Fitzpatrick Institute Created At Canisius
Programs and learning opportunities for students in political science and public affairs will be offered
Buffalo, NY – Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., announced today the creation of the William H. Fitzpatrick Institute of Public Affairs and Leadership at Canisius College. The Fitzpatrick Institute will offer a broad array of programs and learning opportunities for students in political science and public affairs.
The creation of the Fitzpatrick Institute coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science at Canisius. The Fitzpatrick Chair has sponsored an acclaimed lecture series in which Canisius brings to campus prominent individuals whose professional careers in government, academia and media attest to their expertise on political issues, and who can share significant insight and information with the Canisius community. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, inaugurated the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series in 1962. More than 70 speakers have appeared on the Canisius campus under the auspices of the Fitzpatrick Chair, including former President Jimmy Carter, Sens. George Mitchell, Bill Bradley and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan and journalists Diane Sawyer, Carl Bernstein and Mark Shields.
The endowment for the Fitzpatrick Chair was established in 1958 by Paul E. and Walter D. Fitzpatrick in memory of their father, William H. Fitzpatrick, a South Buffalo builder and longtime chair of the Erie County Democratic Party. William H. Fitzpatrick was a key ally of New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith, the 1928 Democratic nominee for president. Paul Fitzpatrick was an equally influential Democrat in New York. He served several years as state Democratic Party chair. The Fitzpatrick endowment has since grown to several million dollars and prompted the creation of the broader-based institute of public affairs and leadership.
“Fifty years ago, Paul and Walter Fitzpatrick generously endowed a program in political science that has contributed greatly to the prestige of Canisius College and to the intellectual life of the campus,” said Father Cooke. “Today, we are moving in a new direction to create an institute to provide signature learning experiences for our students in the broader realm of public affairs and leadership. We are very grateful to the Fitzpatrick family, whose third and fourth generations will remain actively engaged in the work of the institute.”
“The family of Paul and Walter Fitzpatrick are thrilled that our grandparents’ vision for political education at Canisius will be expanded,” said Paul Moloney of Buffalo, the grandson of Paul Fitzpatrick. “We look forward to many more thought-provoking evenings on the Canisius campus in which national political leaders share their wisdom with Canisius students and the Western New York community. We are excited to see the resources of the Fitzpatrick endowment dedicated to an even greater set of opportunities for Canisius students.”
The Fitzpatrick Institute will continue to sponsor the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series. Speakers for the upcoming academic year will include Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) on November 10, 2008, and attorney and environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on April 16, 2009.
The institute will also offer political science and interdisciplinary symposia and workshops that deal with issues such as political communication, polling, and public policy in areas such as education. Political strategist and media consultant Joe Slade White will be at Canisius on October 1, 2008 to lead a workshop on political communication for political science and communication studies students before a speech that night on political media.
The institute will include student travel to Washington, DC, the United Nations, and to Europe to participate in European Union simulations (EuroSim). Political participation will be available to students through educational opportunities at the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions and through volunteerism with political campaigns and political parties.
The institute will serve as a clearinghouse for political and governmental internships and other volunteer activities to develop leadership potential in Canisius students.
The Fitzpatrick Institute will also create an interactive Web site devoted to leadership issues and will contain podcasts of lectures and symposia.
Michael V. Haselswerdt, PhD, professor of political science at Canisius, will serve as director of the Fitzpatrick Institute.
To learn more about the Canisius major in political science, click here.
For more information, contact the Canisius College Office of Public Relations.
Canisius College is one of 28 Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
The creation of the Fitzpatrick Institute coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the William H. Fitzpatrick Chair of Political Science at Canisius. The Fitzpatrick Chair has sponsored an acclaimed lecture series in which Canisius brings to campus prominent individuals whose professional careers in government, academia and media attest to their expertise on political issues, and who can share significant insight and information with the Canisius community. Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, inaugurated the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series in 1962. More than 70 speakers have appeared on the Canisius campus under the auspices of the Fitzpatrick Chair, including former President Jimmy Carter, Sens. George Mitchell, Bill Bradley and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Supreme Court Justice William Brennan and journalists Diane Sawyer, Carl Bernstein and Mark Shields.
The endowment for the Fitzpatrick Chair was established in 1958 by Paul E. and Walter D. Fitzpatrick in memory of their father, William H. Fitzpatrick, a South Buffalo builder and longtime chair of the Erie County Democratic Party. William H. Fitzpatrick was a key ally of New York Gov. Alfred E. Smith, the 1928 Democratic nominee for president. Paul Fitzpatrick was an equally influential Democrat in New York. He served several years as state Democratic Party chair. The Fitzpatrick endowment has since grown to several million dollars and prompted the creation of the broader-based institute of public affairs and leadership.
“Fifty years ago, Paul and Walter Fitzpatrick generously endowed a program in political science that has contributed greatly to the prestige of Canisius College and to the intellectual life of the campus,” said Father Cooke. “Today, we are moving in a new direction to create an institute to provide signature learning experiences for our students in the broader realm of public affairs and leadership. We are very grateful to the Fitzpatrick family, whose third and fourth generations will remain actively engaged in the work of the institute.”
“The family of Paul and Walter Fitzpatrick are thrilled that our grandparents’ vision for political education at Canisius will be expanded,” said Paul Moloney of Buffalo, the grandson of Paul Fitzpatrick. “We look forward to many more thought-provoking evenings on the Canisius campus in which national political leaders share their wisdom with Canisius students and the Western New York community. We are excited to see the resources of the Fitzpatrick endowment dedicated to an even greater set of opportunities for Canisius students.”
The Fitzpatrick Institute will continue to sponsor the Fitzpatrick Lecture Series. Speakers for the upcoming academic year will include Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) on November 10, 2008, and attorney and environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on April 16, 2009.
The institute will also offer political science and interdisciplinary symposia and workshops that deal with issues such as political communication, polling, and public policy in areas such as education. Political strategist and media consultant Joe Slade White will be at Canisius on October 1, 2008 to lead a workshop on political communication for political science and communication studies students before a speech that night on political media.
The institute will include student travel to Washington, DC, the United Nations, and to Europe to participate in European Union simulations (EuroSim). Political participation will be available to students through educational opportunities at the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions and through volunteerism with political campaigns and political parties.
The institute will serve as a clearinghouse for political and governmental internships and other volunteer activities to develop leadership potential in Canisius students.
The Fitzpatrick Institute will also create an interactive Web site devoted to leadership issues and will contain podcasts of lectures and symposia.
Michael V. Haselswerdt, PhD, professor of political science at Canisius, will serve as director of the Fitzpatrick Institute.
To learn more about the Canisius major in political science, click here.
For more information, contact the Canisius College Office of Public Relations.
Canisius College is one of 28 Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
Date released: 9/4/2008
