Pictured (l-r): Sandy Miller, Jon Herdlein, director of chemical plant operations, Honeywell; Kristina Marohn, chemistry laboratory coordinator, Canisius; Robert Stewart ’11, PhD, R&D Manager, Honeywell; Phillip Sheridan, PhD, chair/professor of Physical Chemistry, Canisius.
On Wednesday, October 29, representatives from Honeywell Inc. visited Canisius to present Dr. Phil Sheridan and Kristina Marohn with a check for $10,000 to sponsor the Chemistry Olympiad.
The funds will be used to offset costs associated with students’ preparation and participation in the Western New York Chapter of the International Chemistry Olympiad. The Chemistry Olympiad is a local, national and international competition designed to stimulate and promote achievement in high school chemistry. It is sponsored nationally by the American Chemical Society and hosted locally by Canisius University.
Honeywell’s Buffalo Research Lab has supported the Western New York Chapter of the International Chemistry Olympiad for more than 20 years and has donated an estimated $260,000 in support of this initiative since 2002.
Are you a first-generation student, faculty or staff? We want to hear from you!
In preparation for our upcoming First-Generation Celebration, we are gathering stories and reflections from our first-generation students, faculty and staff.
If you identify as a first-generation member of our community, we invite you to share your voice by completing the short survey linked below. Your experiences and perspectives will help us highlight and celebrate the strength, resilience and accomplishments of first-generation individuals across our campus.
Christina Perazio, PhD, assistant professor in the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (ABEC) and Anthrozoology programs at Canisius University, recently attended the Humpback Whale World Congress, an international gathering dedicated to whale and ocean conservation.
Dr. Perazio traveled with Canisius alumna Gina Maduri ’24 (ABEC) to Tadoussac, Quebec, where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St. Lawrence River, to join scientists, policy makers, conservation leaders, science communicators, educators, artists, and students for five days of learning, collaboration, problem-solving — and, of course, whale watching.
At the conference, Dr. Perazio delivered a presentation highlighting her 12 years of research on humpback whales in the Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia, conducted in partnership with the nonprofit Macuáticos Colombia. Her talk explored how scientific research can be transformed into community education and engagement, strengthening local conservation efforts and inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards.
The Humpback Whale World Congress unites experts and advocates under a shared mission: protecting whales and the marine ecosystems they depend on. Through collaboration across disciplines — from policy and research to art and education — participants aim to foster global action for ocean conservation.
Submitted by: Richard Bailey, PhD, associate dean, School of Arts & Social Sciences
Students from the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation (ABEC) and Anthrozoology programs at Canisius University visited the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY, on October 25. The visit was led by Chirantana Mathkari, PhD, assistant professor of ABEC and anthrozoology, and Joshua Russell, PhD, associate dean of the School of Natural Sciences and professor of ABEC and anthrozoology.
Located on 275 acres, Farm Sanctuary is home to nearly 400 rescued farm animals including cows, pigs, sheep, and turkeys, and is dedicated to rescue, education and advocacy that advance animal welfare, environmental sustainability and social justice through its One Wellbeing philosophy.
During the visit, students toured the sanctuary’s barns and learned about the daily care, management and rescue histories of the animals. They also observed the compassionate relationships between the animals and staff, as well as the animals’ natural behaviors and social interactions. Many students had the opportunity to engage directly with the animals, receiving gentle nudges, neck rubs and even purr-like sounds of affection from cows, pigs and sheep.
Canisius recently marked the close of another successful growing season at the East/West Community Garden, a partnership between the university and its surrounding community.
Established in 2018, the garden provides neighborhood residents with the opportunity to grow fresh, nutritious food and serves as a welcoming green space for relaxation and gatherings that bring together both campus and neighborhood communities.
In addition to its garden plots, the East/West Community Garden features natural growth areas filled with wildflowers, trees and native plants, creating an urban refuge for pollinators and other wildlife.
The garden includes 14 rectangular and four smaller raised beds, all of which were actively used this year—with a wait list already forming for next season.
Groundwork Buffalo 2025 East West Garden
For the past two years, half of the beds have been maintained by individual community members, while the remaining beds have been cultivated by Groundwork Buffalo, an organization that employs local youth to grow produce donated to the community.
Sustaining activity at the garden has relied heavily on the work of dedicated volunteers, including Canisius faculty, staff and students, as well as neighborhood residents. Their ongoing efforts, coupled with growing recognition of the garden’s impact, have led to several important milestones this year.
Thanks to the support of Bridget Niland, PhD, vice president for academic affairs, and the quick work of Joe Snodgrass and the facilities team, a new water line was extended from the Delavan Townhouses to a spigot at the garden. Since the garden’s inception, limited water access had been one of its greatest challenges. This new permanent source ensures the sustainability of gardening for years to come.
Groundwork Buffalo 2025 East West Garden
Additionally, Dr. Daniel Haeusser, associate professor of biology, was awarded a Kelly Fellowship to expand garden infrastructure, enhance programming and foster deeper community involvement. These investments underscore Canisius University’s commitment to social justice, service to others and sustainability. Partnerships such as the one with Groundwork Buffalo continue to strengthen the university’s connection to the broader Buffalo community.
Announcements of spring and fall 2026 events will be shared in the coming months, including collaborations with Arts Canisius and other campus and local groups.
The East/West Community Garden is located at 1032 Lafayette Avenue. Those interested in participating in upcoming activities or exploring partnership opportunities are encouraged to contact Dr. Katie Costanzo (costanz4@canisius.edu) or Dr. Daniel Haeusser (haeussed@canisius.edu).
Submitted by: Richard Bailey, associate dean, School of Arts & Social Sciences
