Canisius College Magazine -- Spring 2011

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

an authentic Character

Mick Cochrane, PhD, has a story worth being told.

SPRING 2011

president’sperspective

John J. Hurley

Canisius College Magazine S P RIN G 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 1 2 , I S S UE 2

President John J. Hurley Associate Vice President for Public Relations & Executive Editor Debra S. Park MS ’06

While the winter seems to linger in Buffalo, the spring semester at Canisius seems to race by at breakneck speed. No sooner do we welcome students back from the Christmas break, then they are gone for spring break, and then the last day of classes is upon us.

As we greet the springtime in Buffalo, we take stock of our accomplishments of the academic year. Students are inducted into the college’s DiGamma Honor Society; the Jesuit honor society, Alpha Sigma Nu; and the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma; among other honorary societies. Students eagerly await word on applications to medical, law and graduate schools. And in mid-April, we celebrated student scholarship, creativity and artistic performances with our fourth annual Ignatian Scholarship Day. (For the program of activities, see canisius.edu/academics/ignatian.asp.) And of course, our seniors and graduate students anxiously welcomed Commencement Day this month.

We celebrate all of these accomplishments understanding that they are the result of our faculty working closely with our students to bring out their very best. This has been the hallmark of a Canisius education in every age, and today it is seen in every corner of the college. In this issue of Canisius Magazine, you’ll read about the extraordinary Mick Cochrane, PhD. The professor of English and director of our Creative Writing Program introduces the craft to a new generation of students (page 12). You’ll also read about our students tutoring Korean students in English through an initiative called MyLinkFace (see page 6), an ingenious technology-based venture encouraged by Ji-Hee Kim, PhD, associate professor of management/marketing and director of our Entrepreneurship Program. These are but two examples of faculty members going the extra mile with our students to provide them with a truly transformational education.

Our students’ academic achievements are impressive. Equally impressive is their commitment to using their educations for the betterment of society, a commitment that we know will carry over into their lives as alumni.

Managing Editor Audrey R. Browka Director of Creative Services & Layout Editor Andalyn Courtney Contributing Designers Shaun M. Maciejewski Rose Twardowski Director of Alumni Relations Eileen L. Hudson ’83 Contributing Writers Elizabeth M. Bohen ’74, MS ’76 Kristin E. Etu ’91 Rachel Flammer Erin H. Hartnett Martin J. Haumesser Eileen C. Herbert ’04 Eileen L. Hudson ’83 Laura B. Marek ’06 Photography Cassidy Barbalato-Honan/LifeLoveArt Photography James Klein/Buffalography KC Kratt Photogaphy Shaun Maciejewski Tom Wolf ’86

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

Canisius College Magazine is published four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall) by Canisius College at: 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208 USPS 908-760 Periodical postage paid at Buffalo, NY and additional offices Postmaster send change of address to: Canisius College, 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

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contents SPRING 2011

6 | Student Profile

12 | Cover Story

Virtual Classroom, Real Experience A student-initiated, student-run social venture takes distance learning to the extreme

An Authentic Character Much like his books, awardwinning novelist and professor Mick Cochrane, PhD, has a story worth being told.

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departments 4

32 18 | Added Feature

32 | Alumni Profile

Opening Doors A new scholarship program helps Canisius students put their educations to work for Western New York

Hope for Two Patty Murray ’82 helps expectant mothers cope with the emotional impact of cancer diagnoses.

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BLUE & GOLD BRIEFS C A MPUS NE WS A ND NOTE S faculty notes facult y NE WS A ND update s a legacy of leadership C A mpa ig n ne ws a nd update s

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C ANISIUS CONNECTIONs

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A S YOU WERE

A LUMNI NE WS A ND NOTE S

S TORIE S FROM THE PA S T

Class of 2011 Hears from CEOs The Canisius College graduating classes of 2011 heard from the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the nation’s third oldest zoo and the retired president and COO of the nation’s largest wireless carrier, during this year’s commencement ceremonies.

Donna M. Fernandes, PhD, addressed the graduate class on Wednesday, May 18 in the Koessler Athletic Center. Fernandes is the first female president of The Buffalo Zoo. Upon arriving in Buffalo more than a decade ago, Donna M. Fernandes, PhD Fernandes developed a 15-year, $75 million master plan to transform the way people and animals experience the zoo. Under her leadership, the zoo was transformed into an innovative, 21st century zoological park that boasts several new exhibits, including the Vanishing Animals exhibit, Otter Creek, Sea Lion Cove and Rain Forest Falls.

Dennis F. Strigl ’74

wireless communication industry. In addition to launching the nation’s first cellular telephone network, he is credited with some of the largest mergers in the cellular industry. Strigl served as the lead executive in charge of integrating Verizon Wireless, when the company was formed in April 2000, with the combination of domestic wireless operations Bell Atlantic, Vodafone AirTouch and GTE. Strigl also made national headlines in 2003 with his bold decision to let customers keep their cell phone numbers when they switched carriers.

A distinguished alumnus, Strigl is the former chair of the Canisius College Board of Trustees. During his tenure, he played a key role in several significant initiatives and helped open doors to national funding prospects.

Strigl and Fernandes received honorary degrees during commencement ceremonies, along with Franklin G. Downing Sr., the longtime owner and founder of F.G. Downing’s Towne Automotive Group in Orchard Park; Thomas D. Lunt, retired senior vice president of wealth management for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; and Timothy W. Bilodeau, founder and Strigl is widely-recognized as one of the most prominent architects of the executive director of Medicines for Humanity.

Dennis F. Strigl ’74, the retired president and COO of Verizon Communications, addressed the undergraduate Class of 2011 on Saturday, May 21 during commencement ceremonies at Alumni Arena, on the SUNY at Buffalo campus.

Ready All, Row! Canisius alumni will hear the call of the coxswain in fall 2011, when the college adds women’s rowing to its NCAA Division I sports offerings. Rowing is the ninth women’s varsity sport at Canisius, and brings the total number of varsity sports at the college to 17. The women’s team will compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which includes Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola University (MD), Manhattan College, Marist College, and associate conference members Drake University, Robert Morris University and Sacred Heart University.

“The strength of participation and support for rowing in the Western New York community and throughout the Northeast make it a natural fit for Canisius,” says Bill Maher ’89, director of athletics. “The sport is a great addition to our athletics program and provides substantial participation opportunities for student-athletes.”

The women’s rowing program will utilize the West Side Rowing Club (WSRC) as its base of operations. Located on the Niagara River, the WSRC is the nation’s largest rowing club, and produced 10 Olympians, 34 U.S. National team members and hundreds of collegiate rowers.

The NCAA began to sponsor rowing as an official championship sport in 1997. There are currently 84 schools that compete at the Division I level, in 11 different conferences.

Canisius Women Claim First MAAC Title The Canisius College women’s lacrosse team never trailed en route to winning its first MAAC Championship against top-seeded Fairfield, on May 1. The Golden Griffins defeated the Stags, 13-8 and extended their best season in school history (14-5) by qualifying for the NCAA Tournament Play-In Round.

“This championship is great for our girls and for all of the alumni, who have raised our program to a new level,” says Canisius Head Coach Scott Teeter. “It was a great team effort. We executed our game plan. We knew we had to win the draw controls and we managed to dominate the battle and gain possession.”

Carly Quinn ’11 scored four goals for Canisius. Megan Oosting ’12 and Maria Kotas ’14 netted three goals each. And Theresa Walton ’12 added two tallies, and Taylor Gray ’11, had one goal.

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blue&goldbriefs Canisius Introduces Major Additions to Academic Offerings What do anthrozoology, computational science and applied nutrition all have in common?

They are among nine new academic programs that Canisius College will introduce in fall 2011. The new undergraduate and graduate programs build upon the college’s existing cadre of programs that develop practical, relevant skills for today’s workforce while enriching students’ lives.

“Our faculty members and administrators have been working with great dedication and creativity to develop new undergraduate and graduate degree programs,” says Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “Each new program is mission-centric, actively embraces social justice, and is held to the highest academic standards.”

He explains that a growing emphasis on preventative healthcare is creating new opportunities in health and wellness-related industries. To meet these demands, Canisius will introduce a new undergraduate degree in health and wellness, and master’s degrees in applied nutrition, school and community health, and respiratory care.

Students in the health and wellness program can pursue one of three separate tracks: prehealthcare professions, exercise physiology biomechanics, or strength and conditioning.

They will graduate prepared for careers in personal health and fitness, or may continue on to graduate programs in physical therapy or chiropractic.

Students may also choose to pursue the new master’s in school and community health.

This program is ideal for nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and healthrelated professionals, who want to advance their educations and become leaders in the field of school health. The MS in respiratory care is for health professionals who want to broaden their knowledge in pulmonary care.

The master’s in applied nutrition focuses on one of three specialty areas: obesity and eating disorders, business and entrepreneurship in nutrition, or fitness and sport nutrition.

Students interested in science and engineering have a similarly healthy number of career options available to them, as these fields are also among the fastest-growing. Canisius College will introduce undergraduate programs in operations research and computational science.

Computational science applies mathematical and computational techniques to solve and assess problems in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

Operations research is devoted to the improvement of decision-making through the use of advanced analytic methods. It combines management methods, applied mathematics and computer science to develop quantitative solutions to problems related to logistics, project management, quality control and risk management. These new programs are highly interdisciplinary in nature and will be housed in Science Hall, when it opens in fall 2012.

Science Hall will also be home to the college’s new master’s degree program in anthrozoology. This new field of study examines mankind’s relationships with other animals and the natural world. Specifically, the two-year, online program takes a scholarly approach New Undergraduate to human-animal interactions in science, Offerings industry, agriculture, conservation and vetBS in Health & Wellness erinary medicine. The anthrozoology program canisius.edu/hw is designed for animal shelter administrators, veterinary technicians, pet-assisted therapists, BS in Operations Research zoo-based educators or wildlife refuge public canisius.edu/opre relations specialists who want to expand their knowledge.

BS in Computational Science

canisius.edu/compusci BS in Sport Management Specialized Studies canisius.edu/specializedstudies

New Graduate Offerings MS in Applied Nutrition MS in Community & School Health MS in Respiratory Care canisius.edu/ps MS in Anthrozoology canisius.edu/anthrozoology

The unique relationship between sports and American business makes the field of sport management a game-player in today’s job market. Canisius’ new bachelor’s in sport management applies the principles of economics, finance, law, media and marketing to train students for the business of sport.

The program culminates in a capstone project that places students in internships at any one of the region’s professional sports organizations. The undergraduate major complements the college’s master’s degree program in sport administration.

Canisius College currently offers more than 1,000 courses and nearly 80 distinct majors, minors and special programs. Still, for those students who find Canisius does not offer programs that match their interests, the college now offers a specialized studies program. This new offering enables students to develop their own majors and degree plans by combining courses from different departments to create outcomes that fit their talents, future goals and employment niches.

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virtual classroom A new student-initiated, student-run social

venture takes distance learning to the extreme

Catrina LeBlanc ’14 (above) is an English language tutor for MyLinkFace; Jongyoung Park (right) is a university student at Pukyong University, who enrolled in MyLinkFace classes to improve his English language skills.

story by AUDREY R. BROWKA Photos by Tom Wolf ’86

At 7:00 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday

morning, Young Jun Park sits down at his home computer, slips on a headset, and looks into his web camera. “Hello Miss LeBlanc,” he says. Catrina LeBlanc ’14 responds. “Hello Young Jun.” The two chat briefly about their day or weekend plans before LeBlanc asks, “What should we work on today?”

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LeBlanc is an international business major and English language tutor at Canisius College. Young Jun Park is a student at Pukyong University in South Korea. But when he turns on his computer twice each week, he is a student at 2001 Main Street.

This virtual classroom at Canisius is known as MyLinkFace. No, it’s not a student club. It’s a student-initiated, student-run, international non-profit social venture that takes distance learning to the extreme. Certified ESL (English as a Second Language) instructors, such as LeBlanc, use multimedia technology to teach foreignspeaking undergraduates, graduates and young professionals, abroad, how to master the English language. Everything else, from lesson plans to business plans, is developed and managed by Canisius undergraduates, whose majors vary from education to entrepreneurship.

“MyLinkFace is truly a campus-wide working and learning initiative,” says Lindsey Rizzo ’12, one of two chief operating officers (COO) for MyLinkFace. “It provides a much-desired service to foreign-speaking students and young professionals, and offers great practical experiences for Canisius students who want to pursue careers in education or languages.

For those of us interested in business and entrepreneurship, we learn all aspects of what it takes to run a real venture.”

“ Korean students already learn English grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary in school and that is certainly beneficial but it is

In fact, MyLinkFace is the brainchild of entrepreneurship students at Canisius.

Two years ago, their professor, Ji-Hee Kim, PhD, director of entrepreneurship, introduced a new social entrepreneurship course. She challenged students to identify a social issue and use entrepreneurial principles (mission, vision, innovation and community) to bring about a positive solution.

vastly different than the way Americans actually speak. What foreignspeaking students want - and what many potential employers now require in Korea - is the ability to speak in conversational English.”

“Business entrepreneurs change the face of business,” explains Kim. “Social entrepreneurs act as change agents for society. Social entrepreneurs seize opportunities to improve systems, invent new approaches or create solutions that further social goals or society.”

Students found the social issue they needed for their assignment halfa-world away.

“In today’s global economy, English is the primary language used when business, government and education are conducted,” explains Andrew Loewen ’10, a founding member of MyLinkFace. “Fluency in English is particularly vital in small countries such as South Korea, where international business is the backbone of its economy.”

Multi-national giants such as Samsung, Hyundai and Kia Motors currently drive the Korean economy. Telecommunications conglomerates are close behind. The Korean government wants to advance its

-Lindsey Rizzo ’12

international prowess even more. Part of its strategic initiative is to enhance English language education throughout the country.

“The Korean government tests students on their English aptitude in the same way the American educational system administers SAT or ACT exams,” says Kim, who is originally from South Korea. She explains that the leadership mandated all students, from elementary school through university, study English language. Elementary schools are now required to employ at least one native English teacher. And a new government scholarship program aims to recruit American university students to teach native English in Korean classrooms.

“Korean students already learn English grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary in school and that is certainly beneficial,” says Rizzo.

“But it is vastly different than the way Americans actually speak.” Rizzo explains that American conversations are primarily comprised of idioms, such as ‘ball-park figure,’ ‘went like clockwork’ or ‘in the black.’ These

For more information, visit canisius.edu/mylinkface phrases do not carry the same meanings as their literal translations but they are authentically American. “What foreignspeaking students want - and what many potential employers now require in Korea - is the ability to speak in conversational English,” adds Rizzo. “Our clients want to learn to speak like Americans – from Americans.”

Canisius’ social entrepreneurs found a simple, low-cost way to service that need from 7,000 miles away. Through Skype, MyLinkFace students need only a computer, a web camera and an Internet connection to receive instant, intimate and effective English language lessons.

“Skype allows users to share screens,” explains Andrea MacNeill ’12, an education major and MyLinkFace teacher. “For teachers, that enables us to incorporate video, audio and still images into our lessons, as a way to get students to talk about and explain what they see or hear.”

To date, MyLinkFace delivers customized, one-on-one conversational English lessons to an average of 70 international clients each semester. Coursework includes English for business communication, English for airline staff, English for hotel management, and English for job interviews and employment. Clients learn the proper way to introduce themselves, appropriate telephone etiquette, suitable responses to customer service complaints, and how to prepare for and conduct meetings, among other things. Each course comes with a corresponding textbook, developed and published by students.

“This is an effective and engaging way to learn English,” says Jongyoung Park. A university student at Pukyong University, he currently studies in America as an exchange student. He enrolled in MyLinkFace classes to improve his English language skills in anticipation of his extended stay in the United States. “I liked that I could focus on my particular interests and problem areas, and get instant feedback from the teachers.”

An ESL trained teaching team of seven Canisius students manages the lesson plans and class work for MyLinkFace. They are all Canisius undergraduates, and primarily either education or English majors. The MyLinkFace management team is comprised of nine management/ marketing and entrepreneurship students. They oversee operations, marketing, fund raising, research and development, web development and human resources.

“Every situation I encounter through MyLinkFace is one that I will most likely face at one time or another when I own my own business,” says Kevin Valletta ’11. The dual entrepreneurship and management major serves alongside Rizzo as COO. “As part of the management team, I

write job descriptions, advertising, maintain social networking sites.

When a teacher calls in sick, I find a replacement. When someone new is hired, I write the business contract. You just can’t get that type of practical experience from the classroom, alone.”

The lessons students learn, however, are not always easy. Much like other start-ups, MyLinkFace experienced its share of growing pains.

The original business plan targeted Korean elementary school children.

But the 14-hour time difference for that age proved too great, and the growth potential for that market too small. And like many non-profits, the procurement of start-up funding became an issue.

“Everyone loved our idea but very few people believed it was an idea worth supporting financially,” recalls Loewen. He explains that funds are used to support marketing efforts, materials and salaries. (Each member of the MyLinkFace team earns approximately $8 per hour.)

“The result, however, was a great effort put on by the management team to raise finances for the project through fund-raisers and sponsorships.”

Perhaps the greatest hurdle MyLinkFace founders overcame was breaking their new, never-before-tested product into a foreign market.

“Uncertainty left a lot of potential clients leery,” recalls Justin Jolls ’10, a founding member of MyLinkFace.

But for every 100 ‘no’s’ there is one ‘yes.’

Pukyong National University gave the MyLinkFace team the ‘yes’ they needed. Now, nearly half of the non-profit’s clients are undergraduate and graduate students from that university, as well as other top Korean educational institutions. Additional clients are young professionals who work for Korea Telecom, a division of AT&T and the number one telecom company in Korea, and SK Telecom, the country’s number two telecom company.

With their social venture now on sure-footing, the MyLinkFace management team is working to further evolve the enterprise.

Students are reaching out to businesses and organizations to provide sponsorships and financial support. Those funds will enable students to explore new opportunities in regions similar in size and scope to Korea, as well as here at home. Their specific goal this semester is to make MyLinkFace available to refugees in Buffalo.

“These individuals encounter significant language barriers when they come to America, and consequently find it difficult to function in everyday situations and to find work,” says Rizzo. “MyLinkFace can help them grow their English language abilities and ease their transitions into this country.”

And who better to learn from than a group of young, energetic entrepreneurial students who are proof that simple beginnings can grow into great endeavors, with hard work, dedication and perseverance.

“We believed in our product, whole-heartedly,” says Loewen. “We knew it was a realistically good product and we found people who believed in it -and in us – and that’s what helped ensure MyLinkFace’s success.”

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Eyewitness Identification is Focus of Goodsell Research Assistant Professor of Psychology Charles A. Goodsell, PhD, examines one of the most widelyused tools for police and prosecutors, thanks to a three-year, $56,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. Goodsell’s research is on eyewitness identification; specifically the accuracy of show-up identifications vs. lineup identifications.

Show-up identification is the most common identification method used in criminal instances. It presents one suspect at a time to an eyewitness. A lineup identification presents several suspects at the Charles A. Goodsell, PhD same time to an eyewitness. Show-up identification is considered less reliable than the lineup, although there is no evidence that lineups lead to more accurate identifications.

“The findings from this research have far-reaching implications for the justice system, as it could help improve the reliability of eyewitness identification,” explains Goodsell. He notes that faulty eyewitness identifications contributed to false convictions in 75 percent of approximately 200 cases reviewed in recent years. “If show-ups are inherently biased and lead to more false identifications, then the practice of using them needs to be stopped in favor of more reliable means of identification. If it is the case that show-up identifications prove more reliable than lineups, then show-ups should be used because they have the potential to get criminals off the streets quickly.”

Goodsell collaborates on the research with Jeffrey Neuschatz, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Scott Gronlund, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Oklahoma.

Lenhardt Receives Distinguished Faculty Award Ann Marie Lenhardt, PhD, is the 2011 recipient of the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award.

Conferred by the Canisius College Alumni Association, the award recognizes Lenhardt for her exemplary work as an educator, a productive scholar and a visionary leader.

Lenhardt is a professor of counseling and human services, whose graduate-level course instruction prepares students for careers in school and mental health counseling. She stresses student-involvement and introduces real-life situations to encourage group problem-solving and critical analyses.

Lenhardt aptly combines her teaching with her research pursuits on the topics of school violence and children atrisk (Canisius Magazine, summer 2007). Her findings are particularly significant and timely in the field of education today, as school districts struggle to curb school violence and provide safe learning environments for students. A federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education enabled Lenhardt to establish the Canisius Youth Connection (CYC). The CYC assists local school districts in the creation of safe, trusting and non-violent learning environments.

Ann Marie Lenhardt, PhD

Dierenfield on PBS

Peter Canisius Professorship Goes to Lopata,Thomeer

History Professor Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, provides expert commentary in the upcoming PBS documentary “The Lord is Not on Trial Here Today.” The documentary tells the personal story behind McCollum vs. Board of Education.

The landmark First Amendment case set the foundation for the separation of church and state in public schools.

Marcus L. Thomeer, PhD and Christopher J. Lopata, PsyD, co-directors of the Institute for Autism Research (IAR), are the newest recipients of a Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship. They will use the three-year grant to advance research and understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), by engaging students in leading-edge research and treatment related to ASDs; field experiences; and collaborative opportunities with faculty and IAR community partners.

The documentary is a 2010 Peabody Award recipient in the news category. The Peabodys are the oldest and most prestigious awards in the broadcast industry. They recognize excellence in radio and television, webcasts, and producing.

“The Lord is Not on Trial Here Today” was produced by Jay Rosenstein Productions, which also included Dierenfield in its PBS “American Experiences Series: God in America.”

Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD

Check your local listings for air times.

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Canisius College established the IAR in 2009, under the direction of Lopata and Thomeer. The institute provides researchers and affiliated faculty the facilities necessary to study and treat autism spectrum disorders in a collaborative manner.

“Chris and Marcus’ program fits ideally into the strategic momentum of the university,” says Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs.

“It raises the level of creative activity and research through interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty, students and outside professionals. It serves a growing need in the greater Buffalo community and strengthens Canisius’ identity in the sciences at a time when the college begins development of Science Hall.”

The Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship provides faculty with the resources to create innovative programs that enhance undergraduate teaching through interdisciplinary projects, scholarly travel, experiential courses and the incorporation of technology into the classroom. Professorships are awarded through a competitive grant process, which focuses on creativity and the extent to which proposals will advance the college’s mission.

facultynotes Chimps, Baboons and Monkeys Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation Examine Africa’s Ecosystem Up-Close Ten Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation (CAC) followed in the footsteps of renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, during a recent educational trip to Tanzania, East Africa. The students made the two-week journey with Michael Noonan, PhD, professor of animal behavior and director of the animal behavior, ecology and conservation program at Canisius. They examined conservation issues in the region, and observed chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe Stream National Park. Both are home to some of Africa’s most studied chimpanzee populations. Jane Goodall, in particular, conducted many of her landmark studies here.

“Stepping off our wooden boat and onto the shores of Gombe was like stepping into the pages of one of Jane Goodall’s books,” recalls biology major Catherine Alsford ’11. “Olive baboons lined the shores as if to greet us, and our first hike led us along the same path that Dr. Jane walked when she started out in 1960.”

Chimpanzees are “humans’ closest relatives,” explains Noonan. The species eat, sleep and help one another, much like humans do, adds Noonan, whose students witnessed these similarities up-close on their trip to Tanzania. Students also discovered that chimps each have their own unique personalities, much like humans. They observed how chimps’ social interactions are nearly as complex as those of humans.

Mothers are as protective of their babies as human mothers, and as their babies grow older, these mothers encourage independence in their children and support the exploration of their surroundings.

“People are moved to love the chimpanzee with their soft, brown eyes and delicate hands that are so like our own,” says biology major Kathryn Little ’12. “Once you can fathom the depths of their politics and culture, however, they become all the more breathtaking. It is one thing to see powerful, strong animals and be awed by their muscle. It is another to be able to look into their eyes and see intelligence and methodical decision-making take place on the inside.”

The Canisius Ambassadors examined a plethora of other species as they trekked through Africa’s unique ecosystems. They witnessed the Red Colobus Monkeys move effortlessly through tree-tops, and baboons roam the beaches and swim in Lake Tanganyika. The CAC also visited nearby villages, where they met native children and their families, and learned how they work to preserve their natural land and keep nearby lakes viable. One of the most impressive sights, however, came from atop Jane’s Peak, where Goodall climbed each morning to observe the sights and sounds of the jungle below. From this vantage point, Canisius Ambassadors realized the greatness of different ecosystems and the deep connection between all living things.

“The web of life connects organisms to one another by providing resources and nutrients to promote the life of other organisms,” says Caitlin Hackett ’11, a senior biology major. “It is this connection that makes conserving the ecosystems around the world so important. If even one strand in the web is disrupted, tension is placed on the other connections and could cause harm to a multitude of living things.”

Upon their return, Canisius Ambassadors began work on an educational book about chimpanzees and the ecosystems they studied in Tanzania.

They will also share their experiences in the classrooms of local middle and high school students, and at nearby zoological institutions this summer.

“As human beings, we have the power to bring about change for these creatures while simultaneously helping our fellow man,” says biology major Adrienne Salerno ’11.

“As a proud member of the CAC team, I will do what I can to promote conservation wherever life may take me and hopefully inspire others along the way.”

To learn more about the Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation at Canisius visit conservenature.org.

Pictured, left: The Canisius College Ambassadors atop of Jane’s Peak in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.

First row (l-r): Adrienne Salerno ’11, Catherine Alsford ’11, Julia Terrien ’12, Katie Little ’12 Second row, (l-r): Melissa Grippin ’11, Sara Butzbach ’12, Kimberly Patterson ’11, Michael Noonan, PhD, Caitlin Hackett ’11, Stephanie Schelble ’12, Lindsey Robbins ’12.

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An Authentic Character Much like his books, award-winning fiction writer and professor Mick Cochrane, PhD, has a story worth being told Memorable, complicated and distinctive characters are at the heart of all great fiction.

Canisius College is fortunate to have such an authentic character in Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English.

Cochrane observes everything and forgets nothing. He is captivated by complex family stories, and the heartache, humor and generosity that often accompany them. Cochrane is exceptionally skilled at how he evokes these feelings in the written word. These distinctive characteristics are what make Mick Cochrane an award-winning novelist and now a beacon for a whole new generation of creative writers at Canisius College.

Cochrane is director of the college’s creative writing major and for many students, the first ‘real-life’ author they meet, as they begin their own writing journeys. The creative writing program nurtures and develops the talents of young authors, who study and learn alongside published faculty with national credentials. Coursework includes a variety of genres – from fiction to poetry, to nonfiction and playwriting. The curriculum mirrors that of the hands-on approach taken in the best master of fine arts programs: The small workshops place heavy emphasis on writing and revision to help students discover their own voices.

“I love everything about being around young people who love literature as much as I do,” says Cochrane, whose expertise is fiction writing, biography and autobiography, and 18th century British literature, particularly Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. “I love talking about what makes particular stories and poems work. I especially love working with a student on a manuscript for a long time – worrying it almost to death, rewriting, rethinking and fixing – until finally there is a moment, after all that effort that it’s paid off. The student created a distinctive and carefully wrought work of art.”

A complete manuscript seems almost counter-cultural in a day and age when many young people limit their reading and writing to posts on Twitter and Facebook. The National Endowment for the Arts reports that only 40 percent of college freshmen read books for pleasure. That number declines to 35 percent by the time they graduate from college.

But Cochrane says his students defy the national trend.

“There are deep and enduring pleasures and rewards found in a novel that you can’t find on Twitter,” he says. “I spend every day with young people who not only read books but love them as whole-heartedly and passionately as I did when I was young.”

STORY: KRISTIN E. ETU ’91 PHOTOGRAPHY: KC KRATT & TOM WOLF ’86

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The St. Paul, MN native spent his boyhood “obsessed” with books. “I was always susceptible to language and loved learning new words, if only to tease my brother and sister in new and creative ways,” laughs Cochrane.

Certain writers and subjects became important to Cochrane at different times in his life. He focused on U.S. presidents (Abraham Lincoln in particular) and the Minnesota Twins, of Major League Baseball. As he grew older, Cochrane “raided the shelves of the West St. Paul Library” and devoured novels

by Clair Bee, Wilfred McCormick and later John Steinbeck. He spent hours at home reading The World Book Encyclopedia.

a story Cochrane wrote for his class that he submitted it to the college’s literary magazine – without Cochrane’s knowledge.

The magazine published the story and awarded it a prize.

“When I read Mick’s first paper, I knew he was capable of being a great fiction writer,” recalls Lon Otto, PhD, another one of Cochrane’s English professors at St. Thomas and also a fiction writer. “He was very quiet in class but I could always tell he was engaged.”

Otto taught Cochrane not just about the craft of writing but about the life of a writer, artistic integrity, and long-term habits and values.

some of mick's

Favorite Authors Raymond Carver Rohinton Mistry Flannery O’Connor Anne Tyler Tobias Wolff

“I would lie on my belly with a volume in front of me and study the presidents, the circulation system or famous battles. So much knowledge presented in such an orderly fashion – how could you not love it,” he laughs.

Clearly, books were a kind of refuge for Cochrane. He says they offered him “companionship and hope, food for my soul and spirit.”

He explains that his father was not a positive influence in his life. His mother suffered from multiple sclerosis. Both died by the time Cochrane turned 21. Out of a less-than-ideal family life grew a special bond between Cochrane and his older sister, Sue, who is a family court judge in Minneapolis, MN. Sue often read to a young Cochrane and told him great creative stories.

“Without Sue’s love, support and inspiration, I don’t think I ever would have written a book,” says Cochrane.

Other people realized Cochrane’s talent for writing before he did.

Unbeknownst to Cochrane, a ninth grade English teacher submitted one of his stories to the school newspaper, which published it.

During his freshman year at the College of St. Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas), an English professor so enjoyed

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“I attended a small, Catholic liberal arts college where a handful of professors paid attention to me and took me seriously,” says Cochrane. “They wanted to know what I had to say and they taught me how to take myself seriously. That experience changed my life.”

It led to Cochrane’s success as a fiction writer and Canisius professor.

Each one of his novels (The Girl Who Threw Butterflies (Knopf 2009), Sport (St. Martin’s 2001) and Flesh Wounds (Nan Talese/ Doubleday 1997) earned critical acclaim. The Girl Who Threw Butterflies saw unparalleled success. The novel tells the story of Molly Williams, a young girl whose father dies in a car accident.

To make herself known at school for something other than her father’s death, Molly joins the boys’ baseball team. USA Today named The Girl Who Threw Butterflies a ‘recommended read’ for young people. The Los Angeles chapter of the Women’s National Book Association named it a winner of the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, which recognizes works of literary excellence for readers between the ages of nine and 12. And the American Library Association named Butterflies one of its Top Ten Sports

Books for Youth. Although originally intended as a novel for young readers, the book became a best-seller among readers of all ages and is currently in its fifth printing.

“In the middle of drafting The Girl Who Threw Butterflies it occurred to me that I may be writing a book that no one would want to read,” recalls Cochrane. “Boys wouldn’t read it because the protagonist is a girl and girls wouldn’t read it because baseball plays a big part in the story. But by then the story and its characters had thoroughly seized my heart and inhabited my imagination.”

Unlike many of today’s authors, Cochrane’s creative process doesn’t begin with a plot in mind. Rather he develops his characters first and then follows their leads. “I don’t control them or order them to carry out some unlikely action my clever plot requires,” he explains. “I listen to them.”

Many of Cochrane’s novels do, however, follow similar storylines.

They often begin with some type of family rupture – a death or an illness – and then explore how the characters move from loneliness and confusion, to a sense of wholeness and connection, into a new kind of belonging. “That story is infinitely various and interesting to me,” says Cochrane, who is currently at work on his fourth novel.

experienced first-hand: what a house looks like after a fire, what a newborn baby looks like, the smell of a baseball glove. But writers have to go beyond that. To tell the truth about what it feels like to be human is the hard work of being a novelist.”

Cochrane is particularly adept at capturing the human spirit, no matter the character’s gender, age or life situation.

“Mick is kind to his characters in a way we all hope to be,” says Janet M. McNally ’02, a visiting assistant professor of creative writing at Canisius College. “Writers strive to create true representations of what it means to be a human being and Mick is able to do this very well.”

Cochrane uses his experiences as a working novelist to educate the next generation of writers at Canisius College. He doesn’t claim to teach students to write like author John Updike, “ just as a cello instructor can’t teach students to play like Yo Yo Ma.” But he does teach students the fundamentals of writing, and much more. His coursework is focused primarily on creative writing and contemporary fiction. Students learn how to revise, lineedit and how to read like a writer. Their success is the product of talent and hard work, and Cochrane believes the more students practice the better they get.

His works are all fiction although readers who know him well may recognize hints of personal experiences in his stories.

Minnesota and Buffalo weather and landmarks, his particular low-key sense of humor, and his love of baseball – all weave their ways into Cochrane’s writing.

“He has a real talent for dealing with student writing in a nonthreatening way where students can hear what he has to say,” says Eric L. Gansworth, professor of English at Canisius College and a Lowery Writer-in-Residence alongside Cochrane.

“In fact, because of the manner in which he shares his insights with them, they seem very interested in improving their work.”

“Writers make use of everything they have on hand,” says Cochrane. “On a superficial level, I describe some things I

“He is a great guide for the exploration of contemporary literature because he loves it and he wants students to love it,” adds McNally.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Books v. Nooks & Kindles

“Personally Kindles or Nooks don’t hold a lot of appeal for me,” says Cochrane. “I love books as physical objects – their weight, color and texture. I love the smell of paper and of book glue, which is what my office smells like.

Writing seems like a physical activity to me, connected to muscle and nerve and skin, and I like it that reading is that way too. I also like that you can easily write in books, and give them to people and toss them across the room in disgust, that they can never accidentally be deleted. I’m glad that we don’t have to choose between a world of ebooks and of paper books – they can exist happily side by side, like mp3 music files and vinyl albums.”

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“I love everything about being around young people who love literature as much as I do.”

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“Mick picks great writers for students to study, then asks questions that allow students to think – and think deeply.”

This is at the core of the new creative writing major, which Cochrane developed for fall 2010. But it is just the latest in a series of Cochrane’s Canisius initiatives and involvements to further educate aspiring writers. He launched a coffeehouse series, in which students and staff read from their works.

Cochrane advises the Quadrangle, the student literary magazine, and also coordinates creative writing internships for students.

“As a freshman, I wasn’t involved in anything but Dr. Cochrane constantly made opportunities available to me,” says Caitlin R. McAneney ’12, a junior English/creative writing dual major.

She credits Cochrane for her sophomore year internship during which she co-wrote a children’s book for the A Girl Named Pants series by Thomas J. Colson ’85. “Where else can you get that kind of experience?” asks McAneney.

But perhaps Cochrane’s most well-known initiative - on campus and in the community at-large - is the Contemporary Writers Series, which he launched in 1999. While many leading colleges and universities bring eminent writers to their campuses, the Canisius College Contemporary Writers Series is unique in its integration with a variety of courses across the core curriculum.

After reading and studying an author’s work, students get the rare opportunity to meet and converse with the author in class, and then attend his public reading during that evening. Since its debut, the Contemporary Writers Series welcomed numerous nationally prominent novelists and poets to campus, such as Garrison Keillor, Ann Pachett, Richard Russo and George Saunders, as well as Western New York natives Lucille Clifton and Connie Porter.

“When I was an undergraduate, two important writers, Malcolm Cowley and Stanley Elkin, visited St. Thomas,” recalls Cochrane. “Hearing them made a huge impression on me. I want our students to feel that same excitement and inspiration, and to understand that literature is made by living human beings.”

The Contemporary Writers Series is supported by the Hassett and Scoma Endowments, and the Office of Academic Affairs, with the cooperation of The Buffalo & Erie Country Public Library, Just Buffalo Literary Center, Western New York Writing Project and Talking Leaves Books.

“Mick Cochrane understands that education does not take place in a vacuum, and that both school and community gain with broad and close interchange,” says Jonathon Welch, owner of Talking Leaves Books in Buffalo. “The work he does at Canisius to connect it to the broader community is a shining example of the good that comes from such an interchange.”

Cochrane is an example of what it means to be committed to community. He is a frequent participant in literary workshops, readings and lectures at local schools, libraries and arts organizations. In addition, the father of two (Sam, age 19; and Henry, age 16) coaches baseball, volunteers for campus ministry’s Buffalo Burrito Project, at the NativityMiguel Middle School

books on mick's

nightstand Lit Marry Karr

American Salvage Bonnie Jo Campbell

The Master Colm Toíbín

Can’t Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters Robert Gordon

Luka and The Fire of Life Salmon Rushdie State of Wonder Ann Patchett

Emily, Alone Stewart O’Nan

of Buffalo and the Erie County Public Library’s ‘Battle of the Books’ program.

“If an organization asks me for help, I try to say ‘yes,’” says Cochrane, who lives in the Village of Kenmore with his wife, Mary, and their two sons. Friends and colleagues who know him best describe Cochrane’s gracious personality as “Minnesota Nice.” The expression refers to the stereotypical behavior of long-time Minnesota residents: to be courteous, reserved, and mild mannered.

“Garrison Keillor (host of National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion) gets Minnesota Nice,” says Cochrane, who believes civility doesn’t need a label. “You shovel out your neighbor’s car, you offer visitors coffee, you let someone go ahead of you in line, and you don’t act like you think you’re somebody special.”

Perhaps this is what makes Cochrane feel so at home in his adopted hometown. He admires the neighborhoods’ tree-lined streets and sidewalks. He likes that he can walk to a diner, where the waitresses call him “honey,” and order a three-dollar breakfast special. Cochrane also relishes that he still lives in the ‘pop zone’ and doesn’t have to train himself to say ‘soda,’ as he might elsewhere. And he loves living in a city that has a magnificent independent bookstore, whose owner not only knows Cochrane but knows what Cochrane wants to read before he does.

Here in Buffalo, Cochrane finds the characters and stories that fully engage his imagination.

“All my sympathies lie with the scruffy rather than the slick; with the outsiders and underdogs - and that’s Buffalo, right?” states Cochrane. “There’s a tremendous need here and I like to think I may be useful here in a way I may not be in a more well-to-do city.”

In fact, Cochrane’s contributions to Canisius and the greater arts community help this region to flourish creatively. As it does, the literary world, book lovers and students, alike, eagerly await Mick Cochrane’s next story.

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g n i n e Op s r Doo lps ogram he r p p i h s r a ol ns A new sch r educatio i e h t t u p students New York n r e t s e Canisius W r KA to work fo R. B R O W

UDR E Y I STORY: A IE JE WSK A UN M A C H S : S O T O PH

evin Valletta ’11 was in a crowded elevator in Minneapolis, MN last May when the dean of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business, Antone (‘Joe’) F. Alber, PhD, called his cell phone.

“He said I was a final candidate for a new scholarship program at Canisius,” exclaims Valletta. “I was so shocked that I just shouted the news out loud, right there in the elevator!”

Valletta is one of 10 Canisius College students to receive a Western New York Prosperity Scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Made possible by The Prentice Family Foundation, this new and innovative scholarship program combines scholarship assistance with credit-bearing internships to provide students with both academic and practical experiences in their intended professions. In return, students commit to work in Western New York (WNY) for at least two years, within a decade of attaining their degrees.

“The Prosperity Scholarship is aligned with the goals of the Foundation, which believes in an individual’s capacity to create, to adapt and to apply,” says Bryant H. Prentice III, PhD, president of The Prentice Family Foundation and chair of the Bryant & Stratton College Board of Directors. “The objective of the Prosperity Scholarship is to further these capacities through higher education and to influence by exposing scholars to the free enterprise system in Western New York.”

The Foundation makes its support available to students in the Richard J. Wehle School of Business, who demonstrate the knowledge, acumen and ambition necessary to help grow the region’s economy.

Canisius’ inaugural Prosperity Scholarship recipients set the bar high.

They are juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students, who excel academically and whose fields of study vary from management to economics, and accounting to entrepreneurship. One common denominator among all 10 scholarship recipients is that they possess “well-defined future career plans, which put their educations to work for the economic benefit of the Western New York community,” explains Alber.

Valletta, for example, wants to open a soccer store equipped with all the footwear, gear and apparel needed for the sport that continues to grow in popularity. Stephen Seeler ’12 aspires to become a chief financial officer at an international business, perhaps one that takes advantage of the area’s location along an international border. Lindsey Rizzo ’12 may become the next owner of her family’s

business, Furs by Russell Inc. Or, she may start her own economic venture in WNY. “I definitely have a lot of ideas,” Rizzo says.

This is precisely the entrepreneurial spirit that The Prentice Family Foundation Board of Directors sought when they established the Prosperity Scholarships at Canisius. The program makes approximately $200,000 in total funding available to the college. Scholarship recipients can receive a maximum of $25,000, each, based on their unmet financial needs. The support offsets tuition and related academic costs, such as room and board or book allowances, so students can concentrate solely on their academics and professional training.

For beneficiary Laura Wrightson ’12, news of the Prosperity Scholarship came at a most opportune time. The accounting and accounting information systems (AIS) major planned to work three part-time, minimum-wage jobs last summer (none of them in her field) to help pay down her school loans. Instead, the Prosperity Scholarship placed Wrightson in a paid internship in the Accounting Department at Eastman Machine Company in Buffalo, where she received the professional experience she so eagerly wanted.

“They say ‘you need a job to get a job,’ and I needed some kind of accounting experience to put on my resume if I wanted to be considered for other internships within the accounting community,” recalls Wrightson, who currently interns at Chiampou, Travis, Besaw & Kershner LLP and secured an internship at Deloitte & Touche for this summer. “The Prosperity Scholarship really opened that door for me.”

It did for all of its recipients.

The Prosperity Scholarship also funds a 12-week, 360-hour summer internship experience for each of its 10 recipients. The parameters are particular. The internships need to be consistent with students’ academic majors and career objectives. They are to be housed within enterprises that demonstrate high potential for job creation and economic revitalization in Western New York. And scholars must be carefully supervised from full-time professionals who have pertinent expertise in students’ interest areas.

“To ensure this, we turned to alumni entrepreneurs and alumni who are leaders in their fields, all of whom provide valuable support,” says Roslyn J. Colon, director of internships in the Canisius Career Center. Nancy Ware ’78, MBA ’85, founder of EduKids Inc.; Ronald A. Raccuia ’90, president of ADPRO Sports and Integrity Office; and Carl J. Montante ’64, HON ’04, president and managing director of Uniland Development, all accepted Prosperity Scholars, as did Rich Products, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and Eastman C ANI S IU S C O L L E G E M A G A Z INE • S P RIN G 2 0 1 1

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ways to re-purpose the company’s 200,000 square foot, three-acre beverage production site on Niagara Street.

Seeler had to consider the site’s location near the waterfront and Peace Bridge, Buffalo’s current and future economic climate, Rich Product’s environmentallyfriendly objectives, and the long-term value and viability of the re-purpose ideas over the next 20 years.

“The internship really forced me to broaden my knowledge, gave me new insight, and revealed many new possibilities and opportunities that I previously never knew of or considered,” says Seeler. “None of this would have happened were it not for the Prentice Family Foundation.”

Machine Co., where many Canisius alumni serve in leadership positions. These individuals and their teams outlined specific assignments for their respective Prosperity Scholars to complete throughout the course of their internships. The work entailed a whole lot more than answering phones and making photocopies.

“I was definitely expected to apply what I learned in my accounting classes,” says Wrightson. Her initial work at Eastman Machine involved accounts payable and accounts receivable. Wrightson later became responsible for allocating invoices, daily check deposits and bank reconciliations.

Valletta learned the value of resourcefulness during his internship at ADPRO Sports and Integrity Office. His supervisor, Derek Garner, executive vice president of both companies, tasked Valletta with two large-scale projects. The first involved a competitive overview for Integrity Office. The second required Valletta to identify new sales prospects for the ADPRO team. Both projects gave this future entrepreneur insight as to what it takes for small businesses to stay competitive.

“I researched the companies’ competitors, determined what they did well, what they didn’t do so well, and who their clients are,” says Valletta. “It involved a lot of phone calls and research but the outcome could ultimately help ADPRO and Integrity differentiate their business from their competitors.”

Bryant and Joan Prentice are the generous benefactors of the Prentice Family Foundation. The couple established the philanthropic organization in 2007, as a way “to leverage economic development through scholarship support” to undergraduate and graduate students, says Bryant Prentice. Specifically, he says, the foundation aims to make a multi-generational impact on WNY to “help transform it into a 21st century knowledge economy.”

Education - particularly business education - is at the heart of the Prentice family business and has been since 1854. Bryant Prentice III is the great-great grandson of J.C. Bryant, a Buffalo physician, educator and entrepreneur who founded Bryant & Stratton College, with his brother-in-law, H.D. Stratton. From its early beginnings, the college provided students with a practical workplace education that combined classroom instruction with real-world experiences.

Similar experiences are being furthered at Canisius College, thanks to the generosity of the Prentice Family Foundation. Earlier this year, the foundation renewed funding for the Western New York Prosperity Scholarships at Canisius for the 2011-2012 year.

This means a new round of scholars will embark on an exciting learning experience that puts their educations to work for the economic benefit of the community.

“I am very grateful to the Prentice Family Foundation for its investment in the next generation of business leaders,” says Wrightson.

“The Prosperity Scholarship afforded me the opportunity to turn in-class learning into real-life professional experiences, in a setting that directly contributes to Western New York’s growth and resurgence.”

“Most interns do not get opportunities to work hand-in-hand with cross-functional, upper-level management, yet I sat in on meetings and provided input on key issues,” says Stephen Seeler.

“The study of business and, in particular, entrepreneurship is not complete without practical experience, which is exactly what I received as a Prosperity Scholar,” adds Valletta. “I now have a unique perspective as to how all different functions of a business tie together. And although there are measurable risks and uncertainty involved in any business venture, the Prosperity Scholarship empowered me to believe that I can live out my entrepreneurial dreams.”

He interned on the Site Re-Purpose Team at Rich Products. Seeler’s specific assignment: to research, evaluate and present ideas on

In fact, Valletta and his Prosperity Scholar counterparts are on a one-way elevator - going up.

For many Prosperity Scholars, however, being a respected member of a team is the real value of their internship experiences.

PHOTO: Western New York Prosperity Scholarship recipients join Antone (Joe) F. Alber, PhD, dean of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business, at the college’s annual Business Awards Dinner. Pictured (front row, l-r) Lindsey Rizzo ‘12, Dean Alber, Laura Wrightson ‘12; (back row, l-r) Phillip Leszak ’10, MBA ‘12, Ryan McNulty MBA ‘12, and Brian Neff MBA ‘12.

Helping Students Shape their Futures James S. Valone, PhD, enhances his legacy of helping students through the establishment of an endowed scholarship People ask James S. Valone, PhD, why he became associate dean of the Wehle School of Business at Canisius College when he was already a highly-regarded history professor at the school.

His answer is simple – the students.

“The reason it made sense to take on the added responsibilities as associate dean was that it is student-oriented,” Valone explains.

“While I specialize in studying and teaching the past, I think my greatest contribution to Canisius is helping many different students shape their futures.”

Whether teaching historiography and research methods to a history honors class, or advising business majors as associate dean in the undergraduate business program, Valone has inspired hundreds of students for 50-years. In fact, Canisius President John J. Hurley ’78 was once an undergraduate student of Valone. He has a soft spot in his heart for his History Honors students as evidenced by a large file cabinet with papers from everyone he ever taught in the program, but he conveys a commitment and desire to help any and all students at Canisius.

That is partly why Valone and his wife established the Geraldine G. and James S. Valone, PhD, Endowed Scholarship in 2007 as a way to assist students who have a financial need.

“I spent my entire career guiding students at Canisius and I saw that the biggest challenge they faced was often financial,” he notes. “The scholarship is another way I can help students to graduate from the college.”

The scholarship is open to any Canisius College student and is not limited to history majors. The first recipient of the scholarship will soon graduate from Canisius and Valone aims to build the

Campaign Update As of April 18, Canisius College has secured $81.9 million in commitments toward its $90 million goal for A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College. To learn more about our campaign, visit

The 2010-11 academic year marked Valone’s 50th anniversary at Canisius College. To honor his inspiring legacy, please consider making a gift to the Geraldine G. and James S. Valone, PhD, Endowed Scholarship at Canisius College. For more information, contact Marion Mittler, director of stewardship, at 716-888-8217 or mittlerm@canisius.edu. To make a gift, visit canisius.edu/gift, click on “endowments,” follow the link to “other endowments” and indicate Valone Scholarship.

endowment to assist as many students as possible in the future.

Reflecting on his own long history at Canisius, Valone points to the Jesuit tradition as an influence on his teaching and believes that tradition will continue to make a difference for students in the future.

“The Jesuit influence is present in many dimensions at Canisius, in terms of intellectual excellence and spirituality, and I am able to tie into that with my own teaching,” he says. “Students may not realize the benefit of a Jesuit education while they are here, however, over time they see the emphasis on service and it shapes who they become as individuals serving others.”

canisius.edu/campaign.

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The Engaged Entrepreneur Edward Burke Carey ’69 invests in a new generation of entrepreneurs From an early age Edward Burke Carey ’69 had entrepreneurship program who demonstrate the energy and drive to be an entrepreneur. academic merit, examples of entrepreneurial activity and a need for financial assistance.

“As a boy growing up in Buffalo, I had a morning newspaper route and an evening Carey cites a government study, which found route at the same time,” he explains. “My that approximately 80 percent of new jobs parents taught me the importance of hard in the United States will come from small work and I always had a job, whether shining business or newly-formed companies in the shoes or being a lifeguard at a city pool.” future. That is why he chose to direct the fund toward entrepreneurialism - something Today, Carey is president and CEO of Carey near and dear to his heart.

Realty Investments in Columbus, OH. His firm specializes in equity real estate investments “It is quite enjoyable to receive a hand-written and commercial development throughout note from a scholarship recipient commenting Ohio. The company's real estate transactions on what he or she is doing,” Carey explains. total more than $3 billion since 1990.

“My goal is to grow the fund so it can provide full scholarships at some point for at least Carey equates much of his success to his eduone or two students at Canisius College.” cation at Canisius College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. One recent scholarship recipient, Mark R. The Jesuits, particularly Rev. Charles W. Wolbert ’10, led a panel on entrepreneurship Lehmkuhl, S.J., HON. ’87, made a lasting at the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization impression on Carey, and he continues to (CEO) national conference in Chicago, IL. embody the Jesuit ideal of “men and women At that same conference, the Canisius College for others.” It is the reason Carey serves as chapter of CEO won first place in the orgaa member of the Canisius College Board nization’s Best Chapter Awards. of Trustees and made a significant com“It is extremely fulfilling to have a positive mitment to A Legacy of Leadership: The impact on students’ lives not only as a Trustee Campaign for Canisius College to establish the but also as a scholarship benefactor,” concludes Edward Burke Carey ’69 Entrepreneurial Carey. “I am also equally proud to play a role Business Education Scholarship Fund. in the future of the institution that helped Established in 2001, the fund provides schol- shape me.” arships to deserving students in the college’s

A Classical Evening for Canisius and the BPO Benefactors of Canisius College and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) were treated to a private musical performance

by BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta HON ’00, at the Florida home of Angelo M. ’66, PhD and Carol Fatta in February. Falletta performed on classical guitar, alongside BPO Concertmaster Michael Ludwig on violin; BPO Principal Cellist Roman Mekinulov; and clarinetist Robert Alemany.

Pictured (from l-r): Michael Ludwig, JoAnn Falletta, Roman Mekinulov and Robert Alemany

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Sharing a Family Tradition For J. Michael ’57 and Marilyn (Mercer) Collins, a Canisius College education is family tradition.

There are 15 Canisius degrees between the two families. The Collins’ grandson, Patrick, will continue this tradition when he joins the Canisius Class of 2015 in fall.

Proud of their Blue and Gold lineage, the Collins’ want others to benefit from a Canisius education. They established The J. Michael Collins ’57 Griffin Editor Scholarship, which is awarded to the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper – a position Mike held as an undergraduate. Kate Songin ’11 was this year’s scholarship recipient.

To learn how you can open the door to a Canisius education, contact Dianna Civello, associate vice president for institutional advancement, at 716-888-8220 or civellod@canisius.edu.

Jean M. Gunner ’87: A Growing Influence

J

ean M. Gunner’s career has been anything but garden variety since she graduated from Canisius College in 1987. After she earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Gunner went to work for a national non-profit, where she coordinated affordable housing programs. From there, she backpacked through Europe, with a stop in Italy to teach English as a second language. Upon Gunner’s return to Western New York, she lived with a Seneca Nation elder for a year on a reservation to study ancient wisdom.

Of all of these rich experiences, none compares with Gunner's role as mom to her two sons, Aidan, age 10, and Kailen, age 13.

“My boys are my daily inspiration and motivation for all my work,” she explains. In fact, Gunner’s boys planted the seeds of inspiration for The Giving Garden, an innovative outdoor classroom for children at Union Pleasant Elementary School in Hamburg, NY that attracts national attention.

Gunner created The Giving Garden with another mother as a grassroots effort to teach children about healthy food choices and improve the quality of the food served in school cafeterias. As an administrator for a pediatric practice in Buffalo, Gunner recognized the connection between poor health in children and the food they consume.

“As I learned more about the foods served to our children, I became concerned from a community, societal and very personal standpoint,” says Gunner.

The idea of The Giving Garden grew as Gunner became involved with the Hamburg School District's Wellness Committee and helped craft a healthier school menu for the district children. The concept really took root when Gunner entered a national contest sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch, which focused on encouraging kids to eat vegetables.

Her entry won a $5,000 grant to design and build a schoolbased, community vegetable garden. With the grant and the help of enthusiastic community volunteers, Gunner built and planted The Giving Garden. More than 60 varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs are among its bounty. Gunner also hosts healthy food tastings in the classrooms, where students sample veggie bagel critters, veggie kangaroo pita pockets and Chinese lettuce wraps. Students receive take-home recipes so their parents can prepare the same healthy snacks at home.

As an off-shoot of the garden, Gunner founded Seeds of Living Education Inc. (SOLE), a non-profit organization that educates schools about how to incorporate gardening and food education into the curriculum. SOLE's ongoing programs include a weekly school garden club, culinary demonstrations, family food tasting nights and other community events that promote fun and hands-on learning.

Gunner points to her experience at Canisius as the beginnings of the path that led to The Giving Garden and SOLE.

“My early work experience and Canisius education really served as the foundation for where I am today."

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A LU M NI

S P OTLIGHT

canisiusconnections LaSalle Medal to be Conferred Upon Barnett ’50 and Habib MS ’63 Two loyal and longtime Canisius volunteers are the recipients of this year’s LaSalle Medal. Donald J. Barnett ’50 and Amy J. Habib MS ’63 received the prestigious recognition on Saturday, May 21, during undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Conferred by the Alumni Association, the LaSalle Medal is presented to individuals who have made substantial contributions to advance the interests of alma mater.

Barnett is the retired director of human resources at Greater Buffalo Press Inc. and former director of development for Christ the King Seminary. He is also a ‘career-volunteer’ at Canisius College. In his 60-plus years since graduation, Barnett helped co-found the college’s Sports Hall of Fame, which annually recognizes outstanding athletes throughout Canisius history. Barnett donated more than a decade of his time as a volunteer for the Canisius Fund, and played significant roles in planning his milestone class reunions, including his 45th, 50th and 60th reunions. And when the Canisius College Class of 1950 hosted a Greatest Generation Alumni Reunion to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, Barnett again volunteered his time to this worthy reunion for alumni war veterans.

Donald J. Barnett ’50

Amy J. Habib MS ’63

vision and advancement of the college, throughout her four terms on the Board of Trustees, and a prior term on the Board of Regents. During Habib’s tenure with the Trustees, she served as chair of its Nominating Committee, and lent her time and resources to the Executive and Student Life committees. In fact, Canisius students are at the heart of all Habib’s generosity. She garners financial support for student scholarships and programming, as a regular volunteer for the Canisius Fund. Many more students Barnett’s commitment to Canisius is paralleled by that are the grateful beneficiaries of the Norman, Saide L. & of Amy Habib, chair of Petri Baking Products. This loyal Bedie N. Joseph Scholarship, which Habib established in daughter of alma mater played an integral role in the 1985 in memory of her parents and her brother.

Snowbirds Fly South Photo, above: More than 80 Canisius alumni and friends attended the Naples reception in April, held at the Inn on Fifth. Pictured (l-r) are the members of the Naples Alumni Reception Committee who hosted the successful event: Andrew Hill ’86, Chet Pawenska ’52, Michael Davis ’60, Tom DiPasquale ’51 (chair), Carm Scaccia ’51 and Leo Lynett Jr. ‘51 Photo, left: Alumni and friends from Florida's Palm Beach Gardens gathered in March for a reception at the Old Marsh Country Club. Pictured (l-r) are: Diane Nowak Kent ’88 and Rose Nowak.

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canisiusconnections

Keep Up with Canisius!

Friend us on Facebook: facebook.com/canisiuscollegealumni

DiGamma Inducts 11 New Members The Canisius College DiGamma Honor Society inducted 11 new members on Friday, March 11. The prestigious society is comprised of men and women who distinguish themselves in their service on behalf of students and alumni, and the advancement of the college.

Pictured (row 1, l-r): Frederick C. Holler ’57, MD; Richard C. Wayne ’70; Lenora Foote-Beavers ’92; John L. Langer ’76, president of the Canisius College Alumni Association (row 2): Catherine M. Burzik ’72, an inductee and chair of the Canisius College Board of Trustees; Thomas J. DiPasquale ’51; Donald T. Lynch MBA ’70 (row 3): Joseph W. LaDuca ’54; Maria R. Frisina ’93; Rev. John P. Bucki, S.J.; (row 4) Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD; John P. Lambert II ’70

A Holy Evening at the Vatican Embassy His Excellency Archbishop Pietro Sambi welcomed Canisius College President John J. Hurley, alumni and friends to the Apostolic Nunciature (or “Vatican Embassy”) in Washington, DC on Thursday, April 7. In his role as Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Sambi serves as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States. Pictured (left) with President Hurley and the Nuncio (center) is Canisius College Trustee Joseph Hassett ’64.

Steve Brown ’83 Speaks His Mind The Journalism Program, Communication Studies Department and the Fitzpatrick Institute of Public Affairs and Leadership recently welcomed FOX News Reporter and Canisius alumnus Steve Brown ’83 to campus.

Brown’s topic of discussion for the evening was “Here’s What I Think …

America’s Pundit-Driven Politics and the Obligations of Today’s Campaign.”

Photo, above (l-r): Barbara J. Irwin, PhD and Steve Brown ’83

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/CanisiusCollege

Join us on Linkedin: linkedin.com/groups?gid=76807

canisius.edu/alumniweekend Blue & Gold Goes Green Check your inbox - not your mailbox for the latest news and upcoming events involving Canisius College alumni.

In an effort to reduce waste and minimize production expenses, the Canisius College Alumni Office will now send its (formerly) printed communications – electronically.

If you’re not already receiving emails from the Canisius College Alumni Office, it’s probably because we don’t have your email address. To submit it, simply visit

canisius.edu/alumni and click on Rochester Alumni Root for Men’s Hockey Rochester alumni, family and friends rooted for the Golden Griffins in February, when the men’s hockey team took on RIT.

the link to “log in.”

It only takes a moment to stay in touch with alma mater!

Photo, above (l-r): Cory Conacher ’11, Lynne Monaco ’75, Cameron Harrison, Geeta Monaco and Rekha Monaco C ANI S IU S C O L L E G E M A G A Z INE • S P RIN G 2 0 1 1

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Detra M. Trueheart ’99: Empowering young women

D

etra M. Trueheart ’99 founded the Young

Miss Buffalo Pageant to help young women through scholarship and enrichment opportunities. Trueheart understands the challenge of pursuing a dream and the difference a mentor can make. With her mother’s guidance, she achieved titles of Miss Buffalo and Miss Western New York, and was a two-time runner up in the Miss New York and Miss Black World competitions.

Trueheart’s idea for the Young Miss Buffalo Pageant took shape during her time at Canisius College. “I began putting my ideas on paper and our first meeting took place shortly after graduation,” she explains. “I saw that the support and inspiration I received from my parents was not something every young woman has, so I set out to create a girls program whereby participants can have positive, nurturing experiences similar to my own growing up.”

Unique in its structure, the Young Miss Buffalo Pageant blends the healthy competition of a traditional women's pageant with an academic and personal enrichment component that helps participants discover their talents and bring out their best. The program provides financial assistance for education through scholarships, and develops life skills through workshops and community service activities.

More than 150 young women, between the ages of 13 and 17, have participated in the program since the non-profit organization staged its first pageant in August 2000. Many pageant participants go on to college and careers.

As the pageant grew, Trueheart found time to earn a master’s degree in public administration from Bernard M. Baruch College.

Most recently, she founded TrueheartSpeaks Enterprises. A speaking, coaching and consulting firm, its mission is to ‘live life in and on purpose.’ Trueheart works with schools, churches and corporations to inspire, empower and challenge individuals to think outside the box, move past what is comfortable and embrace change. “We are the sum total of our experiences, which are not meant to break us but to make us into what we were created and purposed for,” explains Trueheart.

A member of the Canisius College Alumni Association Board of Directors, Trueheart says there is a direct connection between the programs she created and her Canisius education, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

"I consider myself a leader and someone who is developing leaders, a very service and task oriented person," she concludes.

"Those are qualities that I learned and sharpened at Canisius, as I saw them embodied every day in the faculty, staff and my fellow students."

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class notes 1950s ’54 BA Richard F. Griffin, counsel at Kavinoky Cook LLP, was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Alternative Dispute Section of the New York State Bar Association as the representative of the Eighth Judicial District. ’59 BA Frederick M. Hufford, owner of Counseling for Human Growth, presented a workshop entitled “The Six Advantages to Psychological Games or How People Get and Stay Stuck in Psychological Scripts” at the International Integrative Psychotherapy Association’s 5th International Conference held in Vichy, France.

1960s ’60 BS Dennis F. Vanderwerf, retired physicist at 3M Company, authored the book Applied Prismatic and Reflective Optics, which was published by SPIE Press in 2010. ’63 BA Deacon John M. Ruh, retired special education teacher for the West Seneca Central School District, received a master of arts degree in pastoral ministry and received the Excellence in Sacred Scripture Award from Christ the King Seminary. ’67 BS, MS ’75, MBA ’78 Frank L. Eberl, co-owner of Eberl Iron Works Inc., was named campaign chair of the St. Vincent De Paul Neighbor to Neighbor Annual Fund for Western New York. ’69 BA Paul A. Battaglia, partner and attorney at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, presented an update on S&C Corporations at the 57th anniversary of the Institute on Taxation. ’69 BS Anthony J. Latona, partner at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, was re-elected to the Board of Directors of Leadership Buffalo. ’69 BA Kenneth P. Service is the new executive director of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education. He previously served as vice president of institutional relations at La Roche College.

1970s ’70 BA Franklin W. Heller, partner at Damon & Morey LLP, was named to Corporate Counsel’s Best Lawyers in America 2011 Annual Guide to Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law. ’71 BS J. James Cotter, assistant dean of the Gerontology Program at Virginia Commonwealth University, authored The Bridge Over the Berin Strait, a science fiction novel set in 2032, which was published by CreateSpace in 2010. ’71 BA, MBA ’79 Paul J. Maddaluno is the new vice president of sales at Touchcom Inc. He previously served as vice president of sales & marketing at Cura Software. ’72 BA Ronald H. Luczak was promoted to vice president of business development for The Travel Team Inc. He previously served as director of marketing. ’73 BA Carmen J. Gentile, an attorney for the city of Buffalo, was named a member of the Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association Board of Directors. ’73 BA Anthony A. Kubera, director of business development for Russell Bond & Co. Inc., was re-elected to a three-year term on the Professional Insurance Agents of NY Board of Directors. He

was also elected secretary and is sub-chair of the business issues, programs and service committee. ’73 BA Thomas P. Ralabate was promoted to chair and full professor of dance at The University at Buffalo Department of Theatre & Dance, where he will continue to serve as artistic director of the Zodiaque Dance Company. He was also reappointed national chair of Education Strategy for Dance Masters of America Inc. ’74 BA Eric A. Bloom is the new special counsel in the Business Litigation and Insolvency Department at Damon Morey LLP. He previously served as a sole practitioner focusing on construction litigation with an emphasis on subcontractors and suppliers. ’74 BA Thomas V. Doktor is the new chief financial officer for Catholic Charities of Buffalo. He previously served as business manager of St. Mary’s Church in Swormsville. ’75 BA, MS ’80 Max E. Donatelli Jr., executive director of Intakes & Bridges to Health at Baker Victor Services, received the 2010 Harvest Honors Spirits of Empowerment Award from Parent Network of WNY, for his positive impact on the lives of individuals with special needs. ’76 BS James L. Domres is the new senior vice president and chief operating officer of DIGITS, LLC. He is the retired assistant chief investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Office. ’78 BS Richard F. Courtney, vice president of finance at Elderwood Senior Care, received the Financial Executive of the Year Award from Buffalo Business First in the healthcare category. ’78 BA Dale E. Lewis is the new vice president of investments at the Stifle Nicolaus & Company office in Phoenix, AZ. He previously served as vice president of Merrill Lynch & Company Inc. ’78 BA Gregory P. Palkowski, DC, chiropractor at Beavercreek Chiropractic Clinic, was appointed to the Ohio State Chiropractic Board by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. ’78 BA, MBA ’85 Nancy (Wutz) Ware, president of EduKids Inc., received the Buffalo Business First Women of Influence Award in the entrepreneur category. ’79 BS Peter C. Eimer was promoted to chief operating officer for the Brothers of Mercy Campus. He joined the organization in 2000, and previously served as director of development. ’79 BS Michael A. Ervolina Jr., president of Valu Home Centers Inc., received the 2010 Retail Innovators of the Year Award in the community involvement category from the North American Retail Hardware Association. ’79 BS, MBA ’86 Ann Marie (Huefner) George, controller at Sealing Devices Inc., received the Financial Executive of the Year Award from Buffalo Business First in the private company category.

1980s ’80 MBA Andrew D. Hahn is the new vice president, middle market relationship manger at Fifth Third Bank. He previously served as senior vice president and senior commercial lending officer at Raymond James Bank in St. Petersburg, FL.

’81 BA John E. Ballow, attorney at Ballow Law Firm PC, received the 2010 Alumni of the Year Award from Capital University Law School in Columbus, OH. ’81 BS Mark L. Monin, senior vice president of investments at Raymond James & Associates, completed the company’s level II program of the Institute of Investment Management Consulting Certification Series. ’81 MS Edward V. Qualey, chair of the Criminal Justice & Forensic Science Division and associate professor of criminal justice at Hilbert College, received the 2010 Richard B. Lewis Award from The Criminal Justice Educators Association of New York State. ’82 BA Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, received the Buffalo Business First Women of Influence Award in the non-profit leadership category. ’82 BA Thomas E. Greenwald, a senior vice president, wealth advisor and certified financial planner in the Wealth Management Office of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) professional designation. Greenwald joined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 1983. ’82 BS Ronald M. Olejniczak, retired vice president and controller of Aetna Inc., was named to the board of directors for the Family Justice Center of Erie County and St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo. ’84 BS Michael L. Bradley, vice president and chief financial officer at NOCO Inc., received the Financial Executive of the Year Award from Buffalo Business First in the private company category. ’84 BS Patrick L. Emmerling, a partner at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, gave a co-presentation entitled ‘Estate Planning with a Dysfunctional Congress’ at the 57th anniversary of the Institute on Taxation. ’84, MSEd ’87 Col. Mark F. Fassl was appointed inspector general for the United States Forces in Afghanistan, where he reports directly to General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Fassl recently graduated from the U.S. Army War College. ’84 BS Margaret Prebis King, chief financial officer at Buffalo Hospital Supply Co. Inc., was elected treasurer of the Everywoman Opportunity Center Board of Directors. ’85 BS Michael J. Faso, senior vice president of finance and ancillary business service at Independent Health, received the 2011 Service to Mankind Award from the Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. ’85 BS, MBA ‘92 John M. Lunghino, president of Spectrum Wealth Management, received the Pinnacle Award of Excellence for the third consecutive year by Wall Street Financial Group. ’86 BS Maureen M. (Courtney) Lehsten, chief financial officer at Hospice & Palliative Care Group Inc., received the Financial Executive of the Year Award from Buffalo Business First in the non-profits category.

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class notes ’87 BA David H. Crean, PhD, is the new vice president of corporate development, mergers & acquisitions at Aqua Pharmaceuticals LLC in West Chester, PA. He previously served as director of corporate business development at Allergan Inc. ’87 BA Joseph R. Emhof was promoted to vice president and regional director for Davis Advisors in San Francisco, CA, where he is responsible for marketing and distribution of the company’s investment portfolios in Northern California, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Emhof joined the company in 2006. ’87 BA J. Scott Kozacki was promoted to senior partner at Willcox Buyck & Williams PA. He joined the firm in 2006. ’88 BS Flint D. Besecker was promoted to chief executive officer of The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC). He served in various leadership capacities for CHPC’s Board since 2004, and most recently served as interim CEO. ’88 BS Lisa E. Faturos, controller at McGard Inc., was named secretary of The Buffalo Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants Board of Directors. ’88 BS Cheryl A. (Lewandowski) Konopka, a first grade teacher at Union County Public Schools in Monroe, NC, received a master of arts degree in education from Wingate University.

1990s ’90 BS, MBA ’05 Mark Charles DiPasquale, senior project engineer at Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, was elected treasurer of the Buffalo Section of the American Society of Engineers. ’90 BA Christopher D. Kane, PhD, is the new principal scientist in the Department of Translocation Sciences at MedImmune LLC in Gaithersburg, MD. He previously served as senior principal scientist at Pfizer Inc. ’91 MBA Phillip M. Galbo was promoted to principal at Watts Architecture & Engineering. He serves as manager of the Transportation Engineering Department and is in his 18th year with the firm. ’91 BA Lynette M. (Dzierzanowski) Greene was promoted to coordinator of mental health at Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, NY. She previously served as clinical supervisor at Wyoming County Mental Health Clinic. ’92 BS Jeffrey J. Jock, financial management representative at Empire Associated Services Inc., earned the CFP® designation. ’92 BA Alisa A. Lukasiewicz, special counsel at Phillips Lytle LLP, received the 2010 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Advocates Club of WNY. ’92 BS Nora E. Eberl Plizga, controller at Eberl Iron Works Inc., received the Buffalo Business First Women of Influence Award in the family business category. ’93 BS Robert J. Bauer was promoted to principal in the Tax Department of

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Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP. He previously served as a senior manager. ’93 BA Susan M. Etu-Eagan was appointed Buffalo City Court judge by Mayor Byron W. Brown. She has been a practicing attorney for 14 years, and most recently served as associate counsel to the New York State Supreme Court. ’93 BS Daniel J. Geary, vice president of finance for Mod-Pac Corporation, was named to the Aspire Foundation Board of Directors. ’94 BS Karen M. (Karaszewski) Antonelli was promoted to principal at Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. She previously served as senior manager. ’94 BA Rosanna Berardi, managing partner at Berardi Immigration Law, was named to the Buffalo Business First 2010 40 Under Forty class. ’94 BS Eric W. Guzdek, assistant director of recreation for the Town of Amherst, was nominated to the at-large executive position of the STAR (Serving the American Rinks) Executive Board. ’94 BA Scott L. Sroka, assistant United States attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, was appointed to the office’s Federal Violent Crime, Narcotics Trafficking & Asset Forfeiture Division. He joined the organization in 2007. ’94 BS, MBA ’95 Heath J. Szymczak, partner at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, was named 2010 Committee Chair of the Year by the New York State Bar Association’s Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section. Szymczak served as chair of its Business Torts & Employment Litigation Committee. ’95 BA Anne K. (Mogavero) Botticelli was promoted to associate superintendent for Teaching & Learning Elementary for the Buffalo Public Schools. She previously served as director of English Language Arts. ’95 BA, MS ’98 Sheila M. Dunphy-Atkins, counselor at Wheatmore High School in Trinity, NC, received the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Counseling Education certification. ’96 MBA Jennifer Jarvis Hamberger was promoted to director of U.S. marketing at The Mentholatum Co. She joined the company in 2000, and most recently served as senior marketing manager. ’96 MBA Kimberly Minkel was promoted to executive director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). She previously monitored health and safety issues for the company. ’96 BS Kerry L. (Tedesco) LaPlante, PhD, was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure at the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy. She was also promoted to adjunct associate professor of Medicine at Brown University. ’96 MSED Theresa A. (Drilling) Schuta, principal at South Park High School, received the Buffalo Business First Women of Influence Award in the community supporter category.

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’97 BS John K. Grandy, a physician’s assistant at Lee Medical Associates in Dunkirk, NY, presented a paper on human enhancement at the International Journal of Arts & Sciences Global Conference for Academic Disciplines at Harvard University. The paper, entitled “Selected Genetic Destination: The Rise of Homo Sapiens Genomics,” received first place in its academic track. ’97 BS Steve P. Pierpaoli was promoted to senior manager at HSBC’s Global Identity Management Program. He previously served as a security architect. ’97 BA Ryan C. Thayer, kindergarten teacher at Syracuse City School District, is the head coach for boys and girls varsity tennis at Marcellus High School. He is also the co-owner of ER Youth Lacrosse in Syracuse, NY. ’99 BS Jason E. Bourne was awarded the title of nuclear electrical journeyman from Next Era Energy’s Florida Power & Light after completing a three-year apprenticeship. He also received an applied science engineering degree in power plant technologies from Indian River State College. ’98 MBA David C. Orth is the new senior manager in the Valuation and Business Modeling Group in the Cleveland office of Ernst & Young. He previously served as the senior valuation associate at Empire Valuation Consultants. ’99 BA Maj. Matthew H. Watters was appointed assistant United States attorney for the Western District of Texas. He previously served as chief of military justice for the United States Army.

2000s ’00 BS Donna L. Blaufuss, assistant marketing director at Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP, was elected to the Advertising Club of Buffalo Board of Directors. ’00 Heather Jordan Larson, recruiter at Aon Hewitt, received the Professional in Human Resources Certification. ’01 BS Joshua T. Hutter, DDS, was promoted to partner of Western New York Dental Group. He joined the practice in 2006. ’02 MS Cheri L. Carroll-Alvarez is the new coordinator for the Catholic Charities Close the Gap Program. ’02 MS Grace Huff, principal at Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP, was named to the Buffalo Chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants Board of Directors. ’03 BA Jennifer L. Diagostino is the new district office director for New York State Assembly member Sam Hoyt. She served as an adjunct professor of political science at Canisius College since 2009. ’03 BS Danielle L. Sobieski was promoted to senior manager in the Accounting and Auditing Department of Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP. She previously served as manager. ’04 BS, MBA ’05 Joseph G. Kick, was promoted to manager at Deloitte &

Touche LLP. He previously served as staff accountant. ’04 BS, MBA ’05 Sean D. Penner was promoted to manager in the Accounting and Auditing Department of Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP. He previously served as supervising senior accountant. ’06 MBA Lissa Carroll was appointed director, compensation and human resources business partner at Independent Health. She previously served as director of Human Resource Operations at Roswell Park. ’07 BA Meghan E. Butters is the new associate at Weiss & Saville PA in Wilmington, DE. She graduated with a juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law in 2010. ’07 BA James M. DeVoy graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School cum laude in May 2010 and joined the Las Vegas, NC office of Randazza Legal Group. ’07 BS Todd J. Swatling is the new linux systems administrator at Vassar College.

He previously served as academic systems administrator at Albertus Magnus College. ’09 BS Diana J. Schiedo is a new product developer for Science Kit at VWR Education, where she develops new products and kits to assist science teachers, from elementary to college.

2010s ’10 BA Nicole L. DeFonde is the new assistant media planner for Hill Holiday Advertising Agency in Boston, MA. ’10 BA Elizabeth Hole is the new senior constituent liaison in the Behavioral Health Division at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. ’10 BS Ryan J. Meissner, a freelance graphic designer in Los Angeles, CA, recorded his first album, which is expected to be released in March 2011. He also works as an extra for hit television shows, such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Bones,” and “Glee.” ’10 BS Lisa Napieralski is the new web developer and HTML specialist at Eastman Kodak. She previously served as interactive developer and designer at MSM Marketing.

To see what alumni events are happening in your area, visit the Alumni Calendar of Events at canisius.edu/alumni.

New job? Newly married?

New arrival to the family?

Simply email your news and notes to alumnote@canisius.edu. The editors will share your accomplishments in a future issue of Canisius College Magazine. Just remember to indicate Alumni Note, Alumni Wedding or Baby Griff in the subject field of your email.

Annette Bergsland ’00, MSED ’06 and Patrick McCarthy ’00, a son, Kristoffer, born October 3, 2009

Jonathan J. Hoepfinger ’03 and Rebecca Wagner, a son, Lucas Cole, born September 10, 2010

Ann Caligiuri-Sobol ’94 and James J. Sobol ’93, a daughter, Claire Josephine, December 24, 2010

Deana M. (Konefal) Kalley ’93 and Brian Kalley, a daughter, Madsyn Gabrielle, born September 14, 2010

Jennifer M. (O’Rielly) Campanella ’97 and John Campanella, a daughter, Valentina Cynthia, born December 4, 2010

Edmund C. Kosiorek ’97, MSED ’02 and Debra Kosiorek, a son, John Casimer, born November 19, 2010

Danielle T. (Veltz) Dankey ’00 and Greg Dankey, a daughter, Maria Therese, born December 8, 2010

Kerry L. (Tedesco) LaPlante ’96, PhD and Seth LaPlante, a daughter, Katherine Paige, born October 10, 2010

Nicholas F. DeWitt ’06 and Danielle Pietrocarlo, a daughter, Gianna Rae, born March 29, 2010

William P. Moore ’00 and Jessica Moore, a daughter, Stella Julia, born July 21, 2010

Robert E. Dionne Jr. ’97 and Marie R. Dionne, a son, Colin James, born September 29, 2010 Rebecca A. (Young) Donoghue ’99, MBA ’00 and Patrick J. Donoghue, a daughter, Margaret Jean, born July 15, 2010 Jason J. Evchich ’00 and Jennifer L. (Pulaski) Evchich, a daughter, McKenna Grace, born December 21, 2010

THI S I S S UE ’ S F EATURE D B A B Y G RI F F

Derek Kelsey

born to Damian K. Jones ’99, DDS and Jennifer (Pitz) Jones ’00 September 22, 2010

Krystina M. (Pecoraro) Farrell ’05 and Shaun Farrell, a son, Dylan Ignatius, born August 16, 2010 Thomas F. Grzebinski II ’97, MBA ’03 and Tracy Grzebinski, a daughter, Alaina Renee, born May 26, 2010 Nina M. (Mang) Henderson ’99 and Craig C. Henderson ’00, a daughter, Madalyn Delaney, born November 30, 2010

Hanna M. (Chaudari) Mindy ’08 and Steven Mindy, a daughter, Valentina Marie, born April 17, 2010 Sarah E. (Huntley) Spillman ’02 and Michael J. Spillman ’02, a daughter, Delia Rose, born June 2, 2010 Ryan C. Thayer ’97 and Shannon Thayer, a daughter, Addison Reed, born November 30, 2010 Kathleen M. (Wisnoski) Weidmann ’98 and Scott M. Weidmann MS ’01, a son, Eli Charles, born July 20, 2010 Tricia (Oleksy) Winnicki ’00 and Jason Winnicki ’98, a daughter, Charlotte Claire, born January 5, 2011 Justin A. Zoladz ’01 and Megan Zoladz, a daughter, Molly Ann, born December 10, 2010

think your baby ought to be in pictures? *Brendon C. Burke MS ’06 and Kara Quinn on December 18, 2010 Jennifer L. Diagostino ’03 and David J. Stawski ’03, MBA ’04 on November 17, 2010

Send us a photo of your newborn with his/her name and date of birth. Each issue, we will draw from the entries.

If your child’s picture is chosen, he/she will be featured as the next “Baby Griff.” Send photos to: Canisius College Magazine Baby Pictures; 2001 Main Street, Lyons Hall 209; Buffalo, NY 14208 or email a high resolution photo to alumnote@canisius.edu. ALL Baby Griff photos submitted can be viewed on the college’s alumni site at canisius.edu/alumni/wedding_births.asp. Photos will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

*Eric P. Doherty ’84 and Patricia Pacynski on November 26, 2010 Jamie L. Golding ’05, MBA ’06 and Michael Lotz on October 1, 2010 *Melissa N. Kormash ’03 and Neil Gallagher on November 6, 2010 Brendan E. Lynch ’92 and Suzanne Chung on July 25, 2010 Jennifer M. O’Rielly ’97 and John Campanella on April 12, 2010 Mary Jo Slazak ’94 and Christopher Courchesne on October 10, 2010 *Courtney R. Williams ’00 and Adam Boland on January 8, 2011

I n M emoriam Nicholas J. Milano ’31 December 4, 2010

Donald H. Gareis ’50 January 13, 2011

Hon. William J. Flynn Jr. ’37 Msgr. Charles T. Griffin ’50 Mary Soukup ’55 November 5, 2010 December 4, 2010 January 14, 2011

Charles A. Seeley ’72 December 29, 2010 Lester Rickard MBA ’76 December 13, 2010

Michael J. Nessler ’59 November 2, 2010

Timothy J. Traskos ’77 April 7, 2010

Raymond A. Monin ’38, DDS Norbert E. Gonglewski ’51 October 23, 2010 December 30, 2010

Michael Glieco ’67 November 22, 2010

Michael K. Trometer ’77 January 24, 2011

Gen. Joseph F. H. Cutrona ’41 Thomas F. McClenathan ’51, MD December 25, 2010 Kenneth E. Schwert ’41, DDS December 1, 2010

Richard A. Kurtzworth ’67 April 7, 2010

Thomas M. Winkler ’79 October 8, 2010

J. Robert Monteleone ’67 November 26, 2010

Kevin W. Deeney ’82, DDS December 19, 2010

Richard H. Dewey ’69 July 27, 2010

Geralyn D. Seda ’83 September 17, 2010

Thomas P. Enright ’69, MBA ’74 January 23, 2011

Diane A. Wood MS ’83 October 21, 2010

November 25, 2010

Donald G. Jacobi ’37 November 23, 2010

November 5, 2010 Walter L. Kosiba ’43, PhD August 14, 2010

Joseph R. Emmerling ’51 January 29, 2011

Robert J. Morgan ’51 November 18, 2010

John J. Nasca ’43 October 27, 2010

Frank C. Saccomanno ’51, MS ’78 January 22, 2011

Eligius A. Wolicki ’46, PhD February 18, 2011

George M. Sylves ’51 November 18, 2010

Edward P. VanVolkenburg ’47 William E. Balthasar ’52 December 3, 2010 January 14, 2011 Harold L. Bitterman ’52 Luke C. Owens ’48 December 30, 2010 November 10, 2010

*Indicates married at Christ the King Chapel.

James J. Reilly ’55 December 21, 2010

Margaret S. Turner MBA ’84 William J. O’Connor MBA ’71 October 16, 2010 July 29, 2010 Daniel J. Kelley MS ’89 October 25, 2010 Peter M. Palmisano ’71, MS ’77 Michele A. (Bryniarski) January 23, 2011 Bille ’90

Joseph S. Privitera ’49 December 6, 2010

Charles K. Martina ’52 July 7, 2010

John Swain MS ’71 October 31, 2010

James M. Buchert ’50 November 10, 2010

James V. Griffo ’53 October 20, 2010

Salvatore T. Crino ’50 November 16, 2010

Frank N. Hossenlopp ’53 December 14, 2010

Ann (Carey) Dougherty MA ’72 October 25, 2010

Robert F. Rung ’53 December 5, 2010

James T. Kelley Jr. ’72 November 30, 2010

Michael E. Scholz ’92 December 25, 2010 Andrew P. Rupp ’99, MBA ’01 January 7, 2011 Mark C. Kirsch MBA ’01 January 20, 2011

Top: Patty Murray ’82 with her newborn son, Patrick, born March 25, 1996 Center: A happy and healthy Patrick, around age one Bottom: Patty and Patrick, today 32 | C ANI S IU S

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Pat t y M u r r ay ’ 82 h el ps e x pecta n t mot h er s

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Eil een C. Her bert ’04 photos

Tom Wol f ’86

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M

ary Pat Murray ’82 had two small children and a baby on the way when doctors told her she had Stage III breast cancer. She can still recall the day she discovered the golf-ball-sized lump under her arm. “I spent a beautiful fall morning pulling weeds from my garden and later took a bath to soothe my aching muscles,” she said. “The lump wasn’t there just two weeks before when I did a self-exam. I was terrified.”

Murray’s cancer was aggressive and doctors agreed that treatment couldn’t wait. At four months pregnant, however, Murray feared what might happen to her if she opted not to be treated at that time. Her children needed a mother. But Murray also worried about the effects chemotherapy would have on her unborn child.

“I needed someone who went through this, someone who could tell me that my baby would be okay,” recalled Murray.

But finding help wasn’t easy. “Only one out of 1,000 pregnant women is diagnosed with cancer each year,” said Elyce H. Cardonick, MD, a specialist in maternal and fetal medicine

She also began to reflect a great deal on her life-changing encounter and the ways she might put it – and her previous collegiate and professional experiences – to use for others.

Murray holds degrees in history and English from Canisius College. She earned her juris doctorate at the State University of New York at Buffalo, although she never practiced law.

Rather, Murray worked in the insurance industry with her father. She continued this work when she and her husband, Jack, started their family.

“I realized that my legal training and the service and leadership skills I learned at Canisius were all great assets to start an organization to help other women going through what I went through,” said Murray.

In 1997, she established Hope for Two: The Pregnant with Cancer Network (pregnantwithcancer.org).

The Buffalo-based organization matches expectant women who are diagnosed with cancer, with survivors.

Through phone conversations and emails, survivors

“It is so important that we get the word out that cancer is a diagnosis not a death sentence, and when women have a strong support network, they live longer.” and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Cardonick maintains a national registry that tracks information on pregnant women with cancer.

Faced with an impossible dilemma, Murray took a leap of faith and began treatment in December 1995.

Doctors removed a six-by-nine centimeter tumor. They also discovered that Murray’s cancer spread to her lymph nodes.

The remaining months of her pregnancy were debilitating but Murray’s children proved to be the best medicine.

“I did all the mommy things that I would normally do for my two children,” recalled Murray. And at night when she couldn’t sleep, Murray sat in her childrens’ bedrooms and watched them sleep.

“I would look at them and rub my belly and say, ‘I need to go on.’”

Mary Rose McDermott and Lisa Radel also gave Murray reason to be optimistic throughout chemotherapy. The two local women survived cancer while pregnant and reached out to Murray when they learned about her diagnoses. “Talking with these women made all the difference in the world,” said Murray. “They were on the other side. They made it and so did their children.”

On March 25, 1996, Murray gave birth to Patrick, a healthy eight-pound baby boy. And, although the chemotherapy stripped Murray of almost all of her hair, “Patrick was born with a full head of it,” she laughed. “He was beautiful.”

After Patrick’s birth, Murray completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and struggled with additional health issues.

provide members with information, support and perhaps most important – hope.

“When I found Patty and the pregnant-with-cancer support group, I couldn’t believe so many women suffered with cancer while pregnant,” said Amanda Serfontein, of Cape Town, South Africa. “Hallelujah, I was not alone anymore and although oceans separated us, they were only a touch away on my computer. Hope for Two gave me courage.”

Murray founded Hope for Two with the women who provided support during her struggle: McDermott and Radel. Murray’s cancer counselor, Christine Bylewski, is vice chair and serves on its board of directors. Cardonick is a member of Hope for Two’s advisory board.

Now in its 14th year, Murray considers Hope for Two her fourth child, “an adolescent well on its way to adulthood.” The network connects nearly 1,000 women in 28 different countries, and is growing steadily. Interest spiked in March when MSNBC.com broadcast a story about pregnant women diagnosed with cancer, which referenced Hope for Two. After it aired, the Hope for Two website logged 1,800 visits from 53 countries. The broadcast also resulted in 18 new members of the support network and 35 new volunteers.

“It is so important that we get the word out that cancer is a diagnosis not a death sentence, and when women have a strong support network, they live longer,” said Murray.

She is proof.

Top: Patty smiles with her daughter, Molly, and son, Patrick, two weeks after she completed chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Right: T he Murray Family: Molly, Jack, Patty, Patrick and Jack Jr. Bottom: A candid moment between Patty and Patrick

Cancer free for 15 years, Murray’s battle with cancer was always a family affair. She is grateful to her husband and their children, Molly, Jack Jr. and Patrick, who continue to support what is now her life’s work.

“My husband is my sounding board and my confidant,” said Murray, who works full-time as the organization's volunteer executive director and chair of the board of directors. “He works so hard so I can devote myself to my “fourth child.” He is at my side through everything.” Murray’s children began to contribute to Hope for Two at a young age, and continue to be involved with the network.

Patrick shares a special bond with his mom. The two often talk about what Murray experienced during her pregnancy. “I want to understand what she went through,” said Patrick. “I want to know what emotions she experienced and what the treatments were like.”

Patrick is committed to his mom and Hope for Two. “When you experience a hardship and overcome it, it is your duty to help others to make their similar experiences easier,” he said.

“I think it’s important that people see me and know I’m ok.”

Patrick attends the organization’s group events, appears in its videos and conducts interviews. Eventually, he wants to serve on the organization’s board of directors. Murray said nothing could make her more proud than to see her son serve as a symbol of hope for pregnant women fighting for their lives, and the lives of their unborn children.

“I wondered on so many occasions – not why me, but why did this happen to me?” said Murray. “Then it became clear. I had to go through all of these things - my educational pursuits, cancer diagnosis and treatment - in order to get to this place in my life.

God had a plan for me, a place for me all along.”

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

The late Rev. James J. Ruddick, S.J., inspects the college’s seismograph equipment in the Braun-Ruddick Seismograph Station (circa 1960). Housed in the basement of Old Main, the seismograph station operates in the exact location that it did when it was moved to the new campus in 1912. The seismograph station sits on the Onondaga limestone, and is the only such facility of its kind in Western New York. It routinely records earthquakes from New Zealand to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to the south coast of Chili.

PICTURED ABOVE:

On March 11, 2011, the Braun-Ruddick Seismograph Station recorded Japan’s magnitude-nine earthquake, which resulted in a killer tsunami and triggered a nuclear crisis in the Asian country.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CANISIUS COLLEGE ARCHIVES