Canisius University announced today that it has appointed Amy B. Wilson, PhD, and Kathleen Kinney to key leadership roles within the School of Education & Leadership Studies, further strengthening the university’s position as a regional leader in educator preparation and higher education leadership development.
These appointments advance two of the university’s most successful graduate programs, each known for strong regional partnerships, immersive field-based learning and 100% job placement rates.
Amy Wilson brings more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education administration, graduate program coordination and faculty development. She previously served as chair and coordinator of Higher Education Administration & Adult Education at SUNY Buffalo State University, where she led curriculum innovation, program revision, faculty assignments, and recruitment across multiple master’s and certificate programs.
Kathleen Kinney joins Canisius with more than 20 years of experience in educator preparation, K–12 partnerships and workforce development. Most recently, she served as Advisor & Clinical Experience Coach at Daemen University. Prior to that, she co led a $9 million educator workforce development portfolio as program manager for the University at Buffalo Teacher Residency Program, overseeing partnerships across six districts, three charter schools and 22 public schools.
Kinney brings extensive experience in curriculum alignment, clinical supervision, district partnership development, and management of more than $16 million in federal, state, foundation, and private investments supporting educator recruitment, preparation and retention.
The Buffalo News reported on Canisus University’s newly launched student success initiative, Canisius Computes. The July 21 article details the 1:1 computing program, which equips incoming students with a MacBook Air and ensures access to reliable technology from day one. Read the full story here.
Canisius University is making a significant investment in the future of legal education by expanding the reach of its nationally respected Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Program. The university has appointed former federal attorney and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Special Counsel Christopher “Chris” Moellering, JD, as Assistant Vice President for Legal and Industry-aligned Pathways. The appointment coincides with a new articulation agreement between Canisius and Erie 1 BOCES that creates a college-credit pathway for aspiring legal professionals, and the recent announcement that the university will serve as the Erie County host site for the 2026 New York Youth Law Academy.
Together, these initiatives strengthen a pipeline that introduces students to legal careers in high school, supports them through undergraduate study, and prepares them for success in law school and the legal profession.
Moellering brings nearly two decades of legal experience across a range of legal fields to his role as Assistant Vice President for Legal and Industry-aligned Pathways. He served most recently as Special Counsel to the Deputy Principal Legal Advisor at DHS, advising on legal, regulatory, and national security matters across 24 field locations and in support of more than 1,500 DHS attorneys nationwide. He previously directed the Domestic Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic at the University at Buffalo School of Law and served as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, where he handled more than 2,000 misdemeanor and felony cases.
Moellering holds a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, a master of science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University.
In his new role, Moellering advises students exploring legal careers, teaches law-related coursework, and coordinates with the university’s Mock Trial program. He also serves as a key liaison to the Desmond Law Society, a network of more than 1,000 Canisius University alumni who are practicing, presiding, or retired attorneys and judges across Western New York and 35 states. Named for the Hon. Charles S. Desmond ’17, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, the Society mentors current students and connects Canisius with the broader legal community.
Click here to learn more about the new initiatives helping to expand the reach of the Raichle Pre-Law Program.
Canisius University has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s (PTK) 2026 Transfer Honor Roll, marking the third consecutive year it has earned recognition. The honor was awarded to 275 colleges and universities nationwide that demonstrated exceptional success in creating pathways that help community college students complete their bachelor’s degrees. The ranking positions Canisius among the nation’s most transfer‑friendly institutions.
The Transfer Honor Roll is one of the most comprehensive evaluations of transfer excellence in the country. Rather than measuring a single metric, PTK evaluates how well institutions support transfer students from admission through graduation, providing a national benchmark for colleges committed to transfer success. Institutions are assessed across five areas shown to influence transfer student success: outcomes, credit mobility and degree applicability, financial support, recruitment and admissions practices, and campus engagement and support.
On July 23, the Canisius University Physician Assistant Studies Program welcomed local high school students to campus for the annual “Empowering & Mentoring in Medicine” Pathways Program in partnership with Erie-Niagara AHEC. Throughout the day, PA students shared their own unique journeys into healthcare, introduced participants to the physician assistant profession, and led hands-on clinical activities designed to spark curiosity and confidence. The program reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding access to healthcare careers by fostering mentorship, creating a sense of belonging, and helping the next generation of healthcare professionals envision themselves in medicine.
