Canisius College

Buffalo, NY – Robert M. Bennett, Regent and former Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, will address the Canisius College Class of 2009 during graduate commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in college’s Koessler Athletic Center. Approximately 685 graduate degrees will be conferred at this time. Bennett will be presented with an honorary degree during the ceremonies. Leo R. Futia ’40, former chair of the board and chief executive office of Guardian Life Insurance Company, will also receive an honorary degree.

Bennett recently completed his third and final term as chancellor of the Board of Regents, which supervises all educational activities within New York State. He previously served as a Regent for the Eighth Judicial District of New York State which encompasses the eight counties of Western New York.

His 23-year tenure at the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County included 15 years as president and CEO. Under Bennett’s leadership major initiatives were enacted, such as the Success by Six Program, an early childhood collaboration and The Day of Caring, a program in which thousands of employees from local companies volunteer at non-profit agencies. During Bennett’s time with the United Way, the agency consistently met its fund-raising goals, which soared from $13 million to $19 million.

He serves as a distinguished lecturer in public policy and politics in the Department of Education at Niagara University and senior policy advisor to the vice president and dean of the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Bennett earned a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame. He also holds an honorary doctor of law degree from Niagara University.

Bennett currently serves as a trustee for the Statler Foundation, the John R. Oishei Foundation and is chair of the Community Health Foundation for Central and Western New York. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including The Buffalo News Citizen of the Year Award, the Food Bank of Western New York Citizen of the Year Award and the United Way “One Person” Award.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (716) 888-2790.

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: 5/13/2009