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Campus Candids

The Student Programming Board (SPB) welcomed back old and new students, last Thursday, September 3, when it partnered with U.S.A.’s Student Interests Committee to host the first “Thursdays in the Quad” of the semester!  

Mom Said No, a local Western New York band, performed while students enjoyed the warm weather, food trucks and received free water bottles. 

Submitted by: College Communications

Canisius in the News

Erik Brady, a 1976 graduate of Canisius College, chronicled the story of Rev. Henry Behrens, one of the college’s founding fathers, in the September 5 edition of The Buffalo News.  The article, written to commemorate the college’s sesquicentennial, tells how Father Behrens arrived in Buffalo in 1872 as the second president of Canisius.

To read the full article about Father Behren’s impact while at Canisius, click here

WalletHub featured Economics and Finance Professor Steven Gattuso in a recent piece about Capital One balance transfer credit cards. To read his recent contribution, click here

Canisius athletic director, Bill Maher, spoke with The Buffalo News about the college’s four-phase resocialization plan to incorporate its athletes into activities as they return to campus. Phase one is set to begin in the next two weeks with September 14 as a target date for starting organized team activities. Click here to read the full article. 

Submitted by: College Communications

Rev. Mattimore Appointed Chief Mission and Ministry Officer

I am pleased to announce a reorganization of the college’s mission and identity, campus ministry and community outreach activities with the creation of the Office of Mission & Ministry and the appointment of Rev. John J. Mattimore, SJ, as Chief Mission & Ministry Officer for Canisius College.

In this new role, Father Mattimore will provide leadership and day-to-day management for the college’s mission as a Catholic, Jesuit institution by overseeing the development of mission-related programs, spiritual development and faith formation programs, and the college’s outreach activities. He will be responsible for the coordination of activities and initiatives among the college’s Campus Ministry and Mission & Identity offices and the New Buffalo Institute (NBI).  We have discovered that coordination and close collaboration among those three offices is critical.

Father Mattimore’s direct reports will be Kaitlyn Buehlmann (Campus Ministry), Sarah Signorino (Mission & Identity) and Mary Rockwell (NBI).  Rev. Patrick J. Lynch, S.J. will continue to assist with Mission & Identity initiatives in addition to other assignments from the president. 

This appointment does not represent an increase in personnel, as Father Mattimore has already been working in both Campus Ministry and the New Buffalo Institute since he arrived at the college in January 2020. 

Father Mattimore will report directly to me, but he, Sarah Signorino and Mary Rockwell will continue to meet with the Academic Affairs staff to insure that their activities further the academic goals of the college. He and Kaitlyn Buehlmann will also continue to meet with the Student Affairs staff.

A native of Western New York, Father Mattimore attended Canisius High School and then joined the Jesuit order.  He holds masters degrees in divinity and in theology from Regis College – University of Toronto and a master’s degree of English education from Teachers College at Columbia University. 

In his previous work in Western New York, Father Mattimore served as chaplain to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, the Federal Detention Center in Batavia and Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center.  He also has extensive experience as a teacher and administrator of Jesuit secondary schools in Baltimore, Batavia, Buffalo, Micronesia and New York City.

Please join me in wishing Fr. Jack the best in his new responsibilities.

Submitted by: John J. Hurley, president, Canisius College

Welcome New Faculty!

Join us in welcoming our new faculty members in the departments of Mathematics, Digital Media Arts, Animal Behavior, Ecology & Conservation and Physician Assistant Studies programs:Fox_Nathan_small.jpgNathan Fox, PhD

Nathan Fox, PhD, joins Canisius as an assistant professor of mathematics & statistics teaching calculus for the non-sciences and logic, set theory & proofs this fall. Dr. Fox received his PhD in mathematics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He also graduated from the University of Minnesota with bachelor of science degree in both mathematics and computer science.

Dr. Fox’s research interests lie at the intersection of combinatorics, number theory and theoretical computer science. Much of his work relates to using computational tools to explore patterns in sequences of integers. He also enjoys games, both studying them with mathematics and playing them. Dr. Fox has broad teaching experience and interests across the mathematics curriculum.

His primary goal is for students to take ownership of their learning, underpinned by a philosophy that the best way to learn something is to teach it. This results in a great deal of collaboration in the classroom. When he is not on campus, you can commonly find Dr. Fox riding his bicycle around town.Galasso_Sarah_small.jpg

Sarah Galasso, MFA

Sarah Galasso, MFA, joins Canisius as associate professor of digital media arts teaching Intro to Digital Media, Character Design and Game Development this fall. Dr. Galasso received her master of fine arts degree in computer animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She also earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting with a minor in art history from Buffalo State.

Dr. Galasso began her career in 2000, as the first-ever, full-time animator at Fisher-Price Inc. Within her first few months at the company she received the Champion Performer Award from the president of Fisher-Price for her development of innovative techniques that helped to advance the design processes and workflow used at the company. After six years with the company, she launched her own animation studio, August Productions, where she has produced animations for clients such as Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master Toys and the Home Shopping Network. Dr. Galasso has also earned three Telly Awards, as well as the 2014 Award of Excellence from the Videographer Awards, for her role as executive animator on the nationally aired ABC-TV documentary Building a Basilica. Sarah has 12 years of full-time teaching experience and 20 years of professional experience in all aspects of animation production.

Snecker_Jennifer_small.jpgJennifer Snekser, PhD

Jennifer Snekser, PhD, joins Canisius as an assistant professor of animal Behavior, ecology and conservation teaching Introductory Biology, Research Methods in Animal Behavior, and Sex, Evolution, & Behavior courses this fall. She received her bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in psychology from Canisius, a master of science degree in biology from St. Joseph’s University and her PhD in integrative biology from Lehigh University.

Dr. Snekser’s courses focus on understanding the process of science that leads to our understanding of biology and relies heavily on evaluating primary literature. She particularly loves teaching introductory courses and any course focused on biological diversity. Dr. Snekser’s research interests lie in understanding different aspects of social behavior as related to ecology and evolution, focusing on both ultimate and proximate reasons for behavioral expression. She utilizes the diversity in fishes to explore a variety of behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, sexual behavior, and shoalmate choice. Fish live all over the world and Dr. Snekser loves traveling with her students to explore reefs, streams and desert springs. She can also spend hours watching the fish that live within her laboratory. Dr. Snekser, her collaborators and students regularly present their work at scientific meetings and publish in behavior and conservation journals.

nicolescovazzocanisius.jpgNicole Scovazzo, EdD, MPAS, PA-C

Nicole Scovazzo, EdD, joins Canisius as a clinical assistant professor and clinical medical coordinator in the Physician Assistant Studies program. She is an experienced physician assistant with a primary focus in general and bariatric surgery. After completing her bachelor of science and master of science degrees in physician assistant studies, she elected to continue her education at D’Youville College where she earned her doctorate in health administration. In addition to Dr. Scovazzo’s clinical work, she has served as an adjunct lecturer and clinical preceptor, as well as directed the bariatric service line for Erie County Medical Center. Her passion for education became evident very early on in her experience with her students. Dr. Scovazzo is an active member of many professional societies. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and attending group fitness classes.

Submitted by: Emily McGorry, executive assistant, Academic Affairs

U.S. Elections: Suffragists, Mothers and Candidates

The Argentine Magazine Marcha (March in English) recently featured an article written in Spanish by Canisius Professor M. Fernanda Astiz, PhD, from the School of Education and Human Services’ Teacher Education Department, and Associate Professor Paola Fajardo-Heyward, PhD, from the Department of Political Science. The article, titled “U.S. Elections: Suffragists, Mothers and Candidates,” uses an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the role that women movements have had, historically and currently, in pressuring political agendas, such as in the case of the nomination of Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential ticket. 

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Submitted by: M. Fernanda Astiz, PhD, professor, School of Education and Human Services