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.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Garrison Keillor Speaks At Canisius College
Garrison Keillor, host and writer of the popular Saturday night public radio program A Prairie Home Companion, spoke to a crowd of more than 500 people at the Montante Cultural Center on Monday, April 4.  Following his talk, Keillor took questions from the audience and signed copies of his books. Keillor's visit to Canisius was sponsored by the Canisius College Contemporary Writers Series, developed by Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English, through his Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship.

Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, Garrison Keillor and Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English.

More than 600 Elementary School Children Celebrate "Blooming With Canisius"

Nicki M. Calabrese, PhD, associate professor of education, greets children parading from Early Childhood Center School #17 to participate in "Blooming With Canisius" on April 7. 

Nearly 650 elementary school children from Early Childhood Center School #17 paraded down Main Street in springtime hats to participate in "Blooming With Canisius," a celebration of the Week of the Young Child with students from the Canisius College Teacher Education Club. Nicki M. Calabrese, PhD, associate professor of education, coordinated the event.

Hundreds of children from School #17 fill the quad for a sing-along following their parade.

Following the parade, Jennifer Mis '06, an early childhood/childhood education major, played the keyboard and led the children in a sing-along in the quad. This is the third year that the School of Education has celebrated the Week of the Young Child with School #17. 

CSW to Host Dessert and Conversation
Celebrate spring and Earth Day with the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) when they host Dessert and Conversation on Tuesday, April 19 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Regis Room South. For more information contact Barb Wozniak in the Office of Student Retention at Ext. 3737 or send an E-mail to wozniakb@canisius.edu.

Chair of Financial Accounting Standards Board to Speak at Accounting Banquet

	Michael R. Winter MBA '83, CPA		John R. Connolly '72, CPA

Two Canisius College graduates will be honored at the 49th annual Canisius College Accounting Society Banquet on Wednesday, April 27 at Salvatore's Italian Gardens.  Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Michael R. Winter MBA '83, CPA, managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, will be honored as the Outstanding Accountant in Western New York.  John R. Connolly '72, CPA, senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) for Byram Health Care, will receive the Dr. Joseph Coppola '40 Award, which recognizes the exceptional achievements of a Canisius College accounting alumnus. 

The keynote speaker will be Robert M. Herz, chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), which is the private sector organization responsible for establishing standards that govern the preparation of financial reports.   FASB standards are officially recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).   

Tickets for the event are limited. For more information, call the Department of Accounting at Ext. 2870.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
Thursday, April 28 is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day (formerly Take Our Daughters to Work Day). Canisius welcomes the children of faculty, staff and administrators. We trust that parents will take measures to ensure their children's safety. The Ms. Foundation for Women started Take Our Daughters to Work Day 11 years ago to encourage children to reach their potential by participating fully in family, work and community.

Spring Honors Convocation April 29
The Canisius community will honor outstanding members of the Class of 2005 during the Spring Honors Convocation on Friday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. All are welcome to attend.  In addition, the Distinguished Faculty Award recipient will be recognized as well as this year's MLK Award winners. 

Regents Ball to Honor Golisano
The 39th annual Canisius College Regents Scholarship Ball will be held on Saturday, May 14 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m.; dinner is at 7:30 p.m. B. Thomas Golisano, founder and chairman of Paychex Inc. and owner of the Buffalo Sabres National Hockey League franchise, will receive the Canisius College Board of Regents Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award. For reservation information, contact Marion Mittler, director of endowed scholarships, at Ext. 2715. To read more about the event, click here.

Polish Easter Luncheon

Several dozen members of the Canisius community enjoyed a traditional Polish Easter luncheon hosted by Rev. Benjamin Fiore, S.J., chair of religious studies and theology, on Tuesday, March 29.  The menu included pierogi, sausage and mushroom soup.  In the photo above, Father Fiore serves Sue Gruttadauria, secretary for annual fund, and Brian Dunkle, S.J., instructor of classics.

Did You Know? The Week of the Young Child is a national annual event sponsored by The National Association for the Education of Young Children.  It was established in 1971 to promote the advocacy of young children and their families.

CANISIUS KUDOS

Canisius Employees Take U.S. Homeland Security Training

Caption: (l-r) Nick McGinnis, Nathan Seamon, Mike Odojewski, Gordon Anthony and Gary Everett. Missing from photo: Mark Dzielski, manager, Montante Cultural Center.

Several Canisius College employees recently took U.S. Department of Homeland Security Soft Targets Awareness Training for Stadiums and Arenas to help prepare them in the event of a terrorist threat to the college.  They include Nick McGinnis, athletic field attendant for athletic facilities; Nathan Seamon, graduate assistant/events coordinator for the Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center; Mike Odojewski, assistant director, Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center; Gordon Anthony, director of athletic facilities; and Gary Everett, director of public safety and Mark Dzielski, manager, Montante Cultural Center.

Canisius served as the local site for the training, which was held in the Richard E. Winter '42 Student Center from April 5-8.  Nearly 60 representatives from local places of worship, schools, malls and shopping centers, and hotels and large buildings came to Canisius to attend the training, which Gary Everett, director of public safety, coordinated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  

Creative Services Team Brings Home Three Silver ADDYs

(l-r) Rose Twardowski, associate director of creative services; Linda Prinzi, associate director of creative services; and Jennifer Paterson '95, MS '01, director of creative services.

The Canisius College Department of Creative Services was honored with three silver ADDY awards at Brainstorm's fourth annual awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo on March 18.  Linda Prinzi, associate director of creative services, served as art director on the three winning projects, which included the Canisius College viewbook, a poster for the Department of Admissions and the invitation series for Alumni Weekend 2004.  Brainstorm is the Communicators Club of Buffalo, affiliated with the American Advertising Federation.

2005 MLK Award Winners
Congratulations to the following Canisius College 2005 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award winners:

Evangeline Powell, dispatcher for public safety, received the staff award; LaVerne M. Seales-Saley, PhD, associate professor of modern languages, received the faculty award; and Aamina Edwards '06, an English major, received the student award. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards, presented annually in the categories of staff, administrator, faculty and student, recognize individuals at the college who have proven qualities that foster equality, fairness, human/civil rights and justice.  Honorees will be recognized during the Canisius College Spring Honors Convocation on April 29.

Sr. Brady Wins Poetry Award
Sister Patricia Brady, SSMN, associate campus minister and director of service learning, received an Editor's Choice Award from The International Library of Poetry for her poem "Like a Phoenix: In Memory of MLK Jr."  Sister Pat's poem will be included in a book entitled Eternal Portraits, which will be published later this year.

Colquhoun Featured in ArtVoice
A feature on Michael W. Colquhoun, PhD, adjunct professor of fine arts, was included in the March 6 issue of ArtVoice.  Colquhoun is a freelance musician and composer, who specializes in Hispanic music.  At Canisius, he teaches music theory, 20th century classical music and Afro-Centric and World Music.

Did You Know? It's time to sign up for Canisius College's team for the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge Race 2005 on Thursday, June 9 at 6 p.m. (race starts at 6:45 p.m.). Contact Gary Lew, senior facilities operations manager, at Ext. 2255 for more information.