On Jan. 20, communities across the nation will honor the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Traditionally, this day is observed as a day of service, celebrating Dr. King’s enduring commitment to others. Although classes will not be held that day, we would like to encourage you to participate in local programs and events commemorating the occasion. Additionally, the 60th Presidential Inauguration will take place in Washington, D.C., and will be available on major news outlets.
Sunday, Jan. 19: City of Buffalo Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, 6:00 p.m.FREE
Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
Monday, Jan. 20: WNY 5th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, 7:30 a.m. doors open, 8:00 a.m. rally.
Bethel AME Church, 1525 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209. The day of service will begin with coffee and grab-and-go breakfast followed by community service opportunities. Please register here.
Service sites are still available:
Agape AME Church, 224 Northland Ave.
Cornerstone of Wisdom Ministries, 191 Winslow Ave.
Flex Squad, Bethel AME Church, 1525 Michigan St.
Greater Faith Temple COGIC, 480 Hickory St.
Living Swell Foundation, 59 Ericson St.
St. Mark Full Gospel Church, 446 Goodyear Ave.
Trinidad Neighborhood Association Block Club, 40-22 Trinidad Place
Monday, Jan. 20, Music & Spoken Word: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 5:00 p.m.
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, FREE
Wednesday, Jan. 29, Freedom Mic sponsored by USA Diversity Committee
Location and time to be announced
Freedom Mic will provide a platform for students to express their thoughts about the inauguration while incorporating an element of hope and unity in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.
Canisius University is the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. The grant will be directed to the physician assistant (PA) studies program to support its goal to boost diversity in the allied health workforce across Western New York by providing scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds. This is the fifth grant awarded to the PA studies program from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in recent years, totaling nearly $2.2 million.
“This continued support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is transformative for our PA Studies program and our mission to build a more diverse health care workforce in Western New York,” says Dr. Aimee Larson, director of Canisius University’s PA studies program. “This grant will help remove financial barriers for talented students from underrepresented backgrounds, enabling them to pursue careers as physician assistants and ultimately provide culturally competent care to our region’s most vulnerable populations.”
For generations, Bridget Niland’s family has been part of the Canisius University story. This week, she began her own chapter as Niland stepped into the role of vice president for academic affairs. Niland brings extensive academic experience, an inspiring vision and deep ties to the community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Niland to this crucial leadership role at Canisius University,” says President Steve Stoute. “Her proven track record in higher education combined with her lifelong connection to the Western New York community – and ties to Canisius – make her uniquely qualified to help shape our academic future.”
As vice president for academic affairs, Niland will advance the university’s strategic agenda and foster interdisciplinary collaboration while upholding Canisius University’s rigorous academic standards. Her responsibilities include oversight of curriculum development, faculty affairs and strategic academic initiatives.
“I am truly honored and humbled to join the Canisius community and the esteemed academic affairs unit,” Niland says. “My father, uncles and many relatives earned their degrees at Canisius. Like so many Western New York families, Canisius and the Jesuit higher education model changed the trajectory of our lives.”
Niland comes to Canisius with more than 20 years of higher education experience. She most recently served as dean of the College of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management at Niagara University. During her tenure, Niland championed the growth of these academic disciplines, expanded student career opportunities, and elevated the overall student experience.
“Canisius has truly been the touchstone for higher education in Western New York,” Niland adds. “It is not just the place where leaders are made, but where lives have been changed. Buffalo is at its best when Canisius is thriving. President Stoute and the talented Canisius community have crafted an inclusive strategy to navigate the challenges of the 21st century and write the next chapter of success for this storied institution and its faculty, staff and graduates.”
Associate Professor Richard Reitsma recently published an article examining queer narratives and national identity in the peer-reviewed Polish Journal for American Studies. His work, titled “A Queer Romance, Queering the National Romance: LatinX Narratives of Belonging from ‘The Squatter and the Don’ to ‘Red, White, and Royal Blue” marks another significant contribution by Reitsma to the field.
His publication also comes at the end of an exceptionally busy fall semester for Reitsma, who maintained a hectic schedule of international speaking engagements and campus leadership responsibilities.
During Thanksgiving break, Reitsma traveled to Alcalá de Henares, Spain, to present his research on “Ghosts, Magic Realism, and Superheroes: Love & Hope in the Graphic Novels of Julio Anta” at an international conference exploring American identity. He followed this with a virtual presentation for the WNY Refugee Film Festival, discussing the films “Nos Vemos Pronto” and “I Come from Away” in an event sponsored by Journey’s End. On Dec. 18, Reitsma delivered a lecture on “Teaching, Service, and Activism: Borders and Migrations” to an international audience at the University Marie Curie Skłodowska in Lublin, Poland, as part of the Erasmus-sponsored MigraMedia Project.
Here on campus, the director of the international relations program organized the 46th Model UN, which brought more than 400 high school students to Canisius in early November. As founding director of the Borders and Migrations Initiative (BMI), Reitsma hosted a screening of “Green Border” with award-winning director Agnieszka Holland, a presentation of “My Partner” with scriptwriter Lance D. Collins, and a discussion on migration’s root causes featuring Agros International President Alberto Solano and President Emeritus John J. Hurley.
Reitsma is taking a well-earned sabbatical in the coming year.
A blessed Christmas season was had at Christ the King Chapel this year, as the campus community, alumni and families gathered to celebrate.
Assistant Athletic Director Mike Kochczynski and his family Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement Anne Marie Haumesser and her daughter
Christmas Eve Mass saw a remarkable turnout with nearly 300 attendees. The service was a true homecoming for alumni, some of whom traveled from as far away as Ohio, New Jersey, Chicago, Colorado and California to be with their Buffalo families for the holiday. Notable ‘family reunions’ included the Bierons, the Heffernans, the Lyons, and the Burns family, among others.
Christ the King Chapel also celebrated several baptisms during the Christmas season and a wedding on New Year’s Eve.
