| July 11, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 14 |
Father Tunney is Named Rector of Jesuit Community at Canisius College
 | |
“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.
For more information, click here.
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.
For more information, click here.
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.
For more information, click here.
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.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Annual Fund Surpasses Goal
(right to left) Thomas G. Smith '71, chair of the Canisius College Annual Fund Campaign Cabinet, presents Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., with a ceremonial check for $2,307,964.17 at the Annual Fund celebration on June 13.
The Canisius College 2006-2007 Annual Fund surpassed its $2.29 million goal by nearly $13,000. This year, a record number of donors, including more than 9,000 alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, friends and businesses, supported the fund, which raised more than $2.3 million in pledges, gifts and in-kind donations. Faculty and staff gave $87,615, which is an increase of nearly $20,000 from the previous year.
"Because of the hard work and dedication of more than 300 volunteers, we have been able to reach our goal for four consecutive years," said Amy M. Johnson, director of annual fund. "I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who played a part in our success."
Gifts to the annual fund play a critical role at Canisius every year. As a line item in the college's operating budget, every dollar given to the annual fund supports financial aid, faculty resources and retention, activities outside of the classroom and general administrative costs including technology, athletics and facilities. The opportunities and experiences provided today will offer a lifetime of returns for each student.
The 2007-2008 annual fund is underway with a goal of $2.45 million. The campaign ends May 31, 2008.
Lieutenant Governor Speaks at Canisius WBC Event
(l-r) Loretta Kaminsky, assistant director, Canisius College Women’s Business Center; Kenneth Kruly, director, governmental relations; Maureen Millane Rusk, associate dean, external business programs; David A. Paterson, Lieutenant Governor, New York State and Melinda Rath Sanderson, executive director, Canisius College Women’s Business Center.
The Canisius College Women’s Business Center (WBC) and the Center for Professional Development, in collaboration with Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples, hosted a program on June 28 at the Buffalo Museum of Science to discuss government contract opportunities for small business, particularly those owned by women and minorities. New York State Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson served as the keynote speaker for the event. Nearly 250 people participated in the event to learn how to access government contracts. Prior to that program, the WBC hosted a luncheon in the lieutenant governor’s honor.
Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola
A Mass for the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola will be held on Thursday, July 31 at 11:30 a.m. in Christ the King Chapel. The Mass will be followed immediately by an ice cream social in the west wing of the Peter Gust Economu Dining Hall.
Mathematics Summer Research Program
(l-r) Terry Bisson PhD, professor of mathematics and statistics, Tim Doster '08, Rochester Institute of Technology, Alicia Hoffman '08, Huntington University, Chelsey Cooley '10, North Carolina State University, Eric Lownes '08, North Carolina State University, Chloe Johnson '08, Gettysburg College, Stefan Sabo '10, University of Pennsylvania, Alissa Pioli '08, Geneseo State University, Benjamin Lerman '07, Stonybrook University and Stratos Prassidis PhD, professor of mathematics and statistics.
Eight students from around the country are participating in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Mathematics at hosted by the college's Department of Mathematics which began on June 17 and finishes up August 10.
The REU is funded by the National Science Foundation with assistance from Canisius College. This is the third year that Canisius has hosted the program.
CANISIUS KUDOS
Canisius Wins Best of Show at PRSA Excalibur Awards
 | |
| Debra S. Park MS '06, associate vice president for public relations and Eileen C. Herbert '04 associate director of public relations with their PRSA awards. |
Debra S. Park MS '06, associate vice president and Eileen C. Herbert '04 associate director, received the awards for "What's a Disputation?" Due to their promotional efforts, the staged reading of The Disputation in fall 2006 performed to a sold-out audience in the college's Montante Cultural Center. The Disputation was brought to campus under the auspices of The Canisius College Center for the Global Study of Religion, Timothy Wadkins, PhD, director, in association with Temple Beth Zion, The Joan and Peter Andrews Family Foundation, Theater J. and co-produced by Jerome Neuner, PhD, associate vice president of academic affairs.
Canisius College Video Institute Wins Three PRSA Excaliburs
(l-r) Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, professor and chair of communication studies and director of the Canisius College Video Institute, Nina Cimino '06, Amy Falletta '06 and Melissa Wall '06.
Three videos produced by The Canisius College Video Institute, Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, director, also won Excalibur Awards. "HeARTstrings: The Guitars for Hope Project," which was designed to promote awareness of the Guitars for Hope public art project, received a Bronze Excalibur award. The video was produced by Nicholas Barone '06, Nina Cimino '06, Ignayra Ramos '06 and Mike Woeppel '06. "Frank Lloyd Wright's Rowing Boathouse," produced by Jennifer Eberhart '08 and Jesse Koch '08 also earned a bronze award. The purpose of the video was to assist the Frank Lloyd Wright Rowing Boathouse Corporation in their efforts to raise funds to build the Wright design as a working boathouse on the Buffalo Waterfront.
A promotional video produced for Vive La Casa earned the video institute a Silver Excalibur Award. Student producers included Kirsten Jahn '07, Melissa Wall '06, Bob Carbone '06, Jennifer Eberhart '08, Johnny Graves '07 and Amy Falletta '06.
Congratulations to Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, chair and professor of communication studies and director of The Canisius College Video Institute, and to her student producers. The Canisius College Video Institute is funded in part by the John R. Oishei Foundation. For more information about the video institute, click here.
Angelini Receives NYS Foreign Language Teachers' Award
 |
The Ruth E. Wasley Distinguished Teacher Award (Post- Secondary) honors an educator who has demonstrated excellence in the classroom and has contributed greatly to the foreign language profession. The award is named after a former professor of education at SUNY Albany and president of NYSAFLT from 1963 to 1969.
Lawless is Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Special Events
Erin M. Lawless '00 MS '04 has been named assistant director of donor relations and special events in the College Relations Division. She previously was assistant director of campus life for Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Lawless will assist in the planning, coordination and management of cultivation, recognition and stewardship events that support the college's development efforts.
She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice and a master's degree in college student personnel administration, both from Canisius College.