Gerald J. Kantor ’75 November 23, 2019

Robert P. McCann ’13 February 5, 2020

John H. Fitzgerald ’66 February 9, 2020

Patrick S. O'Keefe ’75 December 11, 2019

Nicole R. Wise ’16 October 16, 2019

Robert J. Licker ’76 June 6, 2020

babygriffs THIS ISSUE'S FEATURED BABY GRIFF

Noah Philip

a son, born August 3, 2020 to Jeremy H. Mesches ’04 and Corinne Mesches

Julie M. (Przepiora) Fisher ’99 and Arron J. Fisher MSEd ’02, a son, Everett Xavier, born July 8, 2019

Jessica L. (Chojecki) Kardashian ’10, MSEd ’12 and Robert Kardashian, a son, Lincoln Joseph, born September 9, 2019

Andrea N. (Capan) Langston ’06 and William Langston, a son, Brayden Thomas, born April 9, 2020

Elizabeth A. (Rosic) Mosher ’07 and Derek A. Mosher ’07, a son, Parker Jack, born September 24, 2019 WINTE R 2021 CANISIUS COLLEGE M AGA ZINE

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alumniprofile

alumniprofile

Just Mercy Zachariah Presutti ’07 brings Ignatian spirituality to the incarcerated Story: Audrey R. Browka / Photos: Thrive for Life Prison Project

Many of us might be hard-pressed to find inspiration in a maximum security prison if ever we were to visit one. But it is behind the walls of such places as Rikers Island and Sing Sing Correctional Facility that Zachariah F. Presutti ’07 says he “finds a grace that gives light to his own religious life.”

Presutti is a Jesuit scholar who was ordained a transitional deacon in October and is currently preparing for his priestly ordination in June 2021. At age 33, he is also the founder of a progressive and promising restorative justice initiative known as the Thrive for Life Prison Project. Through spiritual and educational accompaniment, the not-for-profit empowers the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated to “rediscover the loving and generous people they were created to be by God,” Presutti explains.

His inspiration for Thrive for Life originated at the onset of Presutti’s Jesuit formation, when his novice master assigned him to prison ministry in Syracuse, NY. Presutti recalls his conversations with the incarcerated as “profound and deep” and describes being “transformed by their names, faces and stories.” Around the same time, a much more personal circumstance confirmed, for Presutti, his purpose: the arrest of his cousin.

“Watching the tears fall down his face opposite the Plexiglas window and not being able to touch him or hug him … my own blood …”

Presutti trails off. “I realized then that the Holy Spirit was calling me to provide companionship, accompaniment and love to those who need it most.”

These three virtues are the pillars of the Thrive for Life Prison Project, which operates within seven federal, state and municipal facilities throughout New York and New Jersey. It is behind these walls that Presutti and his team bring the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola to more than 1,000 incarcerated men and women.

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“Everyone in the room bears witness to each other’s burdens and humanity, and they begin to discover what’s most meaningful to them,” Presutti says. Though exploring feelings is initially foreign to many of those Presutti counsels, he notes that “A mutual hope eventually arises among participants that life can be better; that we can be better.”

Bolstering that hope is the knowledge that once participants are released from prison, they have a place to call home.

Ignacio House is a physical extension of Thrive for Life’s mission.

Located in the Bronx, it offers a safe and stable living environment for formerly incarcerated individuals who wish to further their holistic growth and develop life skills. This community of residents is eligible to receive assistance in studying for their GEDs and learning English as a second language, as well as scholarships to local colleges and universities. They also receive workforce training and access to job opportunities.

“It’s not enough to just go behind the walls and tell people how much God loves them,” Presutti says. “We have to be there when they take their next steps to reenter society sometimes 10, 20 or 30 years after incarceration.”

Such continuity of care can be effective in ensuring a sustainable transition from prison. For Presutti, however, and the incarcerated for whom he cares, it’s simply the next step in helping them to rediscover their dignity that he believes was there from the beginning.

“People talk about giving the formerly incarcerated second chances,” says Presutti. “I would argue that most of those I’ve met behind bars were robbed of a first chance. The socioeconomic and unjust social structures of our society trapped them into failure from the very beginning, robbing them of those components integral to human flourishment and an individual’s ability to thrive in life.”

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