The Dome
Canisius in the News

Business First reported on Canisius President Steve Stoute being appointed co-chair of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. The council is one of 10 established by New York State to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth. Click here to read the story.
Submitted by: College Communications
PA Grad Named AAPA Student of the Year
The prestigious award honors a PA student who furthers the image of PAs and PA students; gives self-sacrificing time and effort in service to community; demonstrates leadership and professionalism; and exemplifies the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare to all.
Krishna is a first-generation, non-traditional student of color who experienced first-hand the emotional and financial burden due to access challenges of the healthcare system. Because of these experiences, Krishna pursued a career in healthcare and volunteered her services at rural health camps and free health clinics in areas where people lacked access to basic health care services.
Click here to read her full story.
Submitted by: College Communications
Catalog Review Sessions
The 2023-2024 Academic Catalog is scheduled to go live in early July. Therefore, we are asking that all catalog page and program curriculum edits be completed by Friday, June 30. To help you with these changes we have set up virtual review sessions and linked helpful instructions on the Academic Affairs wiki page.
The virtual review sessions will go over the Courseleaf modules for the catalog (CAT), courses (CIM for Courses), and program requirements (CIM for Programs). Links to these modules are accessible from the portal. This training is recommended for any current or future chairs/program directors, faculty members who intend to develop new courses, faculty members who oversee minors or other curricula, administrative associates to academic departments, or anyone designated as a page owner. Contact Amy Beiter for the list of assigned pages. The review sessions are being offered on the following days and times:
The review sessions are being offered on the following days and times:
- Thursday, June 1 @ 2:00 pm https://canisius.zoom.us/j/92883811238
- Tuesday, June 6 @ 10:30 am https://canisius.zoom.us/j/99106653282
- Wednesday, June 7 @ 2:00 pm https://canisius.zoom.us/j/99084405501
Additional review sessions will be added if needed. If you have any questions or require additional assistance with any edits or updates, please reach out to Amy Beiter at beiter5@canisius.edu or 716-888-2121.
Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs
Nominate a Student for Omicron Delta Kappa
This is a reminder that the deadline to submit student nominations for Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) is June 1 at 11:59 p.m.
Omicron Delta Kappa is the National Leadership Honor Society, dedicated to honoring students who have made an impact to one or more areas of student life. You can nominate a student by clicking the link below:
https://canisius.presence.io/form/omicron-delta-kappa-nomination
You can nominate as many students as you feel meet the criteria for membership (see link for more information)
Submitted by: Jason Francey, director, Student Engagement and Leadership Development, The Center for Student Engagement and Leadership Development
COLI Summer D2L & Hypothes.is Updates
Hypothes.is and D2L both have a number of updates scheduled for this summer. Note that some of these updates, specifically the Hypothes.is ones, have not yet been implemented. We will be working on them throughout the summer and have them ready before the Fall Semester. Stay tuned to the Dome and COLI Blog for more updates!
D2L Updates
Discussions
First, creating D2L Discussion Topics will become easier and more streamlined. The new Topics screen will look and behave similarly to the Dropbox and Quizzes screen. Note that the way a Forum is created will remain the same. This new screen will be opt-in to provide a transition period. Take a look at our new D2L: Discussion Topics Introduction video to learn more.

Quiz Messaging
Whenever a student exits a quiz, D2L will give them a warning pop-up. This pop-up will contain a message that varies a bit depending on whether or not the quiz is timed or has an end date and when the student leaves. However, the general idea of the message is to warn students that, if they leave the quiz and come back, the Timer does not stop or they may be “locked” out because of the end date. Note: for these new pop-ups to appear, the student MUST click on the X in the upper-right corner in the quiz page. Exiting out of the tab or browser will circumvent these pop-ups. The following images are courtesy of D2L:





Dropboxes
There will be multiple updates to the dropbox.
- Similar to dates in Discussions, there will be a few options for Availability Dates in Dropboxes:
- Visible with Access Restricted: Students can see the title of the dropbox only until/after the specified date. The dropbox will automatically open/close after the specified Start date/End date.
- Visible with Submission Restricted: Students can see the title of the dropbox and description (if there is one) but will not be able to submit until/after the specified date
- Hidden: The dropbox is completely hidden from students until/after the specified date
- Easily see dates of dropboxes on the Dropbox page
- You will now be able to view Start, End, and Due dates underneath the title of the dropbox in the Dropbox overview page
These updates are mostly “quality of life” improvements and should not affect your overall workflow (except for making it easier to use Dropboxes).
Hypothes.is Updates
Use PDFs Uploaded to D2L
You can skip Google Drive now! Instead of having to make sure the PDF is on your Google Drive, you will be able to use PDFs that you upload directly to D2L. This will streamline the process of making Hypothes.is Assignments, allowing you to work entirely in D2L. This will also make it a bit easier when copying Hypothes.is Assignments from one course to another course.
Hypothes.is Group Assignments
If you have ever wanted to break students into groups or have a certain group of students focus on one set of questions and another set of students focus on another set, now you can! Hypothes.is will be able to access and use D2L Groups to create Group Assignments.
Campus Candids

Canisius President Steve Stoute presided over his first commencement exercises on Saturday, May 20, when the college conferred nearly 500 diplomas to the undergraduate and graduate students from the Class of 2023. Thank you to all the faculty who supported their students by participating in the ceremonies and to all the staff who volunteered their time on this important day.





as she receives her Canisius diploma.



Submitted by: College Communications
Faculty and Staff Invited to Alumni Weekend
Faculty and staff are welcome to join the Canisius community for Alumni Weekend on June 2 – 4. With a wide variety of events, there’s sure to be something for everyone. As a thank you for all that you do, please enjoy the following discounted rates on our most popular events:
Tent Party: $20 per person
Celebrating Canisius Dinner: $85 per person
To redeem your discount, please email Sarah Sterzinger at sterzins@canisius.edu.
Space is limited. We highly encourage early registration so you can ensure you don’t miss out.
For more information, please visit https://www.canisius.edu/alumni/stay-connected/reunion
Submitted by: Sarah Sterzinger, assistant director, Alumni Engagement
An Evening with Tony Hiss
This Thursday, May 25, the Western New York Land Conservancy is hosting the world-renowned author Tony Hiss, at the Montante Cultural Center at Canisius. Tony Hiss is one of the strongest advocates for land conservation in the United States and at this event he will discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth. His book discusses the importance of land protection to wildlife conservation. The Biology and Environmental Science programs are sponsoring the event.
This event is free , open to the public and will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Montante Cultural Center. To attend you must register in advance as seating is limited. For individuals unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed, but registration is required to access the link.
You can use the link below for more information or to register.
https://www.wnylc.org/tonyhiss
Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.
Submitted by: Katie Costanzo, Director of Environmental Science, Biology Department
Honeywell Continues Its Commitment to Canisius

Pictured (l-r): Lisa Yeoh, Honeywell, Robert Stewart ’11, PhD, Honeywell, Kristina Marohn, Canisius and Mariusz Kozik, PhD, Canisius
Canisius College is the recipient of a grant from Honeywell to support the Western New York Chemistry Olympiad. On May 18, 2023, representatives from Honeywell presented Dr. Mariusz Kozik, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and coordinator of the Western New York Chemistry Olympiad, with a check for $10,000 to support student preparation and participation in the Olympiad.
The Chemistry Olympiad is a local, national and international competition designed to stimulate and promote achievement in high school chemistry. It is sponsored nationally by the American Chemical Society and hosted locally by Canisius College. Honeywell has supported the Chemistry Olympiad for 25 years and has donated more than $250,000 in support of this initiative.
Submitted by: Sandy Miller, Assistant Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Catalog Review Sessions
The 2023-2024 Academic Catalog is scheduled to go live in early July. Therefore, we are asking that all catalog page and program curriculum edits be completed by Friday, June 30. To help you with these changes we have set up virtual review sessions and linked helpful instructions on the Academic Affairs wiki page.
The virtual review sessions will go over the Courseleaf modules for the catalog (CAT), courses (CIM for Courses), and program requirements (CIM for Programs). Links to these modules are accessible from the portal. This training is recommended for any current or future chairs/program directors, faculty members who intend to develop new courses, faculty members who oversee minors or other curricula, administrative associates to academic departments, or anyone designated as a page owner. Contact Amy Beiter for the list of assigned pages. The review sessions are being offered on the following days and times:
The review sessions are being offered on the following days and times:
- Thursday, June 1 @ 2:00 pm https://canisius.zoom.us/j/92883811238
- Tuesday, June 6 @ 10:30 am https://canisius.zoom.us/j/99106653282
- Wednesday, June 7 @ 2:00 pm https://canisius.zoom.us/j/99084405501
Additional review sessions will be added if needed. If you have any questions or require additional assistance with any edits or updates, please reach out to Amy Beiter at beiter5@canisius.edu or 716-888-2121.
Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs
Permanent Chair of Polish Culture Event
On Sunday, May 28, 2023, the Polish Singers Alliance of America will be completing its 52nd International Convention with a Mass and Concert at Assumption Church where singers from the United States and Canada will join their voices in song. Mass begins at 12:30 p.m. and members of the Chopin and Kalina Singing Societies will lead the congregational singing.
The Polonia Choir Society of Edmonton will join in a Prayer for Ukraine as part of the Mass. A brief tour of Assumption Church will follow. The Permanent Chair of Polish Culture has joined with the Alliance to present a concert featuring the award-winning choirs, recipients of the Alliance’s scholarship, and a combined chorus of over 100 members in music celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Copernicus and the 134th anniversary of the Alliance. The concert will feature a wide-range of composers celebrating Polish song with pianists offering the music of Chopin for the enjoyment of the audience.
A free will offering for the Leokadja Dombroska/Polish Singers Alliance of America Scholarship Fund will be taken. All are welcome to attend.
Submitted by: Mary Lou Wyrobek President-Permanent Chair of Polish Culture Event
Annual Shredding Event
It’s time to start thinking about the annual shredding event. Materials will be collected between June 5 – 23. All materials identified to be shredded must be placed in boxes with the top secured with tape and clearly marked “SHRED.” When the boxes are ready, please submit a Facilities Work Order to schedule a pick-up. The Facilities Work Order form (not to be confused with a Facilities Project Request) is located on the portal under the Applications menu.
Shredding is reserved for materials that are confidential, sensitive or private in nature. Materials that are not considered confidential, sensitive or private in nature should be placed in recycle bins located throughout the campus. This event is for college related materials only. Personal material will not be accepted.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Facilities office. Facilities Work Orders will not be taken over the phone. A Facilities Work Order must be submitted identifying the location and number of boxes to be picked-up. We ask for your help with managing our precious resources. Please collect all of your shredding materials before submitting the work order so we can efficiently plan our pick-ups.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Submitted by: Joseph J. Snodgrass, Director of Facilities
Campus Candids

As the academic year draws to a close, Canisius spent the week celebrating and commemorating so many college traditions.
Pictured above are the 2023 graduates of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), whom were recognized for their academic, social and campus engagement earlier this week. The seven seniors hail from WNY and NYC – and all that is in between. Five of the seven graduates are first generation college students.








Discovery, discernment and drive were all celebrated at the annual All-College Honors banquet (pictured above)! Thanks to all the Canisius professors and alumni in attendance. Their support enables the high achievements of the Honors Students to grow greater each year.

We also saluted the college’s ROTC cadets this week. The soon-to-be-commissioned students were recognized and revered at the Golden Griffin Battalion’s annual Military Ball. Canisius will commission five of its cadets as 2nd lieutenants on June 2. Hooah!
Submitted by: College Communications
Summer Hours and Early Closure Updates
Please note that Canisius will move to summer hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. beginning on Monday, May 22. These hours will continue through Friday August 11.
Canisius will also close at 1:00 p.m. on Fridays beginning May 26 and continue through Friday, August 11.
Please contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions. Have a wonderful commencement weekend as we celebrate our students.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Compliance
Employee of Distinction
The Human Resources Department is pleased to announce the Employee of Distinction this year for the month of April.
Dawn Rotterman was selected as the Employee of Distinction for April. At Canisius for 20 years, Dawn is the Benefits/HRIS Manager in the Human Resources Department, her coworkers shared the following:
“Dawn is truly the backbone of the Human Resources Department—and therefore, of the entire college! She is our go-to person for every unusual situation or obscure question. She is also universally esteemed by our employees, all of whom appreciate her ability to make a complex subject like health insurance comprehensible and accessible. Dawn has an incredible work ethic, a keen intellect, and a fierce dedication to this institution. These qualities, plus her 20 years of devoted service, make her more than deserving of the Employee of Distinction Award.
Please join the Human Resources Department in congratulating Dawn on her well-deserved achievements!
To nominate a coworker for future Employee of Distinction, click here.
Submitted by: Lynn Incardona, associate, Human Resources
Staff Performance Appraisal Process Begins
In an effort to better align the performance appraisal timeline with review of the prior academic year, we will be initiating the performance appraisal process in June this year.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL SCHEDULE
The first step in the appraisal process is for employees to complete a self-assessment through Dynamic Forms. For your convenience, all staff will have access to prior performance appraisals in the portal under the Human Resources tab in “HR Appraisal History”.
All notifications will be generated through your Canisius e-mail account and will be sent directly from hr@canisius.edu. Please save any e-mails that you receive regarding your appraisal.
- Employees will receive an e-mail invitation from hr@canisius.edu with a link to the Self-Assessment form on Thursday, June 1st.
- Once the assessment is completed, the Supervisor will receive an e-mail notification advising them to move forward with the preparation of the performance appraisal.
- Employees should complete the self-assessment by June 30th.
- Performance appraisal meetings should be scheduled between July 5th and July 31st.
- We encourage all Supervisors to pre-schedule your appraisal meetings in advance to assure completion by July 31st.
- Once completed, the Supervisor will then submit the appraisal.
- The employee will receive a final e-mail to add comments and sign to acknowledge the appraisal was received and reviewed.
Training sessions will be scheduled to assist staff in completing the self-assessment. To assist Supervisors in completing performance appraisals, please note that zoom training sessions will be scheduled. Watch for additional information including dates and times.
Please contact Linda Walleshauser at walleshl@canisius.edu or ext. 2244 or Mary Braun at braun5@canisius.edu or ext. 2247 if you have any questions regarding the process.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President, Human Resources & Compliance
Buffalo Niagara Partnership DEI Symposium
bnp-corporate-poster-2023-dei-symposium
Canisius is participating in the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Symposium on Thursday, June 1. This virtual half-day event offers dynamic DEI programming presented by industry leaders, with a wide variety of topics geared to different levels of experience.
Canisius is committed to advancing Diversity & Inclusion education within our organization and the DEI Symposium offers an ideal way to gain insight and best practices to advance our efforts. As we are able to register an unlimited number of employees under this pass, we can maximize our learning by ensuring that we have representatives attending as many microsessions as possible and sharing what we learn after the event.
What can you expect?
The day begins with the Keynote Address “Elevating Your D&I Impact in the Workplace for a Better Workforce” from Sandra Quince, CEO Paradigm for Parity, Bank of America Leader on Loan. Watch Sandra provide a sneak peek of her keynote here.
Following the keynote, there are two unique tracks of hour-long microsessions scheduled. Each is comprised of a presentation and either a Q&A or another interactive activity. You are welcome to choose the topic from each track that aligns with your personal or professional interest:
Microsessions Track 1 (10 AM -11 AM)
- Panel: DEI Successes and Challenges at Work
- Maintaining Momentum in the Face of D&I Fatigue
- Qualities of an Inclusive Leader
- LGBTQIA+ in the Workplace
- Mitigating Barriers to Upskilling Underserved Populations
Microsessions Track 2 (11:15 AM – 12:15 PM)
- Hiring and Retention Panel: Engage Diverse Candidates and Build a Culture of Inclusivity
- DEI Data Matters: How to Collect & Interpret Relevant Data
- Developing DEI Resources: Where Hello Can Take You
- Procurement: Expanding Business Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses
- 2022 DEI Community Assessment: What We Learned
The Symposium concludes with a Final Fifteen minutes dedicated to sharing insights and action items from the day. For more information on sessions and presenters, visit the BNP’s website.
Last year’s attendee comments were overwhelmingly positive about the event and the concepts that they were able to leverage at their organizations. We look forward to applying what we learn to enhance our D&I efforts.
To Register:
https://buffaloniagarapartnership.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/QraBvgwp?mode=Attendee
Registration Instructions
If you have an account with us already, fill in your email in the “my information” section.
You may also skip and go directly to the attendee area if you do not have an account and do not wish to set one up.
Select – Corporate/Individual Attendee RSVP (Members Only)
- Register individual corporate pass or Individual ticket pass tickets – use provided promotional code to unlock complimentary pricing
- Put in the quantity of tickets
- Fill in the attendee information for each person(s)
- Enter the Promo code: 2023CorpDEI
- To make sure it applied the discount you will see: Total: $0 – Discounts have been applied - (next to the attendee #)
- Submit
- You will receive an email confirmation that you are registered.
Please contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President, Human Resources & Compliance
Canisius Hosts Remembrance Weekend Events
Canisius hosted several events as part of the city’s “5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope,” formed by Mayor Byron Brown to honor and memorialize the lives lost, and support and pray for all those impacted by the racially-motivated shooting at the Tops Friendly Markets store on the East Side of Buffalo.
On Saturday, May 13, “Turning Trauma into Triumph” was held on the Canisius campus. The event, coordinated by Zeneta Everhart ’11, included conference sessions, a reading by Poet Jillian Hanesworth, a musical performance by Drea D’Nur, African drummers and more.
Submitted by: Sandra Miller, Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Honoring Pat and Becky Greenwald
On Sunday, June 4, Canisius College Alumni Weekend will come to a close on a celebratory note.
For nearly a half-century, Pat Greenwald, longtime fundraiser and friend-raiser, aided and abetted by his wife, Becky, set an inspiring example at Canisius through his dedication and commitment to all things Blue & Gold.
Please join us to honor and thank Pat and Becky and wish them well in retirement!
Mass and Brunch to Celebrate
Patrick & Becky Greenwald’s 46 Years of Service to Canisius
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Christ the King Chapel | 10 am
Brunch | Grupp Fireside Lounge | 11 am
Brunch is $25 per person
Register here
To honor Pat and Becky by making a gift to the J. Patrick and Rebecca Greenwald Scholarship Fund please click here.
Please include Greenwald Fund as the designation.
Wigley Named ECA Distinguished Research Fellow
Professor Emeritus Charles Wigley was named a Distinguished Research Fellow by the Eastern Communication Association at its 114th annual convention. Award presenter Dr. Jordan Atkinson highlighted that one of Wigley’s coauthored articles has been cited over “eleven hundred times.” Committee members considered his research record and overall contributions to the organization, the wide impact of his research on verbal aggressiveness, the use of his academic research on jury selection by law firms in the United States and England, and his conceptual articles on the proper use of some complex statistical protocols.
Leadership Development Program Concludes
Congratulations to the following members of our campus community who have completed the first cohort of our Leadership Development Program offered through Career Partners International. This six week session focused on key development areas including:
Understanding the role of people leader, building communication skills, building trust and coaching for success, situational leadership and conflict resolution, time management and work life balance.
Stephanie Masood-Marketing Project Manager
Jennifer LaVoie-Assistant Director, Admissions Processing
Matt Kwiatkowski-Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions
Lauren Kicak-Associate Director, Graduate Admissions
Matt Kochun-Library Access Services Coordinator
Ryan Grimmer-Library Collection and Discovery Services Coordinator
Mary Braun-Employment Manager
Dawn Rotterman-HRIS/Benefits Manager
Larry Tassini-Laboratory Manager
Matt Reitnour-Associate Athletic Director
Pat Clarke—Director, Athletic Facilities
Steve Ziroli-Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance
Kristen Saviola-Associate Athletic Trainer
Monika McFoy-Associate Director, Support Services
Bennie Williams-Director & Assistant Dean, Multicultural Center
Jason Francey-Director of Student Engagement
Tracie Barletta-Director of Student Health
Kim Beaty-Director of Public Safety
Matt Mulville-Assistant VP, Student Life
Mark Piatkowski-Associate Director
Michele Folsom-Director, Administrative Computing
Joe Snodgrass-Director, Facilities Management
Eileen Tally-Student Accounts Supervisor
Lisa Fischer-Assistant Director & Registrar
Maggie Burkard-Academic Affairs Support Manager
Mark Gallimore, Director, COLI
Julie Marzolf, Executive Associate
We will continue to expand our professional development program and will share additional information regarding other programs that will be offered through Career Partners International in 2023! Thank you to our facilitator, Lindsey Zajac, for sharing her expertise.
Important Year End Dates
As we approach the end of our 22-23 fiscal year, here is some important information from the Controller’s Office for the campus community to keep in mind:
Requisitions
•All requisitions are to be submitted by the end of business day on Monday May 15, 2023 to allow for sufficient approval and processing time. Related invoices should be submitted as soon as possible.
Visa/Center Suite
•All VISA charges posted to the bank by 5/31/23 will be charged to the 22-23 budget.•Any charges that post AFTER 5/31/23 will be charged to the 23-24 budget.oPlease note that it can take up to 1-7 business days for charges to post.
AP Checks
•All invoices and check requests are to be submitted by end of day on Thursday May 25, 2023 to allow for sufficient approval and processing time. AP checks will be issued on Tuesday May 30, 2023.
Please contact Accounts Payable at 888-8525 with any questions.
Submitted by: Controller’s Office
An Evening with Tony Hiss
On Thursday, May 25, the Western New York Land Conservancy is hosting the world-renowned author Tony Hiss, at 7 pm in the Montante Cultural Center. Tony Hiss is one of the strongest advocates for land conservation in the United States and at this event he will discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth. His book discusses the importance of land protection to wildlife conservation. The Biology and Environmental Science programs at Canisius are sponsoring the event.
This event is free and open to the public, but to attend you must register in advance as seating is limited. For individuals unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed, but registration is required to access the link.
Please use the link below for more information or to register.
https://www.wnylc.org/tonyhiss
Submitted by: Katie Costanzo, Program Director of Environmental Science
The Dome Switches to Summer Schedule

Your favorite employee E-letter will soon switch to its summer schedule. Beginning the week of May 22, The Dome will publish once a week, on Wednesdays. This schedule will continue until the first week of classes for the fall 2023 semester. At that time, The Dome will return to its regular publishing schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The deadline for summer submissions is 2:00 p.m. each Tuesday.
Submitted by: College Communications
Third Party Tools and Integrations with D2L
As you prepare your courses for the Fall 2023 semester you may consider having third-party integrations for textbooks, online activities, or exam tools added to your D2L Course Spaces.
Before you request this, carefully read COLI’s policy on these integrations.
Immediately there are two things you know:
- Neither COLI nor ITS can provide you or your students support for these tools or integrations, past integrating them into D2L in accordance with the provider’s instructions. Our policy explains why, but just know that past the link out of D2L, you and your students must rely on the provider for all technology support. You should allow yourself plenty of time to determine that the tools are working, and get specific guarantees that your provider will support you and your students.
- Our (COLI and ITS) first priority is the health and reliability of course spaces and tools used by all faculty, and we will reject any tool we think potentially threatens any or all courses.
Plan to request integrations as soon as possible, and at the latest by June 30th, 2023. And read the above-linked policy; it is essential. COLI’s successful implementation of these integrations depends on the process going according to the third-party content providers’ instructions. If it doesn’t (and it occasionally doesn’t), that will mean delays
Canisius in the News

Bennie Williams was among several alumni interviewed and featured in a Buffalo News story highlighting Canisius’ Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) and the ways in which it underscores the institution’s efforts to tap into students from underserved areas. Williams is co-director of the ULLC. Click here to read the story.
Submitted by: College Communications
Canisius Welcomes Rev. Bryan Massingale
Canisius welcomes Rev. Bryan N. Massingale, STD, to campus on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 7 pm in the Montante Cultural Center.
Renowned as the world’s leading Catholic social ethicist, Father Massingale is the James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University and Senior Fellow at the institution’s Center for Ethics Education. His talk is held under the auspices of the college’s William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science Lecture Series and is free and open to the public.
The event is presented as part of the city’s “5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope,” formed by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to honor and memorialize the lives lost, and support and pray for all those impacted by the racially-motivated shooting at the Tops Friendly Markets store on the East Side of Buffalo.
The title of Father Massingale’s talk is “Lament, Dreams, and the Work of Justice.”
Read more here.
For additional information, please contact Richard A. Bailey, PhD, Fitzpatrick professor of history, at Ext. 2684 or bailey22@canisius.edu
Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.
Submitted by: College Communications
Volunteers Wanted
With Alumni Weekend quickly approaching, the Office of Alumni Engagement is seeking volunteers for June2-4, to help us throw the best reunion ever.
Please review the needs for each event, and select what you’re comfortable helping with. You will receive your assigned position by the end of May. Please complete this form, if you are interested, by May 26.
Questions? Please reach out to Sarah Sterzinger at sterzins@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Sarah Sterzinger Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Faculty Discount for Alumni Weekend Tent Party
The Office of Alumni Engagement welcomes faculty members to the annual Tent Party in the Quad.
Friday, June 2, 2023| 6- 10 pm | Bart Mitchell Quad
Enjoy a buffalo buffet, drinks, games, and dancing.
$20 per person
To register, please contact Sarah Sterzinger at sterzins@canisius.edu by May 26.
Submitted by: Sarah Sterzinger Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Software Needs for Fall classes
If you need specific software for your courses please let ITS know by June 16th. Standard software such as MS Office and web browsers will be included and you do not need to let us know about those. A complete list of the standard software can be found here:
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Microsoft Publisher (Windows only)
Web Browsers – Google Chrome
Safari (Mac only)
Microsoft Edge (Windows only)
VLC Video player
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Zoom
The request form can be found here:
https://forms.gle/dey5eBceCexriuzo8
Please get your requests in on time. We will do our best to install software requests that come in late or after the semester starts but they may need to wait until a long break or between semesters.
A few additional items. First we are beginning to sunset our use of AppsAnywhere. During the Summer of 2024 we will remove AppsAnywhere from our classroom and lab builds. That being said, any software requests made moving forward must also make note of what rooms we need to install the software in as well as to whether it should be installed on the Library PC’s. We will make every effort to install all newly requested software locally on each PC rather into AppsAnywhere.
Lastly, this semester, we will begin the transition away from Macintosh computer labs. The DMA program began this migration away from Macs last year. OM115 will be converted into a PC lab this summer but we will keep a few iMacs in the library for student use. Classrooms with Macs in the podium will not be effected.
Any questions, comments or concerns can be directed to the ITS Help Desk at x8340 or by emailing helpdesk@canisius.edu .
Submitted by: Matt Biehl, Computer Support Technician, Information Technology Services
AM Lockport Toastmasters Spring Hybrid Open House
Please join AM Lockport Toastmasters as they host their annual Spring Hybrid Open House on Thursday May 25th from 7-8:30am at the Lockport Family YMCA -5833 Snyder Drive in Lockport. Come and learn on how you can improve your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. AM Lockport Toastmasters has been a Toastmasters Club for almost 40 Years.
How AM Lockport Toastmasters Meeting runs: The Toastmaster of the Day picks a theme for the meeting and members of the club helps out with roles they are assigned. We have member who gives a inspirational quote or message to begin the meeting, there’s a Word Master – picks the word associated with the theme, Grammarian – reports on both exceptional and poor uses of grammar, and Ah Master – counts ums, ahs, pregnant pauses and the use of other filler words, Quote Master – picks a quote to share with members and guests, Jester – selects a joke or funny story to share with members at the beginning of the meeting, Timer – keeps the time for both table topics and prepared speakers as well as evaluators and reports times, Quiz Master – Quizzes members on details learned throughout the meeting, Table Topics – impromptu speaking, The Table Topics master calls upon several members to deliver 1:30-2 minute talks on a topic announced right before the member is chosen, we also have three speakers who gives a prepared speech on their topic from our Pathways program manual and the evaluators give them feedback on how well the speech was delivered and improvements for future speeches, and our General Evaluator gives his/her report and evaluates the Toastmaster and the evaluators.
Guests are always welcome to join. For the Zoom link if you can’t attend in person, the link is on the homepage at amlockporttm.org
If you have any questions, please contact Erik Schneider at schnei28@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Erik Schneider ’25 – Humanities Major/AM Lockport Toastmasters VP of Public Relations
Upcoming OFDC!
The OFDC (Online Faculty Development Course) offered by COLI is for full-time and part-time faculty, whether new to D2L, or experienced with technology for teaching. This five-week mini-course prepares instructors to teach online and hybrid courses. The OFDC provides many practical tips for teaching online but more importantly, helps faculty explore new pedagogies for active learning, social presence, and community in courses on the internet.
Additionally, the updated OFDC offers insights on what Regular and Substantive Interactions (RSI) are and how to incorporate RSI into your courses. It also includes information on Panopto, Canisius’s new video content management system, how it works, and how to best fit Panopto into your courses.
The OFDC can help professors craft engaging, interactive online experiences for students, either for all-online courses, or hybrid courses that feature limited use of the classroom. This summer, we will be running one session starting on June 5th and ending on July 7th. To RSVP for either, please check out the COLI faculty development events here. While you are there, be sure to sign up for our Online Teaching and Learning Updates Workshops and Panopto Workshops too!
Reading Ready Initiative
Congratulations to students in ECCH 221, who provided 343 tutoring sessions to second graders at BPS Community School #89, the Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence.
Canisius students gained confidence in their instructional abilities, strengthened their literacy knowledge and skills, and above all, enjoyed working closely with students in need of literacy support. They made a HUGE IMPACT on 25 emerging readers. To thank the students and staff at #89, professor Joyce Fanning organized a celebration that included a newly installed Little Library on the playground (thanks to the New Buffalo Institute and the Fanning Family) and a visit from Petey!
Canisius students were trained in Reading Ready, an intervention for K-2 students that is widely utilized in NYC schools. In the fall, these students will be able to continue tutoring at #89 while getting paid, thanks to a grant from the Benedict Silverman Foundation.
Submitted by: Elizabeth Turner, Director of Educational Partnerships, Teacher Education & Leadership Department
Campus Candid

On Saturday, April 29, 30 past editors of The Griffin joined members of the current staff to celebrate the newspaper’s 90th anniversary. President Steve Stoute gave opening remarks, Patrick Healy ’23 presented a summary of his recently published history of The Griffin, and Adam Zyglis ’04 delivered a keynote address on how The Griffin started his Pulitzer Prize-winning career.
Afterwards, editors visited The Griffin office, where they shared stories about their time on staff. Though it was the first Griffin reunion since 1992, all hoped these reunions would become a more frequent occurrence.
Submitted by: Patrick Healy ’23, managing editor, The Griffin
Parking Survey
We have faced some challenges with parking in the last couple years but the Science Hall lot should be open for use soon. As we look towards Fall semester, an ad hoc committee of faculty, staff, students, and administrators has been meeting to discuss possible changes to parking on campus, both in terms of policies and allocation of lots to different categories. The committee is preparing several proposals for Dr. Harold Fields, VP for Student Affairs, to review and choose a recommendation for next year.
The parking committee has prepared a short survey to help us measure current preferences and usage patterns. This survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete – you will need to make sure you are logged into the portal and that your google drive is opened to your Canisius account, not a personal account.
Here is the link to the survey:
https://forms.gle/4E6HYBvoHvHcozXK9
Please respond by noon on Monday May 15.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. If you have any questions, please send them to Jonathan Lawrence at lawrenc7@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Jonathan Lawrence, chair, Faculty Senate
Help Desk Starts Summer Hours
The ITS Help Desk will begin its summer hours schedule next Monday, May 15. The Help Desk will be open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. These hours will be in effect until Friday, August 25.
On Fridays, from May 26 until August 11, the Help Desk will close at 1:00 p.m.
Submitted by: Grant Guzda, help desk manager, ITS
An Evening with Tony Hiss
The Biology and Environmental Science programs at Canisius are sponsoring this exciting event that will be held at the end of the month. If you are interested in environmental health and conservation, we strongly encourage you to attend.
On May 25, the Western New York Land Conservancy is hosting world-renowned author Tony Hiss, one of the strongest advocates for land conservation in the United States, to discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth. His book discusses the importance of land protection in environmental health and wildlife conservation.
This event is free, open to the public and will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 at the Montante Cultural Center.
To attend, you must register in advance as seating is limited. For individuals unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed but registration is required to access the link.
You can use the link below for more information or to register.
https://www.wnylc.org/tonyhiss
Submitted by: Katie Costanzo, Program Director of Environmental Science
Call for Participation
Large Language Models which use trained AI systems to mimic human writing pose a wide range of challenges and opportunities. Of particular concern in an academic environment is the use of these tools to mimic human essay writing. This was made evident by the release of ChatGPT in November of 2022, swiftly followed by a host of competitor systems. Tools to auto-generate prose will only become more streamlined and common place to all. For example, Grammarly added an AI writing function this week, and a beta version of an AI tool is now available in some versions of MS Office products. These tools are good at basic, repetitive writing tasks or to critique existing written narratives. Several faculty have already begun use of these tools in curriculum planning, survey evaluation and other phases of their work. Our students have also begun using these tools in a variety of ways with both positive and negative implications.
A college wide collaboration jointly sponsored by the School of Education and Human Services, the Canisius Writing Center, the Center for Online Learning and Innovation, and the Canisius Center for Analytics and Data Ecosystems will be developing a set of workshops for our community on the challenges and opportunities posed by Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT. The goals is to develop some online resources (short videos, blogs, a discussion forum) to support a series of face to face workshops in August 2023. This would incorporate speakers and/or panel discussions as well as informal opportunities to network and discuss both the uses and challenges these tools pose. We would like to ask members of the Canisius Community to self-nominate themselves to an organizing committee to work on the development of both the face to face and online portions of this effort. Interested members of the community are asked to contact Mark Gallimore (gallimom@canisius.edu), Tyler Cron-Piatek (gallimom@canisius.edu), Graham Stowe (gallimom@canisius.edu) or Dave Sheets (sheets@canisius.edu).
Submitted by: School of Education and Human Services
Employee of Distinction
Nominate a co-worker for a job well done for the month of May by completing the Employee of Distinction nomination form here. Please have all submissions completed no later than the end of the day on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The Employee of Distinction program provides an excellent opportunity to show appreciation and support for co-workers and to reward them for all they do. The application will request an explanation as to why a candidate is worthy of the award. A list of factors to consider when submitting a nomination include the nominee’s history of accomplishments, level of determination, motivation, and interpersonal skills.
The information provided in the application will be used to make a fair and objective selection. Upon supervisor approval, the Employee Engagement Team reviews all nominations and votes each month.
Once a decision is made for May, the Employee of Distinction will be featured in The Dome. Contact Lynn Incardona in the Human Resources Department at Ext. 2240 with any questions.
Submitted by: Lynn Incardona, associate, Human Resources
Mission in Curriculum
Click here to watch the Mission in Curriculum: Introduction video.
Several Canisius College faculty have begun a resource called Mission-in-Curriculum, which offers Canisius instructors opportunities to incorporate the College’s Jesuit mission and identity into their courses.
This website is a growing collection of case-studies, describing how different professors have tied their disciplinary content and activities to Catholic social teaching, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and various aspects of Jesuit pedagogy and spirituality. This is not an evangelical effort; rather, it grounds what we teach, across our disciplines, in social, cultural, and intellectual structures that are characteristic of Jesuit Higher Education. It is what we do that most other colleges and universities do not do.
Periodically, check back to this resource and see the new case studies that have been added. Also, visit the separate sections on Jesuit Higher Education, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to see and hear concise descriptions of what these offer. We envision this as a living, growing resource, so we anticipate making improvements and additions based on faculty needs. Feedback is most welcome.
Likely, you are already doing something in your classes that connect with these concepts, and may need to only identify them to students (which can help them grasp how their Canisius Jesuit education benefits them on various levels.) If you can share what you are doing, COLI offers an honorarium and assistance in developing a case study of your own, to be published on this site.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
During National Mental Health Awareness Month in May and every month of the year, your mental health matters. Challenge yourself to examine your world and how it can affect your overall health. Look around, look within- from your neighborhood to genetics, many factors come into play when it comes to your mental health.
Submitted by: Dawn Rotterman, Benefits/HRIS Manager, Human Resources
COLI’s End-of-Semester Checklist
It’s coming up to the end of the semester again. Here are some actions you should take by the week after grades are due:
- Enter your Final Grades through MyCanisius.
- If you want students to see their final grade on D2L, there are a few steps to release the Final Calculated Grade if you have not already released it.
- Export your gradebook to archive the grades for your personal record.
- Archive your entire D2L course in the Brightspace format at the end of each term for your personal record.
- If you are teaching courses in the next semester, copy course content so you do not have to rush through it and have time to work on it between semesters. Text instructions are available here.
- If you have not already, inform the Canisius Bookstore of any books or Cengage Unlimited products you intend to use. If you are not planning on using books or Cengage Unlimited products, let the bookstore know that as well.
- Copy your Panopto videos from the previous semester to the upcoming semester.
- If you plan on using student assignments from your class for later review or appraisal, download them now!
View the COLI Checklist page, which has further resources. Below is a quick overview of the End of Semester Checklist:
COLI Quick Tip
This summer, take the time to clean up your computer desktop! Organizing your desktop will let you find files that are weeks if not months old quickly and easily.
Take a look at the video below:
The above video goes through organizing your Windows (or even a Mac) Desktop. You can sort files alphabetically and organize files into folders. Try it today and see how much time you can save!
Campus Candid

‘Caps off’ to the ALANA Student Center’s graduating class of 2023! The soon-to-be Canisius alumni were honored on Thursday, May 4, for their academic achievements at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and received special stoles to wear on commencement day.
Thanks to everyone from the campus community who attended.
Submitted by: College Communications
Juneteenth Celebration
The 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration at Canisius College will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to share in a day of solidarity in honor of our African American community. This year’s event begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Science Hall Commons with a welcome by President Stoute and concludes after lunch at 1:00 p.m. All are welcomed and encouraged to participate, and we ask that you please RSVP by Friday, June 2.
Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.
In collaboration with Juneteenth Inc. of Buffalo, Canisius will host a Sankofa Day as a part of the city-wide recognition. Sankofa means to “go back and get,” it recognizes the past while focusing on the future. Members of the campus and local community will participate in workshops, complete on-site service, and experience African Drumming.
Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the date when news of emancipation finally reached most enslaved African Americans in Texas, and Canisius is proud to honor this day. It was on June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger along with more than 1,800 federal troops, arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state from the Confederate rebellion, nearly two months after the war’s last major battle. Gen. Granger issued an order confirming the freedom promised in President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and denied them by the Confederate government.
Canisius’ Juneteenth celebration hopes to inspire conversation, action, and hope in our ongoing work toward anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion.
Members of the college community are also invited to attend activities held throughout the month. For more details on events and opportunities to volunteer for the city of Buffalo’s Juneteenth Celebration, please visit Juneteenth Buffalo.
Resources on African American history and celebrations of Juneteenth are available below:
1. Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc.
2. On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed, New York Times-10 Best Books of 201
3. 1619 Project
4. Nikole Hannah-Jones discusses 1619 Project
5. PBS African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross
6. National Museum of African American History & Culture
Submitted by: Fatima Rodrigquez Johnson, associate dean, Diversity & Inclusion
Conversation with Mark Talley
Mark Talley, founder of Agents for Advocacy, spoke to students, faculty and staff on Monday, May 1.
Talley discussed how the events at Tops on Jefferson Ave. on May 14, 2022 impacted him personally and professionally. Talley lost his mother that day and he channeled his anger and grief into creating opportunities for individuals to support their communities in hopes that something like this would never happen again. He was authentic and vulnerable during his conversation, and answered several questions from the audience following the discussion.
Talley posted about his time at Canisius on his social media platforms as seen here:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7059372169134292992/
This event was sponsored by the ALANA Student Center and SOC 341 taught by Dr. Secil Ertorer.
Submitted by: Bennie D. Williams, Assistant Dean of Students, ALANA Student Center
Join the Women of Canisius Leadership Council
The Office of Alumni Engagement welcomes faculty and staff to join the Women of Canisius Leadership Council.
As an alumni group, the Women of Canisius Leadership Council hosts various events throughout the year, including networking opportunities, panel discussions, informational webinars and more. This is your chance to get involved!
To join, attend the annual pinning ceremony on Thursday, May 18 at 4:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. This ceremony celebrates the transition of graduating students and new members into the alumni network and will provide an opportunity to hear from Sahar Nusseibeh, women’s basketball head coach, and network with current members.
Following the ceremony, there will be a reception with light refreshments. It’s worth noting that people of all genders are welcome to attend both the ceremony and reception. We encourage our 2023 graduates to invite their mothers, sisters, grandmothers and others to join us for this special occasion.
If you’re unable to attend the ceremony, please let us know by Emailing Sarah Sterzinger at sterzins@canisius.edu, and we’ll make sure to include you in future Women of Canisius events.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sarah Sterzinger, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at sterzins@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Sarah Sterzinger Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Canisius Hosts “Remembrance Weekend” Events
Canisius will host the following events as part of the city’s “5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope.” Remembrance Weekend was formed by Mayor Byron Brown to honor and memorialize the lives lost, and support and pray for all those impacted by the racially-motivated shooting at the Tops Friendly Markets store on the East Side of Buffalo. The following events are free and open to the public.
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023
“Turning Trauma into Triumph” / 8 am – 4:30 pm / Canisius Campus
“Turning Trauma into Triumph” is a day-long event coordinated by Canisius alumna Zeneta Everhart ’11, which includes conference sessions, a reading by Poet Jillian Hanesworth, a musical performance by Drea D’Nur, African drummers and more. For more information, please contact Zeneta Everhart at zeneta.everhart24@gmail.com.
Rev. Bryan N. Massingale, STD / 7 pm / Montante Cultural Center
Renowned as the world’s leading Catholic social ethicist, Rev. Bryan N. Massingale, STD, is the James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University. His talk is titled, “Lament, Dreams, and the Work of Justice,” and is presented under the auspices of the college’s William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science Lecture Series. For further details regarding Father Massingale’s talk, please contact Richard A. Bailey, PhD, Fitzpatrick professor of history, at (716) 888-2684 or bailey22@canisius.edu.
MONDAY, MAY 15, 2023
Prayer Service / 10 am / Christ the King Chapel
The college will host a prayer service of honor to highlight the many ways in which families are honoring the life and legacy of their loved ones.
Racial Healing Circle / 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm / Student Center Conference Room
Join Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center (AHEC) for a Racial Healing Circle. The non-profit organization is dedicated to bringing diversity and equity to Erie and Niagara County, primarily within the healthcare workforce.
Staff members, Ryan James and Alivia Smeltzer-Darling, have been trained to facilitate Racial Healing Circles as an extension of the organization’s goal. Both facilitators are committed to holding a compassionate space for others to express their truth in the healing presence of community.
The Racial Healing Circle invites participants into important discussions regarding the implicit biases that affect our everyday decisions in areas of policy making, hiring, education, housing, healthcare, etc. Narrative change and relationship building activities are incorporated through this experience, as well. Limited spots are available for this special event. Please register here-https://forms.gle/JDpikFrkBsHx2rv47
Submitted by: College Communications
COLI Quick Tip
This summer, take the time to clean up your computer desktop! Organizing your desktop will let you find files that are weeks if not months old quickly and easily.
Take a look at the video below:
The above video goes through organizing your Windows (or even a Mac) Desktop. You can sort files alphabetically and organize files into folders. Try it today and see how much time you can save!
Alpha Sigma Nu Induction
Pictured above: ASN Honoree Inductees (l-r) Nancy V. Wallace, PhD, Dean, School of Education & Human Services, Marya Grande, PhD, Professor & Co-Chair/Teacher Education & Leadership, Jonathan D. Lawrence, PhD, Associate Professor, Religious Studies/Theology, Steve K. Stoute, JD, President, Paola Fajardo-Heyward, PhD, Associate Professor & Chair/Political Science.
The Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities extends its heartiest congratulations to its new Alpha Sigma Nu inductees. A total of 14 students and five honorees – including President Steve Stoute – were inducted at the Alpha Sigma Nu Induction Ceremony on Thursday, April 27, 2023 in Christ the King Chapel.
Alpha Sigma Nu recognizes those students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service. The only honor society permitted to bear the name Jesuit, Alpha Sigma Nu encourages its members to a lifetime pursuit of intellectual development, deepening Ignatian spirituality, service to others, and a commitment to the core principles of Jesuit education. Selection to Alpha Sigma Nu is one of the highest honors awarded on a Jesuit campus.
Pictured above: Group Inductees (top row, l-r) President Steve K. Stoute, Olivia Anne Rutowski, Class of 2024, Abriana Will, Class of 2024, Jahare Hudson, Class of 2024, Gwynn Furlich, Class of 2023, (middle row, l-r) Nancy V. Wallace, PhD, Dean, School of Education & Human Services, Marya Grande, PhD, Professor & Co-Chair/Teacher Education & Leadership, Caitlyn O’Toole, Graduate Student in the School of Education & Human Services, Daniel Klosterman, Graduate Student in the Wehle School of Business, Jebadiah Braunscheidel, Class of 2024, Adam J. Serio, Class of 2023, Jonathan D. Lawrence, PhD, Associate Professor of Religious Studies/Theology, (front row, l-r) Valeria Lee, Class of 2023, Emma Radel, Class of 2024, Sarah Lynch, Class of 2024, Genevieve Fontana, Class of 2024, Paola Fajardo-Heyward, PhD, Associate Professor/Chair Political Science.
Submitted by: Veronica Serwacki, Canisius Chapter Coordinator, Alpha Sigma Nu, executive associate, College of Arts & Sciences
PA Student Selected for Prestigious Fellowship
The Canisius PA Program is proud to announce that Mahmoud Farhat, from the Class of 2023, was accepted into a highly competitive fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital through University of Michigan. He is the only fellow selected out of a total of 8-10 people taken each year in this specialty across the country.
This hospital has been voted among the top 50 in the country for cardiac surgery and Newsweek lists it among the top 100 in the world.
Upon completion of the fellowship, Farhat will have an in-depth understanding of the various sub-specialties within cardiothoracic surgery and be side-by-side with the surgeons in the operating room.
This is a source of real pride for the PA program and the university, and representative of the hard work and sacrifices of Mahmoud over the past two-plus years.
Submitted by: Aimee Larson, Program Director, PA Studies
Important Year End Dates
As we approach the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, please review the above for important information from the Controller’s Office.
Submitted by: JoAnn Feary Accounts Payable/Payroll Specialist
Employee of Distinction
The Human Resources Department is pleased to announce that Mary Ann Langlois is the Employee of Distinction for the month of March.
At Canisius for 15 years, Mary Ann is the director of sponsored programs. Her co-workers shared the following:
“For 15 years Mary Ann has been the primary point person for all Canisius grants. She helps to develop strong proposals, navigate the crazy application process and supports Canisius faculty and staff throughout the grant. She has a world of knowledge in the grant field and is a reliable trusted source to those of us lucky enough to have worked with her.
It is an honor and privilege for us at the Institute for Autism Research (IAR) to nominate Mary Ann Langlois for the Canisius College Employee of Distinction. We have worked closely with Mary Ann since 2009 when the IAR was established. Over the last nearly 14 years, Mary Ann has been an essential and integral part of our team, guiding, monitoring, supporting, and at times doing various aspects of our grant proposals and managing awards received. Most large institutions have two separate grants departments with many staff, one to handle grant preparation and a second to manage the awards once received. Mary Ann does both by herself and she is truly exceptional at each. She is extremely knowledgeable and professional and she makes our work easier and better. Lastly, our work rarely follows a typical work-week and schedule and we often call on Mary Ann to help us on weekends and during holiday breaks (and occasionally on her vacations) to meet deadlines. Without fail, Mary Ann has made herself available and supported us to meet critical deadlines. In sum, Mary Ann is an extraordinary colleague and a pillar of our team, and she is more than deserving of this award.
It is my pleasure to write in praise of and with much gratitude for Mary Ann Langlois as we nominate her for the employee of distinction. Mary Ann is an instrumental in the support of faculty scholarship on campus connecting individuals active in grants both to grant opportunities as well as to each other. Mary Ann’s support enables our institution to secure external grant applications to both private foundations and governmental agencies to the benefit of our scholarship, students, and institution.
Mary Ann’s support goes far beyond her leadership of grant efforts. Mary Ann is always quick to respond to questions with helpful and insightful answers. She is a strong advocate for faculty scholarship on campus. She is someone faculty have come to turn to when there are challenges in the grant process and when we celebrate our successes. Canisius is incredibly lucky to have Mary Ann leading our collective grant efforts. She is conscientious, kind, and dedicated to her job.
Mary Ann also has made sure to reach out consistently to new faculty, encouraging them to participate in scholarship and make use of her as a critical resource. This allows new faculty to connect with a community of scholars who encourage and support research efforts.”
Please join the Human Resources Department in congratulating Mary Ann on her well-deserved achievements!
To nominate a coworker for future Employee of Distinction, click here.
Submitted by: Lynn Incardona, HR Associate, Human Resources
Dennis Misko ’67 Retiring May 25
After 16 years of loyal and dedicated service to Canisius, Dennis Misko, director of external projects and major gift officer in the Office of Institutional Advancement, is retiring.
At Canisius, Dennis worked with thousands of alumni and donors to bring important resources to the Canisius Fund, endowment and athletics. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Coach’s Circle, a group of more than 70 leadership donors who support the men’s basketball program.
In 2015, Dennis was inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame receiving the Rev. Paul J. Dugan, SJ, Award, an honor that recognizes individuals for their significant contributions to Canisius athletics. That same year, he received the prestigious George M. Martin Advancement Award, which honors an individual for his/her extraordinary contributions to Canisius and the mission of institutional advancement. He is a member of the DiGamma Honor Society.
Dennis will continue to stay connected to Canisius through men’s basketball and other volunteer activities and he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Kathy, children Dennis, Dan and Amy, and 11 grandchildren!
We congratulate Dennis on his well-deserved retirement. He is forever a Golden Griffin and part of our Canisius family. Contributions to honor Dennis and his service to the college may be made to the men’s basketball program at www.canisius.edu/give or by calling the Office of Advancement at Ext. 8218.
Submitted by: Kimberly A. Venti, vice president, Institutional Advancement
An Evening with Tony Hiss: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth
On May 25, the Western New York Land Conservancy is hosting world-renowned author Tony Hiss, one of the strongest advocates for land conservation in the United States, to discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth. His book discusses the importance of land protection in environmental health and wildlife conservation.
This event is free and will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25 in the Montante Cultural Center.
To attend, you must register in advance as seating is limited. For individuals unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed but registration is required to access the link.
Here is a link with more information and how to register for the event.
Submitted by: Katie Costanzo, Biology and Environmental Science
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Canisius College is committed to maintaining a workplace free from sexual harassment. Every employer in New York State is required to provide employees with sexual harassment prevention training on an annual basis.
As an alternative to the online training option, the college is partnering with Phillips Lytle to provide an in-person training option to meet the requirement for 2023. You are only required to register for one of the sessions listed below to meet the training requirement.
The following sessions are scheduled for Thursday, June 15, in the Regis Room.
Session 1 – 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Session 2 -1:00 p.m. – 2:00p.m.
Our training discussion will include:
- An explanation of sexual harassment consistent with guidance issued by the Department of Labor in consultation with the Division of Human Rights
- Examples of conduct that would constitute unlawful sexual harassment
- Information concerning the federal and state statutory provisions concerning sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment
- Information regarding filing a complaint and all available forums for adjudicating complaints
- Information addressing conduct by supervisors and any additional responsibilities for such supervisors
- Information regarding our Title IX policies and protocols on campus
To register for either session, please E-mail Lynn Incardona with your preferred session time at incardo1@canisius.edu.
If you are unable to attend this session, additional options will be provided in the fall. If you have any questions about this required training, please contact the Human Resources Office at 716-888-2240.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Compliance
In Memoriam

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Paula Valente at St. Michael Church, 651 Washington St, Buffalo, NY, on May 6, 2023 at 10:00 am.
A 1970 alumna of Canisius, Valente was a former associate vice president for development at Canisius. She joined the college in January 2007 and served as chief operating officer for college campaigns and oversaw the development operation.
Valente passed away on April 7. She was 76.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Catholic Charities, 307 Congress St., Portland, ME 04101 or Canisius College.
Submitted by: College Communications
Buffalo Niagara Partnership DEI Symposium
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is excited to announce that the 2023 DEI Symposium will be held on Thursday, June 1. This unique virtual event delivers the ongoing learning necessary in the DEI realm in an easily digestible half day format that is filled with inspirational discussions and non-stop knowledge. This 6th Annual event is an exclusive opportunity to learn from the industry’s best.
The BNP is delighted to welcome Sandra Quince as the Keynote for the DEI Symposium. As CEO to Paradigm for Parity, Bank of America Leader on Loan, Sandra’s unique background provides that rare combination of a leader who can speak about diverse recruitment and retention strategies in both the private sector and the non-profit world.
Sandra will share her insights and tips for recruiting diverse talent and creating an inclusive environment in which all employees can be their authentic selves.
VIRTUAL AGENDA
8:30 AM – Welcome
8:45 – 9:45 AM – Keynote Address/Q&A Sandra Quince/Dottie
9:45 -10:00 AM – Break
10:00 -11:00 AM – Micro Learning Sessions Track A
11:00 – 11:15 AM – Break
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM – Micro Learning Sessions Track B
12:15 – 12:30 PM – Break
12:30 – 12:45 – Seminar Wrap-up
Canisius College has purchased a Corporate Pass that covers registration for all faculty and staff who are interested in participating.
To register for this event, please e-mail Lynn Incardona, HR Associate, at incardo1@canisius.edu. Please contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Compliance
Magis Podcast
Call for Participation
Large Language Models which use trained AI systems to mimic human writing pose a wide range of challenges and opportunities.
Of particular concern in an academic environment is the use of these tools to mimic human essay writing. This was made evident by the release of ChatGPT in November 2022 and swiftly followed by a host of competitor systems. Tools to auto-generate prose will only become more streamlined and common place to all. For example, Grammarly added an AI writing function this week, and a beta version of an AI tool is now available in some versions of MS Office products. These tools are good at basic, repetitive writing tasks or to critique existing written narratives. Several faculty have already begun use of these tools in curriculum planning, survey evaluation and other phases of their work. Our students have also begun using these tools in a variety of ways with both positive and negative implications.
A college wide collaboration, jointly sponsored by the School of Education and Human Services, the Canisius Writing Center, the Center for Online Learning and Innovation and the Canisius Center for Analytics and Data Ecosystems, will be developing a set of workshops for our community on the challenges and opportunities posed by Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT. The goal is to develop some online resources (short videos, blogs, a discussion forum) to support a series of face-to-face workshops in August 2023. This would incorporate speakers and/or panel discussions, as well as informal opportunities to network and discuss both the uses and challenges these tools pose.
We would like to ask members of the Canisius community to self-nominate themselves to an organizing committee to work on the development of both the face-to-face and online portions of this effort. Interested members of the community are asked to contact Mark Gallimore (gallimom@canisius.edu), Tyler Cron-Piatek (gallimom@canisius.edu), Graham Stowe (gallimom@canisius.edu) or Dave Sheets (sheets@canisius.edu).
Submitted by: H. David Sheets, CCADE, Data Analytics, Quantitative Sciences
End-of-Semester Checklist
It’s coming up to the end of the semester again. Here are some actions you should take by the week after grades are due:
- Enter your Final Grades through MyCanisius.
- If you want students to see their final grade on D2L, there are a few steps to release the Final Calculated Grade if you have not already released it.
- Export your gradebook to archive the grades for your personal record.
- Archive your entire D2L course in the Brightspace format at the end of each term for your personal record.
- If you are teaching courses in the next semester, copy course content so you do not have to rush through it and have time to work on it between semesters. Text instructions are available here.
- If you have not already, inform the Canisius Bookstore of any books or Cengage Unlimited products you intend to use. If you are not planning on using books or Cengage Unlimited products, let the bookstore know that as well.
- Copy your Panopto videos from the previous semester to the upcoming semester.
- If you plan on using student assignments from your class for later review or appraisal, download them now!
View the COLI Checklist page, which has further resources. Below is a quick overview of the End of Semester Checklist:
Commencement 2023
This year, all three commencement ceremonies will occur on the same day, May 20, 2023, and this will be President Stoute’s first Canisius commencement. Please consider participating!
- Undergraduate Ceremony – College of Arts & Science – 10:00 am
- Undergraduate Ceremony – School of Education and Wehle School of Business – 12:30 pm
- Graduate Ceremony – All schools – 3:00 pm
Additional Events will take place on Friday, May 19, 2023:
- Awards Ceremony – 2:00 pm in Montante Cultural Center
- Baccalaureate Mass – 4:30 pm in Christ the King Chapel
FACULTY who wish to process at any of these events should click HERE.
STAFF who wish to volunteer for Commencement, click HERE. If you have a special graduate – space will be provided on this form to include their name and ceremony.
Please see detailed information on these events as well as volunteer guidelines HERE.
These events celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and the perseverance of our students who are filled with pride, hope and the promise of a bright future. We have all played a part in the transformation of these students and it is our hope that you want to be part of the excitement of their special day. Watching our graduates and their families is a great reminder of what we work for each day.
We hope that you will be able to join us in creating special memories for our graduating students and their families!
Submitted by: Maggie Burkard, Academic Affairs
The Spark Bird Project Virtual Program
Campus Candids


Thank you to the campus community for the amazing turnout at Ignatian Scholarship Day. The annual event highlights the achievements of undergraduate and graduate students via various forms of expression including poster sessions, oral paper and multimedia presentations, artistic displays and performances.



(Pictured below) International artist and Canisius alumnus LeRoi Johnson ’71, HON ’18, brought pieces from his acclaimed exhibit “LeRoi: Living in Color” to campus on Friday, April 21. His works are on display in the Vogt Art Gallery of the Andrew Bouwhuis Library, where they will make their home through summer. The pieces on exhibit are from the Canisius College Art Collection and were previously on display at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.



Submitted by: College Communications
Canisius in the News

All five major print and broadcast media outlets reported on Canisius’ Thursday announcement that the New York State Board of Regents awarded the institution university status. Follow the links below to read or view the stories:
Business First reported on the two new academic programs being introduced by the College of Arts & Sciences. The bachelor’s degree in anthrozoology and master’s degree in informal education and interpretation both launch in fall 2023. Click here to read the story.
The Buffalo News interviewed Associate Professor of Economics & Finance Julie Anna Golebiewski, PhD, about the current tightness in the local labor market. The story appeared in the April 25 edition and can be read here.
Submitted by: College Communications
Canisius Awarded University Status

Canisius is pleased to announce that it has successfully petitioned the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Board of Regents for university designation. The transition will take place during summer 2023 alongside the rollout of the first strategic plan for the university. In August, ahead of the start of the fall semester, Canisius will unveil a refreshed branding initiative to introduce the school’s new identity.
“This achievement reflects the work of so many at Canisius to expand our academic programs and provide greater opportunities for students to access our transformative education,” said Canisius President Steve K. Stoute. “We’re pleased that our name will more closely reflect how we view ourselves — as a comprehensive university with a breadth of excellent academic programs. I am grateful to all of our dedicated faculty and staff whose hard work made this possible.”
Canisius currently offers 36 master’s degrees and advanced certificates, including highly ranked programs in business administration, education and more. Canisius’ robust portfolio of graduate programs exceeds the threshold set by NYSED’s definition of a university.
Canisius’ application for university status reflects the institution’s commitment to academic innovation that meets societal needs and makes a Canisius education more accessible to all students.
Click here to read more about the announcement.
Submitted by: College Communications
Town Hall Video
For those who were unable to attend Tuesday’s Town Hall with President Stoute and the Senior Leadership Team, a video of the event is now available on the MyCanisius portal. Viewers must first sign in and the video will appear in the right-hand column. Enjoy!
Submitted by: College Communications
2023 Commencement
This year, all three commencement ceremonies will occur on the same day, May 20, 2023, and this will be President Stoute’s first Canisius commencement. Please consider participating!
- Undergraduate Ceremony – College of Arts & Science – 10:00 am
- Undergraduate Ceremony – School of Education and Wehle School of Business – 12:30 pm
- Graduate Ceremony – All schools – 3:00 pm
Additional Events will take place on Friday, May 19, 2023:
- Awards Ceremony – 2:00 pm in Montante Cultural Center
- Baccalaureate Mass – 4:30 pm in Christ the King Chapel
FACULTY who wish to process at any of these events should click HERE.
STAFF who wish to volunteer for Commencement, click HERE. If you have a special graduate – space will be provided on this form to include their name and ceremony.
Please see detailed information on these events as well as volunteer guidelines HERE.
These events celebrate the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and the perseverance of our students who are filled with pride, hope and the promise of a bright future. We have all played a part in the transformation of these students and it is our hope that you want to be part of the excitement of their special day. Watching our graduates and their families is a great reminder of what we work for each day.
We hope that you will be able to join us in creating special memories for our graduating students and their families!
Submitted by: Maggie Burkard, Academic Affairs
ArtsCanisius Presents Student Ensembles
Please join us as we enjoy the wonderful talents of our ensemble musicians and their directors as their end-of-the semester concerts begin on Friday, April 28.
Jazz Ensemble will perform pieces by Sonny Rollins, Jerome Kern and others, under the direction of Russell Scarbrough Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in Montante Cultural Center.
Next up is the Chamber Orchestra, directed by Ansgarius Aylward, as they perform works by Handel, Mascagni, and Vivaldi on Sunday, April 30, also in Montante Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m.
Then Chorale will perform in Christ-the-King Chapel on Monday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. Under the direction of Bradley Wingert, they will perform pieces composed by Billy Joel, Roland E. Martin, and Amy F. Bernon among others.
All concerts are free and open to the public. Please contact Yvonne Widenor at widenory@canisius.edu for additional details.
Submitted by: Yvonne K. Widenor, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Art History and Music Programs, MLLC Department, Director and Studio Art Galleries Director, ArtsCanisius
Final Exams in D2L
With final exams around the corner, it may be useful to review these features of D2L Quizzes and Dropboxes.
D2L Quizzes provides a robust tool to grade quizzes easier and quicker. Some features can help prevent cheating to a degree, like basic question randomization and advanced question randomization. If you want to use questions from a previous exam or quiz, the Question Library lets you copy questions to the exam. Connect your exam directly to the grade book for faster grading. Click here for a tutorial. You can also have your students sign an Academic Integrity Pledge before continuing to the exam. Customize the Quiz Result display, in combination with a faux exam, to show students what questions they got and see where they need to brush up on their studying.
Note that if you allow automatic grading of your exam, D2L will not automatically grade written responses. Those need to be graded manually. Inform your students that the grade they have immediately after completing the exam is not reflective of their overall grade. If you want to see all of the tutorials on the D2L Quiz tool that COLI has compiled, click here.
D2L Dropboxes are a great way to receive student work in various formats but more notably PDFs, Microsoft Office files, JPGs, or PNGs. You can also restrict the types of files the dropbox will accept. Attach the dropbox to the grade book or use a D2L Rubric and attach it to the dropbox for faster grading.
For more information on D2L Dropboxes, click here. For tutorials on D2L Rubrics, click here. Or sign up for one of our many workshops here.
COLI has compiled other resources on the various tool sets in D2L. Click here to access those.
Canisius in the News

Associate Professor of Economics & Finance Julie Anna Golebiewski, PhD, spoke with The Buffalo News about how rising wages are taking the sting out of the region’s sluggish recovery. Click here to read the story.
Submitted by: College Communications
Ignatian Scholarship Day is Today
Please join us today for the 16th annual Ignatian Scholarship Day (ISD). Artistic displays and performances, paper and multimedia presentations, and poster sessions will take place 9am-5pm at various locations.
The schedules and project compilations can be viewed on the ISD google site or accessed through the the Ignatian Scholarship Day portal page.
We look forward to seeing you today at ISD!
To add this event to your digital calendar, click here.
Submitted by: Connie M. Pileri, assistant dean for Student Affairs/director, Office of Event Services
Thank You to Campus Community
Commencement 2023 Student Speakers
The following students will deliver the commencement addresses for the undergraduate and graduate classes of 2023 on Saturday, May 20:
Angelina Dentice (above), integrated marketing and strategic communication dual major, will address the class at the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony.
Erika Eyssen (above), adolescence education and history dual major, will address the class at the School of Education & Human Services and Richard J. Wehle School of Business ceremony.
Samantha Koch (above), Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration program, will address the class at the graduate ceremony.
Congratulations to our student speakers in receiving this great honor.
Submitted by: Connie M. Pileri, assistant dean for Student Affairs/director, Office of Event Services
Hamlin Park Clean Up
hamlin-park-community-clean-up
Join our neighbors and friends in cleaning up Hamlin Park this Saturday.
The event was rescheduled to this Saturday, April 29 due to bad weather last week. Meet at the corner of E. Ferry and Wohlers Ave. to pick up gloves, bags and pickers. Lunch will be served at the corner of Florida at Wohlers at 2 pm. See flyer for all the details.
Submitted by: Mary Rockwell, Ph.D., director, The New Buffalo Institute
Quadrangle Unveiling
The 71st volume of Quadrangle, the Canisius College magazine of literary and visual arts, will be unveiled tonight, Wednesday, April 26, at 6:00 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge.
This year’s theme is “In Progress.” Brianna Propis and Grace Brown, co-editors-in-chief, led a team of student editors in creating the magazine. Cassanna Dwyer designed it.
There will be readings by selected contributors, a display of artwork and refreshments. For more information, contact Mick Cochrane, cochrane@canisius.edu.
Submitted by: Mick Cochrane, professor, English
WNYTR Hosts School Partner Meet-and-Greet
Students in the Western New York Teacher Residency (WNYTR) graduate program are fast approaching their residency year. The WNYTR network of school partners were invited to campus on April 20 to meet each resident. School partners included: Buffalo Public Schools, West Buffalo Charter School, King Center Charter School, Elmwood Village Charter School and Stanley G. Falk School.
In a series of mini interviews, Cohort 5 residents learned what each school has to offer and school leaders were introduced to each resident’s unique background and qualifications.
This is one of several steps that WNY Teacher Residents complete prior to beginning their residency year, which includes touring partner schools, meeting school leaders and mentor teachers, and matching with a school after a rigorous review process.
The next WNYTR event will be Interview Day on April 27 for Cohort 6 applicants. This event will be held at Stanley Makowski, Buffalo Public School #99.
Submitted by: Christyn Sullivan, Graduate Assistant, Teacher Education and Leadership
CEEP Scholarship Recipients Announced
On behalf of the Canisius Earning Excellence Program (CEEP) Review and Recommendation Committee, Jenn Lodi-Smith, PhD, assistant vice president for academic affairs, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023-24 CEEP Scholarships.
The scholarships were granted to 64 students with 42 faculty members serving as mentors. The list of this year’s recipients, faculty mentors and their projects are listed above and can also be viewed by clicking here .
CEEP is an exciting learning and earning opportunity that pairs students with Canisius faculty for educational and rewarding experiences. These positions are intellectually demanding, create opportunities for applied learning outside the classroom, are closely related to a career or scholarly field and directly related to faculty scholarship. By working with faculty on research-focused projects, students are able to achieve a high level of preparedness for maintaining professional working relationships and for continued studies at the graduate level.
Congratulations to all the recipients!
Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs
Makerspace with LEGO is Back
Students, faculty and staff are invited to Makerspace on Thursday, April 27, 2023 in the Library from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. The group will begin work on the LEGO Disney Castle. (We also have creator sets for those who want to build their own masterpiece.)
If there are any questions about this and future Makerspace events, which are hosted by the Art History Program in the MLLC Department, please contact Yvonne Widenor at widenory@canisius.edu
Submitted by: Yvonne K. Widenor, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Art History and Music Programs, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Employee of Distinction Nominations
Nominate a co-worker for a job well done for the month of April by completing the Employee of Distinction nomination form here. Please have all submissions completed no later than the end of the day on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
The Employee of Distinction program provides an excellent opportunity to show appreciation and support for co-workers and to reward them for all they do. The application will request an explanation as to why a candidate is worthy of the award. A list of factors to consider when submitting a nomination include the nominee’s history of accomplishments, level of determination, motivation, and interpersonal skills.
The information provided in the application will be used to make a fair and objective selection. Upon supervisor approval, the Employee Engagement Team reviews all nominations and votes each month.
Once a decision is made for April, the Employee of Distinction will be featured in The Dome. Contact Lynn Incardona in the Human Resources Department at Ext. 2240 with any questions.
Podcast Studio Upgraded
The COLI podcast studio is back in business! Shut down during the pandemic (for public health provisions), the studio is re-opened in Old Main with new and easier-to-use equipment. It is available for use by students and faculty.

Podcasting is a great option for student assignments and projects. These audio recordings can be a variety of formats, including monologues or mini-lectures, dramatic readings, or interviews. Students with laptops can easily record an audio file and edit it with freely available software.
The studio is also fantastic for faculty and staff projects, too!
The Digital Media Laboratory Studio has cardswipe access, so students and faculty can use it on evenings and weekends.
As part of it’s Digital Media Laboratory, COLI also has made available portable podcasting kits for loan in the Andrew Bouwhuis Library.
Email coli@canisius.edu to discuss possibilities!
Mission in Curriculum
Click here to watch the Mission in Curriculum: Introduction video.
Several Canisius College faculty have begun a resource called Mission-in-Curriculum, which offers Canisius instructors opportunities to incorporate the College’s Jesuit mission and identity into their courses.
This website is a growing collection of case-studies, describing how different professors have tied their disciplinary content and activities to Catholic social teaching, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and various aspects of Jesuit pedagogy and spirituality. This is not an evangelical effort; rather, it grounds what we teach, across our disciplines, in social, cultural, and intellectual structures that are characteristic of Jesuit Higher Education. It is what we do that most other colleges and universities do not do.
Periodically, check back to this resource and see the new case studies that have been added. Also, visit the separate sections on Jesuit Higher Education, Catholic Social Teaching, and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to see and hear concise descriptions of what these offer. We envision this as a living, growing resource, so we anticipate making improvements and additions based on faculty needs. Feedback is most welcome.
Likely, you are already doing something in your classes that connect with these concepts, and may need to only identify them to students (which can help them grasp how their Canisius Jesuit education benefits them on various levels.) If you can share what you are doing, COLI offers an honorarium and assistance in developing a case study of your own, to be published on this site.
COLI Quick Tip
Videos, whether a screen capture or a monologue, are valuable for educating our students. However, videos are not immediately accessible to all students. This is especially true for students that are hard of hearing or students that are not in situations where they can listen to your video (ex, they are on a commute to/from work/campus).
Luckily, Panopto makes editing captions easy. Similar to YouTube, Panopto will automatically caption videos. However, automatic captions are usually not 100% accurate. This can be helped somewhat by making a request to add a custom word to the Panopto Dictionary, but even then you should manually check and edit the captions. Check out this video on Editing Captions in Panopto!
In general, to edit captions in Panopto, you:
- Go to the Panopto Dashboard
- Hover over the video and click on the pencil icon to Edit your video
- Click on “Captions” on the left-hand sidebar
- Click on the textbox you want to edit
- Make your edits
- Go on to the next textbox
- Click on Apply in the upper-left corner to save your changes
You can find this tutorial, and other tutorials on Panopto, on the Panopto Canisius Wiki page.
Town Hall April 25, 2023
All faculty and staff are invited to attend a Town Hall tomorrow, Tuesday, April 25. The event will take place in the Montante Cultural Center, beginning at 3:30 p.m. followed by a light reception.
President Stoute will provide an update on the state of the college and the development of the college’s new strategic plan. He will then open the floor to any questions. If you would like to submit a question in advance, you may do so here. Submissions will be anonymous unless you choose to identify yourself.
For anyone who is unable to attend, the Town Hall will be recorded and posted to the MyCanisius portal.
We hope you will be able to attend as we discuss how we will answer the call to move Canisius ever forward.
Submitted by: Office of the President
Earth Week Recap & Discernment
Last week, the USA Sustainability Committee celebrated Earth Week by organizing daily events for the campus community. Here is a recap of what we were able to accomplish.
Day 1: We held a “Pollinator Seed Planting” in the Student Center Lobby on Monday. Dr. Malini Suchak, director of the Canisius Native Plant Project, helped us to organize the event. We planted milkweed seeds to add to our community gardens and provided information about their importance to Monarch butterflies.
Day 2: The “Local Market” invited small businesses in the Buffalo area to share their products with students on Tuesday. The goal was to encourage students to shop locally and expose them to more plant-based food options.
Day 3: Wednesday, Dr. Jenn Lodi-Smith and Professor Janet McNally helped to organize a Sustainable Period Conversation in the Executive Conference Room. We had a significant conversation and provided giveaways for students to try more Earth-friendly period products. We closed the day by collaborating with the Canisius Zoological Society and Canisius Art Club, having our first-ever Earth Week Extravaganza with t-shirts, sticker giveaways, and an upcycled project. USA Sustainability organized the upcycled project, teaching attendees how to make dog toys from old t-shirts. Toys will be donated to the SPCA of Erie County.
Day 4: Thursday, Phi Sigma Sigma and USA Sustainability held their second annual “Clothing Swap,” giving a new life to clothing that community members no longer interested in and discouraging supporting fast fashion brands. All the clothes that are not taken will be used to populate campus thrift shortly, “Griffs Thrifts.”
Day 5: We closed the week by holding a campus cleanup and collaborating with our Hamlin Park neighbors this weekend.
We would like to hear from you as part of our Earth Week celebration. How can USA Sustainability Committee and Laudató Si support you in achieving your Earth-friendly goals in the future? Please fill out the form here.
Submitted by: Genevieve Fontana, USA Sustainability President
Denim Day
Join the Canisius community on April 27, by wearing your best pair of denim jeans to stand in solidarity with those affected by sexual assault.
You can also pick up a teal ribbon to wear for the rest of this month and particularly on this day. There are also a limited supply of T-Shirts available for those who are going to participate on Thursday. Please Email Debbie Owens if you would like a shirt.
Location of ribbons
Title IX Office
Student Life
Counseling Center
Health Center
International/Study Abroad
ALANA
SELD
Griff Center – OM 013
Griff Center – Tutoring Center
Griff Center – Career
Library
Submitted by: Debbie Owens, Title IX Coordinator/Associate Dean of Students
“LeRoi: Living in Color” Comes to Vogt Gallery

International artist and Canisius alumnus LeRoi Johnson ’71, HON ’18, brings pieces of his acclaimed exhibit “LeRoi: Living in Color,” to campus today, Friday, April 21. Johnson will be in attendance for a light reception, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., in the Vogt Art Gallery of the Andrew Bouwhuis Library. All are invited to view the exhibit and meet the artist.
Also in attendance will be Tiffany D. Gaines, the Curatorial and Digital Content Associate at Burchfield Penny Art Center. Gaines will discuss Johnson’s achievements and artistic practice.
Johnson’s works are from the Canisius College Art Collection and were previously on display at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. “LeRoi: Living in Color” will now make its home in the Vogt Gallery through summer.
Submitted by: College Communications
Sandy Miller Promoted to AVP for Institutional Advancement

Sandy Miller has been promoted to assistant vice president for institutional advancement. In her new role, Sandy will provide leadership and strategic direction for the offices of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement – two important divisions within advancement.
Sandy will continue to solicit support from corporations and foundations, and has successfully secured millions of dollars in philanthropic support for Canisius and our students.
Sandy joined Canisius in 2016 and has more than 12 years of experience working in higher education. Prior to working in higher education, Sandy served as the director of special projects for the city of Buffalo, working on high-profile development projects and leading the mayor’s capital budget process.
Please join me in congratulating Sandy on this well deserved promotion!
Submitted by: Kimberly Venti, vice president, Institutional Advancement
DEI Symposium
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is excited to announce that its 2023 DEI Symposium will be held on Thursday, June 1. This unique virtual event delivers the ongoing learning necessary in the DEI realm in an easily digestible half day format that is filled with inspirational discussions and non-stop knowledge. This 6th Annual event is an exclusive opportunity to learn from the industry’s best.
The BNP is delighted to welcome Sandra Quince as the keynote speaker for the DEI Symposium. As CEO to Paradigm for Parity, Bank of America Leader on Loan, Sandra’s unique background provides that rare combination of a leader who can speak about diverse recruitment and retention strategies in both the private sector and the non-profit world.
Sandra will share her insights and tips for recruiting diverse talent and creating an inclusive environment in which all employees can be their authentic selves.
VIRTUAL AGENDA
8:30 AM – Welcome
8:45 – 9:45 AM – Keynote Address/Q&A Sandra Quince/Dottie
9:45 -10:00 AM – Break
10:00 -11:00 AM – Micro Learning Sessions Track A
11:00 – 11:15 AM – Break
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM – Micro Learning Sessions Track B
12:15 – 12:30 PM – Break
12:30 – 12:45 – Seminar Wrap-up
Canisius College has purchased a Corporate Pass that covers registration for all faculty and staff who are interested in participating.
To register for this event, please e-mail Lynn Incardona, HR Associate, at incardo1@canisius.edu. Please contact the Office of Human Resources with any questions.
Submitted by: Linda M. Walleshauser, SPHR-SHRM-CP, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Compliance
Conversation with Mark Talley
The ALANA Student Center and SOC 341 is pleased to welcome Mark Tally to campus on May 1 at 2:30 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge on the 2nd floor of the Student Center.
Tally is the founder of Agents for Advocacy, a charity that is committed to providing low-income communities with access to essential resources and services. His mother, Geraldine C. Talley, was a victim of the Tops shooting on May 14, 2022. Tally will be on campus to discuss his experiences and his advocacy work.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ALANA Student Center at asc@canisius.edu. A small reception will accompany his keynote.
Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.
Submitted by: Bennie D. Williams, Assistant Dean of Students, ALANA Student Center
Take Back the Night Walk
Canisius and Medaille have collaborated to bring together this event. Come and support both communities as they walk together to support survivors and to end sexual violence. Registration is required and can be done through the QR code. The event details are as follows.
5pm – 6pm Reception – Food, beverages, “What They Were Wearing” Display, giveaways
6pm – 8pm Speakers and Panel Discussion
Erie County Deputy District Attorney Mike Keane
Tayrin Tapia- Special Guest Speaker Survivor and founder of Dear Taryin
Alicia Wattie- Crisis Services
Helana Mulawka- Investigator New York State Police
Rachel Kranitz-McPhee- Erie County Assistant District Attorney
8pm Walk from Medaille to Canisius
Reading of survivor poem
Feel free to attend the whole event or just the walk. If you want to only participate in the walk, meet in the lobby of Medaille’s Main Building at 7:45 p.m.
Submitted by: Debbie Owens, Title IX Coordinator/Associate Dean of Students
WordCamp Buffalo ’23
From the official wordcamp.org website,
“WordCamp is a conference that focuses on everything WordPress. WordCamps are informal, community-organized events that are put together by WordPress users. Everyone from casual users to core developers participate, share ideas, and get to know each other.”
WordCamp Buffalo 2023 will be held May 6 at KEN-TON Elmwood Commons, 3200 Elmwood Ave Suite 110, Kenmore, NY 14217. It runs from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with a gathering featuring food and beverage vouchers to be held immediately afterward at a nearby location (TBD).
Tickets to this year’s conference are $20 and include an entire day filled with presentations, swag, lunch and refreshments.
For more information, Email Ben Dunkle at dunkleb@canisius.edu or visit https://buffalo.wordcamp.org/2023/
Submitted by: Ben Dunkle, Professor, Digital Media Arts
Lend a Paw for Autism
Come support the Institute for Autism Research at the 7th Annual Lend A Paw for Autism Fundraiser: Disney Dogs, on Saturday, April 29 on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
The event is hosted and organized by Hail Fredonia Records and the SUNY Fredonia’s Music Industry Program.
Enjoy listening to local and student artists perform live all afternoon. Food and drink will be available for purchase as well as tickets for raffle baskets. Special Pup Cups (dog safe and friendly treats) will be available for all dogs in attendance!
If you can’t make the walk or the festivities, you can still support us through the virtual dog walk. All entrants for the Virtual Dog walk will be entered for a chance to win a signed picture of Dee Wallace from the movie Kujo, or a signed copy by Linnea Quigley, of the DVD The Return of The Living Dead! All proceeds will be donated to the IAR. For more information or to register, click here or scan the QR code (right).
Submitted by: Marcus Thomeer, Professor, Psychology Department
Web Resources for Graduate Students
Whether face-to-face or online, graduate students at Canisius make extensive use of internet tools and services. Come learn about the core information technologies you will use at Canisius. Begin the semester confident in your use of Canisius Gmail, D2L, the MyCanisius Portal, and other tools for your success!
Each of these sessions covers the same content. The on-campus session features a light dinner for all attendees. The online sessions are via Zoom web conferencing. Choose the session that is most convenient for you.
Session for spring 2023 Semester:
Online Sessions
RSVP for a Zoom link.
Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Thursday, May 11th, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 at 6:00 PM
On Campus Session
Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 at 6:00 PM in OM 119. Refreshments will be served
Please RSVP for the session you plan to attend. Before the event, you will receive a Google Calendar invite via email.
Campus Candid

USA’s Sustainability Committee is celebrating Earth Day all week long! On Monday, students and staff planted dozens of pollinator seeds which, when grown, will attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees to the college’s community garden.
Submitted by: College Communications
College of Arts & Sciences Introduces New Academic Programs
The College of Arts & Sciences is introducing two new academic programs for the fall 2023 semester. Undergraduate students will now be able to earn a bachelor of arts degree in anthrozoology. Graduate students can pursue a master of arts degree in informal education and interpretation.
Undergraduate students who pursue a bachelor of arts degree in anthrozoology receive a broad education in the social sciences and explore the historical, cultural and ethical relationships between humans and non-human animals. The interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes practical, real-world skills and research development.
The college’s new master of arts degree in informal education and interpretation is a unique program for graduate students who seek employment in education outside the formal K-12 system, and instead in areas such as environmental education, historical preservation or museum curation. Key coursework includes foundations of informal and non-formal education; natural, cultural and historical interpretation; non-profit leadership; research methods; and grant writing. The program culminates with a research-based or internship capstone experience.
To learn more about these new programs, click here.
Submitted by: College Communications
Ignatian Scholarship Day
The 16th annual Ignatian Scholarship Day (ISD) will take place on Wednesday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ISD 2023 will highlight the achievements of more than 100 students in various forms of expression. The schedules and project compilations will be available online under the Ignatian Scholarship Day tab through the Academic Affairs community page beginning April 20.
Click here to access the ISD page on the portal.
For more information or questions, feel free to contact Event Services. We look forward to seeing you on April 26!
To add this event to your digital calendar, click here.
Submitted by: Connie M. Pileri, assistant dean for Student Affairs/director, Office of Event Services
Strategic Planning & Prioritization Survey
On Monday, April 3, the Strategic Planning and Prioritization Committee held a forum in which we presented the draft of the 2023-29 Canisius strategic plan. The recording of that forum is available in the Canisius Portal. You can view it by logging into myCanisius and looking for the Strategic Planning and Prioritization Forum Widget. The committee has made many refinements to the strategic plan draft based on comments and input throughout the process. We would value additional comments, suggestions, or feedback as we finalize the plan to send to the Board of Trustees and provide a survey for your feedback. The survey will close today, Wednesday, April 19 at midnight.
Thank you for helping plan for the future of Canisius.
The Strategic Planning and Prioritization Committee
Chair: Sara Morris, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Vice-Chair: Ron Haberer, Controller
Vice-Chair: Joshua Russell, Associate Professor, ABEC
Tim Balkin, Vice President for Business and Finance
Jim Goldstein, Associate Professor, Accounting
Amo Kubeyinje, Director of Graduate Admissions
Aimee Larson, Clinical Assistant Professor and Chair, Physician Assistant Studies
Jonathan Lawrence, Associate Professor, Religious Studies and Theology (Faculty Senate Chair)
Lisa Liotta, Senior Associate Athletics Director
Tanya Loughead, Professor, Philosophy
Sandy Miller, Director of Government and Foundation Relations
Linda Walleshauser, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Bennie Williams, Assistant Dean and Director of the Multicultural Student Center
Liaison: Lauren Young, Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness
Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs
Career Development Events
career-events-this-week-april-17-21-flyer
The Career Development Office offers a wide variety of in-person and virtual networking opportunities for students. This week, Melissa Berg ’13 (Psychology), ’15 (HESSA), Charlene Gowran ’01 (Psychology) and Jack Barrett ’21 (Education), will be representing Odoo (software technology), IRS, and Golden Hire respectively.
Please encourage students to attend – there are opportunities open to all majors. Registration and additional information is listed under “Events” in Handshake!
Submitted by: Eileen Abbatoy, Director, Career Development, Griff Center for Student Success
Add Events to Your Calendar!