Canisius University congratulates Janet Wojcik MS ’94, PhD, an alumna of the university’s master’s program in physical education, who has been selected to receive Winthrop University’s top teaching distinction: the James Pinckney Kinard and Lee Wicker Kinard Award for Excellence in Teaching. Wojcik is a professor and the program director of exercise science at Winthrop. She will be formally honored at the university’s December 20 Commencement Ceremony.
The Kinard Award, established more than four decades ago, recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional dedication to studentlearning, academic excellence and service to the university community.
In her nomination letter, Beth Coster, dean of Winthrop’s College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, praised Wojcik as “a teacher who places students at the center of her work … a leader whose contributions have shaped academic programs with lasting impact.”
Since joining the Winthrop faculty in 2006, Wojcik has taught more than a dozen unique undergraduate courses and several graduate courses, spanning exercise physiology, special and aging populations, internships and writing-intensive seminars. Her colleagues describe her as an exceptional academic advisor who “goes above and beyond” in developing meaningful relationships with students, challenging them to set and achieve their academic and professional goals.
“Dr. Wojcik exemplifies the mission of Canisius and our Jesuit ideals through her lifelong commitment to teaching, mentorship and service,” said Karl F. Kozlowski, PhD, associate dean for the School of Behavioral and Health Studies. “We are immensely proud to see a graduate of our University earn such distinguished recognition.”
A prolific scholar, Wojcik regularly publishes in top peer-reviewed journals and presents at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), where she is recognized as a Fellow—one of the organization’s highest distinctions.
As part of Canisius’ partnership with Barnes & Noble College (BNC), the university is introducing a new course material model called Canisius Complete. This program simplifies how students access their course materials, reduces costs and ensures they have everything they need before the first day of class. Canisius Complete will launch in the spring 2026 semester.
What does this mean for faculty?
Faculty will continue to have full flexibility in selecting the materials that best fit their courses, from any publisher and in any format. There are no restrictions. The only requirement is that course material selections are submitted to the bookstore by the adoption deadline, which isNovember 30, 2025.
What does this mean for students?
Students will no longer have to shop for their course materials a la carte. Instead, they will receive all required materials through the Canisius Complete program. Physical books can be picked up at the bookstore. Digital materials will be delivered directly to their Desire 2 Learn (D2L) account. The cost of materials will be billed directly to the student account.
To make the rollout of Canisius Complete a success, please submit your course material selections by November 30, 2025.
By ensuring students have all their required course materials from day one, they can start the semester prepared, ready to learn and set up to succeed.
Management Professor Howard Stanger, PhD, weighed in with The Buffalo News for a November 13 story about Starbucks workers striking on the popular Red Cup Day. Stanger explained that the strike came “at a time of a predictable boon in store traffic, a pressure point for which the union hopes to get the company back to the bargaining table.” Click here to read the full story.
The Canisius UniversityHigher Education Leadership and Administration (HELA) Program brought home major awards from the annual New York State College Student Personnel Association (CSPA-NYS) Conference, held this year in Schenectady, NY. The conference theme, “Currents of Change: Energizing Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education,” celebrated innovation, collaboration and leadership for the future of higher education administration.
The Canisius team earned first place in the Esther Lloyd-Jones Case Study Competition, besting a series of competitive teams from both public and private colleges and universities across New York State.
Pictured (l-r): Mark Harrington, EdD, Ida Segmuller, Jadyn Moriarty, Jaquoi Dorsett
The winning team (above) included Ida Segmüller ’24, MSEd ’27; Jadyn Moriarty MSEd ’27; andJaquoi Dorsett MSEd ’27.
The annual case study competition challenges graduate students to analyze a complex and timely issue facing higher education. Teams receive the case on-site at the conference and have just 24 hours to develop and deliver a research-informed, strategic, student-centered response. Their presentations are made before a panel of senior higher education executives—including vice presidents and deans from institutions across the state—who evaluate each team on their critical thinking, innovation, and professionalism.
In addition to the team victory, Jenna Quinn MSEd ’26 (pictured left) was named the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year at the CSPA-NYS Annual Association Awards Luncheon.
This prestigious award recognizes a graduate student pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in higher education in New York State who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, service and leadership to their institution.
The Buffalo News and WBEN-AM Radio 930 reported on Canisius University receiving a $1 million HECap matching grant from New York State. The funding will support the second phase of renovations to Old Main, the university’s primary academic building, modernizing classrooms and collaborative spaces with state-of-the-art technology. Work is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
