May 21, 2008                                                     Vol 9. No. 14

Butler Receives Honors Professor of the Year Award
Canisius College English Professor Robert J. Butler, PhD, is the inaugural recipient of the 2008 Honors Professor of the Year Award.  The award recognizes a professor who has made exceptional contributions to the Canisius All-College Honors Program in teaching, scholarship and/or service. 

Butler served 21 years as director of the Canisius All-College Honors Program (1985-2006). During that pivotal period, he increased the size of the student body, raised admissions standards and expanded the opportunities for cultural enrichment.

Butler is a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and completed his formal education at St. Michael’s College and the University of Notre Dame. He is the author or coauthor of seven books on African American literature, and is an internationally-known authority on the subject. A Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Professor, Butler is also renowned for his dedication to teaching and his unflagging commitment to a more just society. 

The All–College Honors Program is a learning community of Canisius College’s top students who have excelled academically in high school and in college entrance exams.  These students represent the top 10 percent of applicants to Canisius.

Duling, Schmidtke Retirement Party
 
Paula M. McNutt, PhD, dean of arts and sciences, congratulates Dennis C. Duling, professor of religious studies and theology for 30 years of service to the college. Members of the college community gathered in the Grupp Fireside Lounge on Tuesday, May 20 to congraulate Duling and Charles R. Schmidtke, PhD, associate professor of gerontology, on their retirements this spring. 

 
Charles R. Schmidtke, PhD, associate professor of gerontology, gives a speech at his retirement party in the Grupp Fireside Lounge on May 20. Schmidtke retired after 35 years of service to the college.

Farrugia Receives Distinguished Faculty Award at Honors Convocation

(left to right) Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president presents David L. Farrugia, EdD, chair and professor of counseling and human services with the Distinguished Faculty Award at the Spring Honors Convocation on April 25.  

MLK Award Winners

Rhonda F. Dyess-Hands, assistant director of admissions (left), receives the 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Administrator Award from Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, at Spring Honors Convocation. Emilee C. Flynn ’08 (not pictured) is the 2008 recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Award.

Ken Schwab, bakery manager, Chartwells
Bald for Bucks
Nearly 40 people, including three faculty and staff members, participated in Canisius College's second annual Bald for Bucks and Locks of Love event in the Palisano Pavilion on Monday April 28. Bald for Bucks began at Lake Shore High Scool in honor of Canisius graduate Cathleen George '90, who died of cancer in 2004. Sponsored by the Office of Campus Programming and Leadership Development, the event raised $6,500 for Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Students from Leon Studio One Hair cut hair (and shaved heads!) for the Canisius Bald for Bucks event.


Michael F. Tunney, S.J., professor of fine arts and rector for the Jesuit community and Sarah E. Signorino ’04, associate campus minister, both went “Bald for Bucks.” The second annual event, sponsored by the Office of Campus Programming and Leadership Development, took place in the college’s Palisano Pavilion on April 28.

Dr. I Joan Lorch Awards Given at Women’s Studies Event

Congratulations to the 2006-2007 I. Joan Lorch Award winners, who were honored at this year’s Women’s Studies Luncheon in the Regis Room on Friday, March 9. (Left to right) I. Joan Lorch, PhD, professor emerita of biology; Deborah Abrahamson, admissions associate, recipient of the staff award; Sheri A. Labenski ’08, recipient of the student award; Tanya M. Loughead, PhD, assistant professor of professor of philosophy, recipient of the faculty award and Melinda Rath Sanderson, executive director of the women’s business center, recipient of the administrator award.

Everett Serves on Law Enforcement Memorial Committee for Third Year
For the third year in a row, Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson invited Gary M. Everett, director of public safety, to serve as a member of the Law Enforcement Memorial Committee. As part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Month, Everett participated in the Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service on Monday, May 12 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Relatives and law enforcement officers from all over Western New York were in attendance.


James Article Included in Newly Published Book
An article authored by Genevieve L. James, PhD, professor emerita of modern languages, is included in the newly published book New Interpretations in the History of French Literature: from Marie de France to Beckett and Cioran by Aleksandra Grusznka (The Edwin Mellon Press, 2008). James’ article, entitled “Portrait d’une orientaliste ‘aventureuse:’ Alexandra David-Neel, 1868-1969,” is on pages 167-192 of the book. 

In addition, James’ article “Raymond Federman: un auteur bilingue meconnu a decouvir” was published in the book LitteRealite (University New York Publications) Vol. XVIII, No. 1. pp. 68-73.  

Sroka Publishes Two Articles
Kenneth M. Sroka, PhD, professor of English and co-director of the Urban Leadership Learning Community, has had two articles accepted for publication in the Brigham Young University journal Literature and Belief.  “Reviving Spirit: ‘Illth’ and Health in Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit" appeared in Vol. 26.2, 2006, 71-104.

Another article of Sroka’s, entitled, “Beauties, Beasts, and Myth in Frankenstein (1818) and The Time Machine (1895),” will be published in a future edition of Literature and Belief.