On any given day, Sarah Lynch ’24 might be writing internal communications, managing social media or analyzing data in her role as an assistant vice president and communications specialist at M&T Bank.
She also might find herself filming a surprise visit from Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins or organizing volunteer guest readers in grade school classrooms.
While each day may be different, Lynch draws on the range of skills she developed throughout her time at Canisius University.
But finding those skills took time. Like many incoming students, Lynch arrived without a clear idea of what career she would pursue.
At Canisius, Lynch found the encouragement and the freedom to say yes to new opportunities, follow her curiosity and discover her interests. In turn, each experience helped her refine her direction.
“I’m grateful that Canisius gave me the opportunity to try different things. It helped me understand my strengths and figure out what I wanted to pursue professionally,” says Lynch.
At Canisius, she was encouraged to explore a variety of interests beyond her Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and Digital Media Arts (DMA) majors. Lynch contributed to Quadrangle, the student-edited literary and visual arts magazine, served as vice president for the Chi Tau Chapter of the National Hispanic Honor Society and participated in Campus Ministry, among other activities.
“All my roles at Canisius taught me valuable life lessons,” she says. “I learned to listen with intention, collaborate effectively and lead with empathy by setting clear expectations and staying rooted in purpose.”
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Lynch also points to several classes that, at the time, seemed like just another part of her Canisius education. Looking back, she sees how each gave her skills she now uses in her career.
In adjunct professor John Kryder’s Discordant Cultural Voices course, Lynch learned to understand and interpret conflicting points of view. “It taught me to recognize that everyone brings different talents and perspectives to the table,” she says.
Of her Spanish studies courses with Richard Reitsma, PhD, and Margaret Stefanski, PhD, Lynch learned how to better connect with M&T Bank’s Hispanic and Latino customers.
“The professors helped me expand my cultural understanding. Today, I create bilingual marketing materials that make banking information more accessible to those families.”
And from a practical standpoint, the travel photography course she took with Tom Wolf ’86, now helps her tell visual stories about community organizations like Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, a public/private partnership with M&T Bank that supports Buffalo schools.
Living Her Values
Through her leadership of a volunteer service group within the Canisius Honors Student Association, Lynch connected with Buffalo nonprofits and developed a lasting interest in community service.
That commitment to service has continued beyond graduation. Today she volunteers at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and takes part in M&T Bank’s employee volunteer opportunities.
For Lynch, Canisius was about more than preparing for a career. It helped become more well-rounded. “I came to know who I was as a person and what values mattered most,” she says. “Canisius is a supportive community that gave me so many ways to try new things, build my skills and gain the confidence to move forward in life.”
