Looking to the Future
Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. addressed a full house at the fall 2001 academic convocation on Tuesday afternoon in the Regis Rooms. It was an opportunity for all of us to take a look at where we've been, what we have already achieved and ultimately where we want to go as a college.
And the future looks bright.
Father Cooke reported that we are in the top ranks of comprehensive universities in the Northeast. US News and World Report ranks Canisius 31 out of 168 colleges and universities. But Father Cooke says we have set our sights to become one of the top five comprehensive universities in the Northeast.
It is a plan that has been in the works for several years. The strategy began with putting the necessary infrastructure in place. The results are renovated and new residence halls and the dramatic transformation of Old Main, Lyons Hall and the Montante Cultural Center. Father Cooke said this was a necessary beginning and he thanked the college community for their patience throughout this process.
The next step will focus upon our fine academic programs and faculty so that we may continue to attract and retain quality students. Father Cooke announced that he had asked Dr. Herbert Nelson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and the deans to work with the faculty on a Plan for Academic Excellence.
A plan is also in development to enhance Catholic identity in the academic context that will include a lecture series and additional support for research and course development.
Father Cooke also announced that Dr. Nelson had appointed Dr. James McDermott, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to chair the selection committee for the new Dean of the Wehle School of Business. Father Cooke publicly recognized and thanked outgoing dean Dr. Richard A. Shick for his 22 years of service and his many accomplishments.
In the "What's New?" department, Father Cooke had a long list. It began with the addition of 29 new full time faculty. (Fifteen of these positions are new). Old Main is also new again, adding 50 technology classrooms to campus this year. The New Health and Human Performance Center, a state of the art facility located in Demerly Hall, is also among the highlights. Our residence halls are at 101% capacity, even with the addition of phase one of the Delavan Townhouses, which opened this fall!
This past summer, the Koessler Athletic Center completed phase one of a two-part renovation project with a new air handling system among the highlights. Next summer the gym floor will be refurbished and new seating for 2,150 fans will be installed. New offices for math and statistics have been created in Wehle Hall and the offices on the tenth and eleventh floors of Churchill Tower have been refurbished. The college relations division is now located in Lyons Hall and the deans of the business and the college of arts and sciences will move into their newly renovated quarters in Bagen Hall next month.
Technology is commonplace not only in the classroom but also in our "wireless" library. And now students can interact with the college more than ever before on the Web, including paying their bills on line.
Finally, Father Cooke asked faculty and staff for their assistance in addressing the problem of binge drinking among students. He identified it as a serious issue on campus and said that everyone needed to recognize that they had a role to play in eliminating it.
Although we've accomplished much, Father Cooke reminded the faculty and staff that there are challenges ahead. However, our vision for the future is attainable if we all work together.
"If we think excellence and be excellence, we will achieve excellence," he said.
Canisius Remembers
Tragedy struck our nation last week and although the attack occurred more than 500 miles away - it felt like it happened right in our own backyard. The devastation on Tuesday impacted all our lives. For those students, faculty and staff with family and friends who worked in the World Trade Center and Pentagon or who were passengers on one of the four hijacked planes, the attack hit closer to home. Within hours of the attack, the college community gathered to support one another in the Montante Cultural Center. We mourned and prayed together as a family. Candles aglow, the community met outside the Palisano Pavilion for a candlelight vigil on Thursday. Friday, the campus wore green ribbons to symbolize life and hope, and at noon the college joined the rest of the nation for a service of prayer and remembrance. The horrendous events of Tuesday, September 11 are now more than a week old but the attack on our nation and on our humanity will remain embedded in our hearts forever.
God's Promise
by Annie Johnson Flint
God hath not promised
Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways,
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain.
But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way;
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love. |
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Students exit the prayer service
Canisius College candlelight vigil
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Demerly Hall Dedication
Father Cooke unveils the Demerly Hall plaque with Marjorie Demerly during the building's dedication on September 9
Canisius College formally dedicated Demerly Hall on Wednesday, September 9, named for long time Canisius supporters Dr. John Demerly and his wife Marjorie. More than 80 friends and family joined Marjorie Demerly as Father Cooke dedicated the building.
The late John Demerly, Ph.D., a 1938 graduate of Canisius College, was a member of the Board of Regents and the DiGamma Honor Society. He and Marjorie were also active participants in Canisius College Class of 1938 reunions and calling campaigns. John taught at Kensington, South Park, Veterans, Lafayette and Grover Cleveland High Schools. John also worked for many years as a vice principal and acting principal before returning to his alma mater where he taught in the Education Department and directed field placement for student teachers. John died in 1993.
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| Dr. Khalid Bibi, director of the Health and Human Performance Center in the Bod Pod, a device that is used to measure body fat percentage. |
Demerly Hall houses the new Health and Human Performance program, which is designed to educate students in the areas of rehabilitative and preventative health with special emphasis on cardio pulmonary rehabilitation and health promotion. The center has a rehabilitation area, a stress testing facility, multimedia lecture and seminar rooms, a physician's office, a data processing room and an anthropomorphic room with the new technology for body composition assessment.
Demerly Hall is also the new home to the physical plant and maintenance. Centralizing these offices at the new facility allows more space on the main campus for academic purposes.
To view more photos from the Health and Human Performance Center, click here.
Quinn Visits Campus
U.S. Congressman Jack Quinn (R-Hamburg) spoke at Canisius on Monday night as part of the William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science Lecture Series. Congressman Quinn discussed the attack on the nation and the evening concluded with a question and answer session.
Grover Named Executive Director of Strassberger Center
Canisius welcomes Thomas D. Grover, as the executive director of the Strassberger Center for Entrepreneurship. Earlier this year, Tom retired as executive vice president and Upstate New York Regional Director of Small Business Services at Fleet Bank.
"Tom's experience of working with small business owners while in the banking industry will serve him well in his new role at Canisius," stated Maureen Millane-Rusk, assistant dean of external business programs. "I believe he will be very effective in helping us to develop and grow our already successful Center for Entrepreneurship."
Father Dugan and Women's Softball Team Travel to Italy
Tim Dillon, director of athletics (left) with Rev. Paul Dugan, S.J. in front of St. Peter's
During a trip to Italy this summer with the Women's Softball team, Rev. Paul Dugan, S.J., was given the honor of concelebrating Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. It was the first time Father Dugan served as concelebrant at St. Peter's.
While in Bologna, Italy, the women's softball team played in a tournament against the Italian senior national and junior national teams as well as the Forli Club Team, the 2000 European Cup Champions. Canisius placed third in the tournament. In Rome, the team won three games against Club Lazio and Club Nettuno.
Welcome New Faculty
In the last issue of NetGazette we began introducing the new faculty members. In this issue we continue our list of welcomes. Be sure to say "Hi" when you see them around campus!
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Lieutenant Colonel James D. Bagwell, professor of military science, earned a bachelor of science degree from West Point Military Academy and a master of science degree in education from the University of Georgia. Jim has served in the United States Army for 19 years. |
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Captain Jamey Barcomb, instructor of military science, earned a bachelor of science degree from Niagara University. He has been a commissioned officer in the United States Army for more than eight years. Jamey also works as a production supervisor at General Mills. |
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Debra Burhans, assistant professor of computer science, earned a bachelor of science degree from the University at Michigan and a master of science degree from the University at Buffalo. Debra will teach in the college's new bioinformatics program. She comes to Canisius from the University at Buffalo where she is doctoral candidate. Before coming to Canisius, Debra was a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University at Buffalo. |
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Barbara Burns, assistant professor of teacher education, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Molloy College, a master of education degree and a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She previously was an adjunct professor in the Mathematics Department at Canisius College. |
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Suzanne D'Amato, assistant professor of teacher education, earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and a master of science degree in education from the State University College at Buffalo, a master of science in educational administration and supervision, and a Ph.D. in learning and instruction from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She previously taught as an adjunct professor at Canisius and Medaille College.
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Anne Farrell MS '96, assistant professor of physical education, earned a bachelor of science degree from Temple University, a master of science degree from Canisius College and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. She previously taught at California State University in Bakersfield. |
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Kristin Finn '86, assistant professor of teacher education, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Canisius College, a master of arts degree and a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Kristin taught psychology at Canisius from 1990-1992 and again from 1994-1996. She also taught a summer graduate course in testing, measurement and statistics at Canisius in 1996. |
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Eric Gansworth, a visiting professor of English, earned a bachelor of arts and master of art degree in English from the State University College at Buffalo. He is also an assistant professor of English at Niagara County Community College. Eric, a member of the Onondaga Tribe, was born and raised on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation in Western New York. |
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Marjorie L. Harrington, associate professor of deaf education, earned a bachelor of elementary education degree from Hillsdale College, a master of education degree from Smith College and a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as an associate professor in the School of Education Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Barton College. |
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Mark Hodin, assistant professor of English, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Colby College and a Ph.D. in American Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a former lecturer at Wisconsin Madison and visiting professor at the University of Louisville. |
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Christopher R. Lee, assistant professor of religious studies, earned a bachelor of science degree in humanities from the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, a master's degree in anthropology from Syracuse University. Chris is a Ph.D. candidate at Syracuse University. Previously he taught at Iowa State University. |
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Efstratios Prassidis, assistant professor of mathematics, earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and his Ph.D. in philosophy in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame. Previously he was a visiting research associate in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Rochester. |
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Susan K. Putnam '95, assistant professor of psychology, earned a bachelor of arts degree from Canisius College and a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Previously she was an instructor of psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Canisius College, Niagara University and Daemen College. |
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Gillian Scalzo Richardson, assistant professor of teacher education, earned a bachelor of arts degree, a master of library science degree, a master in education degree and a Ph.D. in reading/literacy from the University at Buffalo. Previously she taught at the University at Buffalo. |
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Nancy V. Wallace, assistant professor of teacher education, earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from New York State University College at Cortland, a master of arts degree in bilingual education from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Ph.D. in philosophy of education at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In the past she has taught at the New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. |
Canisius Welcomes New Coaches
By Marc Gignac
Director of Athletic Communications
Mark Notaro
Head Coach - Baseball
Canisius '95
Mark Notaro begins his first season as head coach of the Golden Griffin baseball team. He also serves as the director of AmeriCorps, Athletes in Service, at Canisius.
Notaro was a four-year letter winner for the Griffs from 1991-94. He earned All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honors in 1994 as the Griffs went 28-14 overall and 17-1 in league play. Notaro still holds school career records for games played (161) and at-bats (517) and is second in hits (147) and doubles (30). Following his Canisius career, he played one season for the Niagara Falls Mallards of the North Atlantic Baseball League, a professional independent league.
Mark has been a member of the Williamsville East High School coaching staff for the last eight seasons and served as an assistant coach for the Canisius junior varsity team in 1995. He was also the player/manager for the league champion Lake View Sox of the Buffalo Muny AAA League in 2000.
He earned bachelor's (1995) and master's (1997) degrees in education from Canisius. Mark's parents, Peter and Diana Notaro, and his four brothers, Thomas, Anthony, Peter and Joseph and their families, all live in Buffalo and are great fans and supporters of Canisius baseball.
Mark will be married to Julie Mruk in October of 2001 and the couple will reside in the Buffalo area.
Jim Hesch
Head Coach - Men's Soccer
Cortland State '94
Jim Hesch begins his first season at the helm of the Canisius College men's soccer team. He comes to Canisius from Fredonia State, where he spent the last year as an assistant coach under P.J. Gondek. The Blue Devils finished 13-3-2 overall and 9-0 in the conference in 2000.
Jim began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Cortland State, in 1995 and was an assistant for the New York State West Olympic Development Program in 1999.
The Syracuse, NY, native was also a member of the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Indoor Soccer League. Hesch played in 38 games and tallied 21 goals and 14 assists in 2000. He has been in the league since 1995 and with the Blizzard since 1999. He played with the Harrisburg Heat from 1996-99 and was named an NPSL All-Star in the 1997-98 season after posting 119 points, the eighth-best single-season total in Heat history.
As a collegiate player, Hesch won a national championship with Southern Connecticut University in 1990 before transferring to Cortland State, where he played from 1991-93 and was named a first-team All-America. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Cortland State in 1994.
Cathleen Hummel
Head Coach - Volleyball
Hofstra '91
Charged with the task of moving the Golden Griffins to the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference standings will be first-year head coach Cathleen Hummel. Cathy, who joined the Canisius staff on March 29, 2001, enters her first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach for four years at the University at Buffalo.
Cathy's coaching career began in 1995 as assistant coach at Division II Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y. After consecutive NCAA appearances in 1995 and 1996 with the Golden Lions, she joined the University at Buffalo staff in 1997 and aided on the Bulls progression into the Mid-American Conference.
A 1991 graduate of Hofstra University, Cathy was named most valuable player at the ECAC Championships in 1988 and 1990. Prior to Hofstra, Cathy attended James Madison University for two seasons and was named the Colonial Athletic Conference MVP in 1987. She was selected to the Wall of Fame at James Madison University in 2000.
Since 1997, Cathy has also served as the head coach of the Cheetah Volleyball Club, where her team finished 11th, 19th and 23rd in the nation over the past three years. She was an Empire State Games participant for the Long Island and Western squads from 1984-2001 winning 17 medals, including five gold.
Cathy is married to Todd Hummel and resides in North Tonawanda.
Meagan Dougherty
Head Coach - Women's Soccer
North Carolina '94
Bringing an extensive playing and coaching resume to the Canisius College women's soccer program is first-year head coach Meagan Dougherty. A four-year letter winner with the Tar Heels at North Carolina, the former striker won four NCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championships. She graduated in 1994 with a bachelor of arts degree in communications.
Meagan is not new to the Buffalo area. She has been an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo since graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1994.
At the University at Buffalo, Meagan assisted the women's soccer team to a 1999 Mid-American Conference Quarterfinal appearance and a 2000 regular-season championship as well as a Mid-American Conference Semi-final appearance.
The Burlington, Ontario native also served as head coach of the Team Germania Soccer Club in Buffalo from 1996-2000, where she led her team to a New York State West Championship in 1999. In 1997, Dougherty was a member of the Buffalo Ffillies Professional Women's Soccer Club.
H. Glen Graham
Head Coach - Track and Field
Buffalo State '89
Glen Graham begins his first season as head coach of the men and women's track & field teams. He will also oversee the men and women's cross-country programs.
He spent 13 years coaching track & field at Cleveland Hill High School. During that time, Glen led the men's team to 11 division titles and two ECIC championships in addition to serving as head coach of the women's team for four years. He served as an assistant at Canisius last season, coaching the field events.
No stranger to Canisius athletics, Glen has been a member of the Golden Griffin football coaching staff for the last four years. He served as defensive coordinator and secondary coach from 1997-99 and coached the defensive backs last season. Glen will remain on the football staff and will coach the defensive line this season.
Glen is a 1989 graduate of Buffalo State where he received his bachelor's degree in biology education. He earned his master's degree in education at Canisius in 1995. He presently teaches science at Cleveland Hill and resides in Buffalo with his wife, Stephanie and their daughters Kendra and Leah.
Name the New Mascot
The Golden Griffin mascot just got a makeover and now it needs a name. The Athletics Department is asking for your suggestions. Contestants should E-mail their nominations to Jennifer Zeh at zehj@canisius.edu or to Marshall Foley at foley1@canisius.edu by September 21.
The Athletic Department management team will pick the top five choices by September 24. The five finalists will be posted at www.gogriffs.com. Students, faculty and staff can visit the Athletic Department Web site and cast a vote for their favorite name. Votes can also be placed in drop boxes outside the new Champs Corner, which is located in the upper level of the Koessler Athletic Center.
The new mascot made its debut during the Student-Athlete Welcome Back Night, which was held at the Montante Cultural Center on September 4.