Alumni Weekend

Commemorate what connects us all – alma mater

Graduates from every class year are invited to celebrate all things Canisius during the college’s annual Alumni Weekend. Set for Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4, the three-day, all-inclusive weekend will couple your favorite reunion traditions with a few new events to commemorate what connects us all – alma mater.

View the schedule below and then be sure to register using the QR code below.

Alumni Weekend Schedule of Events

Friday, June 2

“Fireside Chat with Jeffrey Gundlach”

Montante Cultural Center • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

All are invited to celebrate the Golden Griffin Fund’s 20th anniversary with a fireside chat featuring American financier and philanthropist Jeffrey Gundlach. Known as “the billionaire bond king,” Gundlach is founder of DoubleLine Capital LP. He is also an avid modern art collector and the lead supporter of the expansion at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery).

Friday, June 2

“Tent Party”

Quad • 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Everyone’s favorite revelry in the Quad returns with the annual Tent Party. This causal outdoor event is a chance to reconnect with classmates and former professors while enjoying drinks, dancing and fare from Buffalo’s best food trucks.

Saturday, June 3

“Canisius over Coffee”

Science Hall • 9:30 a.m.

Rise and shine for this Saturday morning conversation with President Steve Stoute and some of your favorite Canisius faculty members.

Saturday, June 3

“Celebrating Canisius: Supporting Student Scholarships”

The Powerhouse at Buffalo Color Park • 6:00 p.m.

President Steve Stoute cordially invites all alumni to join him for an evening that celebrates Canisius. Guests at this newly introduced event will dine together, as they learn more about the future of the college from its new leader and hear from current students about their living and learning experiences.

Sunday, June 4

“Mass & Brunch”

Christ the King Chapel • 10:00 a.m.

Alumni Weekend concludes with Mass in our Catholic, Jesuit tradition. The service will honor the passing of beloved classmates and celebrate the blessings of friendships throughout the Canisius community. Mass will be celebrated by members of Canisius’ Jesuit community. A brunch will follow in the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center and honor J. Patrick and Becky Greenwald’s 46 years of service to Canisius.

Rise Tour

Mark your 2023 calendars as President Steve K. Stoute shares his inaugural initiatives with alumni living up and down the East Coast.

The college’s 25th president will expound on his call for quintessential servant-leadership during a series of visits to Albany, New York City, Boston and other locations in the upcoming year.

During his inaugural address, President Stoute called upon the entire Canisius community to RISE to the challenges facing society today by Renewing their commitment to justice; Inspiring a new generation of leaders, Serving every person with love; and Empowering others to act the same.

Joseph M. Hassett ’64, PhD BA, English

Career Highlight: Joseph M. Hassett received Ireland’s Presidential Distinguished Service Award. Conferred annually to just 10 people around the world, the prestigious honor recognizes an individual’s celebrated and sustained contributions to Ireland, Irish communities abroad and Ireland’s international reputation.

Career Notes: Hassett lectures widely on Irish poet and writer William Butler Yeats and other major figures in Irish literature, and is the author of several Irish literary works including Yeats Now: Echoing into Life and The Ulysses Trials: Beauty and Truth Meet the Law. He is also a partner at the D.C. law firm of Hogan Lovells.

1960s

’61 BS, HON ’83 Paul Weiss, founder of the international non-profit organizations Los Ninos and Americas Children, published his third book, Climate Break The book tells the story of a small group of global leaders who take on big oil and bank companies to help rescue the planet from a climate emergency.

1970s

’70 BS Michael N. Coppola was honored, posthumously by City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown who declared Saturday, October 29, 2022 “Michael N. Coppola Day.” Coppola was a long-time executive for Tops Friendly Markets and later chief executive officer of Advanced Auto Parts.

’71 BA LeRoi C. Johnson was featured in Super Lawyers Magazine. The publication highlighted his dual career in law and as an internationally-acclaimed artist. Johnson’s latest exhibit recently concluded at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. “LEROI: Living in Color” incorporated bold, bright colors, a spirit of community connection, and cultural exchange.

1980s

’82 BS, MBA ’87 Stephen F. Jackson, partner at Ernst & Young LLP, received the Dr. Richard A. Shick Award during the Richard J. Wehle School of Business Awards Dinner. The award is presented to individuals who have made important contributions to the success of the business school and Canisius College.

’94 MBA, MBAA ’95 Richard Johnson was promoted from vice president to senior vice president/small business loan administrator at CNB Bank. He is responsible for implementing CNB Bank’s small business loan automation process, as well as monitoring, testing and analyzing its key components for the benefit of small business customers.

2000s

’00 BS Beverly A. (Wetzel) Close was named executive director of advanced practice at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she works in advanced cardiac life support, electronic medical records and inpatient care. She has been practicing as a physician assistant in hospital medicine for nearly 20 years, with 16 years at Roswell Park.

’00 BS Col. David F. Henning, U.S. Army, was inducted into the Williamsville Central School District Wall of Fame. The Wall of Fame recognizes distinguished alumni of the school disstrict who serve as role models for students by demonstrating the importance of school and the power of learning.

’03 MPA Rhonda A. Frederick, president and chief executive officer for People Inc., received the Dr. Bernard L. Martin Award at the Richard J. Wehle School of Business Awards Dinner. The award recognizes an alumnus of the college’s graduate business programs who has excelled professionally and provided significant service to the community.

Frederick plans to retire from People Inc. in April 2023, following 42 years of service with the non-profit organization.

’03 BA Vincent D. Clark is the new associate vice president for development and alumni relations at New York’s Pace University. He was assistant vice president for advancement at St. Francis College.

’03 BA, MS ’05 Rachelle A. (Held) Paul, athletic director at Saint Peter’s University, was inducted to the Williamsville Central School District Wall of Fame. The Wall of Fame recognizes distinguished alumni of the school district who serve as role models for students by demonstrating the importance of school and the power of learning.

Hon. Mark A. Montour ’80 BA,

Political Science

Career Highlight: The Hon. Mark A. Montour was appointed by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to the Appellate Division’s Fourth Judicial Department, which serves Central and Western New York. He is the first Native American justice to serve anywhere in New York State’s Appellate Division. Judge Montour is an enrolled member of the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Nation.

’08 BA Gellenia N. Smallwood, senior director of early childhood services at Say Yes to Education Buffalo, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes young professionals who are doing outstanding work in their place of business and in the community.

’08 MS Kathryn M. (Belliotti) Hammer, director of alumni and community engagement at D’Youville University, received Daemen University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes dedication and service to the university.

’09 BS, MSEd ’13, MS ’21 Robert W. Adams is the new director of health, physical education and athletics for the Amherst Central School District. He is the former director of student life and campus student engagement within the Alexander Central School District.

’16 BA Arrianna Z. Hart joined the commercial litigation and arbitration group as an associate attorney at Goldberg Segalla. She was an associate attorney at Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC.

’16 BA, MS ’20 Sydnie A. Perkins joined the Diocese of Buffalo as its renewal learning and development manager. She was senior coordinator of digital marketing at Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

’86 BA Hon. Kevin M. Carter, the first African American to serve as administrative judge for the 8th Judicial District of the State Supreme Court, received the Hon. Rose Sconiers Trailblazer Award at the Minority Bar Foundation Annual Awards Ceremony

’88 BS, MBA ’90 Anthony A. Cassiol joined Fifth Third Bank as a senior commercial middle market relationship manager. He was the senior relationship manager in commercial banking at CapStar Bank in Nashville, TN.

1990s

’91 BS Michael J. Montante, chief executive officer at Uniland Development Company, received the Dr. Richard A. Shick Award at the Richard J. Wehle School of Business Awards Dinner. The award is presented to individuals who have made important contributions to the success of the business school and Canisius College.

’92 BA, MPA ’96 Mark A. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Health System, received the Business Executive of the Year Award at the Richard J. Wehle School of Business Awards Dinner. This award is presented to a Western New York business executive who has earned distinction professionally and as a leader in a broad range of civic affairs.

’93 BS, MBA ’96 Allegra C. Jaros is the new president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. She was president of John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY.

’01 BA Jill A. Horohoe, visiting assistant professor of history at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA, received the Thomas Branch Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is given annually and is a student-selected honor presented to faculty members.

’01 BA Shannon L. (Friedrich) Andrea is the new director of media relations and D.C.- area communications for Virginia Tech. She previously served as director of communications at Virginia Tech.

’03 MSEd Scott R. Zipp was named acting superintendent of the Cheektowaga Central School District. He was assistant superintendent for the school district.

’05 BS Andrew P. Devine, partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, was named to Business First’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes young professionals who are doing outstanding work in their place of business and in the community.

’05 BA Bridget A. (Sullivan) Ryan, director of sales and human resources at Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes young professionals who are doing outstanding work in their place of business and in the community.

Career Notes: Justice Montour served as a New York State Supreme Court Justice since 2013. He was previously acting administrative judge for the Eighth Judicial District and the supervising judge for Genesee and Wyoming County town and village justice courts. Judge Montour is chair of the New York State Tribal Courts Committee.

’06 BS Matthew E. Caldiero, corporate controller at Ciminelli Real Estate Corp., was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes young professionals who are doing outstanding work in their place of business and in the community.

Mary C. (Magee) Bogdan ’77 BS, Chemistry

Career Highlight: Mary C. (Magee) Bogdan received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council. The award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding leadership and advanced the center’s goals and interests of the industry.

Career Notes: Bogdan is senior principal scientist for Honeywell. She holds more than 30 U.S. patents and her contributions are present around the world in the form of blowing agent technology.

’07 MS Kathryn S. (Mori) Heidinger, director of development at the Foundations of Catholic Health, was named to Business First ’s “40 Under 40.” The list recognizes young professionals who are doing outstanding work in their place of business and in the community.

’08 BS Ellen S. (Leutze) Musialowski joined the Diocese of Buffalo as its new chief financial officer. She was an accounting manager for Linde PLC.

Marya J. Propis ’91 BA, Communication Studies / English

Career Highlight: Marya J. Propis, executive vice president for retail distribution at RT Specialty, was ranked among the nation’s top 100 insurance leaders by Insurance Business of America. The list recognizes those who have influenced, driven initiatives and plotted the course of the insurance industry.

Career Notes: Propis has more than 27 years of experience in the insurance industry as a sales and distribution executive, focusing on the development and implementation of corporate and field broker engagement and sales strategies. She serves on the steering committee for WOW, a women’s leadership program and is a member of the Canisius College Board of Trustees.

Kevin C. McGowan ’96, MS ’00, EdD BA, Elementary Education / MS, Educational Leadership

Career Highlight: Kevin C. McGowan was named the 2023 School Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. He is the superintendent of the Brighton Central School District in Rochester, NY.

Career Notes: Prior to his work at Brighton, McGowan was superintendent of the Warsaw Central School District in Wyoming County. He began his career as an elementary teacher at Starpoint before becoming a high school assistant principal at Iroquois High School and then an elementary principal at Wales Primary School.

2010s

’11 MBA Adam M. Desmond joined Alden State Bank as its chief lending officer. He previously worked as market leader for Tompkins Community Bank for Erie and Niagara counties.

’11 BA Alicia A. (Zimmerman) Kenney was promoted from director of human resources to senior director of human resources program management and strategic initiatives at U.S. Radiology Specialists.

’16 BS Alicia M. Wheeler joined Uniland Development Company as a project analyst. She was a senior credit analyst for Evans Bank.

’20 BA Joshua A. Rivera, program analyst at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, received the Jane Warren Trainee Award during the Health Effects Institution (HEI) annual conference. The award recognizes scientific initiatives that advance research relevant to air quality and health. Rivera was commended for his research surrounding pollution at Buzzard Point. ’21 BS, MBA ’22 Benjamin M. Abraham joined the business advisory and CPA firm of DeJoy, Knauf & Blood, LLP (DKB) in Rochester, NY, as an associate in the financial assurance services practice.

’21 BS Ian A. Woods joined NorthCape Wealth Management LLC as a financial analyst.

’21 BS Michael S. Augustin, a medical student at the University at Buffalo, established a Black Men in White Coats chapter alongside three other medical students at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The organization aims to increase the number of Black men in the field of medicine.

Weddings

Patricia Erin Andrews ’18 and John Harrington Lyons ’17

August 6, 2022*

Jane K. Arcadi ’09, MD and Michael Hartman

July 30, 2022*

Megan Brothers Cahill ’03 and Steven Christopher Clark

July 20, 2022

Steven J. Gentner ’ 15, MBAA 16 and Lisa Saffire

August 13, 2022*

Brittney V. Hudden 17 and Michael J. Kuebler ’17

July 24, 2022*

Emma G. Lipinski ’18 and Stanley J. Pawlow ’18, MS 20

October 8, 2022*

Loren M. McLaughlin 06, MS ’ 09 and Mary McCombs

March 20, 2021

Lauren E. Thorne 21 and Joseph T. Wood 22

July 15, 2022*

*Indicates married in Christ the King Chapel