The Canisius University Board of Trustees is the governing body of the college. It is comprised of thirty-two trustees of whom at least four are members of the Society of Jesus. Members are appointed to three-year terms. The full board meets four times per year and oversees, formulates, and recommends policy to the Canisius University president to ensure that the college fulfills its mission and purpose. As fiduciaries of the college, they are accountable for the academic quality, strategic planning, and fiscal well-being of the college. The college'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 2023-2024 include:
Chair: Martin J. Berardi '79
Vice Chair: Cindy L. Odom '90, MS
Treasurer: Timothy P. Balkin '81, CPA
Secretary: Cecelia R. Gotham '13, MS '15
MARTIN J. BERARDI ‘79
CEO, Schutte Buffalo Hammermill
Buffalo, NY
CATHERINE A. BOLZ ’85, MBA ‘89
Independent Consultant and Advisor
New York, NY
JERRY G. CANADA, JR ‘86
President, Harris Healthcare Group
Niagara Falls, NY
NELSON D. CIVELLO ’67, HON ‘17
Former President of the Fixed Income
Capital Markets Group of Dain Rauscher, Inc.
Former Director, Golden Griffin Fund, LLC
Retired Professor of Finance, Canisius
Buffalo, NY
EILEEN CROTTY SENDOR, CPA ‘78
Accounting Consultant, Hodgson Russ, LLP
Buffalo, NY
JAMES R. DEUSCHLE ‘84
Retired Executive VP & CFO
Rich Products Corporation
Buffalo, NY
CHRISTOPHER P. DEVINE ’98, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, Pyramid Hotel Group
Boston, MA
NORA EBERL PLIZGA ‘92
Co-Owner/CFO, Eberl Iron Works, Inc.
Buffalo, NY
HON. LENORA FOOTE-BEAVERS ‘92
Judge, Erie County Family Court
Buffalo, NY
REV. DANIEL R. J. JOYCE, S.J.
Vice President, Mission & Ministry, Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA
REV. GERALD THOMAS KRETTEK, S.J.
Visiting Associate Professor
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
FRANCIS M. LAZARUS ’66, PhD
President Emeritus, University of Dallas
Ashburn, VA
LAUREN (SFORMO) LEAVY ‘12
Ex officio, President of Alumni Association
Associate Director, Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
CHRISTOPHER F. MALOF, MBA ‘96
Managing Director, UBS Financial Services
Buffalo, NY
JAMES E. MCNICHOLAS, JR ’68, MSED ‘97
Retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Army
Buffalo, NY
BRIAN M. MURPHY ‘95
Partner, Lawley Insurance
Buffalo, NY
CINDY L. ODOM ’90, MS
Chief Advancement Officer, Hillside
Rochester, NY
MARGARET W. PAROSKI ’76, MD, MMM
President and CEO, Catholic Medical Partners
Buffalo, NY
MARYA J. PROPIS ‘91
Executive Vice President | Retail Distribution
RT Specialty
New York, NY
REV. PATRICK D. FRANCIS ROGERS, S.J.
Vice President for Mission Integration
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY
VINCENT GILBERT ROUX ’90, MBA
Global Head of Corporate Development
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
Newark, NJ
ANTHONY F. SHELLEY ‘84
Attorney, Miller & Chevalier
Washington, DC
CYNTHIA L. SKRZYCKI ’76, MS
Senior Lecturer, English Department
University of Pittsburgh (Emerita)
Pittsburgh, PA
REV. THOMAS R. SLON, S.J. ex officio
Rector, Canisius Jesuit Community
Buffalo, NY
THOMAS G. SMITH ‘71
Retired Partner, Harter Secrest & Emery
Rochester, NY
ANTHONY B. SPADA, JR ’80, MBA ‘87
President-Chief Executive Officer
AAA Western & Central New York
Williamsville, NY
STEVE K. STOUTE ex officio
President, Canisius University
Buffalo, NY
TIMOTHY T. TEVENS
Retired President & CEO
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
Managing Director, T Cubed Enterprise, LLC
University Park, FL
JOYSON C. THOMAS ‘03
Chief Financial Officer
WhiteHorse Finance, Inc.
New Hyde Park, NY
MICHAEL J. TODARO
Executive VP and Chief Risk Officer
M&T Bank
Buffalo, NY
NANCY W. WARE ’78, MBA ’85 Emerita
President, EduKids, Inc.
West Seneca, NY
LAURA A. ZAEPFEL ‘86
Vice President, Corporate Relations
Uniland Development Company
Amherst, NY
JARRETT A. ZIELINSKI '02
President & CEO
Torq Energy Logistics Ltd
Calgary, AB