Fiore to Become President of Campion College in Canada
A beloved figure among students, faculty and staff, Rev. Benjamin Fiore, S.J., chair of religious studies, will leave July 1 after more than 25 years at Canisius College to assume the presidency of Campion College in Regina, Saskatchewan. Campion College is a federated liberal arts college within the University of Regina, a public university of the province of Saskatchewan.
“Ben is something of an institution at Canisius and he will be sorely missed by his students, colleagues and the Buffalo-area community,” says Paula M. McNutt, PhD, dean of arts and sciences. She adds, “He will be especially missed for his exuberant laughter, his wonderful sense of humor, his ready wit and great cooking!”
Well-known for his many creative talents, including calligraphy, illumination, needlepoint and cooking, Fiore goes above and beyond for the well-being of students and has been very involved in student activities, according to Dennis C. Duling, PhD, professor of theology/religious studies.
“He is really a student-oriented person,” says Duling. “My own view is that it is his Jesuit calling to be this way. He is not a pure scholar, he’s not a pure people person, but a combination of both.”
At Canisius, he has served as faculty advisor for Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society; and is a faculty member of the DiGamma Honor Society and Alpha Sigma Lambda, the honor society for adult college students. Fiore says he will particularly miss Canisius’ cultural and musical events, where he could often be spotted.
“I have really enjoyed all of the great musical and artistic events which are developing with the new music major,” says Fiore. “It is just marvelous to see the student talent.”
Fiore’s own vocal talents have been showcased in Cantio Sacra, a vocal ensemble comprised of faculty, staff and administrators that performs primarily sacred music for special events on campus. He was also often called upon by the local media to give expert commentary on religious issues. In December 2000, Fiore made his national television debut on the PAX TV Christmas Special, “Footsteps of the Holy Family: the Miracle of the First Christmas.”
A guiding light in the Western New York Polish community, Fiore’s love of Polish culture benefited the Canisius community in many ways. As a board member of the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture, he has brought world-renowned speakers, cultural leaders, and talented performers to the college. His traditional Polish holiday luncheons were very popular on campus.
He has received numerous awards, the most notable of which is his induction into the International Order of the Smile in Warsaw, Poland in 1999. This prestigious award acknowledged Fiore’s work teaching English to children in Poland. Fiore’s name was added to the list of other inductees including Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Macharski and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York.
Fiore joined the Canisius faculty in 1979, the same year he received his PhD in religious studies from Yale University. He was given tenure in 1985. He served as chair of religious studies from 1980 to 1986 and from 1996 to present. Fiore also was acting dean of arts and sciences for the spring 2002 semester.
Fiore acknowledges it is hard to leave Canisius after nearly a quarter century but he believes it is the right time for him.
“I look forward to my new position as a chance to do something good in another place,” says Fiore. “It is hard to leave after all of these years but I expect that the Religious Studies Department will move in a good direction with new hires and new imaginations.”
New Peter Canisius Distinguished Professorships Announced
The Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professors Program has awarded a new round of professorships to faculty members of the History, Modern Languages, Communication, and Biology/Psychology departments. The three-year grants provide the college’s best faculty with the resources to create innovative programs that enhance undergraduate teaching through exciting initiatives such as interdisciplinary projects, scholarly travel, experiential courses and the incorporation of technology into the classroom. Each faculty appointment includes an annual stipend and program budget, in addition to the regular college salary. Faculty members are chosen annually through a competitive grant process that focuses on creativity and the extent to which their proposal will advance the college’s vision. The professorships begin June 1, 2005 for the following professors:
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Peter Boehm, PhD |
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Larry E. Jones, PhD |
Larry E. Jones, PhD, professor of history, and Peter Boehm, PhD, assistant professor of modern languages, will develop an interdisciplinary program entitled The Holocaust in History, Literature and Film. The program will combine the insights of historical, literary, cinematic and philosophical analysis to develop a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and its implications for the future of Western civilization, human nature, and the place of God in the modern world.
Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, chair of communication studies, will develop the Canisius College Video Institute, in which students will produce public service-oriented video projects. The videos will profile college programs, as well as community service and humanitarian agencies in the Buffalo area and around the world. The institute will integrate coursework and training to make these productions viable, and also engage in outreach to area high schools and offer public screenings of student work.
Michael Noonan, PhD, professor of biology and psychology, will continue his Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation (CAC) program, in which a group of Canisius students develop into advocates for conservation through in-depth field studies of wildlife. Students will travel with Noonan to distant sites for first-hand experiences related to the management and stewardship of a particular wildlife species. During subsequent months, the students will make presentations at local zoological institutions and schools.
For additional information regarding this year’s recipients and their programs, click here.
Wanted: Commencement Marshals
Canisius needs marshals to help at commencement ceremonies. Marshals assist graduates with their caps and gowns, lead them into the ceremony and pass out diplomas after they cross the stage. Marshals receive paid time off for their service. To sign up to serve as a marshal, contact Judy Bruce, secretary to the dean of students or Pat Brawn, secretary to the vice president for student affairs, at Ext. 2130.
Graduate Ceremony Wednesday, May 18
Approximately 600 degrees will be conferred at the graduate commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Hon. Ned Regan, former Erie County Executive and New York State Comptroller, will give the commencement address and also receive an honorary degree.
Baccalaureate Mass Friday, May 20
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of the Diocese of Buffalo will be the prinicipal celebrant at the Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center. Graduates, faculty and family members will gather to give thanks for blessings bestowed on all graduates.
Undergraduate Ceremony Saturday, May 21
Approximately 650 degrees will be conferred at undergraduate commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 21 at 11:00 a.m. in Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo’s north campus. Civil Rights pioneer Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth is the commencement speaker. Shuttlesworth will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony, along with Paul Koessler and Robert Greene '66.
LaSalle Medal Goes to Fatta and Rutecki
The Canisius College Alumni Association will confer the LaSalle Medal on Angelo M. Fatta '66, PhD, manager of Fatta Enterprises and vice-president of the Fatta Foundation, and Victor Rutecki '79, MBA '83, owner of Rutecki Agency. The LaSalle Medal is the association’s most distinguished award and recognizes substantial contributions in advancing the interests of the college. The medal will be presented at the undergraduate commencement.
ROTC Commissioning
Lieutenant Colonel James D. Bagwell, chair of military science, will commission 14 seniors as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army at the ROTC commissioning ceremony on Friday, May 20 at 2 p.m. in the Marie Maday Theatre.