Canisius College Winter 2016 Magazine by Canisius University

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION Buffalo’s rebirth makes the region a prime location for young adults to learn, launch a career and build a life.

president’sperspective

JOHN J. HURLEY

Canisius College Magazine WINTER 2016 VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1

Not long ago, a prominent local bank executive and I were marveling at all of the changes underway in Buffalo. We are both about the same age and he remarked that for most of his life, the region had seen nothing but decline. I hate to date myself but he was right. I had just turned three when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in June of 1959, the event generally regarded as the beginning of the end for industrial Buffalo as we had known it from the mid-19th century. The good news coming out of Western New York, or Buffalo Niagara as it is now known, is that we are talking less and less about the past glories of steel-making, shipping, grain and automobiles. Instead, our conversation is more about the future, a future that is being defined by cuttingedge research in the life sciences and medicine, advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship, parks and architecture, the waterfront, and a suddenly-growing 25-34 year old demographic returning to live in the central city.

President John J. Hurley Vice President for Advancement William M. Collins Director of Public Relations & Executive Editor Eileen C. Herbert ’04, MS ’15 Managing Editor Audrey R. Browka Creative Director Patty Herkey Art Director Cody Weiler Contributing Writers Nina (Cimino) Barone ’06 Kristin E. Etu ’91 Makayla A. Santiago Photography Eric Frick Tom Wolf ’86

This is very good news for those of us who have staked our lives and careers on this region. And it’s good news for venerable institutions like Canisius College, which was established in 1870 as Buffalo was in the midst of a period of growth and development that in many ways looks like what we are experiencing today. Canisius stands poised to capitalize on the renaissance of the region. We’re in the heart of the city, three subway stops from $1 billion of construction being completed at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Our Division I men’s hockey team is in residence at HARBORCENTER, the $220 million complex created by Terry and Kim Pegula at Canalside on Buffalo’s waterfront. And our signature academic programs are helping to create critical intellectual capital that will help the region capitalize on these opportunities and ultimately, thrive. We are in the midst of a new round of strategic planning at Canisius and we are focusing on the opportunities that Buffalo Niagara presents us. We are talking about new programs and initiatives to meet emerging needs. Rest assured, however, that we are also talking about how we might better live out our Jesuit mission and play a meaningful role in addressing challenges in the community, so that the problems of the old Buffalo don’t prevent us from realizing the dreams of the new Buffalo.

To Contact Us 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 Erratum The fall 2015 issue of Canisius Magazine erroneously omitted LTC Jamey J. Barcomb MBA ’09 from the "All in the Family" listing (page 19). Barcomb’s son, Michael, is a freshman at Canisius.

contents WINTER 2016

06 | Student Spotlight

10 | Cover Story

GAME ON

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Live, from Canisius, it’s ESPN3 – a student-produced broadcast featuring Golden Griffin athletics.

Buffalo’s rebirth makes the region a prime location for young adults to learn, launch a career and build a life.

20 Alumni Spotlights

departments

20 | A STORIED CAREER

BLUE & GOLD BRIEFS

FACULTY NOTES

ADVANCEMENT

AND UPDATES

C ANISIUS CONNECTIONS

Veteran New York Times reporter Elaine Sciolino ’70, HON ’92 writes the next chapter in her remarkable narrative.

27 | AN INSPIRING EDUCATOR Math teacher Keith Wiley ’78, MBA ’81 helps students solve problems and change the course of their lives.

CAMPUS NEWS AND NOTES

FACULTY NEWS AND UPDATES

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

A LUMNI NE WS A ND NOTE S

Gill Named New Dean of Arts and Sciences Canisius Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret C. McCarthy, PhD, appointed Elizabeth A. Gill, PhD, as the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Gill will begin work at the college on July 11. She comes to Canisius from Randolph-Macon College, a private liberal arts and sciences college in Ashland, VA, where she acquired considerable academic experience both as a faculty member and administrator. “For nearly 20 years, I have been part of a team of teachers, scholars and administrators whose efforts have enhanced student success through innovative curricular engagement, quality student-centered learning opportunities and institutional diversity,” says Gill. “I am delighted that I will now be able to draw on these experiences to help move Canisius College forward on its ambitious and forward-thinking academic agenda.” As chief academic officer for the largest of Canisius’ three academic schools, Gill will be responsible for enhancing the academic profile of the college. She will manage the implementation of new academic programs, strengthen assessment measures to improve student learning, and develop and implement student support systems to improve retention. Gill will also foster interdisciplinary learning and scholarship, promote service opportunities and service-learning components of academic courses, and support the faculty as it implements and fine tunes the college’s core curriculum. Gill holds a BA in sociology from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX; an MA in medical sociology from Yale University; and a PhD in sociology from the University of Texas, Austin. WEB EXTRA

Read more about the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at canisius.edu/magazine.

Father Tunney Leaves for Fairfield Appointed to new position by superior general Canisius will lose a longstanding member of the campus community in July when Rev. Michael F. Tunney, SJ, assumes the role of rector of the Fairfield Jesuit community in Connecticut. Appointed to the new position by the superior general of the Jesuits, Father Tunney leaves Canisius having served as professor of fine arts and director of that program. He is also past rector of the Canisius Jesuit community. As the college’s first director of mission and identity, Father Tunney promoted a deeper understanding and the active engagement of the Catholic, Jesuit education at Canisius College.

John Beilein

One of the most successful men’s basketball coaches in Canisius history returned to the Koessler Athletic Center this winter for the 20-year anniversary of the program’s only MAAC championship. Canisius recognized John Beilein, along with members of the 1994, 1995 and 1996 men’s basketball teams, during halftime of the Canisius-Siena game on January 24. In those three years, the Canisius team went to two NITs and an NCAA Tournament. The 1993-94 Golden Griffins won the program’s only MAAC regular-season crown and the 1996 team is the last in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament. WEB EXTRA

| CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

View photos from Coach John Beilein’s visit at canisius.edu/magazine.

blue&goldbriefs Canisius to Establish Youth Theology Institute Initiative will introduce students to Catholic philosophy and theology Canisius is one of a select group of colleges across the nation to receive a $583,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The college will use the grant to establish the Be the Light Youth Theology Institute. The institute will provide high school juniors and seniors with opportunities to explore theological traditions, ask questions about the moral dimensions of contemporary issues and examine how their faith calls them to live lives of service. “The creation of this institute at Canisius is an opportunity for us to express, more deeply, our commitment to our Catholic, Jesuit identity,” said President John J. Hurley in announcing the award. “Our unique approach for this institute will introduce high school students to what the Jesuits have called ‘the faith that does justice,’ namely, Catholic philosophy and theology, viewed through the lenses of Ignatian spirituality and pedagogy.” Participants will be guided by Canisius professors in the Philosophy and Religious Studies and Theology departments, members of the Canisius Jesuit community, leaders from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation that supports religion, education and community development.

Commencement 2016 Life sciences investor and Jesuit priest and author to address graduates A venture capitalist and an internationally renowned author and editor-at-large will address the Canisius College Class of 2016 during commencement ceremonies in May at the Koessler Athletic Center. Terrance McGuire, a native of Lancaster, NY addresses the graduate class at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 18. A founding partner of Polaris Partners, McGuire is best known for commercializing academic research. He has more than 25 years of successful early-stage investing experience in medical and information technology companies. These companies have touched more than 60 million patients and saved more than 400,000 lives. Rev. James Martin, SJ, is editor-at-large of the national Catholic magazine America, and the author of several books. His memoir, My Life with the Saints, sold more than 120,000 copies and is used by universities, high schools and parishes worldwide. Father Martin also writes for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and O Magazine, and has appeared on the BBC, Voice of America and Vatican Radio. He is perhaps most recognizable as the chaplain on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”

Terrance McGuire

Father Martin delivers the commencement address to undergraduates at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 21. Canisius will confer honorary degrees upon Father Martin and McGuire during commencement ceremonies. Also receiving honorary degrees from the college are Edwin Mirand, PhD, DSc, vice president emeritus for educational affairs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Michael S. Taheri of the Taheri and Todoro Law Firm; and Joseph Sr. and Shirley Basil, founders of the Basil Automotive Group. Rev. James Martin, SJ

Story: Kristin E. Etu ‘91 | Photo: Eric Frick

It’s game on for students in the college’s new sports broadcast and journalism concentration. The team streamed its inaugural broadcast (women’s volleyball) in September on ESPN3 from the recently opened Golden Griffin Sports Broadcast Center. Just hours before the first serve, however, the wife of the full-time color commentator went into labor. Communication studies major Andrew C. Helwig ’19 stepped up to fill in. “My heart skipped a beat,” Helwig says about the phone call from Assistant Athletic Director of Communications Matt Reitnour asking him to substitute. “Matt asked ‘Are you willing and able to call the game tonight?’ I immediately said ‘yes!’” The Golden Griffin Sports Broadcast Center is the result of a collaboration involving Canisius’ athletic program, the Communication Studies Department and ESPN3. The partnership gives students the opportunity to produce live athletic events for the online streaming service owned by ESPN. The four-, five- and six-camera high-definition (HD) game productions feature full network-branded graphics, replay and two- or three-person broadcast crews. “Students are involved in the production from start to finish, and work and train alongside professionals in the classroom and in the studio,” says John S. Dahlberg, PhD, chair and professor of communication studies. Located in Science Hall, the Golden Griffin Sports Broadcast Center essentially serves as a classroom. “It’s set up to ESPN3 standards. The equipment students use is the same found in any other ESPN3 control room,” says Sam Hallett, director of digital media for athletics. Hallett also teaches Sports Broadcast Production I and II. Students in level I learn to work the cameras, the audio board, and do replay, graphics and technical directing. Level II students direct and produce the games. “They’re taught to perform the same jobs that they’ll find when they graduate and start work in the field,” Hallett adds. “Before, I thought maybe I could pursue a career in sports broadcasting but now it’s a reality,” says Helwig who chose Canisius because of the new ESPN3 partnership. “I take classes that teach me specific skills and then I’m able to put those skills to work in the studio.” “Working on a live broadcast, you learn to think on your feet and come up with solutions to whatever problems may arise,”

LIVE, FROM CANISIUS, IT’S ESPN3 A STUDENT - PRODUCED BROADCAST FEATURING GOLDEN GRIFFIN ATHLETICS

adds C.J. Gates ’16, a journalism major and editor-in-chief of The Griffin. The Golden Griffin broadcast schedule includes men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse. Coming soon will be the live-streaming of baseball, softball and hockey games. The addition will further increase practical learning opportunities for students and broaden the reach of the Canisius brand. ESPN3 is currently available to 99 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive high-speed internet connections or video subscriptions from affiliated service providers. “Parents, athletes and alumni are very excited about the ability to watch games both live and on replay,” says Athletics Director Bill J. Maher ’89, who notes that Canisius is only the third member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) to offer a full slate of home sporting events on ESPN3. “By making this move to deliver games on ESPN3, Canisius has shown that it has a serious understanding of how sports fans, including alumni and prospective student-athletes, consume media in this day and age,” MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor states. “The fact that the college took steps to include its communication studies program in production efforts further proves that Canisius’ vision will make this effort successful for years to come.” In addition to live-event production, Canisius students produce pregame, halftime and postgame content, as well as feature packages, commercials and coaches shows. “It’s a wonderful learning experience to have the opportunity to try many different roles during games,” Gates adds. “It will definitely help in my job search that I have all this experience with ESPN-level equipment.” In fact, it’s the exact kind of real-world training students need to break into the hot market of broadcast journalism. “Students will leave here job ready, with an extensive portfolio and a resume that says they worked for ESPN,” Dahlberg says. Stay tuned.

To catch all the action, download the WatchESPN app (free) on your mobile device,

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016 |

facultynotes Bubble-Blowing Belugas Canisius study finds bubbles reveal moods of whales A new study released by Canisius Professor of Animal Behavior Michael Noonan, PhD, finds that the different shaped bubbles blown by Beluga whales may be indicative of their moods. The eight-year study examined more than 11,000 bubbling events recorded over nearly 5,000 minutes of observation and determined that nearly all Beluga bubbles (97.2 percent) fall into one of four shape categories, and that each bubble shape is suggestive of a Beluga’s mood. When Belugas feel playful, they release either blowhole drip or mouth ring bubbles. Blowhole burst bubbles “are a manifestation of a Beluga’s startle response,” explains Noonan. And though blowhole stream bubbles are considered a form of aggression in humpback whales, the Canisius study found that Belugas typically blow these bubbles when they are swimming amicably alongside one another. Bubbling is a fairly common behavior among Belugas however “since the very lives of marine mammals depend on maintaining enough oxygen in their blood while underwater, the main objective of the study was to determine the reason (or reasons) Belugas blow bubbles,” Noonan adds. Noonan collaborated on his research with Debra T. Burhans, PhD, associate professor of computer science, and Elizabeth George ’15.

Aronica

Lavere

Volonino

Annino

WEB EXTRA

IN MEMORIAM

Read more about the scholarly accomplishments of these professors at canisius.edu/magazine.

It is with deep sadness that Canisius Magazine reports the passing of four current and former professors. Susan M. Aronica, PhD, professor and chair of the Biology Department, died suddenly on February 9. She was 50. Hired by Canisius in 1997, Aronica helped shepherd the new biology curriculum and mentored countless students. Emeritus Professor of Philosophy George J. Lavere, PhD, passed away on February 2 at the age of 91. Lavere taught at Canisius for more than 30 years before his retirement in 1987. Linda A. Volonino, PhD, entered into rest on December 20, 2015. She was 63. A professor of information systems, Volonino taught undergraduate and graduate coursework, and authored several books on computer forensics. Longtime chemistry professor Ray Annino, PhD, died in May 2015. He was 87. Annino is remembered as an engaging educator, an accomplished mentor and the first Canisius faculty member to receive the prestigious Schoellkoph Medal.

Questioning the Evidence Landmark research by Physics Professor H. David Sheets, PhD, indicates that bite-mark analysis in criminal cases can lead to false impressions Story: Audrey R. Browka | Photo: Tom Wolf ’86

Forensic science is a vital crime-fighting tool in today’s criminal justice system. But it can also lead to false convictions, according to H. David Sheets, PhD. Landmark research by the Canisius physics professor proves that bite-mark analysis is “far from an exact science.” Bite-mark analysis compares the teeth of crime suspects to bite-mark patterns on victims. Historically, forensic odontologists (dentists who provide forensic dental identifications in criminal investigations and mass disasters) operate under two general guidelines when interpreting bite-mark evidence. First, that everyone’s dental impression is unique, similar to fingerprints, and, secondly, that human skin reliably records an individual’s dental impression. But these notions “have never been validated scientifically,” says Sheets. He and his colleagues, Mary A. Bush, DDS and Peter J. Bush, from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, sought to do just that. They examined more than 1,000 human dentitions and studied hundreds of bite marks in cadaver skin. With the help of computer analysis and applied statistics, the team worked to match its database of bite marks to the correct dental impressions.

“ When the dental alignments were similar, it was

difficult to distinguish exactly which set of teeth made which bites,” Sheets says. “That tells us that a single bite mark is not distinct enough to be linked to a specific individual. It can actually point to many different individuals. " The Canisius-UB study is among the largest conducted on bite-mark analysis and the first to use human-skin models (rather than animal models, wax or Styrofoam). More notable is that its findings call into question criminal convictions that rested entirely on bite-mark evidence. Since 2000, at least 25 people convicted on bite-mark evidence have been exonerated due to advances in DNA testing, according to the Innocence Project. The national organization, which works to free wrongfully convicted individuals, is now using the Canisius-UB study to help build a case for having bite-mark evidence cast out of criminal proceedings. “This is an example of where science can help prevent future wrongful convictions and perhaps even provide some social justice for those already convicted,” Sheets concludes. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which provide oversight to the federal forensic community, recently appointed H. David Sheets, PhD, to its expert working group on human factors in handwriting analysis. Sheets is charged with identifying the human factors that affect the outcomes of forensic analyses and developing best practices that reduce the likelihood of future errors. CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016 |

| CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

Buffalo’s rebirth makes the region a prime location for young adults to learn, launch a career and build a life. Story: Nina (Cimino) Barone ’06 and Audrey R. Browka Photos: Tom Wolf ’86 It may be winter in Western New York but the city of Buffalo is in full bloom. Tangible signs of development are apparent in every direction: To the north, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) is erupting into an expansive and vital high-tech health corridor. To the south, a four-seasons’ destination is beckoning visitors from far and wide to the HARBORCENTER hockey and entertainment complex and its Canalside companion. In between and all along the outskirts, the groundwork is being laid for innovative job-generating industries and the robust rise of a truly metropolitan housing market. Add a world-class educational institution like Canisius to the mix, and the depth and breadth of opportunities for college students becomes unlimited. “Buffalo’s rebirth will provide young adults with a renewed opportunity to learn, to launch a career and to build a life in this region,” says Kathleen B. Davis, vice president for enrollment management at Canisius. In fact, the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) ranks Buffalo 12th (among mid-size metros) on its most recent list of Best U.S. Cities for College Students. The ranking takes into account the area’s cost of living, earning potential for residents, diversity and city accessibility. It also considers Buffalo’s entrepreneurial activity, capacity for academic research and development, percent of the population with college degrees, and concentration of arts, entertainment and recreation venues. Now you’re probably wondering what all this means for high school students (and their parents) amid the college search process. The answer? Plenty! “A college’s physical location matters more than ever before in the ultimate success of graduates,” Davis says.

“ A college’s physical location matters more than ever before in the ultimate success of graduates.”

How are Canisius students embracing the revived spirit of the college’s hometown?

To find out, Canisius Magazine polled the undergraduate student population. The results of our brief survey are below.

1 2 3 4 5 6 12

Best place to be – and be seen ELMWOOD AVENUE Tastiest food truck fare LLOYD TACO TRUCK Hottest hangout for a cup of Joe SPOT COFFEE Artsy-est area in Buffalo ALBRIGHT-KNOX ART GALLERY Site to see when their folks are in town CANALSIDE Where to go to get their groove on CANALSIDE CONCERT SERIES

| CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

Juston Lee Locklear ’17 concurs. “When I started looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to be in a city where I would not get lost in the shuffle,” says Locklear, a junior from St. Pauls, NC. “I wanted a place that offered a variety of big city experiences and opportunities but had a small-town feel.” In fact, the value of higher education, Davis continues, “is increasingly tied to practical learning and living experiences available off campus.” Think internships, research opportunities, volunteer and service work. “These experiences are plentiful for students who go to school in regions that are growing and have diverse economies.” And that’s exactly where Buffalo is headed.

BACK IN BUSINESS The Rust Belt roots of what was once an industrial hub are now replaced by innovative enterprises in advanced manufacturing, business services, life sciences and high-tech trades. All these new industries – and others – are rapidly reshaping and reviving Buffalo’s economy. In just the last year, SolarCity began construction on what promises to be the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere. When opened in 2017, the full-service solar power provider will create 1,500 jobs in the region. The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) broke ground on a twomillion-square-foot clinical, research and development complex, which is expected to bring an additional 5,000 jobs downtown next year. The consortium of world-class hospitals, healthcare facilities and research institutions already employs 12,000. IBM announced the addition of 500 new information technology jobs to its Buffalo workforce. Employees will develop next-generation software for molecular research, genomics, energy efficiency development and defense. But that’s not all.

THE YOUNG AND THE EDUC ATED Buffalo is working overtime to bring even more innovative business ventures to town. Local efforts include 43North, a business plan competition that awards up to $5 million in prizes to winning companies that relocate here. Start-Up NY is a statewide initiative that provides tax exemptions to new and expanding businesses when they locate on or near college campuses. The idea is to spur economic development while providing joint research opportunities for college faculty and practical learning experiences for students. In Buffalo, more than 40 companies and 11 higher education institutions participate in StartUp NY. Canisius College is proud to be among them. And if all this wasn’t enough: “It used to be that people moved to where the businesses were,” says George M. Palumbo, PhD, professor of economics and director of Canisius’ one-year MBA program. “Increasingly, businesses look to expand or move to locations where there is an abundance of talent, especially young, college-educated talent.”

It’s easy then to understand Buffalo’s appeal. The region is home to 22 higher education institutions, which enroll a combined 112,000 students and graduate 28,000 annually. Buffalo employers eagerly take advantage of this broad talent pool, most often via internship programs. “Our internship program really helps Citi determine which students are the best fit and then our summer experience helps groom them for potential employment,” says Judy A. Bassanello ’83, vice president for product control at Citi. She notes that in the past five years, the global bank has recruited nearly 200 Canisius students with majors in business, finance and economics. That number is expected to increase, as Citi grows its Buffalo operations. “Citi utilizes its strong ties with Canisius to create a pipeline of well-educated, business-ready students who can fill important roles in our local offices,” Bassanello adds. Of course, there’s an added benefit when new and growing businesses engage a well-educated talent pool. “Today’s young adults can really infuse an institution with fresh ideas and perspectives,” says Matt K. Enstice MBA ’04. As president and chief executive officer of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Enstice leads the organization toward its goal of re-energizing the city by leveraging the assets of the Medical Campus institutions to have a significant, positive impact on the surrounding community. To help ensure a dynamic, collaborative and creative exchange of ideas, the BNMC team often calls upon Canisius students to provide additional expertise and support in areas such as business development, transportation and infrastructure planning, healthy community-building, energy, housing, and youth and education. Such win-win experiences, for students and the city, are plentiful in a region amid a renewal – no matter the field of study.

Comprised of nearly 50 medical professionals, MAB members share their knowledge as guest lecturers in pre-med classes and labs. They assist students with mock medical school interviews. Their principal role, however, is to serve as liaisons between Canisius’ pre-med students and the local medical community. “They connected me with opportunities that medical schools want applicants to have,” says Korry T. Wirth ’16. The biochemistry major “shadowed physicians in clinics and in operating rooms, and volunteered at community clinics.” Wirth currently “investigates how ovarian cancer works,” as a research assistant in the Cancer Genetics Department at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Peter V. Cimino ’03

Canisius sociology majors foster strong, safe and viable urban neighborhoods by cultivating community gardens. Through the college’s Mentor Resource Lab, biology students teach STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) to elementary students in Buffalo’s underprivileged schools. Management and marketing majors develop business plans for refugees interested in opening ethnic stores and shops in their new hometown. And students in the Canisius Video Institute produce social and service-oriented documentaries to advance the missions of Buffalo’s nonprofit agencies and promote social, cultural and ethical change and well-being. “By engaging the region’s best and brightest college students, we’re helping to educate them and simultaneously encouraging them to make a small piece of Buffalo’s revitalization their own,” Enstice adds.

Meaningful and mentored experiences are critical for future physicians but financial support also goes a long way in a student’s decision to continue the costly road of medical school. To help ease such worries, the Medical Advisory Board and similar physician-led groups are providing scholarship assistance to students, with the goal of keeping these future medical professionals in Western New York after graduation. “I was so grateful to receive the support I did for medical school,” says Taryn C. Spencer ’12. Spencer grew up in Buffalo. She attended the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, graduated from Canisius with a degree in biology and is now studying at the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “I can’t wait to finish medical school. This is such an amazing time to be in Buffalo and I just want to go out and make a life – and a difference – in my hometown.”

IN NEED OF MDs – STAT Today’s college students are, in fact, vital to the region’s health – quite literally. Despite Buffalo’s burgeoning medical and research corridor, the city and its eight surrounding counties currently suffer from the worst doctor shortage in the state. According to the Healthcare Association of New York, the region has an average of only 60 family medicine physicians per 100,000 patients. (The national average is 80 family practitioners per 100,000 patients.) A significant symptom contributing to this diagnosis: the area’s aging population of doctors. To help remedy this condition, Buffalo’s medical community is partnering with local colleges and universities in a coordinated effort to educate, train and retain the region’s next generation of caregivers. At Canisius, this partnership takes the form of the Medical Advisory Board (MAB). “Part of our job is to keep, in town, these highly qualified students interested in science and medicine by making sure they have access to all of the rich learning resources available in the community,” says Mark J. Lema ’71, MD, PhD, a founding member and chair of the Medical Advisory Board at Canisius.

A CIT Y SPRE ADING ITS WINGS This kind of enthusiasm is giving our once-gritty city new wings and attracting a generation of young people to the state’s second largest metropolis. U.S. census data shows that the number of people in Buffalo between the ages of 25 and 34 jumped 34 percent from 2000 to 2012. That’s more than New York City and Los Angeles experienced during the same period. “Major new employers in this area are offering good paying jobs and that’s attracting some positive attention,” says Dottie Gallagher-Cohen, president and chief executive officer of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. “Now these jobs don’t necessarily pay what they would in New York City but the cost of living in Buffalo doesn’t require it, so people are able to have a fantastic quality of life here.” If it’s been awhile since you’ve visited, the city still has its professional sports teams, world-class art galleries and array of eclectic shops and restaurants throughout the Elmwood,

Juston Lee Locklear ’17

Delaware, Allentown and Hertel districts. But the revitalization of Buffalo’s waterfront is beckoning the young and the old, like never before. There’s ice skating at Canalside in the winter; kayaking in the spring and summer. Food Truck Tuesday at Larkin Square is a trendy place to enjoy inexpensive meals and live music. Even the abandoned grain elevators from Buffalo’s bygone industrial era have been brought back to life. They now serve as a canvas for the city’s latest public art project: a year-round, multicolored LED light installation that illuminates the Outer Harbor every night at dusk. “Buffalo has drastically changed since I left,” says Dan B. Weinstein MBA ’13. A manager of competitive intelligence with HealthNow New York, Weinstein worked 10 years in Washington, D.C. and Nebraska before moving back to Buffalo’s more family-friendly atmosphere. “I don’t ever remember buildings going up downtown and now I see it every day. There’s just so much to do now.” In fact, Buffalo is becoming what a true college town should be: a melting pot of young minds mixed with long-standing institutions and traditions. A place where the identity of the city is not just complemented by young, college-educated people but shaped by them. “The region is ripe with amazing places, people and neighborhoods,” says Scott D. Loffler MS ’05, director of lacrosse operations for the Buffalo Bandits. Loffler turned down a job opportunity in Boston, to be in Buffalo. “Here, you can walk down the street and find yourself immersed in a different experience and culture on every block. Throw in the museums, architecture, waterfront, shopping districts, festivals and the food (ooh, the food) and it’s easy to see why Buffalo is such a great place to learn, to live and to raise a family.”

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016 |

Golden Jubilee Planned for Regents Ball Gala will celebrate 50 years of scholarship support The Canisius College Board of Regents Scholarship Ball will commemorate 50 years when it hosts a Golden Jubilee gala on May 7, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Independent Health is the presenting sponsor for the evening, which is the principal fundraiser for the college’s Board of Regents Scholarship Fund. The fund provides financial support to promising Canisius students. The Regents Scholarship Ball will include dinner, dancing and a variety of valuable prize packages, as well as the presentation of the Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award. This year’s recipient is Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker. The 1982 alumna will be recognized for her vast civic contributions to Western New York. Dedecker is president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, a 501(c)-3 public charity that manages 800 endowment funds for individuals, families and organizations. In her role, Dedecker leads a focused growth and impact strategy that connects people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Under her leadership, the Community Foundation has facilitated numerous public and private sector collaborations to advance systemic change. These efforts have addressed issues such as school readiness, post-secondary attainment, lead-poisoning prevention, organizational development for arts organizations and environmental stewardship. Most recently, Dedecker oversaw the Community Foundation’s effort to launch Say Yes to Education in Buffalo. The initiative offers a college tuition guarantee for graduates of traditional public and charter schools in the city, along with a coordinated system of support. Canisius Regents Annette Dispenza-Kajtoch ’88, MBA ’90 and Brian Murphy ’95 are co-chairs of the Regents Scholarship Ball for the second consecutive year.

Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker Tickets for the Regents Scholarship Ball Golden Jubilee are now on sale. Tables of 10 are available at the Magis Level for $5,500; the Ignatian Level for $3,500; and the Griffin Level for $2,500. Young alumni pricing (classes of 2006-2015) and individual tickets are also available. To purchase tickets or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit canisius.edu/RegentsBall or contact Cecelia Gotham, assistant director of stewardship and events, at 716-888-8228 or at gothamc@canisius.edu.

Mary Wilson, widow of the late Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr., visited Canisius recently to congratulate the latest recipients of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Sports Scholarship. Awarded annually, the scholarships assist academically deserving student-athletes from Western New York and Southern Ontario. Pictured are (l-r): Christian Westermeier ’17 (swim), Alicia Wheeler ’16 (swim), Mary Wilson, Marissa Watroba ’17 (swim), Greg Staebell ’18 (swim) and Canisius President John J. Hurley.

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advancement D O N O R P RO F I L E

An Attorney and a Gentleman Robert E. Levi ’54 fulfills his desire to make a difference Those who knew the late Robert E. Levi best, describe him as a truly compassionate gentleman. After graduating from Canisius in 1954, Levi earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He practiced as a counselor and attorney for almost 60 years with the Tonawanda law firm McKenna, Brady and Levi, which he first joined as a junior partner and later operated as the principal attorney. Though Levi found his work rewarding, it was not his first vocational choice. "From a very young age, Bob felt a calling to become a priest," recalls close friend Frederick W. Hamp. But when Levi told the pastor at his church, the pastor suggested he pursue a different career. Discouraged but not disheartened, Levi vowed to make God a vital part of his life, and fulfill his personal desire to serve others and make a difference.

"He became a benefactor to a large number of families, individuals and institutions, whom he assisted in many different ways," Hamp says. "But Bob never spoke too much about what he did. He was very quiet and demure in that way." The only exception was after the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturdays at St. Joseph's Cathedral. "During the later years of his life, Bob found no greater joy than filling his car – the biggest boat of a Cadillac you can imagine – from top to bottom with whatever C Aproduce, N I S I U S Cbaked O L L E Ggoods E M A Gor AZ I N E • F A was LL 2013 in season and giving it all away to everyone after Mass," Hamp says with a laugh. "It caused so much commotion that he was asked to stop on several occasions."

C A N I S I U S CCAONL ILSEI G U ES M CO A LGLAEZGI EN EM • A GS A PR ZING E /•S U S PMRM I NE G R 2015 |

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Alma mater is fortunate to have had a lifelong friend in Levi. For more than 40 years, he gave consistently to the college's Canisius Fund. Levi's annual gift helped support academic programs and strengthen the Jesuit mission. "Bob was always very concerned with helping younger people," Hamp explains. That remains true, even after his passing. In November 2015, Canisius learned that Robert E. Levi bequeathed nearly $1.2 million to the college. His gift will provide financial assistance to students interested in law or law-related careers. Hamp believes that the gift is "Bob's way of continuing to help young people who want to go to college but might not otherwise be able to." And though the beneficiaries of Levi's generosity cannot thank him personally, Hamp suggests that Levi "be remembered simply as someone who cared and tried to help. That would mean a lot to him."

Join the Rev. James M. Demske ’47, SJ, Society

canisius.edu/demske 716.888.8218 Robert E. Levi ’54

Mel Schroeder Memorial Scholarship Leaves Lasting Legacy Students are enlightened to the world that inspired the poetry of William Butler Yeats Ryan S. Wolf ’12 had the good fortune to be taught by Melvin (‘Mel’) Schroeder. The late associate professor of English had a devoted following of students and alumni before he passed in 2011.

During the two-week program, students engage in poetry and drama workshops, lectures and seminars, with a particular focus on Yeats, one of the most prominent poets of the modern age.

“I took his All-College Honors course on the work of William Butler (W.B.) Yeats,” Wolf recalls. “After class, I would visit Dr. Schroeder in his office to discuss music, literature and life. He was incredibly supportive of my creative work.”

“To study in the city where Yeats’ family was from opened up a whole new world for me,” recalls Joseph M. Hassett ’64, PhD, who participated in the Yeats school when he was a Canisius student. “It was life changing.”

Schroeder’s teaching legacy lives on via the Mel Schroeder Memorial Scholarship. Established in 2012, the scholarship provides funding for two Canisius students to attend the Yeats International Summer School in Sligo, Ireland. “As a mixture of adventure and education, it presented an exciting opportunity to live within the land and culture that inspired Yeats’ poetry,” adds Wolf, an inaugural recipient of the scholarship.

To ensure the same opportunity for future students, Hassett provided the lead gift to establish the Mel Schroeder Memorial Scholarship, and continues to support the fund annually. You, too, can help keep the legacy of this beloved professor alive with a gift to the Mel Schroeder Memorial Scholarship. To learn more, please contact Rachel Flammer, director of stewardship, at 716-888-8217 or at endowedfunds@canisius.edu.

WEB EXTRA

Recipients of the Mel Schroeder Memorial Scholarship reflect on their experiences at canisius.edu/magazine.

Ryan S. Wolf ’12

Maria Scrivani ’76

advancement D O N O R P RO F I L E

The Write Stuff Maria Scrivani ’76 funds journalism fellowship at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette A successful freelance writer, Maria B. Scrivani ’76 is the author of several books on local history. Her accomplished career includes work as a reporter for The Buffalo News and as co-director of public information for Canisius College. But Scrivani says the building blocks that shaped her as a writer were her undergraduate experiences at Canisius. “As a student I felt challenged and appreciated,” says Scrivani, recalling her senior thesis advisor Professor Emeritus of English Frank P. Riga, PhD. “He taught me the value of rewriting but also how to condense information, which is an important skill in newswriting.” A dual major in English and French, Scrivani honed her craft as an editor-in-chief of The Griffin, alongside classmate and friend Cindy L. Skrzycki ’76. She is particularly grateful for her hands-on experience at the paper, which helped Scrivani secure her first job as a public relations writer with the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. Scrivani firmly believes in the value of experiential learning. So when she heard about the highly-competitive college internships available at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Scrivani immediately sought to get Canisius students involved. She established The Scrivani Journalism Fellowship. The fellowship supports a communication studies student who is accepted into an internship at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “To work as a reporter at a highly regarded newspaper is a priceless opportunity for a journalism student,” says Scrivani, who learned about the internship program from Skrzycki and her husband, David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I am delighted to help out students from my alma mater. There is no substitute for this kind of real-world experience.” Three Canisius students have already been selected to participate in the prestigious internship experience. Scrivani hopes it will inspire many more to pursue careers in journalism. “Journalism has changed so much since I was a student, most notably in the technology that seems to advance daily,” she says. “But no matter what platform is used to convey a story, some things have not changed and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette practices journalism with the highest ethical standards."

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016 |

A Storied Career Veteran New York Times reporter Elaine Sciolino ’70, HON ’92 writes the next chapter in her remarkable narrative Story: Audrey R. Browka Photos: Tom Wolf ’86 & Gabriela Sciolino Plume

ELAINE SCIOLINO ’70, HON ’92 knows a thing or two about France. It’s been her adopted country since 2002, when The New York Times named its veteran correspondent Paris bureau chief. Sciolino is so enamored with the sovereign state she wrote not one but two books about it. The most recent, The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs, “is part memoir, part travelogue and part love letter to the people who live and work on this magical street in Paris.” Rue des Martyrs became Sciolino’s “go-to place” upon her arrival in Paris. “Some people see a street … I see stories,” reads the first sentence of her book. These stories are nestled tight within the 200 family-owned shops, restaurants and boutiques that crowd the narrow Rue des Martyrs. And though the street is but a mere half-mile long, its history dates as far back as 250 AD. The patron saint of France, Denis, after whom the street is named, was beheaded here. The ritual of communicating with the dead was codified here. “It was also on Rue des Martyrs that Ignatius Loyola and his compatriots took their vows before he created the Society of Jesus,” says Sciolino. The coincidence that so much antiquity lies just feet from Sciolino’s Parisian doorstep is hardly lost on her. She is a student of history, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in the discipline. Her academic studies coalesced with her Catholic, Jesuit education to provide Sciolino with “the best foundation for my career in journalism.”

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She is, however, somewhat of an accidental journalist. After graduating from Canisius a semester early, Sciolino “had some time to kill” before her graduate studies (in 18th century French history) began at New York University. To make some extra money, she took a job with Newsweek magazine as a researcher, “which really was a euphemism for fact-checker,” laughs Sciolino. Still, the work taught her “the three keys to being a good journalist: accuracy, integrity and deadlines.” While at Newsweek, Sciolino also learned “I was going to make a much better reporter than historian.” Confirmation of this is chronicled throughout Sciolino’s storied career at Newsweek and The New York Times. As a national correspondent, a foreign correspondent and bureau chief in Rome and then Paris, Sciolino had a front-row seat and found herself on the front lines of the world’s major news events. She covered the invasion of Grenada when U.S. troops overthrew its Marxist government, and reported on the suicide bombing at the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon; the assassination of Egypt’s third president, Anwar Sadat; the deaths of two popes (Paul VI and John Paul I); and the attempted assassination of another (John Paul II). Sciolino “bore witness to wars and revolutions” during her dogged pursuit of stories. None, however, was as complex and nuanced as the Iranian revolution. Sciolino first reported on the revolution in 1978, when its leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was exiled to Paris. She became the first American – and the first woman – to interview him. When it came time for the Ayatollah to return to power in Tehran, Sciolino returned with him. Below: Canisius President John J. Hurley conferred the President’s Medal upon Elaine Sciolino in December 2015. Bestowed only periodically, the medal recognizes those who have distinguished themselves in public life, through service to God and community.

“I went into Iran for three days. I stayed for two months,” she recalls. Over the next two decades, Sciolino covered the Iranian hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq war and the rise of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. To date, no American reporter is thought to have more experience covering Iran than Sciolino. Perhaps her story could end here, though there is more to tell. Her interviews with Saddam Hussein’s ruling clique gave Sciolino unrivaled insight into the Iraqi president’s reign during the IranIraq war and his invasion of Kuwait. (Sciolino chronicled these stories in her first book, The Outlaw State: Saddam Hussein’s Quest for Power and the Gulf Crisis.) Her work went beyond the bounds of mere reporting in 2003, when France refused to join the U.S. war effort against Iraq. “A very tense time in American-French relations” ensued she says. While delicately balancing her reports on the discord with public diplomacy, Sciolino helped foster mutual trust between the U.S. and France, enabling the two countries to rebuild a productive relationship. The French ambassador to the United Nations later recognized Sciolino’s journalistic veracity by decorating her with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor bestowed by the French government. Still, Sciolino’s narrative is not concluded. She has (at least) one more story to write, and it may just involve a few Canisius Jesuits. “One day, Pope Francis will come to Paris and when he does, I want to be sure he visits the very special but forgotten place in religious history, the Rue des Martyrs.” So determined is Sciolino that she personally wrote to the Pontiff. “I figured I have enough going for me to sound respectable,” laughs Sciolino. She cites her (and her father’s) Jesuit education from Canisius, being married by a Jesuit priest and her time spent covering the Vatican. Sciolino is still waiting to hear back from Pope Francis. “My plan is to put every Jesuit priest at Canisius to work trying to get the Pope to respond,” Sciolino says. “I refuse to give up.”

1950s ’53 BS Donald A. Diebold and his wife, Lillian, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in Palm City, FL. ’54 BA, MSED ’62 Thomas J. Caulfield, EdD, professor emeritus of counselor education at Canisius College, published the book Tennis with Camille. The memoir chronicles Caulfield’s nearly 60-year courtship of and marriage to his late wife, Camille. ’59 BS, MS ’61 Joseph F. Bieron, PhD, professor emeritus of chemistry at Canisius College, was one of 15 Polish educators honored by the General Pulaski Association in 2015.

1960s ’65 BA Andrew J. Scoma, MD, an endocrinologist with Winter Park Memorial Hospital, Winter Park, FL, received the Golden Gland Award for clinical excellence in endocrinology by the Florida Endocrine Society. ’67 BA Thomas F. Kirkpatrick is a new columnist for the Dunkirk Observer newspaper. He previously worked for the Internal Revenue Service. ’68 BS John B. Hassett, a retired global accountant general manager for Xerox Corp., was named chair of the Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School Board of Trustees. ’68 BA Hon. Denise E. (Beiter) O’Donnell, director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance for the U.S. Department of Justice, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York.

1970s ’70 BS, MBA ’75 James J. Rzad, a retired financial executive, was named treasurer of the Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School Board of Trustees. ’72 BA Philip A. Arno, owner of WBBZ-TV, was named to the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2015. ’73 BA Anthony A. Kubera, director of business development for Russell Bond & Co. Inc., was named an Agent of the Month by the Great American Insurance Group. ’74 BA Frank J. Andzik is the new donor and events coordinator for Catholic Charities of Buffalo. He previously was vice president of marketing with HSBC Bank. ’75 BS Anna Marie R. (Rooth) Cellino, president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp., was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York.

’75 BA, MBA ’82 Nancy L. (Kotaska) LaTulip, vice president and retail banking officer for Lake Shore Savings Bank, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’75 BA James J. Pendergast retired from the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he spent the last 14 years as chief diversity officer and administrator of human resources. Pendergast will continue to teach at the University of New Mexico School of Public Administration. ’76 BA Chaplain Michael H. Burzynski, PhD, pastor of St. John Gualbert’s Catholic Church, was named a member of the General Pulaski Association Board of Directors. ’76 BS Daniel T. Muller, national sales manager-private label for Merisant in Chicago, IL, was named to the Private Label Manufacturers Association Board of Directors. ’77 MS Gayle L. Eagan, a partner with Bond Schoeneck and King PLLC, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’77 BA, MS ’80 Donna J. (Billings) Luh, vice chair of the New York State Thruway Authority, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’77 BA Eileen M. (Suchyna) Nosek, a special-education teacher and special-education evaluator for The Summit Center, is the new chair of Aspire of Western New York’s Board of Directors. ’77 BS Mary F. (Jenkins) Roberts, executive director at Martin House Restoration Corp., was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’78 MBA Paul R. Chisholm, president and chief executive officer of Insurance Associates Marketplace Agency, was named to the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Western New York Board of Directors. ’78 BA John J. Hurley, president of Canisius College, received a Buffalo 612’ C-Level Executive Award in education from Business First. ’78 BS Richard A. Wall, PhD, professor of economics and finance at Canisius College, was named to the Child & Family Services Board of Directors. ’79 BA Norma Nowak, PhD, executive director at University at Buffalo’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences, and founder and chief scientific officer at Empire Genomics, was named to

Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’79 BS, MBA ’83 Victor J. Rutecki, owner of Rutecki Agency, was named president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Western New York Board of Directors.

1980s ’80 BS Maureen (Kraus) Athoe was elected vice president of the corporation by the Moog Inc. Board of Directors. In addition to this new senior leadership position, Athoe is president of Moog’s space and defense group. ’80 BS Daniel S. Blake, chief executive officer of Southtowns Financial Group and an agent with MassMutual Buffalo, secured a significant grant from MassMutual’s Community Service Awards on behalf of the Food Bank of WNY. ’80 BS R. Eric Burghardt was elected vice president of the corporation by the Moog Inc. Board of Directors. In addition to this new senior leadership position, Burghardt is president of Moog’s aircraft group. ’80 BS Col. Timothy K. McNulty, account manager at U.S. Bank, was inducted into the U.S. Army Transportation Corps Hall of Fame. He served on active duty for 27 years before retiring in 2007 as a colonel. ’81 BA John E. Ballow, a managing principal with The Ballow Law Firm PC, was named a fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honor society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American trial lawyers. ’81 BA, MS ’14 Deborah (Whiting) Prohn is the new registrar at Canisius College, where she also is assistant director of the Department of Student Records and Financial Services. ’81 BS William M. Prohn, managing director of Dopkins System Consultants, was named to the executive committee of Dopkins & Company LLP. ’81 BS, MBA ’05 Mark J. Trabert was elected vice president of the corporation by the Moog Inc. Board of Directors. In addition to this new senior leadership position, Trabert is president of the aircraft group. ’82 BA David S. Clifford, MD, a family medicine physician, and his wife, Cheryl, were named Eastern U.S. Provincial Couple of Tools of Our Lady, a worldwide Catholic lay movement that helps married couples fulfill their sacrament of marriage. ’82 BA Clotide Perez-Bode Dedecker, chief executive officer and president at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, was appointed to the Global Fund for Community Foundations Board of Directors. She is the sole North

American board member. Dedecker was also named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’82 BS Daniel J. Dirrigl, chief financial officer for Keller Technology Corp., was named to the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Board of Trustees. ’82 BA John T. Kolaga was named a partner with Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC. He previously was a partner at Damon Morey LLP. ’82 BS Thomas C. Lillis, a senior vice president and senior client manager with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, was named chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s local Board of Trustees. ’82 BS Frank J. Zeffiro was promoted to regional chief auditor for the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Buffalo. He previously was a special auditor and investigator with the New York State Department of Law. ’83 BA, MS ’98 Michael P. Ciechoski, assistant director of ticket sales for Buffalo Bills Inc., was named to the Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives Board of Directors. ’83 BS Jack J. Dempsey Jr. was promoted to senior vice president of strategy with Norwest Equity Partners in Minneapolis, MN. He previously was senior advisor consultant. ’83 MBA Linda A. Dobmeier, chair of the Buffalo State College Council and vice president at Dobmeier Janitorial Supplies, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’83 BS Patrick W. Finucane, chief financial officer of Ronco Communications & Electronics Inc., was named to the Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School’s Board of Trustees. ’83 BS David M. Gelia, executive vice president for United Insurance Agency Inc., was named to the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Western New York Board of Directors. ’83 BA Rev. Jimmie Hardaway Jr. is the new pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. He previously was a pastor for the New Creation Fellowship Ministry. ’83 BA Teresa M. Lecuyer, a technical writer for Adirondack Environmental Services Inc., was elected vice president of the Board of Directors at Friends of Camp Little Notch, a nonprofit in Fort Ann, NY. ’83 BS Jill M. (Maloney) Syracuse, an executive vice president for Independent Health, received the Buffalo 612’ C-Level Executive Award in healthcare from Business First.

classnotes ’83 BA Eileen L. Hudson-Wolmering, director of major gifts and planned giving for Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity, presented on major gift fundraising at the National Catholic Development Conference in Orlando, FL. ’83 BS Rev. Matthew J. Zirnheld, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Kenmore, was recognized by the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies for his support of the organization in his parish and in the Diocese of Buffalo. ’84 BA Leigh M. Balcom, a branch manager for M&T Bank, was named treasurer of the Association for a Buffalo Presidential Center Board of Trustees. ’84 BS Michael C. Dearing, of The Michael C. Dearing Agency, was designated an Allstate Premier Agency for 2015 in recognition of his outstanding performance and commitment to putting customers at the center of his agency’s work. ’84 BS John S. Eagleton, executive vice president and chief lending officer for Evans Bank, was named to the Food Bank of WNY Board of Directors. ’84 BS Patrick L. Emmerling, a partner with Bond Schoeneck and King PLLC, was chosen to present at the 41st Annual Notre Dame Tax and Estate Planning Institute. ’84 BA Mary (Robertson) Wittenberg, global CEO of Virgin Sport, was the inaugural recipient of the AKTIV Against Cancer Award. The award honors the legacy of nine-time New York City Marathon Champion Grete Waitz, who founded AKTIV Against Cancer, which works to ensure that physical activity becomes part of cancer treatment. ’85 BS Lynn A. (Dobmeier) Pullano, chief executive officer of Child Care Resource Network, was named a Health Leadership Fellow by the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York Board. ’86 MBA Robert J. Galdys, chief executive officer of SmartEdge, was named to the Buffalo Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. ’86 BA Laura A. (Montante) Zaepfel, vice president of corporate relations for Uniland Development Company, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’87 BA Lt. Col. Timothy A. LeTouzel was selected by the Department of the Army to participate in the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program. ’87 BA Jon P. Yormick is a new special counsel with Phillips Lytle LLP. He previously was managing attorney for Yormick & Associates. ’87 BA Ann M. Zmuda, DPM, was promoted to associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago,

where she teaches in the departments of Endocrinology and Orthopaedic Surgery. She previously was an assistant professor. ’88 BA Eric A. Adamski is the new director of clinical services for Fidelis Care. He previously was clinical operations program manager with Clinical Support Services. ’88 BA, MBA ’90 Andrew J. Shaevel, chief executive officer at Bobalew Ventures, was recognized for his professional achievements and community service with induction onto the Williamsville Central School District Wall of Fame. ’88 BS Thomas B. Vaughan is the new director of information technology (IT) for JBM Computer Consultants. He previously was director of IT infrastructure for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. ’89 BS Paul J. Roman Jr. was elected partner at the law firm of Hodgson Russ. Roman is a member of the firm’s intellectual property and technology practice.

1990s ’90 BS Albert A. Nigro, a tax advisory team partner at Dopkins & Company LLP, was named to the executive committee at Dopkins & Company LLP. ’91 BA Vincent O’Keefe, PhD, a writer and stay-at-home father, recently wrote pieces for the parenting blogs of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Huffington Post. He was also featured in CNN’s Parent section and is currently working on a memoir about gender and parenting. ’91 BA Lisa R. (Bell) Wilson, executive sports editor at The Buffalo News, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’92 BA Hon. Lenora B. Foote- Beavers, Erie County Family Court magistrate, was recognized for her professional achievements and community service with induction on the Williamsville Central School District Wall of Fame. ’92 BS Edward K. Dickey is the new corporate controller for The Hamister Group. He previously was senior manager of accounting with Synacor. ’92 BS, MBA ’05 Kevin M. Smith was promoted to assistant vice president for the Student Records and Financial Services Center at Canisius College. He previously was the bursar. ’93 BS Daniel J. Geary is the new chief financial officer of The Reid Group. He previously was vice president of finance for Mod-Pac Corp. ’93 BS, MBA ’96 Allegra C. (Thompson) Jaros, president at Women & Children’s Hospital and vice president of Kaleida Health, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list

highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’93 MBA Michael J. Pendergast, a relationship manager with M&T Bank, was named vice chair of The Food Bank of WNY Board of Directors. ’93 BA, MBA ’98 Lynn T. StievaterScanlon, owner and consultant of Lynn T. Stievater CPA, was named to the Burchfield Penny Art Center Board of Trustees. ’94 BS Mark A. Johnson, vice president and community development manager for SunTrust Bank in Norfolk, VA, was awarded the Distinguished Leader Award from the National Association of Leadership Programs. He was one of only 15 in the country to receive this award in 2015. ’94 MSED, MS ’04 Jason R. Steinagle, a social studies teacher at Hamburg Middle School, was one of five finalists for New York State Teacher of the Year Award, a designation by the state Education Department. ’96 BA Kristin T. (Bojanowski) Bruton was promoted to internal work practices and employee communications manager for Praxair Inc. She previously was a communications specialist. ’96 BA Therese Hickok Fuerst is the new vice president at Pantano & Associates. She previously was vice president of marketing at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. ’96 MBA Kimberly Minkel-Shepard, executive director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’96 MS Tammy (Holliday) Wagner was promoted to education specialist for preschoolers and school-age children at EduKids Inc. She previously was director of EduKids’ Williamsville Center. ’97 BA Jefferey M. Paterson, executive director of Niagara Cerebral Palsy, received the Buffalo 612’ C-Level Executive Award in non-profits from Business First. ’97 MS John C. Penhollow was promoted to vice president of corporate and technology partnerships for the Minnesota Vikings. He previously was vice president of corporate sales and service for the Cleveland Browns. ’97 BS, MBA ’02, MS ’05 Jamel C. Perkins, a senior technology executive for Sodexo and managing principal for StartUP State Ventures, was named to the Food Bank of WNY’s Board of Directors. ’97 BS, MS ’02 Gregory J. Urban, a partner in the tax advisory group of Dopkins & Company LLP, was named to the executive committee at Dopkins & Company LLP.

’98 BS Sarah L. (Hedges) Clare was named a partner with Dopkins & Company LLP. She leads the firm’s notfor-profit service team and is a member of the MC2: Managed Care Managed Cost service team. Clare previously was senior manager. She was also named to the Massachusetts Avenue Project Board of Directors. ’98 BA Jennifer S. Farrell, an attorney and partner at Farrell & Farrell, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’98 BS Jerilyn J. Hickey, chief development officer for the Girl Scouts of Western New York, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’99 BA, MS ’04, MS ’11 Lorenda D. Chisolm, principal of Northtowns Academy - Erie 1 BOCES, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’99 BS Patrick J. Clancy was promoted to director at Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was principal. ’99 BA Kristen L. Campbell Eichhorn, PhD, professor of communication studies at SUNY Oswego, was named Faculty Fellow in the President’s Office. ’99 MS Joy Callistus Higgins was promoted to associate principal of St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. She previously was an educational diagnostician. ’99 BS Matthew C. Saxe, an assistant vice president for M&T Insurance Agency, was named vice president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Western New York Inc. Board of Directors. ’99 MBA Catherine F. Schweitzer, executive director of The Baird Foundation, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York.

2000s ’00 MS Kristy A. (Heintz) D’Angelo was promoted to vice president of behavioral health services for Gateway-Longview. She previously was director of behavioral health and community support services. ’00 MBA Anthony J. Delmonte Jr., senior vice president and chief credit officer for Bank of Akron, was named to the bank’s board of directors. ’00 MS Neal McMullen, director of corporate sales for the Buffalo Bills, was named to the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo Board of Directors. ’01 BA Timothy A. Ball, corporate counsel for the city of Buffalo, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner.

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016 |

classnotes ’01 BS Darren Fenn, a retired professional basketball player, founded WNY Premier Basketball Training, an advanced training program to help youth and adults master the physical and psychological tools needed to compete at an elite level. The program is based in the South Towns Tennis Club in Orchard Park, NY. ’01 BS David S. Rekas is the new controller for Bennington College in Bennington, Vt. He previously was an assistant manager for Affiliated Computer Services. ’01 MBA Francine M. Seifert is a new account supervisor with Crowley Webb. ’02 MS Cheri L. Carroll-Alvarez, a chief operating officer for Cradle Beach, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’02 BS, MBAACC ’04 Christopher B. Eckert was promoted to director for Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was senior manager. ’02 MBA John T. Gavigan was appointed executive director of 43North by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He previously was president and general manager of Xerographic Solutions Inc. 43North is the world’s largest business idea competition. ’02 BA Janet M. McNally, assistant professor of English and creative writing at Canisius College, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’02 BS Holly E. Sega was promoted to associate executive director for YMCA Buffalo Niagara. She previously was senior program director. ’02 BS Jennifer M. (Kick) Teeter, DO, is a new physician with Northtowns Orthopedics. Board-certified in primary care sports medicine and family practice, Teeter previously served as a sports medicine physician with the Buffalo Orthopaedic Group, and medical director for the practice’s Bone Health Center. ’03 MS, MS ’08 Michael J. Broderick, director of admissions and financial aid for Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School, was named an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. ’03 BA John B. DePasquale, a writing teacher at Arts & Letters in Brooklyn, was named a Top Teaching Blogger by Scholastic, for the 2015-2016 school year. ’03 MPA Rhonda Frederick, president and chief executive officer of People Inc., was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’03 BS, MBA ’09 Timothy J. Hooge is the new director of marketing at William S. Hein & Co. He previously was a law clerk for National Fuel Gas Co.

’03 BS Colleen A. Nugent, MD, is a new doctor in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Division of Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. She is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at University at Buffalo. ’04 MBA Sean Doyle is the new assistant vice president for McGuire Development Co. He previously was senior facility manager. ’04 BS Michael I. Hanzly Jr., MD, is a urologist with Buffalo Medical Group. He previously was a Urologic Oncology Fellow at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. ’04 BS Christopher V. Ware, controller for Edukids Inc., was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’05 BS Colin T. Costello was promoted to senior manager for Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was manager. ’06 MS Julie (McHugh) Gajewski is the new elementary principal of LewistonPorter Intermediate Education Center. She previously was assistant principal at Union Pleasant Elementary School.

’08 MBA, MBAPA ’12 Mark Alfes was promoted to supervisor for Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was a senior accountant. ’08 BS, MBAACC ’09 Brendon L. Barker was promoted to manager for Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was a supervisor. ’08 BS Michael B. Davis is the new senior front-end developer at PLS 3rd Learning. He previously was a lead front-end developer at Aurora Consulting Group. ’08 BA, MS ’10 Benjamin L. Fabian is the new student support coordinator for judicial affairs and student advocacy at the University at Buffalo. He was also elected president of the College Student Personnel Association of New York State. Fabian previously was an assistant director of residential life at Pratt Institute. ’08 BA Kevin Heffernan is the new marketing manager at 19 IDEAS. He previously was brand coordinator at The Martin Group.

’06 BA Aimee (Bowerman) Bell was promoted to secondary department principal at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. She previously was a teacher.

’09 BS, MBAACC ’10 Robert F. Cavallari Jr. was promoted to audit manager for Deloitte & Touche. He previously was an audit intern.

’06 BA, MS ’12 Lynae D. (Parker-Scott) Jones is the new director of social services at Schofield Residence. She previously was director of social services at Delaware Nursing and Rehabilitation.

’09 BS Ryan E. Najmulski is the new recruitment consultant at Expertise Ltd. He previously was a senior associate at Makosi Consulting.

’06 MS Jeanne M. (Sauberan) Myers, an instructional designer and assistant professor at Erie Community College, earned her PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. She conducted and published a research study entitled “The Usability in Online Course Design: Comparative perspectives on easeof-use, satisfaction, motivation and teacher presence.” ’07 BS, MBAPA ’09 Mindy R. (Miller) Elniski was promoted to assurance manager for Lougen Valenti Bookbinder & Weintraub LLP. She previously was assurance supervising senior. ’07 BS, MBA ’14 Amy L. (Saeya) Fogle was promoted to strategic relationship manager with Nottingham Advisors. She previously was a trading specialist. ’07 MBA Nora McGuire, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Independent Health, was named to Business First’s Power 100 Women list for 2015. The list highlights the most influential women in the eight counties of Western New York. ’07 BS Lesa R. (Celeste) Offerman is the new visiting professor of chemistry at Davidson College. She previously was the postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina.

| CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

’10 BS, MS ’11 Matthew J. Tower, a senior accountant in the Assurance Division of Lumsden McCormick LLP, was named to the Buffalo Niagara 360 Advisory Board. The board provides leadership and guidance to the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. ’11 BS Christie L. Adamczak, a senior auditor at Dopkins & Company LLP, was named chair of NextGen, formerly Young CPAs, by the New York State Society of CPAs. ’11 BS Gabriella E. Agostinelli was promoted to an associate attorney with Berardi Immigration Law. She previously was a law clerk. ’11 BS, MBAACC ’12 Matthew J. Aldinger was promoted to senior accountant at Brock, Schechter & Polakoff LLP. He previously was a staff accountant. ’11 MS Danielle M. (Vallone) Cook, a licensed mental health counselor with Children’s Growth Foundation/The Center for Psychosexual Health, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’11 BA Jeffrey Hartinger is the new social media editor and account executive for Republic Publishing in San Francisco, CA. He previously was senior manager of social media with Healthcorps.

2010s

’11 BS, MBAACC ’12 Ankit Pandey was promoted to senior accountant for Freed Maxick CPAs. He previously was a staff accountant.

’10 BA Emily A. (Caruana) Ayers, an attorney with Harter Secrest and Emery LLP, was recognized for her commitment to providing pro bono legal services by the New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel.

’12 BA Katherine M. Costello is the new associate activation manager of public relations for Eric Mower & Associates. She previously was the marketing and communications manager for the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.

’10 BS, MBA ’13 John J. Brucato is the new assistant superintendent for finance in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District. He previously was director of technology for the Sweet Home Central School District.

’12 BS Jessica M. Grogan, a CPA at Ernst & Young’s (EY) Buffalo office, was one of 30 EY workers selected for the firm’s Ambassadors Program. She traveled to the Brazilian rainforest where she conducted environmental research and helped local entrepreneurs with business projects.

’10 BS Jonathon M. Casey was promoted to vice president at Vermed. He previously was global director of sales and marketing. ’10 BS, MBAA ’11 Michelle A. Giardina is the new manager of technical accounting for Truven Health Analytics in Chicago, Ill. She previously was the senior analyst of technical accounting at the Hospira Foundation. ’10 MBA Erin Johnson, a principal with RV Rhodes LLC, was named a Business First 40 Under Forty award winner. ’10 BS, MSA ’14 Gary Steltermann was promoted to communication specialist at Canisius College. He previously served as communication coordinator.

’12 MS Gina M. Ricotta is a new campaign manager for the Upstate New York chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She previously was the community relations seasonal assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers. ’12 BS, MBAACC ’15 Zachary D. Shroyer is a new senior accountant with Brock, Schechter & Polakoff LLP. He previously was a staff accountant for Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. ’14 MBA Sarah Jane Burke, a process manager for Rich Products Corp., was named to The Food Bank of WNY Board of Directors. ’14 MBA Jason T. Ciurzynski, a civil engineer with Foit-Albert Associates, earned his professional engineering license in the State of New York. He

classnotes

IN MEMORIAM also holds a professional engineering license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ’14 BS, MS ’15 Laura E. Giunta is a new staff accountant in the Auditing and Accounting Division for Lumsden & McCormick LLP. She previously was an accounting clerk for Wegmans Food Services.

The fall 2015 issue of Canisius College Magazine mistakenly included Dennis P. Heimback ’53, MD and Renee D. (Gauthier) Day ’91 in the “In Memoriam” column. The editors extend their sincerest apologies for this egregious error. Francis J. McDonald ’26 October 15, 2015

Charles W. Salter ’53 August 18, 2015

Michael T. Kelly ’70 November 24, 2015

Florian J. Dzimian ’41 October 10, 2015

Francis A. Scheda ’53 September 25, 2015

Norman C. Kersch MSED ’71 September 28, 2015

Joseph P. Malinowski ’46 August 6, 2015

Edmund R. Zadzilka ’53 September 2, 2015

Hugh C. McLean MBA ’72 October 25, 2015

’14 BS Charlene M. Roe participated in Miami (Ohio) University’s Earth Expeditions global field course, where she studied diverse terrestrial, coastal and coral reef communities in the Central American country of Belize. Roe, an animal apprentice at the Buffalo Zoo, took the graduate course in pursuit of her master’s degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program.

Sister M. Paula Fox ’48 November 11, 2015

William A. Dempsey ’54 September 10, 2015

Ron E. Gworek ’73 August 9, 2015

John E. McCormick ’48 August 16, 2015

Donald J. Human ’54 September 5, 2015

Robert E. McGuire ’74 June 10, 2015

Vincent J. Cronin ’50 August 28, 2015

John G. McDermott ’54 July 22, 2015

Francis E. Powley Jr. MSED ’74 May 13, 2015

Edward P. Gannon ’50 October 28, 2015

Philip A. Peschio ’56 July 29, 2015

Frank D. Nuchereno ’75 October 20, 2015

’14 BS Brock J. Wilkinson is a new associate portfolio manager for Nottingham Advisors. He previously was a business analyst at The Largo Group of Companies.

James M. Lojacono ’50 September 20, 2015

Richard J. Lester MSED ’58 October 7, 2015

Patrick G. Rowe ’76 October 2, 2015

Jerrold V. Archer ’51 October 29, 2015

John M. Ptak ’58 August 8, 2015

Paul J. DeMartinis ’77 September 4, 2015

’15 BS Jason P. Cassorla is a new associate portfolio manager for Nottingham Advisors.

Leonard L. Dinder ’51 September 17, 2015

William L. Bradl ’59 October 20, 2015

Rev. Theodore C. Rog MS ’77 October 1, 2015

Robert K. Duerr ’51 September 2, 2015

Charles L. Sodaro ’60, MSED ’65 August 3, 2015

David M. Lorka ’78 October 1, 2015

Elizabeth A. Flood ’51 July 20, 2015

Edwin E. Budzinski ’61 October 7, 2015

Lauren T. Tasseff ’79 July 1, 2015

Joseph A. Sapienza ’51 August 6, 2015

Michael A. Hilburger ’61, MA ’64 August 11, 2015

Daniel D. Brown MBA ’83 October 24, 2015

John G. Darmstedter ’52 August 2, 2015

Kevin H. Callaghan ’62 July 21, 2015

Mary A. Miranda ’84 August 10, 2015

Anthony M. Fusco ’52 September 1, 2015

James F. Gaul ’63 July 25, 2015

Michael G. McCaffrey ’85 October 31, 2015

Sister M. Andrea Illig ’52 September 2, 2015

Alfred R. Rauh Jr. ’63 September 2, 2015

Daniel C. Hein ’86 August 7, 2015

Terrance B. Keating ’52 October 27, 2015

Richard A. Ehrensberger ’66 September 14, 2015

Rosemarie Petruzzella ’86 August 31, 2015

Louis J. Migliore ’52 August 29, 2015

Joseph M. Taibbi ’66, MA ’70 September 25, 2015

Roland E. Pigeon ’86 September 25, 2015

Bartholomew P. Tursini ’52 October 25, 2015

Barbara J. (Scott) Clancy MSED ’67 July 28, 2015

Janet J. (Kruse) Holler ’90 October 2, 2015

Hon. Norman F. Walawender ’52 October 15, 2015

Lawrence A. Welnowski Sr. ’67 November 14, 2015

Cosmo D. Mastropaolo Jr. ’93 November 19, 2015

James L. Brady ’53 November 6, 2015

Frank R. Kuhn ’68 July 30, 2015

Christian M. Lockwood ’04 September 5, 2015

John R. Corr ’53 August 28, 2015

Paul F. Power MSED ’69 August 20, 2015

Christopher M. Dobiesz ’15 July 26, 2015

’14 BS Chelsey A. Kelchlin was promoted to senior accountant for Freed Maxick CPAs. She previously was a staff accountant.

’15 MBAPA Cindy Oyl Chamnichanh is a new staff accountant with Toski & Co. CPAs. ’15 MS Zachariah Martineau is a new staff accountant for Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. ’15 MS Kuljit Singh is a new associate for Freed Maxick CPAs Buffalo office. He previously was manager at Depew One Stop.

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Kristina Averell ’07 and Parker Spencer August 15, 2015 *Chantel A. Booth ’11, MSED ’12 and Michael J. Terryberry ’11 August 15, 2015 Melissa A. Campbell ’06, MS ’08 and Wesley Smith June 27, 2015 Karen P. (Pieczynski) Abbott ’03 and Myles M. Abbott ’03, MBAACC ’04, a son, Henry McGregor, born July 20, 2015 Christopher F. Blersch ’01 and Angela L. Blersch, a daughter, Lucy Margaret, born March 10, 2015 Bridgette N. (Kipphut) Carluccio ’07 and Steven Carluccio, a daughter, Isabella Rose, born June 13, 2015 Stefany N. (Gunderman) Dombrowski ’08, MSED ’10 and Glenn R. Dombrowski ’08, a daughter, Madelyn Grace, born on August 26, 2015 Estee M. (Strait) Domingos ’04 and Arthur Domingos, a daughter, Tessa Lynn, born September 22, 2015 Meghann L. Drury-Grogan ’01 and Terence Grogan, a son, Órrin Drury, born August 27, 2015

Julie L. (DeMunda) Hall ’00 and Gary Hall, a daughter, Luciana Jade, born June 7, 2015 Jill A. Horohoe ’01 and David S. Rekas ’01, a daughter, Gemma Kristen, born June 1, 2015 Tara L. Halliwell-Kemp ’03, MD and Brian M. Kemp ’04, a daughter, Kayla Violet, born July 29, 2015 Shawn J. Nowicki ’08 and Ashleigh Thompson, a daughter, Louisa Ann, born June 13, 2015 Jennifer V. (Mis) Reddinger ’06 and Scott T. Reddinger ’06, MSED ’08, a son, Nicholas Scott, born June 26, 2015 Nicole M. (Kibler) Urbanowicz ’03 and Marty Urbanowicz, a son, Beau Hudson, born June 7, 2015 Maj. Evelyn R. Vento ’00, MD and Maj. Sean D. McManus ’99, a daughter, Eloise Elizabeth, born May 19, 2015

*Christina M. Dressler ’15 and John J. Kane II ’14 August 8, 2015 *Kristen S. Ehrhardt ’08, MS ’13 and Donald V. Keicher MBAPA ’07 September 5, 2015 *Joseph S. Forgione ’11, MS ’13 and Kristin B. Pucser September 4, 2015 Kyle M. Hejmowski ’03 and Artemisia Apostolopoulou May 30, 2015 *Sara F. Hoffstetter MSED ’12 and Robert Picone August 8, 2015 *Alexandra Holland ’04 and Daniel Whalen Jr. August 1, 2015 Lesli A. Lanning ’95 and Frank Afschar August 26, 2015 Kelly M. Lovering ’07 and Gary Paul Gambarani II August 29, 2015

T H I S I S S U E ’ S F E AT U R E D B A B Y G R I F F

Logan David Jones A son, born to Brian D. Jones ’02, MS ’04 and Christy Jones, on August 8, 2015

*Alfred F. Luhr III ’68 and Susan M. Burns September 5, 2015 *Emma L. Perrott ’09, MBA ’14 and Chris Kelchlin October 16, 2015 *Laura A. Pfalzgraf ’07 and Scott Pankiewicz October 10, 2015 *Katherine A. Sampson ’06 and Brett Glose October 17, 2015 *Dawn Marie Schaefer ’03, MBA ’04 and Richard Jex August 1, 2015 Michelle L. Slawiak ’03, MS ’07 and Phillip Held July 4, 2015 Amy M. Valenti ’04 and Anthony Sorrentino July 3, 2015

*Married in Christ the King Chapel

| CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2016

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

An Inspiring Educator Math teacher Keith Wiley ’78, MBA ’81 helps students solve problems and change the course of their lives When Houghton Academy upset five-time champion City Honors at Buffalo’s Middle-School Math League Competition in spring 2013, the win surprised everyone - except Keith B. Wiley ’78, MBA ’81. “We didn’t just come out of nowhere,” says Wiley, who teaches math to Houghton’s seventh and eighth grade students. “For years, we came in second place.” Still, it was a hard fought victory for Wiley’s students, 85 percent of whom live in poverty. “Many come from single-parent homes,” Wiley explains. “Domestic abuse, drug abuse and teen pregnancies are prevalent.” Though he can’t fix his students’ personal situations, Wiley can give them the best chance to master ninth-grade algebra. That’s right. Wiley teaches ninth-grade algebra to all Houghton’s eighthgrade students, no matter their math levels. How? Wiley’s enthusiasm for the subject is unbridled. “I sing and make jokes,” he says. “I bring a passion to math they’ve never seen before and relate math to the real world. My lessons are interactive and include websites and YouTube videos.” But Wiley is more than an educator to his students. He’s the father figure they sometimes lack. “I try to be accessible to my students,” says Wiley. “They see me in the neighborhood and at local restaurants. I sing gospel at the nearby church.” If teaching seems natural to Wiley, it is. His mother taught fourth grade. But Wiley was a latecomer to the field.

Story: Kristin E. Etu ‘91 | Photo: Tom Wolf ’86

After earning a bachelor’s degree in math and business economics, and an MBA in finance from Canisius, Wiley went to work in banking and investment. He held leadership positions at the Bank of New York, Rand Capital Corp. and Goldome Bank. When Goldome closed, Wiley started to consider a career in the classroom. To make extra money, he worked as a math tutor at Buffalo Alternative High School. The positive results began to add up when “the district approached me and asked if I wanted to teach full-time.” That was 16 years ago. Ever since, Wiley’s been changing the course of students’ lives. He proudly recalls the special education student who “went on to pass ninth-grade Regents math and is now in college.” There was the 16-year old who failed eighth grade, several times. “The light went on during the last six weeks of school,” says Wiley. The student not only passed the grade but passed the Regents exam and continued on to college. Success stories like these keep Wiley in the classroom. Sure, retirement is in the future for Wiley. When it’s time, Wiley, 60, will return to his native North Carolina, where his children and grandchildren call home. But for now, Wiley knows his students still need him. He likes to tell them: “Unless you were dressed by the butler and driven by the chauffeur, the only way you’re going to learn this material and graduate is through hard work. That means we’re all in this together.”

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

G I V I N G D AY 04 • 2 7 • 2 0 1 6 One Day. Hundreds of Donors. Thousands of Students. Infinite Impact. Save the date to participate in the college’s first one-day giving campaign. Don’t want to wait until April 27? Any gift made now using the enclosed envelope will count toward #CanisiusGivingDay.

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