The Canisius University Board of Trustees is the governing body of the university. Members are appointed to three-year terms. The full board meets three times per year and oversees, formulates, and recommends policy to the Canisius University president to ensure that the university fulfills its mission and purpose. As fiduciaries, they are accountable for the academic quality, strategic planning, and fiscal well-being of the university. The university's senior leadership team works closely with the board and serves as staff liaisons to the board’s committees.
Members of the Board of Trustees for 2025-2026 include:
Chair: Brian M. Murphy '95
Vice Chair: Cynthia L. Skrzycki '76
Treasurer: Robert L. Baumet
Secretary: Cecelia R. Gotham '13, MS '15
JEFFREY BOGART '92, ex-officio
President of Alumni Association
Credit Analyst III, NBT Bank
JERRY G. CANADA, JR '86
President, Harris Healthcare Group
Niagara Falls, NY
REV. DAVID S. CIANCIMINO, SJ, ex-officio
President, Canisius High School
Buffalo, NY
EILEEN CROTTY SENDOR, CPA '78
Accounting Consultant Former CFO, Hodgson Russ, LLP
Buffalo, NY
JACK J. DEMPSEY '83
Operating Advisor,
Norwest Equity Partners
Minneapolis, MN
JAMES R. DEUSCHLE '84
Retired Executive VP & CFO
Rich Products Corporation
Buffalo, NY
NORA EBERL PLIZGA '92
Co-Owner/CFO, Eberl Iron Works, Inc.
Buffalo, NY
JESANA D. GADLEY '20
Vice President, Community Strategy and Emerging Talent, M&T Bank
Buffalo, NY
ANTHONY B. HABIB '95
President, Pellicano's
Amherst, NY
REV. DANIEL R. J. JOYCE, S.J.
Vice President, Mission & Ministry, Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA
CHRISTOPHER KELLY '83
Partner, Jones Day
Cleveland, OH
REV. GERALD THOMAS KRETTEK, S.J.
Visiting Associate Professor
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
FRANCIS M. LAZARUS '66, PhD, emeritus
President Emeritus, University of Dallas
Ashburn, VA
JOSEPH A. LOMBARDO '00
Head of M&T Equipment Finance Group, M&T Bank
Buffalo, NY
BRIAN M. MURPHY '95
Partner, Lawley Insurance
Buffalo, NY
CINDY L. ODOM '90
President & CEO, New City Kids
Grand Rapids, MI
MARGARET W. PAROSKI '76, MD, MMM
President and CEO, Catholic Medical Partners
Buffalo, NY
CLOTILDE PEREZ-BODE DEDECKER '82
Retired President & CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
CRYSTAL J. RODRIGUEZ-DABNEY, JD
Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer,
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
REV. PATRICK D. FRANCIS ROGERS, S.J.
Vice President for Mission Integration, Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY
CYNTHIA L. SKRZYCKI '76
Senior Lecturer Emerita, English Department
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
THOMAS G. SMITH '71
Retired Partner, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Rochester, NY
ANTHONY B. SPADA, JR '80, MBA '87
Retired President & Chief Executive Officer
AAA Western & Central New York
Williamsville, NY
STEVE K. STOUTE, JD, ex officio
President, Canisius University
Buffalo, NY
JOYSON C. THOMAS '03
Chief Financial Officer
WhiteHorse Finance, Inc.
New Hyde Park, NY
LAURA A. ZAEPFEL '86, emerita
Vice President, Corporate Relations
Uniland Development Company
Amherst, NY
JARRETT A. ZIELINSKI '02
Retired President & CEO
Torq Energy Logistics Ltd
Calgary, AB