| July 11, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 14 |
Father Tunney is Named Rector of Jesuit Community at Canisius College
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“I sincerely appreciate Father Tunney’s availability for service in the society, and am grateful to Father Lynch for his wise and effective ministry to the community,” said Rev. Gerard J. Chojnacki, S.J., provincial of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus. “I ask you to keep them in your prayers as they leave and begin new assignments. They are a sign to all of us of the mobility that is a part of our Jesuit profession.”
In his new role, Father Tunney is responsible for cura personalis, or personal care of the Jesuits, and cura apostolica, or the guidance, with the presidents of Canisius College and High School and the apostolic administrator of Catholic Central School, of Jesuit activities in these ministries. In addition, he serves as the community’s apostolic animator to assure that the Jesuit mission and identity is preserved in the ministries for which the community has responsibility.
Father Tunney is a professor of fine arts and director of the Studio Art Program at Canisius. He joined the college in 1994 as an assistant professor of fine arts and developed the college’s studio art minor, which was introduced in fall 2003. The multidisciplinary program’s expansive studio and gallery space is located on the fourth floor of the college’s Lyons Hall.
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Park is Named Associate Vice President for Public Relations
Debra S. Park MS ’06 has been named associate vice president for public relations at Canisius College. Park joined Canisius as director of public relations in 1998.“Debra Park has been a critical leader of the branding of Canisius College over the past nine years,” said John J. Hurley, executive vice president and vice president for college relations. “Her efforts in the areas of media relations, web services, public relations and integrated marketing have been an indispensable part of the college’s success in Western New York and beyond. I look forward to even greater contributions from her in this new role.”
Park oversees the Offices of Public Relations, Creative Services and Web Services. She is a member of the President’s Cabinet. She is also a member of the Strategic Planning, Integrated Marketing, Institutional Assessment and Crisis Response Teams. Her new responsibilities will include oversight of the Office of Government Relations.
As director of public relations, Park instituted a media relations program to improve the reputation of the college. It resulted in numerous front-page news stories and a Buffalo News poll that recognized the college as the number two institution in the city and the college president as the number two civic leader. In addition, broadcast news coverage and national placements increased significantly.
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Mangione is New Dean of Students at Canisius
Terri L. Mangione, PhD, is the new dean of students at Canisius College, effective July 23. She will be responsible for supervision of student life, which includes the Departments of Residence Life, Campus Programming and Leadership Development, International Student Programs, Counseling, Health Services and Disability Support Services. Mangione also will oversee the campus judicial system. “In addition to being a skilled administrator, Terri has dedicated many years to working directly with students, which makes her a valuable addition to the Division of Student Affairs and to the Canisius College community,” said Ellen O. Conley, PhD, vice president for student affairs. “I am pleased to welcome her back to Canisius.”
Mangione has nearly two decades of experience in higher education administration. Prior to Canisius, she was senior associate vice provost for student academic records for the State University of New York at Buffalo. For two years, Mangione served as coordinator of the master’s program in college student personnel at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. From 1986-1999, she worked at Canisius College, including as associate dean of arts and sciences and director of the academic advisement center.
Mangione holds a PhD in social foundations for higher education from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master of science in college student development and a bachelor of arts in applied/clinical psychology, both from Alfred University.
Canisius Receives $500,000 from Cummings Foundation
Canisius College is the recipient of a $500,000 gift from The James H. Cummings Foundation to be used toward the creation of the college’s interdisciplinary science center.
“The Cummings Foundation has been a great supporter of the college’s science program for many years,” said Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president. “Their generous gift of $500,000 marks the first commitment from a local foundation to support our science center project.”
William L. Joyce, executive director of The James H. Cummings Foundation, commended the project and said, “The interdisciplinary science center is a great investment in the education of future doctors, scientists and educators in our region. It is also a great investment in the central corridor of Buffalo. The directors of the Cummings Foundation are proud and enthusiastic to support it.”
Payable over three years, funds will support the purchase, renovation and development of technology-enhanced classrooms and laboratories, including five Interdisciplinary Research Training Groups (IRTG). These specially designed spaces will promote faculty-student research and new curricular initiatives in the areas of bioinformatics, cellular/molecular biology, analytical chemistry, neuroscience and quantitative science.
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Orientation 2007
Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, welcomes the Class of 2011 and their families in the Montante Cultural Center during the opening session of Summer 2007 Orientation.
Nearly 850 incoming freshmen, one of the largest classes in recent history, and their families became familiar with their new campus home during Canisius College’s Summer Orientation 2007.
“The purpose of orientation is to inform parents and students with the college services, help them make the transition from high school to college, and get students excited about their upcoming college experience,” says Thomas R. Hersey, director of student retention.
After watching a “life on campus” skit by the orientation staff, students head to a seminar on academic expectations.
Participants attended sessions on topics which ranged from the Jesuit tradition and academic integrity to financial aid and meal plans. In addition, activities such as karaoke and “Orientation Olympics” enabled students to socialize in an informal setting. In the evening, parents were offered a scenic bus tour of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The final 2007 orientation session wraps up July 13.