Celebrating 60 Years

WRITTEN BY DR. DONALD MONNIN

1961 2021

A rming the Past, Building the Future.

2021marks the 60th Anniversary of Villa Maria College. This momentous occasion in the life of the College testifies to the significance of Villa’s mission, programs, and people who have impacted Western New York for many years.

Today, Villa Maria College offers its students 18 different majors, 26 minors, and 2 certificate programs in a wide range of academic programs.

The College’s academic offering ranges from health sciences to digital media arts, to fine arts and design, to humanities and social sciences and more.

Over the last 60 years, thousands of students throughout the Western New York area and beyond have come to call Villa Maria College home. Its origins, however, are quite humble.

The College was founded in 1961 by the Felician Sisters. It was originally opened to provide the first two years of college for their Sisters who were preparing to become schoolteachers. Classes were taught in various rooms in the Convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is located on Doat Street.

In 1964, Villa Maria opened the doors to its present-day campus on Pine Ridge Road. Four years after the College was

History OF VILLA MARIA COLLEGE

The 60s:

1960: Mother Mary Annette Guzowski, CSSF, the first College president, and the Felician Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province open a teacher-training center for sisters in the education apostolate. 1964: Dedication and official opening of Villa Maria College campus Main Building complex.

1961: The Center secures a provisional charter from the Board of Regents of the State of New York to grant associate degrees in arts and applied science to women religious and begins operating as Villa Maria College of Buffalo.

1965:

The charter is extended to include laywomen as students.

I always think about those days. Villa was the right place for me at that time in my life. I liked its small size. It gave me enormous flexibility to organize things. We really impacted change around the community. That was fairly unique. I don’t know if I would have received that at a big school.

- Michael O’Mara | ’68 - ‘70

1968: The College is granted an absolute charter and is recognized as a co-ed institution. 1971: Mr. James H. Righter becomes the first laymen to chair the Board of Trustees.

1967: Sister Mary Pachomia Lenda, CSSF, is appointed as the second president of the College. 1972: The College becomes fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The 70s:

founded, in 1965, it would welcome laywomen and laymen shortly thereafter in 1968.

For the next 44 years, Villa Maria remained a junior college offering a variety of associates degrees. In 2005, the absolute charter was amended, and the College began offering its baccalaureate degree in interior design. Four more baccalaureate programs were approved in the next three years: animation, fashion design and merchandising, music and music industry, followed by psychology, digital filmmaking, digital media and communications, game design, computer software development, and most recently, community health and motion design.

1974: Debut of first College yearbook, ASTRON, named after the first college newspaper, would eventually come to be known as VIKON. 1978: Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, is appointed as the third president of the College.

The 80s:

I didn’t want a ‘big school’ college environment, so Villa was the place for me. I would strongly recommend Villa Maria College. I still apply a lot of the knowledge I gained there today. I found that Villa had a ‘small-town’ feel but with a sophistication because of its emphasis in the Arts.

- Mike Piscitello | ’80 - ‘82

1986: The College celebrates 25 years. 1989: SKALD literary magazine receives first national recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

1976: In-house radio station WVMC begins broadcasting.

My instructors instilled in me a desire to look beyond the conventional... I credit the College with reinforcing the religious and spiritual aspects of life… Villa Maria College is included on the list of credentials I give to every client. I’m proud of it! 1982: First Founder’s Medal awarded to R. John Oshei at Commencement. 1987: The College establishes the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry, the first food pantry to be located at a college in WNY.

Over the last six decades, the campus has grown beyond the prominent Main Building, and now includes Felician Hall, the Athletic Center, and Art Shop. In 2020, the College expanded into the former St. Francis Residence of the Felician Sisters for the Fine Arts department. Athletics were reintroduced to the campus in 2015 and the College proudly competes in the USCAA in basketball, bowling, cross country and soccer. 2015 also marked the introduction of two of the College’s cornerstone success initiatives: the Student Success Center and the Achieve Program for Students with Learning Differences. Led by a dedicated team of academic experts, the Student Success Center aids all students in meeting their academic goals. The Achieve Program was designed to provide specialized services to students with

History CONTINUED

The 90s:

I entered Villa with a lack of self-confidence but with a burning desire to make a difference. Villa Maria College awakened that determination in me!

- Dawn Quinn | ’91 - ‘93

1992: Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) begins at the College. 1997: Dedication of The Saint Joseph Commemorative Walkway. 2000: The college celebrates 40 years. 2005: The absolute charter is amended to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior design. 2008: Four new bachelor’s degree programs are added in animation; fashion design and merchandising; and music & music industry.

1996: College newspaper News and Views becomes The Viking. 1998: First College president, Sister Mary Annette Guzowski, CSSF, dies at the age of 104. 2003: Mission Integration Committee formed to promote College Franciscan Felician heritage.

The 2000s:

Villa Maria College has contributed to my life in so many ways. Upon my first being accepted into the music program, I was very unsure if I would even make it through the whole two-year program. The faculty, staff and students instilled a sense of confidence in me. I came out of Villa a very different man than the one who walked in. I’m now knowledgeable, confident, and connected. Through Villa I’m free to reach my true potential and ultimate destiny.

We are constantly in the process of becoming, of evolving, of transforming. That is who we are and, if we remain true to our mission, that is who we will always be, for the next sixty years and well beyond.

DR. MATTHEW GIORDANO

learning differences, and currently boasts some of the highest retention rates in Western New York.

After 50 years of dedicated service to the College, Villa Maria’s third president, Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, announced her retirement in 2018. She passed the torch to Matthew Giordano, Ph.D., who was inaugurated in November 2019. In addition to being the College’s first male president, Dr. Giordano is also the first layperson to lead the way at Villa Maria.

Under Dr. Giordano, Villa Maria introduced esports and several new academic programs. Most notably, he has expertly led the College through an unprecedented time period: the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic has brought widespread hardship, it also gave Villa Maria the chance to show the world it puts students first.

The College’s technology lending program was developed during the 2020 shutdown. It put desktops, laptops, and other forms of necessary technology into the homes of students who would not have been able to participate remotely otherwise. Shortly after students returned to campus in August 2021, the College rolled out its next success initiative: Free Books and Supplies.

Guided by its dynamic Franciscan spirit and welcoming Catholic tradition, Villa Maria College continues to grow in new directions to serve its community and enrich the lives of its graduates. Because of the College’s strong foundation, unwavering commitment to student success, and innovative leadership, the future of Villa Maria College remains bright.

The 2010s:

2010: Villa Maria College celebrates 50 years. 2014: The

College adds a bachelor’s degree in psychology. 2018: Accreditation is reaffirmed by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Sister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, retires in June after 40 years of service as president.

During my first tour of the College, I fell in love with Villa Maria's Computer Software Development program. Villa has specialized equipment for every major and teaches practical skills, like programming, that help me develop my skills for my future career. I chose Villa because it is a small school that focuses on developing its students both academically and as human beings. Villa feels like a family. You can talk to anyone and feel sure they know who you are. You are in an environment where people care about you.

- Gianluca Ndukanma | ’19 - ‘23

2021: Added degrees in community health and motion design.

2015: The Vikings return, relaunching intercollegiate athletics after a nearly 30-year hiatus. Bachelor’s degrees added in digital filmmaking and digital media & communications. A new associate degree added for occupational therapy assistant. The Achieve Program for Students with Learning Differences launches. Villa goes digital and offers its first online class. 2019: In February, degrees are added in game design and computer software development. In March, Dr. Matthew Giordano is appointed as the College’s fourth president. On November 15, 2019, Dr. Giordano is Inaugurated as Villa Maria College's first lay, male president.