President’s Message

Colleges and universities are typically judged on three essential functions: the education of their students and the preparation that they receive for successful lives; our contribution to the expansion of human knowledge through our research; and our service to the communities we seek to improve . Canisius has always been justly proud of the accomplishments of its students and the leadership roles they assume in every walk of life . Canisius continues to invest in faculty research and scholarship in every field . And, with this, my final report to the community as president of Canisius, we highlight the many ways in which Canisius serves Buffalo, and in particular the East Side of the city that we have called home for more than 150 years . Two years ago, we launched the New Buffalo Institute as a way of better aligning all of our connections with the city with a goal of maximizing our impact . The name of the Institute was deliberately chosen . While many in our community have talked about a renaissance in Buffalo, a new Buffalo, if you will, it is clear that we have not solved many of our longstanding problems of the old Buffalo: quality primary and elementary education for our young people, job opportunities, adequate housing, and safe streets and neighborhoods . Through our New Buffalo Institute and all of our service activities at Canisius, we seek to stand in solidarity with our neighbors in the pursuit of a hope-filled future . This has been at the essence of Jesuit education in every age . Our timing was fortuitous as we embarked on this ambitious new work as our community began to focus on the ways in which racism has held our city back in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minnesota in 2020 . This took a dramatic and tragic turn on May 14 with the massacre of 10 of our neighbors in a racially-motivated shooting at Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue, As the community picks itself up from this horrific tragedy and begins to plan for a new day in our East Side neighborhoods and in all of Buffalo, Canisius is prepared to join hands with its neighbors and work together to create this new world . As I depart after 25 years, the last 12 as president, I am encouraged by all that Canisius has accomplished in its service . This will remain a priority for us all!