| July 16, 2008 | Vol 9. No. 16 |
Canisius: A Great College to Work For
The Chronicle of Higher Education “Great Colleges to Work For: 2008 Survey” recognized Canisius College as a leader in providing an exceptional work environment for employees. The results were based on responses from more than 15,000 administrators, faculty members and staff at 89 institutions – 39 public universities and 50 private colleges. Participation was limited to four-year institutions.
Among medium-sized colleges and universities (those that employ between 500 and 2,499 people), Canisius College ranks among the top five institutions in 20 out of 27 categories polled. Those categories in which Canisius College is recognized for best practices and policies are: healthy faculty-administration relations; collaborative governance; compensation and benefits; facilities and security; job satisfaction; work-life balance; confidence in senior leadership; internal communications; connection to institution and pride; tenure clarity and process; physical workspace conditions; tuition reimbursement; housing assistance programs; supervisor or department chair relationship; perception and confidence in fair treatment; respect and appreciation; policies, resources and efficiency; career development, research and scholarship; engagement index; and vacation or paid time off.
“The Chronicle survey is a welcome validation of what our faculty and staff have been telling us for years: that Canisius College is an outstanding place to work and pursue a career. We’re delighted with the results,” says John J. Hurley, executive vice president of Canisius College and vice president of college relations. “Our campus environment is one in which we all strive to communicate and engage with each other. The result is a more collegial and productive atmosphere, which in turn has made us a more successful university.”
The Great Colleges to Work For 2008 Survey was administered by ModernThink LLC, a human-resources-consulting firm, which has conducted many “Best Places to Work” surveys for various groups. To learn more, click here.
Canisius Annual Fund Reaches New Record of Giving
Robert Wunsch ’76 (left), vice chair of the Annual Fund Campaign Cabinet, presents a check to Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., (right) president of Canisius College.
The Canisius College 2007-2008 Annual Fund campaign set a new record with $2.389 million in pledges, gifts and gifts-in-kind. This represents a nearly $82,000 increase from last year. More than 9,000 Canisius alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, friends and businesses contributed to the fund. Three hundred and forty-eight faculty and staff gave a total of $110,184, which is an increase of nearly $23,000 over last year!
Canisius will build on the success throughout A Legacy of Leadership and increase the annual fund by 50 percent over seven years, from $2 million to $3 million by 2010.
“It is a very exciting time at Canisius College and the response from our donors is a great indication of the support we have as we move forward,” said Kirsten L. Reppert MS '07, director of annual fund. “My sincere appreciation goes out to our volunteers for their hard work and to everyone who played a part in this achievement.”
The annual fund plays a critical role in the college’s success. Gifts to Canisius strengthen resources, build scholarships and create a vibrant learning atmosphere. The annual fund is essential to the college’s commitment to offer students the best education possible.
The 2008-2009 Annual Fund is underway with a goal of $2.625 million. The 2009 campaign will conclude on May 31, 2009.
Canisius Mourns Beloved English Professor
The Canisius community lost a dear friend on July 3, when Joseph P. Lovering, PhD, passed away. He was 87. A professor emeritus of English, Lovering’s career at Canisius spanned more than three decades. In the classroom, he shared with students his enthusiasm for the literary works of James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, Charles Dickens and Charles A. Brady '33, PhD, who was Lovering’s close friend and colleague. As a scholar, Lovering authored three books on literary figures, including The Well-Made Historical Novels of Charles A. Brady. The 2006 book introduced readers to the many works of the late Canisius College English professor.
Renowned at Canisius for his love of music and sports, Lovering played the violin much to the delight of colleagues who heard him practice in his office. He also served 18 years as the official scorekeeper of Canisius College basketball.
Lovering is survived by his wife, Eileen, their four sons and two daughters.
Piemonte Named New Director of Golden Griffin Fund
Michael S. Piemonte, assistant professor of finance, is the new director of the Golden Griffin Fund (GGF). The GGF is the college’s first real-money, equity investment fund managed by undergraduate and graduate finance majors at Canisius. As director of the fund, Piemonte is the primary faculty advisor to the student-managers. He brings nearly three decades of experience with him to the position. Prior to Canisius, Piemonte was senior vice president at M&T Bank, where he oversaw corporate finance, investor relations, retail strategy and planning, and mergers and acquisitions. He was also the chief financial officer of the publicly held Citibank subsidiary Student Loan Corporation, and served in management positions at Mellon Bank, Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Piemonte replaces Nelson D. Civello ’67, who established the Golden Griffin Fund in fall 2003, when he came to Canisius as a visiting professor of finance. Under his leadership, the fund grew from its initial $100,000 investment, from the college’s endowment, to more than $140,000, and is invested in 20 individual stocks and four Exchange Traded Funds.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Mathematics Summer Research Program
(l-r) Byung-Jay Kahng, PhD, assistant professor of mathematics & statistics; Vivian Healy '11, University of Notre Dame; Ari Binder '11, Williams College; Colin Claus '11, Vanderbilt University; Josh O'Rourke '09, Reed College; Rachel Hunter '11, Cornell University; Emily Bargar '09, University of Chicago; Gabrielle Paoletti '09, Canisius College; Brian Leary '09, Carnegie Mellon University and Terry P. Bisson, PhD, professor of mathematics & statistics.
The Canisius Department of Mathematics & Statistics is host to eight students from across the U.S. who are participating in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The REU, which began on June 16, concludes August 11.
Terry P. Bisson, PhD, professor of mathematics & statistics and Byung-Jay Kahng, PhD, assistant professor of mathematics & statistics are the faculty mentors.
This is the fourth year that Canisius has hosted the program, which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Campus Ministry Summer Picnic
Jessica M. Blum '99, reference librarian II/library, and Blum's son Will, 1, enjoyed the Campus Ministry Summer Picnic on Tuesday, July 8 in the Bart Mitchell Quad and Palisano Pavilion. The event, open to the campus community, was held to thank the volunteers who helped at various campus ministry events throughout the 2007-2008 academic year.
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.
CANISIUS KUDOS
Aronica Appointed Biology Chair
Susan M. Aronica, PhD, is the new chair of the college’s Department of Biology. An associate professor of biology, Aronica joined the college faculty in 1997. Since then, her coursework has included cell and subcellular biology, anatomy and physiology of animals and plants, and endocrinology. Aronica’s particular areas of interest are endocrinology and reproductive physiology. She conducts extensive research on the hormonal regulation, migratory behavior and metastasis of breast cancer cells.
“Susan has exceptional experience as an educator, a researcher and an administrator,” says Paula M. McNutt, PhD, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. “I am confident her experience, along with her leadership style will serve the department well, particularly as the sciences at Canisius become more collaborative and the college introduces new interdisciplinary programs.”
Aronica is the advisor for the Society of Pre-Health Professionals at Canisius, a member of the faculty committee that awards CEEP/HHMI fellowships to science students and will become program director of the college’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program this fall.
She holds a BS in animal science from Cornell University, and an MS and PhD in physiology from the University of Illinois-Urbana. Aronica takes over for Paula F. Dehn, PhD, who recently left Canisius to take the position of academic vice president at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Herbert Named Director of Public Relations
Eileen C. Herbert has been named director of public relations at Canisius College. As director, Herbert maintains relationships with the college’s key publics to help advance the mission of the college. She oversees the Public Relations team and promotion of the college’s news and information to internal and external audiences. Herbert serves as the liaison between the college and local, regional, national and international media outlets; manages special events involving distinguished speakers and/or dignitaries; and plans and implements media coverage of the college’s news conferences.
With more than 20 years experience in public relations at the college, Herbert served as the department’s associate director since 2000. Her expertise is in media relations and special events planning.
Herbert holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Canisius College.
Reppert Named Director of Annual Fund
Kirsten L. Reppert MS ’07 is the new director of the annual fund. She directs fundraising efforts in eight divisions, develops the annual giving plan, and manages the identification, cultivation and solicitation of annual fund and leadership gift prospects. Reppert joined the college in 2003 as assistant director of the annual fund. She developed and implemented creative fund-raising strategies including the Fidelis Circle, a multi-year leadership giving society with total gifts to date of more than $2 million. During her tenure at Canisius, telefund gifts more than doubled from $325,000 to $750,000, and overall annual contributions to the college increased nearly 20 percent.
Prior to Canisius, Reppert worked for Juniata College, first as assistant director of development and then assistant director of the annual fund. She holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and constitutional law from Juniata College, a master’s degree in communication and leadership from Canisius College, and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from Canisius.
Civello Receives Martin Award
(l-r) John J. Hurley, executive vice president and vice president for college relations, Dianna Civello, director of development, George M. Martin, special counsel to the president. (photo courtesy of Mike Etu '91)
Dianna Civello, director of development, is the recipient of the college’s 2008 George M. Martin Advancement Award. Civello accepted her award at the College Relations annual celebration on July 2.
Established in 1983 by George M. Martin, then executive vice president for administrative affairs at Canisius, the advancement award is presented annually to member/members of the college’s advancement staff whose initiative, creativity and teamwork brings distinction to him/herself and the college.
Video Institute Wins PRSA’s “Best in Show” Award
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| Barbara Irwin, PhD, chair of the Communication Studies Department and director of the Video Institute shows off the "Best of Show" award. |
Barbara Irwin, PhD, chair of the Communication Studies Department and director of the Video Institute, received this year’s Platinum Award for Central Terminal: Saving a Buffalo Landmark, a 30-minute video documentary produced for the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC). The Central Terminal video was produced by digital media arts majors Kirsten Jahn ’07 and Scott Richardson ’09 under Irwin’s direction. The documentary traces the history of the Central Terminal, its architectural and social significance and the efforts of the CTRC to bring the building back to life.
The Video Institute also received a Silver Excalibur Award for a video documentary produced for the St. Augustine & St. Monica Scholars Program.
For more information about the video institute, click here. To view the Central Terminal documentary in iTunes, click here. To view the St. Augustine & St. Monica documentary in iTunes, click here.
Butler Co-Authors Encyclopedia
English Professor Robert J. Butler, PhD, co-authored “The Richard Wright Encyclopedia” with Jerry W. Ward Jr., PhD, professor of English and African World Studies at Dillard University. The reference encompasses the life, work and times of the late African American author, whose works helped redefine race relations in mid-20th century America. Butler also delivered a paper at the International Conference on Richard Wright in Paris in June. The paper was entitled “Richard Wright’s Uses of His Religious Background in Black Boy and American Hunger.”
Canisius Newest Public Safety Officer
Kenneth C. Kruly, (left), director of government relations, swears in Afshar Yusuf, the college’s newest public safety officer on June 23 in Lyons Hall. Yusuf was recently promoted from public safety dispatcher. He previously worked at the State University of New York at Buffalo as a public safety officer in student aid and as an EMT for Rural Metro. Yusuf will attend basic training at the Central Police Services Academy in August.