I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Rech Rockwell, PhD, as the director for the New Buffalo Institute at Canisius College. This is a new position for the college thanks to the generosity of four local funders, which have fully funded the New Buffalo Institute this year. As director, Mary will be tasked with working with faculty, staff and community partners to align the outreach activities of the college toward the areas of focus developed for the Institute. The Institute seeks to build upon new developments in the region and address the needs, persistent challenges and injustices in our community, with a particular emphasis on the East Side of Buffalo.
Mary is a veteran leader in the Buffalo community with extensive experience in school leadership, partnership development, immersive learning and fundraising. Most recently she served as the executive director of the WNY Planned Giving Consortium and Leave a Legacy. Prior to that, she served in various leadership roles at Nichols School. Mary holds a BA in English from Skidmore College and a PhD in American History from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
She began work at Canisius on Monday, and I know you will join me if offering her a warm welcome. I am grateful to the members of the search committee and the faculty and staff who helped bring this important search to a successful conclusion.
Submitted by: John J. Hurley, president, Canisius College
