The Dome

As a result of the 2018 campus climate study, Canisius College developed and implemented its first racial equity strategic plan.  The college has been taking steps to cultivate a thriving academic community, one where each individual feels welcome and able to contribute their full selves to the work and study that takes place here.

To that end, part of our racial equity strategic plan is to continue to learn how the campus community sees itself and what goals might be formed to help us to continue to become more inclusive.

We are hoping that you will participate in the 2023 Campus Climate Survey and provide us with your feedback.  The survey itself should take five minutes.  It is completely anonymous and we will only be using a summary of responses in the survey-based reports.

The survey can be accessed at https://canisius.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WH2amjyCNYXt5Q and it will be open until April 2, 2023.

We appreciate your assistance with this effort.

Submitted by: Harold Fields, EdD, vice president, student affairs; Sara Morris, PhD, vice president, academic affairs

As part of Earth Week 2023, the Sustainability Committee and Phi Sigma Sigma are hosting a clothing swap on April 20 , from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Science Hall Commons.

Please help us by donating your gently used clothing to the swap.  Donations will be taken this week, March 27 – March 31,  from 12:00 -3:00 p.m., outside the library.  Time to do some spring cleaning and recycle your clothing at the same time!

Submitted by: Mary Rockwell, PhD, Director, The New Buffalo Institute

After selling out the first week, Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, is continuing its cookie sale all this week,  March 27-31, in the Andrew Bouwhuis Library. Cookies are $2 each and all proceeds benefit the Lt. Aaron Salter Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may also make a donation to the scholarship fund by stopping by.

Lt. Aaron Salter was a hero. He served 30 years in the Buffalo Police Department before retiring in 2018. He continued to protect the community as a security guard at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue. Lt. Salter was one of 10 people killed in the mass shooting in May. He was awarded a degree in communication studies, posthumously, at the 2022 commencement ceremony.

Students in Lambda Pi Eta chose to honor Lt. Salter by raising money to donate to the scholarship fund in his name. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors from financially disadvantaged families to help ensure that they succeed as matriculated college students.

Submitted by: Barbara Irwin, PhD, professor, Communication Department

The Golden Griffins ice hockey season came to a close in Fargo, ND, last night when No. 1 Minnesota scored eight unanswered goals to erase a 2-1 deficit and defeat Canisius, 9-2, in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship regional semifinal contest. Though the loss was tough it doesn’t overshadow the outstanding effort made by the team and Head Coach Trevor Large throughout the entire season: The Ice Griffs finish with a winning percentage of .500 or higher for the fourth time in six season under Coach Large. The Griffs also recorded 20 wins in a season for the third time in the Division I era of the program, and the first time since 2016-17.

Click here for a full recap of last night’s game.

Follow the video link below to hear from Head Coach Trevor Large.

Submitted by: College Communications

Canisius College Giving Day – an annual tradition showcasing the power of community and collective generosity – is right around the corner on Wednesday, April 5!

But you don’t need to wait that long to make your 2023 Giving Day gift.   VIP giving for faculty and staff is open now at https://www.canisiusgivingday.com/vip

So don’t wait – make your Giving Day gift now and give us a head start in making this Giving Day the most impactful one yet!

Submitted by: Erin Zack, Sr. Director for Annual Giving and Stewardship

The Patrick P. Lee Foundation, headed by its namesake Patrick P. Lee HON ’99, awarded Canisius College $150,000 to provide scholarships to graduate students pursuing degrees in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.

The Lee Foundation is committed to addressing the local mental health workforce shortage and selected Canisius College because of its preeminent reputation of producing well-trained professionals fill the ranks of area local mental health departments of hospitals, human service agencies, and medical clinics in Western New York. Student recipients have to commit to working in one of the eight counties of WNY, upon graduation.

Click here to read more about the grant.

Submitted by: Sandy Miller, senior director, Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations

Michael Wood, PhD, professor of physics and chair of the Department of Quantitative Sciences, Alexis Grassl, a junior physics and biochemistry double major, and Aaron Szczepankiewicz, a junior chemistry major, recently visited Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA for an experiment in neutron efficiency.

From March 16-20, Wood and the students collaborated with their Occidental colleagues, Drs. Daniel Snowden-Ifft and Jean-Luc Gaurveu, to test the efficiency of a gas electron multiplier (GEM).  The GEM detectors were developed in the late 1990s at CERN, the world’s largest particle collider located near Geneva, Switzerland, as compact particle tracking devices.

The GEM is filled with a mixture of Argon and CO2.  When a particle ionizes the gas, the free electrons create an avalanche of more electrons that are picked up by an array of sensing wires.  A GEM is very good at detecting electrically-charged particles like electrons and protons.

The Canisius and Occidental team are investigating how well the detector works at identifying neutrons.  This trip was part of a project funded by a grant from the Department of Energy to find novel neutron detectors.

Submitted by: Dr. Michael Wood, physics professor and chair, Department of Quantitative Sciences

WGRZ-TV Channel 2 Reporter Keelin Berrian interviewed hockey head coach Trevor Large on Monday, March 20 ahead of the team’s departure for Fargo, ND, where the Golden Griffins will face off against the Golden Gophers in the 2023 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament. Click here to watch the story.

Canisius Professor H. David Sheets, PhD, discusses his research on the validity of bite marks when investigating crimes, on the podcast “CSI on Trial.” The program is a co-production of iHeart Podcasts and appears on the Curiosity Stream series. Click here to listen to the Podcast.*

*Warning: This episode contains details of graphic violence and sexual assault.

Canisius alumnus and Buffalo News contributor Erik Brady ’76 penned a poetic story on St. Patrick’s Day about fellow alumnus Joe Hassett ’64. The article, titled “This is what happens when the Buffalo connection meets the luck of the Irish,” can be read here.

Submitted by: College Communications

Calling all Griff-Fans! Get ready to rally around the Canisius hockey team as it prepares to face off against No. 1 seed Minnesota in the Fargo Regional of the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. The match-up between the Golden Griffins and Golden Gophers is set for Thursday, March 23 at Scheels Arena in Fargo, ND. Game time is 9:00 p.m.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to wear their favorite blue and gold Griff gear to work on Thursday.

Then, plan to join the Canisius community at 9:00 p.m. for a watch party in the Economou Dining Hall. The event starts at 8:30 p.m. and is open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. There will be light hors d’oeuvres (courtesy of Chartwells) and a cash bar. Free T-shirts will also be handed out to the first 150 students in attendance.

Registration to the watch party is encouraged.

For those unable to attend the watch party, the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The link for the game broadcast on ESPN+ can be FOUND HERE.

Canisius earned the program’s second trip to the NCAA Tournament and first in 10 seasons with a 3-0 victory over Holy Cross in the Atlantic Hockey Championship on Saturday at LECOM Harborcenter.

Senior goaltender Jacob Barczewski was named both the Atlantic Hockey Championship Most Outstanding Player and earned a nod to the league’s all-tournament team after he went 5-2 in the postseason with a 1.13 goals against average and a .963 save percentage. Graduate student Nick Bowman, senior Keaton Mastrodonato and junior Jackson Deckerwere also named the 2023 Atlantic Hockey All-Tournament Team.

The winner of Thursday’s first-round contest will advance to the regional final on Saturday, where it will face either St. Cloud State or Minnesota State. Canisius has never met the Huskies or the Mavericks in program history.

Submitted by: College Communications

The Palisano Fitness Center is now open faculty and staff – in addition to students!  Stop by the fitness center and get a workout in! Palisano is on campus right off of Meech St and Hughes Avenue.  The operating hours for Palisano are as followed:

Monday-Friday

8:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday

1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Hours may vary during holidays/school breaks.  If you have any questions please email me at parks6@canisius.edu.

Submitted by: Kyle Parks, Athletic Facilities GA, Athletic Facilities

The Canisius College Contemporary Writers Series will welcome internationally renowned writer and performer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Joy Harjo to campus on Tuesday, April 18.  The event takes place at 7:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center; doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is first-come, first-served.  A question-and-answer session and reception will follow the reading. 

Harjo served three terms as the 23^rd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2019-2022, the first Native writer so honored.  She is the author of 10 books of poetry, most recently Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years, several plays and children’s books, and two memoirs, Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior. 

Click here to learn more.

Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.

Submitted by: Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor, English

Canisius presents a Black history event on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 9:30 am in Zion Dominion Global Ministries, 895 North Forest Road in Amherst. The program, sponsored by the college’s Academic Talent Search (ATS) Program, is free and open to the public.

Daniel Croix, director, writer, producer and actor in film, television and theatre, co-star of Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” and next seen on Apple’s “Manhunt” on Black Entertainment Television (BET), will give the keynote address entitled “The Secret to Unleashing Inner Greatness.”

As an advocate of environmental justice, Croix promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle and participates in boots-on-the-ground rain forest preservation. He serves on the advisory board of Ujima Company Inc., a multi-ethnic theatre company dedicated to preserving and uplifting the traditions of African American storytelling.

From Buffalo, Croix attended the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. He holds a BFA in acting from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

Throughout the day, ATS will host workshops and informational stations set up from various community organizations. Topics will include educational and career opportunities, financial literacy and mental health.

For more information, contact the Academic Talent Search Program at Ext. 3280.

Submitted by:  College Communications

Dr. Richard Reitsma will  talk about drawing parallels about anti-LGBTQIA+ & Racial Culture Wars from Buffalo to Bratislava, mass shootings, and the Ukraine War and the violence at the US Southern Border.

Kinny Torre will talk about the plight of LGBTQIA+ Russians stuck in immigration limbo in Guam.  And Dr. Mark Congdon will discuss the role of service learning for cross border resolution through virtual community engaged pedagogy to re-imagine the classroom “borders” to work in solidarity, with international organizations and communities to advance social change efforts and initiatives.

Specifically, I’ll be discussing how students in my strategic communication, PR, and advertising courses partner with US-El Salvador Sister Cities and CRIPDES, virtually, to help advance community organizing and activists’ efforts in rural communities in El Salvador. I’ll share reflections on what we’re learning and strategies faculty and universities could think about if they’re interested in collaborating with organizations and communities outside the US and how to redefine the “borders” of a classroom leveraging technology. 

Submitted by: Richard D. Reitsma, PhD, Faculty Associate Dean, Inclusion and Engagement; Associate Professor, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures

Please join ArtsCanisius on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center for a “Meet the Musicians” recital.

This event will feature Ellen Barnum, bassoon and Abigail Rockwood, piano. Professor Barnum, who teaches music history courses at Canisius College and teaches bassoon, coaches chamber music, and is the personnel manager for the BSC Philharmonia at the SUNY Buffalo State University, wrote this introduction to her performance: “Come celebrate Spring with a recital of music for bassoon.  Ellen Barnum will perform works from the Baroque to today, featuring bassoon standards to new works composed by women.”

ArtsCanisius invites everyone to this event – it is free and open to the public. For more information about this and other ArtsCanisius events, kindly email Yvonne Widenor, Director of ArtsCanisius, at widenory@canisius.edu

Submitted by: Yvonne K. Widenor, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Art History and Music Programs, MLLC Department, Director and Studio Art Galleries Director, ArtsCanisius

march-2023-wellness-tip

National Poison Prevention Week is observed from March 19-25 this year. The above article from Independent Health provides six poison-prevention tips for keeping your home safe and your family healthy, as well as what to do if you are concerned a family member has been poisoned.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

President Steve Stoute talks about urban engagement and how Canisius will RISE to the occasion on “Buffalo, What’s Next?” on WBFO Radio. Listen here.

Submitted by: College Communications

The Canisius Hockey team took home the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship this past Saturday night, defeating No. 7 seed Holy Cross in a 3-0 victory.

Canisius graduate student Nick Bowman scored the game-winning goal at the 17:59 mark of the second period and senior goaltender Jacob Barczewski recorded a 24-save shutout to help lead the fourth-seeded Canisius hockey team to its win in front of 1,805 fans at the LECOM Harborcenter.

The championship is the program’s second conference title and first since 2013, and gives the Golden Griffins (19-18-3) an automatic berth into next weekend’s NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.

Canisius now heads to Fargo, ND, to face off against No. 1 Minnesota in the NCAA Regional.  Game time is set for 9:00 p.m. (ET) Thursday.

Until then, you can celebrate Canisius’ 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship by purchasing the team’s official championship T-shirt through GriffsGear.com.  To purchase your shirt, CLICK HERE.

Submitted by: College Communications

                                 Photo by Tom Wolf ’86

The Canisius College DiGamma Honor Society inducted seven new members on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 during a ceremony at Christ the King Chapel. The prestigious honor society is composed of Canisius alumni, faculty, administrators and students who have distinguished themselves through exemplary service to the college over an extended period of time.  The spring 2023 inductees are: 

• Mason Bowes, a junior in the All-College Honors Program, majors in both English and Philosophy, and has a minor in Art-History. He is the current President of the Honors Student Association, an Executive Editor for the Quadrangle Literary Magazine, and Co-President of Sigma Tau Delta. Additionally, Mason does research for the Philosophy department through the Canisius Earning Excellence Program, works as a Teacher’s Assistant for Philosophy 101, and is a Tutor for the Writing Center. Over the summer, he assists Canisius in accepting incoming students through his work as both a Lead Orientation Leader and as the Lead FYE Peer Mentor.
• Genevieve Fontana is a junior transfer student double majoring in Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (ABEC) and Digital Media Arts (DMA), projected to graduate in May 2024. She is the USA Sustainability Committee Chair, serves as Junior Senator for the Undergraduate Student Association, is a Phi Sigma Sigma sorority member acting as the Community Impact Chair, the Student Representative for Laudato Si, and the Social Media Student Assistant for the ABEC department. Genevieve shares her passion for sustainability by organizing many earth-friendly initiatives around campus. Most notably, she planned and executed the “Clothing Swap” during Earth Week, providing a resource for students to exchange their unwanted clothing; because of its success, she is excited to finally open a thrift store on campus in the coming semesters.
• Eric Muharareni is a senior at Canisius College following an International Business and Finance major undergraduate degree. He is currently part of the Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) program simultaneously being Vice President of the Global Horizons Club, as well as being a Track and Field athlete. He constantly helps out and supports events as well as creates big events as part of Global Horizons. He is an active member in his school and church community, where he is part of a youth group that often does community service feeding the poor at St. Luke’s. For work, he is a personal trainer at LA Fitness, helping individuals achieve their physical goals. This portrays how he is determined to be with and for others.
• Alyssa Quinlan, a junior in the All-College Honors Program, is a Biology major on the Pre-Pharmacy track. She anticipates her graduation in May of 2024, with continuing education at D’Youville University in their PharmD program. She is a member of the Society of Pre-Health Professionals, holding the position of the Allied Health Chair, as well as belonging to the mentorship program for underclassmen. Additionally, she is a Teaching Assistant in an Introductory Biology lab, working with students and leading them towards success. She regularly participates in volunteer events on campus, including those associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Brothers of Mercy. Likewise, she engages in her community through volunteering as a dance assistant and camp coach, guiding young students through extracurricular activities.
• Olivia Rutowski, a junior in the All-College Honors Program, is majoring in Biology with a Music minor on the Pre-Med track. On campus, she is the President of Students for Life, Events Manager for the Society of Pre-Health Professionals, a Tour Guide for the Undergraduate Admissions Department and a member of the Canisius Earning Excellence Program for Canisius’ Biology department. Additionally, she is a TA for the Biology department, and sings in the Canisius College Chorale and at many of the Canisius’s sporting events. In the Buffalo community, she enjoys running Ignite the Light, the young adult group at St. Gabriel’s RC Church, working as a home aid through People Inc, and volunteering her time at CompassCare Pregnancy Services. She currently aspires to go to medical school and looks forward to the day she can serve others as a physician.
• Camryn Warren is a senior Biology major on the Pre-Medical track with a minor in Criminal Justice in the All-College Honors Program. Upon graduation from Canisius, Camryn will be attending medical school at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine. On campus, Camryn serves as the President of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). She is also involved with the Commuter Student Association and Society of Pre-Health Professionals (SPHP), as well as the Asian Student Association (ASA). Camryn is also a part of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Additionally, she coaches youth basketball and volunteers at the Mary Wilson Foundation: Girls in Sports and Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH).
• Marisa Taylor Warren, a senior in the All-College Honors Program, is a Biology Major with a Criminal Justice Minor. Upon graduating this spring, she will be furthering her education at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine. At Canisius, Marisa is the Treasurer of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students and is the Vice President of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Higher Education Honor Society. Additionally, she served as a Peer-Assisted Learning Leader for the General Chemistry course, and is a member of the Asian Student Association, the Society of Pre-Health Professionals and Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Marisa also enjoys conducting research at the Jacobs School of Medicine. She is active in the community, volunteering her time through tutoring and working at Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope, where faith and DEI initiatives guide their work to mitigate injustices in the community.

Submitted by:  Rev. Patrick Lynch, SJ, Jesuit Associate for Mission & Identity and Professor emeritus of Religious Studies & Theology

Canisius presents a Black history event on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 9:30 am in Zion Dominion Global Ministries, 895 North Forest Road in Amherst. The program, sponsored by the college’s Academic Talent Search (ATS) Program, is free and open to the public.

Daniel Croix, director, writer, producer and actor in film, television and theatre, co-star of Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” and next seen on Apple’s “Manhunt” on Black Entertainment Television (BET), will give the keynote address entitled “The Secret to Unleashing Inner Greatness.”

Throughout the day, ATS will host workshops and informational stations set up from various community organizations. Topics will include educational and career opportunities, financial literacy and mental health.

As an advocate of environmental justice, Croix promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle and participates in boots-on-the-ground rain forest preservation. He serves on the advisory board of Ujima Company Inc., a multi-ethnic theatre company dedicated to preserving and uplifting the traditions of African American storytelling.

From Buffalo, Croix attended the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. He holds a BFA in acting from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

For more information, contact the Academic Talent Search Program at Ext. 3280.

Submitted by: College Communications

For the first time in program history, the Canisius hockey team will host the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game, as the Golden Griffins play host to Holy Cross tomorrow night (March 18) at 6 p.m., at LECOM Harborcenter. The winner of tomorrow’s game will earn Atlantic Hockey’s automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship tournament.

Tickets for the game are on sale now, with Faculty/Staff tickets priced at $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., today at the Canisius Ticket Office, located inside the lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center. Faculty/Staff tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window on the night of the game by showing your Canisius ID card.

Please note, parking at LECOM Harborcenter will be priced at $5 until 6 p.m. After that time, the price of parking will move to $25, as the Buffalo Bandits are hosting a game at KeyBank Center at 7:30 p.m.

As head coach Trevor Large says “It Takes Everyone.” We look forward to you joining us at LECOM Harborcenter tomorrow night as the Griffs look to secure their third Atlantic Hockey championship!

Submitted by:  Matthew Reitnour, Associate Athletic Director of Communications, Athletics

Faculty and staff are invited to join Alumni Engagement for a reception before the big game!

Canisius is hosting the Atlantic Hockey Championship game for the first time in school history!  Come cheer on the Griffs as they play Holy Cross Saturday, March 18, at 6 pm at LECOM Harborcenter.  Join us for a tailgate on the 7th floor beginning at 5 pm!

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be provided as well as a cash bar. Game tickets sold separately.

Click here to register!

Submitted by: Sarah Sterzinger, Assistant Director, Alumni Engagement

Griff Fair 2023 was a big success!  Science Hall was filled with students on Wednesday afternoon during the Griff Center’s flagship recruiting event.  Students had the opportunity to network with representatives from more than 60 employers and learn about job opportunities and internships.

Submitted by: College Communications

ITS will be performing a database updates Saturday March 18, 2023 from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00am. During this maintenance window, most administrative software such as Banner, Self Service Banner (SSB), Griff Audits, reports (Infoview) and all custom Canisius Web Applications (iAdvise, budget management, timeclock, new student checklist, etc) will be unavailable.

The ITS systems status page, found in dark blue top section of the portal, will be updated accordingly.

If you encounter any issues post maintenance, please contact the help desk at helpdesk@canisius.edu or at (716)888-8340.

Submitted by: Michele Folsom, Director, Administrative Computing, ITS

The Education Policy Committee (EPC) has scheduled a faculty hearing to address any concerns regarding the addition of FYE/BUSX to the core curriculum. The EPC and Faculty Senate both voted to approve the proposal submitted by the Core Curriculum Committee on September 19, 2022 in early March 2023.

Please join us on a Zoom meeting on Friday March 31, 2023 at 10:00 AM EST to share any concerns you have. https://canisius.zoom.us/j/95032542771

Please contact the co-chairs of the EPC, Aimee Larson at larson8@canisius.edu or Yvonne Widenor at widenory@canisius.edu if you have concerns about these additions to the core curriculum and cannot attend the faculty hearing.

Submitted by: Yvonne K. Widenor, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Art History and Music Programs, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

After more than 17 years at her alma mater, Erica Sammarco ’00, associate vice president and assistant to the president, has left Canisius.

Sammarco joined the college in 2005 as the director of corporate and foundation relations, and in her most recent role was responsible for administrative support for the president and coordinating special initiatives originating from the Office of the President. Sammarco also served as secretary to the college’s Board of Trustees and the school corporation.

We wish her much success in her future endeavors.

Submitted by: Office of the President

Griff Fair is today, March 15, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm in Science Hall Commons.

We have over 60 representatives from a wide variety of employers!  Please encourage your students to attend one of the biggest career events of the year to learn about full- and part-time jobs, summer jobs and internships!

Submitted by: Eileen Abbatoy, Director of Career Development

For the first time in program history, the Canisius hockey team will host the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game, as the Golden Griffins play host to Holy Cross Saturday night (March 18) at 6 p.m., at LECOM Harborcenter. The winner of Saturday’s game will earn Atlantic Hockey’s automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championship tournament.

Tickets for the game are on sale now, with Faculty/Staff tickets priced at $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., today through Friday at the Canisius Ticket Office, located inside the lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center. Faculty/Staff tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window on the night of the game by showing your Canisius ID card.

Please note, parking at LECOM Harborcenter will be priced at $5 until 6 p.m., on Saturday night. After that time, the price of parking will move to $25, as the Buffalo Bandits are hosting a game at KeyBank Center at 7:30 p.m.

As head coach Trevor Large says “It Takes Everyone.” We look forward to you joining us at LECOM Harborcenter Saturday night as the Griffs look to secure their third Atlantic Hockey championship!

On March 8, the Career Development Office held our first “Griffs Dress for Success” with free professional clothing for students to help them prepare for Griff Fair as well as upcoming job and internship interviews.

We featured a wide variety of professional, business casual and casual clothing and over 50 students participated!  Because of the overwhelming support of faculty and staff who donated gently used, professional clothing, we continue to have a large inventory of items available.  Please encourage  students to stop in the Career Development Office in Old Main 013 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm to make their selections.  Thank you to all of the faculty and staff who donated!

Submitted by:  Eileen Abbatoy, Director of Career Development

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As part of Stress Less Day on campus, Tara McPherson, a corporate wellness consultant at Lawley Benefits Group and Michelle Carbery, senior corporate wellness specialist at Independent Health, will present over lunch and refreshments for faculty and staff on Wednesday, March 22 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Regis Room.

Registration is limited to 80 participants and will be collected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please RSVP to Bethany Voorhees at voorheeb@canisius.edu by Wednesday, March 15, and provide any dietary restrictions if applicable.

Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, Executive Associate, President’s Office

The Office of Student Life is hosting a food donation drive for Petey’s Pantry. Donation bins are placed around campus in the following locations:

• Outside of the student life office
• Inside of the library
• Outside of the bookstore
• Outside of the counseling center
• Outside of the dining hall
• In the faculty/staff lounge in Old Main
• In the lounges in Old Main on the second, third, and fourth floor
• In the tunnel of Horan O’Donnell near the Griff Center – Career
• In the tunnel of Old Main near the Griff Center – Academic Achievement

All donations are appreciated!

Submitted by: Office of Student Life

The Women’s Business Center at Canisius College is hosting a free, one hour webinar on March 28th at noon. This webinar will discuss expanding small businesses internationally and creating an export strategy to support growth. This event is open to all students, faculty, and staff. You can register at : https://canisiuswbc.ecenterdirect.com/events/243006

Submitted by:  Women’s Business Center

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Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Honor Society, is selling St. Patrick’s Day cookies to benefit the Lt. Aaron Salter Memorial Scholarship fund.  Cookies are $2 each and can be purchased Mon. through Friday, March 13-17 from noon until 6:00 pm in the Andrew Bouwhuis Library. You may also make a donation to the Scholarship fund by stopping by. One hundred percent of the funds raised will be donated to support the scholarship.

Lt. Aaron Salter was a hero. He served 30 years in the Buffalo Police Department before retiring in 2018. He continued to protect the community as a security guard at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue. Lt. Salter was one of ten people killed in the mass shooting in May. He was awarded a degree in Communication Studies posthumously at the 2022 commencement ceremony. Students in Lambda Pi Eta chose to honor Lt. Salter by raising money to donate to the scholarship fund in his name. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors from financially disadvantaged families to help ensure that they succeed as matriculated college students.

Submitted by: Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, Professor of Communication

Canisius President Steve Stoute participated in the first ever Buffalo Celebrity Read at Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School this past Wednesday, March 8. The event served as a special opportunity for students to see leaders in the community “model a love of reading and learning.” President Stoute read from one of his (and his daughters’) favorite children’s books, The Book with No Pictures, by B.J. Novak. He then shared with students a bit about himself and his educational journey.

Submitted by: College Communications

Buffalo, NY – Thirty Canisius College alumni earned a place on Business First’s Power 250 list for 2023.  Business First is considered the top source of local business news and events in Western New York.  Its annual Power 250 list identifies the most influential leaders throughout the region.   

Canisius College alumnus Ron A. Raccuia ’90 tops this year’s roll earning the No. 1 spot.  Raccuia is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Buffalo Bills, and charged with leading the once-in-a-generation construction of the team’s new stadium.  He is among the 30 Canisius alumni included on the Power 250 list, which also ranks President Steve Stoute at No. 80.  

Click here to view the full list of those Canisius alumni named to the Power 250.

Submitted by: College Communications

The Human Resources Department is pleased to announce the Employees of Distinction for the months of January and February.

Lindy Feider was selected as the Employee of Distinction for February. At Canisius for a little more than two years, Lindy currently works in the Griff Center as the Associate Director Academic Achievement. She was nominated for this award by Tracy Callaghan, who shared the following:

“Lindy Feider is the living embodiment of persons for and with others and cura personalis. Lindy consistently goes above and beyond for all of the student athletes that are in her caseload as their success coach (over 400 students). Students consistently seek out her guidance and support. Her work days are filled with back to back student meetings and most of her nights and weekends are spent attending and supporting our students athletes at athletic events as well as taking photos and sharing the amazing photographs with the student athletes and families. Lindy is an amazing and supportive colleague and a tireless advocate of our students. She supports all of our student athletes both in the classroom and on the field!”

Bethany Voorhees was selected as the Employee of Distinction for January. At Canisius for about 4 years, Bethany is the Executive Associate to President Stoute.  She was nominated for this award by Sandy Miller who shared the following:

“I am writing to nominate Bethany Voorhees for employee of the month recognition. Bethany is a pleasure to work with, accommodating, and always pitches in to help out. She is professional, organized, and a team player that anticipates what is needed.  She works hard, but always has a smile and a great attitude.”

Please join the Human Resources Department in congratulating Bethany and Lindy on their well-deserved achievements!

To nominate a coworker for future Employee of Distinction, click here.

Submitted by: Lynn Incardona, HR Associate, Human Resources

Everyone is welcome to join with our spring 2023 Laudato Si’ campus sustainability initiative!

This semester we will identify short-term, mid-range and long-term actions for a three-year plan of coordinated activity around two pillars – resource use (plastics, energy, food, paper) and nature-friendly initiatives (birds, pollinators, plants) both within the focus of our campus and local community.

Our meetings will take place in Old Main 108 on:

• Tuesday, March 14 at 4:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m.

Feel free to bring an interested friend or two and lots of ideas!

Submitted by: Jennifer Lodi-Smith, AVPAA & Professor, Psychology

The physical and health education/teacher education program (P/HETE) hosted the annual conference for the Western Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AHPERD) on Tuesday, March 7 at the Koessler Athletic Center. With more than 75 health and physical education professionals from the Western New York area, this marks the tenth year that the Canisius P/HETE program has hosted the conference.

Emeritus Professor. Dr. Greg Reeds and his better half—adjunct professor Ms. Nancy Reeds co-presented a session entitled “Student Teaching – What to expect as a future professional and mentor teacher“. A special thanks to Dr. Greg Reeds (emeritus); Pat Clarke, director of athletic facilities; Nick Stenzel, Assistant Director of Athletic Facilities; Hayden Harrington, graduate assistant Department of Kinesiology; Carey MacCormick, Director of Catering; and the many P/HETE majors on hand for their efforts to make this conference so successful.

Submitted by: Clancy Seymour, Associate Professor | Director of Health, Physical Education, & Sport Pedagogy, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership

Participants who met the Canisius College challenge criteria of meeting at least 600 minutes of heart-pumping exercise for the month of February were entered into a raffle drawing for a gift card to the bookstore, and Dr. Erin Robinson, Professor & Chair of the Sociology, Criminal Justice and Environmental Sciences Department, was the lucky winner! Congratulations to Erin for completing a total of 1,949 minutes of exercise, and a special shout out to the following participants for also reaching the 600-minute goal, and beyond:

• Susan Margulis, Professor, ABEC & Anthrozoology
• LTC Chad Gosney, Professor, Military Science
• Yvonne Widenor, Teaching Faculty, Fine Arts
• CPT Ian Merritt, Assistant Professor, ROTC
• CPT Joseph Aumendo, Instructor, Military Science
• Rebecca Sparacino, Enrollment Officer, Military Science
• Ryan Grimmer, Library Collection & Services Coordinator, Library
• Makayla Cole, Administrative Associate, College of Arts & Sciences
• CPT Mike Feliciano, Instructor, Military Science
• Secil Ertorer, Associate Professor, Sociology, Criminal Justice & Environmental Studies
• Paola Fajardo-Heyward, Associate Professor & Chair, Political Science
• Jonathan Lawrence, Associate Professor of Religious Studies & Theology, Chair of the Faculty Senate
• CPT Scott Harris, Assistant Professor, Military Science
• Danielle Pagano, Customer Service Specialist, Student Records & Financial Services
• Sara Vescio, Executive Director, Women’s Business Center
• CPT Kevin Ryan, Associate Professor, Military Science
• Amy Beiter, Curriculum & Student Support Project Associate, Academic Affairs

At Canisius, although we did not win, for those who participated, collectively, we moved a total of 26,684 minutes, and our average number of minutes per participant was 833 minutes for the month of February!

Thank you to all who participated in this challenge!

Please join us in congratulating the following Jesuit Institution Go Move Challenge Winners:

• Santa Clara University for earning the most minutes for the month at 589,072 minutes, and the overall winner for the 5^th year in a row.
• Saint Peter’s University for earning the most average minutes at 1,545 minutes per participant

Read the full 2023 Go Move Challenge Recap Newsletter here.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

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.

Due to Daylight Savings Time changes on Sunday March 12 at 2:00 a.m., faculty/staff/students who have configured Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for the my.canisius.edu portal will get prompted for additional verification on all trusted devices. Setting up MFA is easy, required for employees and highly recommended for students to keep our systems (and your information) secure. Instructions are available here: https://wiki.canisius.edu/x/Zy_8BQ

Advanced users can also use a digital authenticator app.  Digital authenticator is NOT required but is available as an alternative authentication method.  Instructions are available here:

https://youtu.be/8FgVuQdjz5M

Reminder that all users need to set up MFA by March 15th if you have not already done so.  The Canisius Help Desk is available for any questions or problems you may encounter.  For assistance, stop by the Help Desk in Horan O’Donnell 016, call 888-8340 or email helpdesk@canisius.edu.

Submitted by: Scott Clark, Director of User Services/ITS

The Canisius hockey team will play host to long-time rival Niagara in the semifinals of the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Postseason this weekend at LECOM Harborcenter, starting TONIGHT (March 10) at 6 p.m.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., and game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

Discounted tickets for Canisius Faculty and Staff are on sale now for $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance in person at the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center or by calling (716) 888-TIXX. Tickets are also available for purchase on game days at LECOM Harborcenter as well.

Join the Griffs for more playoff hockey this weekend downtown at LECOM Harborcenter!

Please note parking and traffic will be impacted this weekend due to other events at the KeyBank Center. For more information, CLICK HERE.

To further their appreciation for “Carmen,” students in SPA405 will be treated to a performance of Habanera and the Card Aria from “Carmen” as well as “Maria de Buenos Aires” on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Montante Cultural Center at 2:45 PM. We open this event, hosted by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and ArtsCanisius, to all campus community members. Our performers will be Suzanne Fatta, contralto and James Welch, piano.

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The Writing Center and the Association of Women and Men in Communications are hosting an open mic on Wednesday, March 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Writing Center, LIB 127. See the attached flyer for details, and please pass along to your students!

Submitted by: Graham Stowe, Director, Writing Center

ITS would like to remind the campus about safe Email practices. Some of the more recent “spoofed” Emails make it appear that someone from Canisius has Emailed you requesting information, but remember, malicious senders are creative and make it look like someone you may know. Remember to look at the actual Email address (using your mouse, hover over the sender’s name in the FROM line) to better identify valid email requests.

From time to time, Canisius accounts can be compromised and then used to send out a phishing email to other Canisius accounts. If you are questioning a request or links in any Email, reach out to the person directly or contact the ITS Helpdesk to verify authenticity. Here’s a quick video with tips on avoiding email scams: https://youtu.be/82NrZ8R05ts

Also keep in mind that ITS will never send an Email concerning authentication (e.g., password expiration) that contains a link.

For faculty/staff, additional measures were deployed in early 2020 for Microsoft Exchange to help identify “safe” vs “unsafe” Emails. Outside Emails will be easily identifiable via one of the following colored alerts. This includes some of the email found in your “Junk” folder that is already marked as “SPAM”.

NOTE: These banners will be displayed as PLAIN TEXT for email messages placed in your junk folder, but if you move it to any one of your other mailbox folders, you will see the full color versions of the above alerts.

We have identified “trusted” emails sent from some of our partner vendors (Slate, Adirondack, Medicat, emails sent by Advancement through Benchmark, etc.) so they will not get this type of header. If you discover we have missed a vendor that should be trusted, please email the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.

Please help keep our systems safe, and when in doubt, contact the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.

Submitted by: Tyler Kron-Piatek, Instructional Designer, COLI

What to Do When Worry Controls Your Life

Everyone will experience a “case of the nerves” at some point, but when anxiety takes control, it can seriously affect both physical and mental health. Understanding uncontrolled anxiety is an important step to help you stay happy and healthy. Learn practical ways to help with anxiety by clicking here for the full article.

Women’s History Month

Women have made significant contributions to the field of mental health, from pioneering research to providing essential care and support. To recognize and celebrate these amazing women, we’re highlighting some of the most influential and inspiring female figures in the mental health industry. Discover trailblazers in mental health care by clicking here for the full article.

Mindfulness and Meditation Series – Body Scan

In this month’s webinar, Uprise Health’s mindfulness expert will walk you through a body scan exercise. Register for the webinar here.

Other Available Resources:

• Learn to manage your family’s changing needs. Click here to access, then sign in using Company Code: worklife, and click “Webinar”
• Want to change your life? Change your mindset using this guide.
• Daylight savings time begins March 12. In this sleep guide, learn how a good night’s sleep helps boost your mental health.

The March newsletter is also available in Spanish – click here to access.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

Join the Lifelong Learners Institute for a friendly discussion of the German epic The Nibelungenlied. Our spring 2023 meeting will be Tuesday, March 14th, in Old Main 219 at 1:30 p.m. Bring your lunch and join the conversation. No prior reading or knowledge of the book or topic is required.

Submitted by: Kristina Laun, Social Media & Website Administrator, CALLI

On Monday, February 27, 2023, students from Dr. Secil Ertorer’s SOC 341 Race and Ethnicity class visited the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center. Participants were given a tour and were told authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls that inspire visitors to recognize modern injustices that stem from slavery and take action toward an equitable society. The class was joined by Bennie D. Williams, assistant dean of students.

To learn more about the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, please visit here: https://www.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org/about/.

Submitted by: Bennie D. Williams, Assistant Dean of Students, ALANA Student Center

What would happen if sport management undergraduate and graduate students were given one month, one dollar, to see how much money and how much good they could create?

During the month of February, UG SPMT 420, SPMT 475 and GR MSA 560 classes participated in the Micro-Tyco Challenge.  Thirty-two students were placed into teams of six, given $1 of seed capital and challenged to take their ideas, operate a business and generate as much real wealth and awareness as possible in one month.

These students raised awareness and over $3,000.00 for the The Devin Waring Foundation.  #CheckOnYourFriends #YouMatter

Submitted by: Shawn O’Rourke, chair Sport Management Department

The Institute for Autism Research – summerMAX program is accepting applications until March 15 for Research Clinical Interns for the 2023 summerMAX program. The Research Clinical Intern plays a critical role in delivering the treatment programs to children with autism.

Responsibilities include facilitating intensive social skills groups, leading cooperative activities, instituting a structured behavioral program, collecting data, and data entry.

The summerMAX program serves children from seven to twelve years old. The 2023 program will be conducted from 8:50 a.m. – 4:10 p.m., Monday through Friday from June 26 – July 28 at the Institute for Autism Research on campus. A Research Clinician’s day starts an hour before the program day starts and and ends an hour after the program ends. Interns will be paid a stipend. In addition to the program dates noted above, there is also mandatory 40 hour training that all interns must attend the week of June 19 – June 23 (prior to the program’s implementation). We also expect Research Clinical Interns to help with clean-up for the program on July 31st and August 1st.

The focus of the summerMAX program is to teach social skills and provide multiple opportunities for the children to practice skills taught. Specifically we work on areas that are problems for children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders: social skills, interest expansion, interpretation of non-literal language (idioms), and face and affect recognition. Each day/session is divided up into treatment cycles (number of cycles dependent upon program). The first part of each cycle consists of instruction that includes role play and modeling. After this instruction, the children participate in a therapeutic activity in which they practice the skills they were just taught in a cooperative group exercise.

INTERN APPLICATION IS HERE:

https://redcap.canisius.edu/surveys/?s=UVQPgoGcZY
Internships are highly competitive and intensive, but are also a great opportunity to build clinical and research experience. Clinical Interns must be current undergraduate or graduate students or (if graduating in May 2023) enrolled in a graduate program for fall 2023.

Submitted by: Jonathan Rodgers, Associate Professor, Psychology, Institute for Autism Research

The Canisius hockey team will play host to Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara in the semifinals of the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Postseason this weekend at LECOM Harborcenter, starting Friday, March 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., and game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

Discounted tickets for Canisius Faculty and Staff are on sale now for $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance in person at the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center or by calling (716) 888-TIXX. Tickets are also available for purchase on game days at LECOM Harborcenter as well.

Join the Griffs for more playoff hockey this weekend downtown at LECOM Harborcenter!

Please note parking and traffic will be impacted this weekend due to other events at the KeyBank Center. For more information, click here.

Submitted by: Patrick Johnson, External Affairs Graduate Assistant, Athletics

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with the Office of Human Resources will host a DEI workshop titled, Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace, on Monday, March 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Grupp. The session will be presented by Mary Braun, employment manager.

This workshop will discuss how cisgender Canisius faculty and staff can best support their transgender colleagues, as well as provide some basic background information on gender identity. All faculty and staff are welcome to attend and learn how to foster a better work environment for all employees.  Please register for the workshop by clicking here.

In addition, Canisius will also complete the Campus Pride Index, which is a national benchmarking tool for colleges and universities to create safer, more inclusive campus communities.  As a member of  Campus Pride, the college will have access to a variety of educational and leadership opportunities for students, staff, and faculty.

For more information, please contact Fatima Rodriguez Johnson at rodrig23@canisius.edu

Submitted by: Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Dean, Office of Diversity & Inclusion

Are you a young professional looking for ways to connect with your colleagues and feel supported at work? If so, consider joining the Young Professionals Employee Resource Group!

The Human Resources department is organizing a Young Professionals Employee Resource Group to provide an opportunity that empowers our team members who are in the early stages of their careers. Through education, networking opportunities, and exposure to a wider range of our organization, we offer our young professionals a better way to grow. Our goal is to jumpstart career advancement and cultivate our leaders of tomorrow, today.

Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups that aim to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organizations they serve. Canisius will continue to expand our offerings of resource groups to employees in order to foster community and social connections.

Please e-mail Linda Walleshauser at walleshl@canisius.edu if you are interested in joining this group or if you would be willing to chair or co-chair the group with a colleague.

We look forward to working with our campus community to lead this initiative. 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

The Buffalo News recently featured a story on the college’s physician assistant studies program and its efforts to address a shortage of workers and diversity in Western New York healthcare programs. Click here to read the story.

Submitted by: College Communications

On Thursday afternoon, the Strategic Planning and Prioritization Committee held a forum in which we presented the draft of the strategic pillars and some bulleted objectives for each.  We also presented several cross-cutting themes that exist within each pillar that you won’t see explicitly referenced. These include Jesuit mission; Diversity, equity, and inclusion; Athletics as a vehicle for education, campus culture, engagement, enrollment; Sustainability–both environmental and institutional; Enrollment and retention; and Financial stability and resources (grants, fundraising, scholarships, etc.). We then asked attendees to provide feedback  on our pillars and objectives.

For anyone who could not attend, we wanted to provide the opportunity to contribute at this stage of the process by commenting on our draft pillars and some objectives.  We have created a survey to collect objectives from any member of the community.  The survey is available at https://forms.gle/EshFGCwwncg5ZYqX9.  Responses are completely anonymous, so the survey is limited to the Canisius community (please note that you are required be logged into your google drive through Canisius).  The survey will remain open through 5pm on Wednesday,  March 8^th.

Thank you for considering contributing.

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: Erica Sammarco, Associate Vice President and Assistant to the President

Liaison: Lauren Young, Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs

wellness-presentation-invitation-march-22-202325

As part of Stress Less Day on campus, Tara McPherson, a corporate wellness consultant at Lawley Benefits Group and Michelle Carbery, senior corporate wellness specialist at Independent Health, will present over lunch and refreshments for faculty and staff on Wednesday, March 22 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Regis Room.

Registration is limited to 80 participants and will be collected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please RSVP to Bethany Voorhees at voorheeb@canisius.edu by Wednesday, March 15, and provide any dietary restrictions if applicable.

Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

monthly-webinar-flyer_march

Get your finances in check with the help of webinars offered by TIAA for the month of March.  Take a look at the list for days, times and how to register to attend. Click here to get started!

Additionally, Ed Haspett, Canisius’ TIAA representative, will be on campus in the Library Conference Room on Wednesday, March 15. Appointments can be made by going to www.tiaa.org/schedulenow

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

Canisius President Steve Stoute earned a place on Business First’s “Power 250” list. The annual roll identifies and recognizes the region’s most influential leaders. President Stoute ranks at No. 80 among the honorees.

In November 2022, Business First named President Stoute to its “Power 100 Business Leaders of Color.”

Submitted by: College Communications

wellness-presentation-invitation-march-22-2023

As part of Stress Less Day on campus, Tara McPherson, a corporate wellness consultant at Lawley Benefits Group and Michelle Carbery, senior corporate wellness specialist at Independent Health, will present over lunch and refreshments for faculty and staff on Wednesday, March 22 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Regis Room.

Registration is limited to 80 participants and will be collected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please RSVP to Bethany Voorhees at voorheeb@canisius.edu by Wednesday, March 15, and provide any dietary restrictions if applicable.

Click here to add this event to your digital calendar.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

In his most recent column for “Connecting Writing Centers Across Borders,” a blog of WLN, A Journal of Writing Center Scholarship, Dr. Graham Stowe gives his thoughts on whether ChatGPT and other AI systems pose a threat to college writing instruction and considers whether these technologies could be used to help college writers.

Click here to read the blog.

Dr. Stowe is assistant professor English at Canisius and director of our college writing center.

Submitted by: Mick Cochrane, professor, English; director, Creative Writing

The Canisius men’s and women’s basketball teams will close out the 2022-23 regular season tomorrow afternoon (March 4) at the Koessler Athletic Center when the teams host a MAAC doubleheader on Senior Day for both programs. Saturday is also Family Day at the Koessler Athletic Center.

Prior to the start of both games tomorrow, the men’s and women’s basketball programs, along with the school’s cheer, dance and pep band, will honor their graduating students. The Senior Day activities will be begin at 12:35 p.m. for the women’s team and the spirit squads and at approximately 3:25 p.m., for the men’s basketball team.

The annual Family Day event will feature large inflatable bounce houses, an inflatable bowling game and corn hole. The Family Day event will be held in the Patrick Lee Gymnasium and is set to open to anyone in attendance at 12:30 p.m.

Faculty and staff tickets start at just $10, and can be purchased through the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center in advance, or on the day of the game.

Please join us and help the Griffs “Defend Main Street” in the final two home basketball games of the season!

Submitted by: Matt Reitnour, Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Athletics

The Canisius hockey team will play host to Army in the first round of the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Playoffs this weekend at LECOM Harborcenter, starting tonight (Friday, March 3) at 7:00 p.m.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., and game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 at 5 p.m.

Tickets for Canisius Faculty and Staff are on sale now for $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance in person at the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center or by phone by calling (716) 888-TIXX. Tickets are also available for purchase on game days at LECOM Harborcenter as well.

Join the Griffs for playoff hockey this weekend downtown at LECOM Harborcenter!

Submitted by: Matt Reitnour, Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Athletics

Canisius College President Steve Stoute was included among six Buffalo Niagara leaders invited by The Buffalo News to share their ideas on how to make everyone part of the region’s growth. The article appeared in the newspaper’s annual Prospectus, a special section that includes the views of area business and community leaders on progress made, opportunities ahead and the steps needed to ensure that more people are part of the community’s growth.

Click here to read the story.

Submitted by: College Communications

The Office of Alumni Engagement is looking for nominations for the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award and Distinguished Senior Awards. The deadline for each is Friday, March 3! Both nominations can be submitted online here. The awards will be presented the Friday before Commencement.

The Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes outstanding faculty members of Canisius College. To qualify a faculty member must:

• Be a full-time faculty member of the college
• Have served in that capacity at the college for at least three years
• Be distinguished for contributions to the academic world and teaching excellence

The Distinguished Senior Award shall be presented to seniors who have distinguished themselves through leadership roles and involvement with the college. To qualify a senior must:

• Be in good academic standing
• Have distinguished themselves through leadership roles and involvement with the college

Submitted by: Cecelia Gotham, director, Alumni Engagement

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Richard A. Bailey, PhD, Fitzpatrick Professor of History and Associate Professor of History, recently received notification that the National Endowment of Humanities (NEH) awarded a Digital Projects for the Public Prototype Grant to the proposed project “Lucy Terry Prince: A Window in African American Life in Early Rural New England.”

Bailey will join a team of renowned scholars including Joanne Pope Melish, Christy Clark-Pujara, Thomas Doughton, Kerri Greenidge, and Jared Hardesty as they work with artist David Cooper and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA) in the Old Deerfield Village Historic Landmark District in Massachusetts, to build an immersive and interactive website focusing on the lives and contributions of enslaved and free Africans in early rural New England.

The project will focus on Lucy Terry Prince, the first documented African American poet. Her life, from birth and captivity in Africa c.1726 to enslavement in Deerfield, MA, to her death as a free woman in Vermont in 1821, encompasses signal events in the lives of enslaved people. Lucy’s life illuminates important aspects of the Revolutionary era: a) how the slave trade and enslaved African American labor were instrumental in creating a thriving maritime economy in colonial New England; b) how desire for independence fueled by that economy gave rise to Revolutionary political principles that enslaved people seized upon to obtain their freedom; c) how African Americans struggled to enact those principles after the Revolution; and d) how, in this context, African Americans cultivated and expressed their essential humanity and self-determination.

Submitted by: Richard A. Bailey, associate professor, Department of History

Canisius College Giving Day – to be held on Wednesday, April 5 – is just a little over a month away!  Giving Day is a yearly tradition that showcases the power of community and collective generosity.  The Canisius community will come together for 24 hours to celebrate the spirit of the Blue & Gold and give back to support the next generation of Golden Griffins.

The Office of Annual Giving & Stewardship is looking for the Canisius community to sign up to be Giving Day Ambassadors.  Our ambassadors are a dedicated group of alumni and friends who help to organically spread the word about Giving Day – via social media, word of mouth and Email.

Registration to become an Ambassador is open now!  Please click here to sign up and help us to make this the biggest and best Giving Day Canisius has ever seen.

We are ONE Canisius creating countless leaders!

Submitted by: Erin Zack, senior director, Annual Giving and Stewardship

The Women & Gender Studies program invites you to the annual Lorch Awards celebration. The Dr. I. Joan Lorch Award for Women & Gender Studies honors a person who has made a significant contribution to women, and who exemplifies the pursuit of liberation and justice regarding sex, gender and sexuality.  The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 28 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge in the Student Center.  Happy hour drinks and appetizers will be served.  This event is free and open to the public.

This year we celebrate three outstanding award winners in the following categories:

(1) Canisius Student Award: Hawa Saleh, ’24 English, Creative Writing, and History.

(2) Canisius Colleague Award: Secil Erdogan Ertorer, PhD,  Associate Professor, Sociology.

(3) Community Award: Geo Hernandez, Community organizer and activist, Canisius alumna.

Congratulations to all! At this event, each of the award winners will be honored and offer a brief speech.  We welcome everyone to join us in feminist solidarity and camaraderie on Tuesday, March 28.

Submitted by: Tanya Loughead, professor, Department of Philosophy and Women & Gender Studies

The Canisius hockey team will play host to Army in the first round of the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Playoffs this weekend at LECOM Harborcenter, starting Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m.

Game two in the best-of-three series is set for Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., and game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 at 5 p.m.

Tickets for Canisius Faculty and Staff are on sale now for $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance in person at the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center or by phone by calling (716) 888-TIXX. Tickets are also available for purchase on game days at LECOM Harborcenter as well.

Submitted by: Matt Reitnour, Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Athletics

The Canisius men’s and women’s basketball teams will close out the 2022-23 regular season on Saturday afternoon (March 4) at the Koessler Athletic Center when the teams host a MAAC doubleheader on Senior Day for both programs. Saturday is also Family Day at the Koessler Athletic Center.

Prior to the start of both games on Saturday, both basketball programs, along with the school’s cheer, dance and pep band, will honor their graduating students. The Senior Day activities will be begin at 12:35 p.m. for the women’s team and the spirit squads and at approximately 3:25 p.m., for the men’s basketball team.

The annual Family Day event will feature large inflatable bounce houses, an inflatable bowling game and corn hole. The Family Day event will be held in the Patrick Lee Gymnasium and is set to open to anyone in attendance at 12:30 p.m.

Faculty and staff tickets start at just $10, and can be purchased through the Canisius Ticket Office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center in advance, or on the day of the game.

Submitted by: Matt Reitnour, Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Athletics

dos-nogales-poster23

If you are interested in working with migrants in accompaniment in a Jesuit setting, then you may want to consider participating in a one month internship/study abroad/service learning opportunity through the Spanish program and in partnership with the Kino Border Initiative.

Interested students must have intermediate levels of Spanish to participate.

Please contact RichardReitsma, PhD, at reitsmar@canisius.edu with any questions.

Submitted by: Dr. Richard D. Reitsma, Faculty Associate Dean Inclusion and Engagement, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, & Cultures

ceep-luce-lincoln

Please join the Borders & Migrations Initiative for an interactive discussion with PhilippinX videographer Luce Lincoln on Wednesday, March 8 at 12:00 noon in the library.

Luce is a media artist, educator and activist who produces films and videos that empower immigrant and queer communities. They will share video work and pedagogical strategies for collaborative media-making. This talk is geared towards students, artists, storytellers, educators and organizers interested in working across boundaries.

Luce’s art practice explores ideas of queer and trans justice, non-binary embodiment, Philipinx history and identity and intersectional solidarity. Luce holds a BA in film and video from Antioch College and an MFA in film and media arts from Temple University.

Please contact Dr. Jean Gregorek:gregorej@canisius.edu

Submitted by: Dr. Richard D. Reitsma, Faculty Associate Dean Inclusion and Engagement, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, & Cultures

The Career Development Office in Horan O’Donnell 014 is still accepting donations of clean, gently used professional clothing for our free Griffs Dress for Success pop-up shop on March 8.

Please feel free to drop off clothing in the office or use the box outside of Career Development.  Thank you for your assistance!

Submitted by: Eileen Abbatoy, Director, Career Development, Griff Center for Student Success

Suit Up! will be held Sunday March 7 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at JC Penney in the Boulevard Mall. There will be up to a 50% discount on all professional apparel.  Stop by the career development table in the store to get your discount code!

Submitted by: Eileen Abbatoy, Director, Career Development, Griff Center for Student Success

save-the-date-1

This Sunday, March 5, from 1:00 -3:00 p.m., the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority will host Stitch Buffalo, a textile art center committed to empowering refugee and immigrant women by selling their handcrafted goods. The event is open to the entire Canisius community, including friends and family.

Stitch Buffalo will present a bit about their organization, facilitate a craft, and have a refugee women’s workshop shop. The Phi Sigma Sigma sorority is devoted to philanthropy and getting involved in the local Buffalo community. This organization has touched their hearts with all of the great work they do. The event will be in Science Hall Commons, and their goods range from $15-20. We can’t wait to see you there!

Submitted by: Genevieve Fontana, Phi Sigma Sigma Community Impact Chair

Its important that as we create course content or administrative documents, we always bear in mind accessibility, or supporting neurodiversity and inclusivity regardless of physical impairments.

Screen Reader Software

Many computer and internet users have some form of visual or motor impairment which means they access digital resources and documents using tools other than a mouse or video display. A common assistive technology is a screen reader. Screen readers use underlying code on a web page, .docx file, and other digital media to read out loud text, with some formatting.

if you would like to try out screen readers, that’s easy: Narrator is already installed on Windows, and VoiceOver on Mac computers. NVDA is also available for free, with a more complex toolset. These are sophisticated tools that can seem daunting, but bear in mind that users become just as adept, quick and efficient at using them as you may use a mouse and visual navigation. However, as with other elements of professional communication, it is our responsibility to make certain our digital text is easy to access and understand for those using screen readers.

List Properly!

For example, screen readers can note bullets and numbers in a list, along with the contents of each list item, so that users can understand lists as we intend them when we typed them in. But if we skip the bullet or numbered list tool in, say, Microsoft Word, Google Docs or D2L, and instead use something like dashes (-, or hyphens), screen readers skip over them, which leads users to potentially miss the fact that we are itemizing things in a list. At times it doesn’t matter; they understand our list by the context of our text, whether its in a bulleted list or a simpler sentence with a lot of commas. But if we opt to use a list structure, its probably for a reason, and we want to ensure all who engage with our text are able to understand it.

This short clip shows how a popular screen reader tool, NVDA, handles lists, both formatted properly with text editor tools, and formatted with dashes instead.

So when you are composing text with an itemized list, use the text editor’s list tool, so that the proper code is established behind the scenes and screen readers for the visually impaired can specifically identify the itemized list as such.

List tools can seem a bit fussy and uncooperative at times, but if you use them a lot they can save you time, since you can efficiently reformat lists as you revise your text.

The second of three Strategic Planning and Prioritization Committee (SPPC) Forums will take place Thursday, March 2 from 3:30-5:00 pm in the Science Hall Commons. Open to all members of the Canisius College community, this forum will review the proposed pillars and some underlying objectives developed from input gathered at the first forum, the campus survey, and other data sources from our community. Those individuals that are not able to attend the in-person forum are encouraged to complete a survey that will be available following the forum.

The final forum is scheduled for Monday, April 3 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the Regis Room. These forums will provide the opportunity to fine tune the strategic plan and review survey results.

Please consider joining us for these events and be a part of the strategic planning process.

Submitted by: Amy Beiter, curriculum and student support project associate, Academic Affairs

The Bias Resource and Response Team (BRRT) welcomes the campus community to a Canisius Conversations event on Tuesday, February 28 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. Canisius Conversations is an opportunity to bring the community together to discuss topics and issues related to inclusion.

The goal of the upcoming Conversations event, titled “Otherness & Celebrity Influences,” is to discuss the ways otherness is constructed and the role celebrities play in reinforcing this stigma. The Conversation will begin with a short reflection by Shyam Sriram, PhD, assistant professor of political science, followed by small group discussions and sharing. If you are interested in serving as a facilitator at the event, please sign up here.

The Canisius Conversations event promotes the principles of Ignatian Conversation: listen attentively, seek the truth in what others say, disagree humbly, respectfully and thoughtfully and allow the conversation the time it needs.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Faculty members are encouraged to bring their classes, and offices and departments are welcome to attend as a group.

For additional information, please contact Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, associate dean for diversity and inclusion, at Ext. 2118 or rodrig23@canisius.edu.

Convened in spring 2020 by the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, the BRRT is a 16-member college committee comprised of faculty, staff and students. The BRRT is devoted to campus-wide education and the promotion of best practices in addressing incidents and practices involving institutional and individual violations of college policies and values in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We hope you will join the Conversation on February 28!

Submitted by: The Bias Resource and Response Team (BRRT)

There are just two days left of the Go Move Challenge! It’s still not too late to join and back-track your minutes – register for the challenge here.  Please see below for the full details.

For those who have already been participating, please make sure to record all your active minutes before the end of the day on Tuesday!

Go Move Challenge Details:

Calling all faculty and staff at Canisius College to join other Jesuit institutions in the 11th annual Go Move Challenge by recording your minutes of intentional physical activity that gets the heart pumping to determine which Jesuit institution is the most active. The challenge runs from February 1 – February 28, so make sure to get registered so you can begin tracking your minutes right away. Stay tuned to the Dome for fitness suggestions throughout the month of February to help you stay motivated!

Awards go to the university that tracks the most minutes, the university that averages the highest number of minutes per participant, and the university with the highest average number of minutes per region.

Canisius College faculty and staff also have a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Canisius Bookstore. If faculty and staff meet the goal of at least 600 minutes for the month of February with at least 150 minutes per week of intentional, heart-pumping exercise, their name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win. According to the American Heart Association, it is recommended that you fit in at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity every week.

HOW TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE

• Register here, even if you participated last year
• Click the “LOG IN / REGISTER” button on the top menu bar
• In the “REGISTER” box, enter your university email address and other required information, including your university
• In the “Division/College” box, click on your division/college (ie School of Law, School of Ed, Student Life, Provost Office…) from the drop down. If you don’t see your Division/College, choose “Other” and enter the name of yours
• Click the “SUBMIT” button when finished
• You will receive a confirmation email with your user email and password

HOW TO LOG MINUTES

• Starting February 1, visit org
• Click the “LOG IN / REGISTER” button on the top menu bar
• In the “LOG IN” box, enter your email address and password
• In the “LOG MY WORKOUT” box, select the intensity of your workout and description and enter the number of minutes, and select a single date or date range for logging multiple days
• Click the “LOG IT” button when finished
• Users can delete minutes that were entered in error

CHALLENGE RULES AND TIPS

• Challenge runs from February 1 – 28. Minutes will not be accepted after challenge ends.
• Get inspired and motivated by creating a team of up to 4 (including yourself) to compete against other teams at your university to see which one averages the most number of minutes!
• Use the Go Move Challenge social media sites to share photos, tag photos #GoMoveChallenge
• Open the mobile-friendly challenge website from your phone’s browser to enter minutes on the go!
• Read the challenge FAQ at GoMoveChallenge.org/FAQ
• Learn more by watching the video at https://youtu.be/xk8YPf3pgto.

If you have any questions, please contact Bethany Voorhees, executive associate to the president, at voorheeb@canisius.edu or 716-888-2100 or Lynn Incardona, HR Associate at incardo1@canisius.edu or 716-888-2246.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

The Book Club for Canisius Adult Lifelong Learners’ Institute (CALLI) will hold its next meeting Tuesday, March 14, in OM 219, at 1:30 p.m.

We will be looking at the medieval German saga “The Nibelungenlied.” Bring your lunch and join the discussion. No prior academic knowledge of the book or the era is required. The CALLI Book Club meets once a semester and is free and open to the public. Won’t you join us?

Submitted by: Kristina Laun, Social Media & Website Administrator, CALLI

As a reminder, the website is now live for purchasing tickets for the basket raffle being held to raise money to support the recovery of Leticia Banks.

Leticia remains hospitalized as her physicians continue monitoring her progress and the long road to recovery. Leticia still relies on significant medical care and interventions. However, recently a few of Leticia’s friends were able to visit with her and her family at the hospital. This visitation opportunity was a notable marker on her recuperation journey.

This website provides a vehicle for individuals who want to offer financial support to Leticia and her family as they embark on a significant rehabilitation process. If you would like to donate funds to this effort but do not wish to participate in the basket raffle, there is an option on the website to donate.

Individuals who want to purchase raffle tickets can place their orders online, pick up their tickets, and deposit them in the raffle pools for the baskets they are interested in winning. Once purchased, your raffle tickets can be picked up in OM-102 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Winners will be drawn on March 1; ticket purchases will be closed at noon on February 28.

Thank you all for considering supporting Leticia and her family through this initiative.

Submitted by: Harold Fields, EdD, vice president, Student Affairs

Flashing back this Friday morning to one year ago, when the Board of Trustees named Steve Stoute the 25th president of Canisius College. President Stoute’s inaugural year was marked by a call for the campus community to RISE:

✔ Renew its commitment to justice;
✔ Inspire a new generation of leaders;
✔ Serve all we encounter with love; and
✔ Empower others to do the same.

We can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

Submitted by: College Communications

Nearly one year after the Board of Trustees appointed Steve Stoute as its next leader, The Buffalo News published an in-depth story about Canisius College’s 25th president in its February 23 edition. The article highlights President Stoute’s efforts to improve access, accessibility and attainment at Canisius.

Click here to read the story.

Submitted by: College Communications

Brian Sepe, a Canisius alumnus and instructional coach, hosted a workshop on classroom management for students in the college’s Western New York Teacher Residency (WNYTR) program, as well as current student teachers, on February 16. 

Using his own teaching, research and consulting experiences as a guide, Sepe led participants through exercises to identify their core values and how these can be translated into everyday classroom practices. Participants were asked to share vision statements for their ideal learning environment and brainstorm the classroom norms that would help them connect with their students most effectively, encouraging a “power with” instead of a “power over” mindset. 

Beyond this workshop, Sepe partners with mentor teachers in local school districts to provide leadership and coaching support as WNYTR students complete their one-year residency. You can learn more about Sepe and his work as an instructional coach by visiting his website. 

This event is part of a monthly series of professional development opportunities for WNYTR students. The next workshop, which will cover trauma-informed care, is scheduled for Monday, March 13. 

Submitted by: Christyn Sullivan, Graduate Assistant, Teacher Education and Leadership

wellness-presentation-invitation-march-22-2023

As part of Stress Less Day on campus, Tara McPherson, a corporate wellness consultant at Lawley Benefits Group and Michelle Carbery, senior corporate wellness specialist at Independent Health, will present over lunch and refreshments for faculty and staff on Wednesday, March 22 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Regis Room.

Registration is limited to 80 participants and will be collected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please RSVP to Bethany Voorhees at voorheeb@canisius.edu by Wednesday, March 15, and provide any dietary restrictions if applicable.

Submitted by: Bethany Voorhees, executive associate, President’s Office

As a reminder, the website is now live for purchasing tickets for the basket raffle being held to raise money to support the recovery of Leticia Banks.

Leticia remains hospitalized as her physicians continue monitoring her progress and the long road to recovery. Leticia still relies on significant medical care and interventions. However, recently a few of Leticia’s friends were able to visit with her and her family at the hospital. This visitation opportunity was a notable marker on her recuperation journey.

This website provides a vehicle for individuals who want to offer financial support to Leticia and her family as they embark on a significant rehabilitation process. If you would like to donate funds to this effort but do not wish to participate in the basket raffle, there is an option on the website to donate.

Individuals who want to purchase raffle tickets can place their orders online, pick up their tickets, and deposit them in the raffle pools for the baskets they are interested in winning. Once purchased, your raffle tickets can be picked up in OM-102 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Winners will be drawn on March 1; ticket purchases will be closed at noon on February 28.

Thank you all for considering supporting Leticia and her family through this initiative.

Submitted by: Harold Fields, EdD, vice president, Student Affairs