Buffalo, NY - Canisius University has announced the full lineup of speakers for its upcoming 2025 commencement ceremonies, which will take place on Saturday, May 17 at the Koessler Athletic Center.
Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients
The morning ceremony, beginning at 10:00 a.m. for the College of Arts & Sciences, will feature Rev. Zachariah F. Presutti '07, SJ, as the commencement speaker.
Father Presutti, a Canisius alumnus and Jesuit priest, is the founder of the Thrive for Life Prison Project, a Catholic ministry dedicated to transforming lives behind and beyond prison walls. Through spiritual and educational accompaniment, the organization empowers the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated population. Thrive for Life also manages several houses of studies across the country for formerly incarcerated individuals who want to continue their education, operating in partnership with universities including Columbia, New York University, and St. John's University.
Father Presutti also serves as Catholic chaplain at Rikers Island.
The afternoon ceremony, beginning at 1:30 p.m. for the Wehle Business School and the School of Education and Human Services, will welcome Zeneta B. Everhart '11 as the commencement speaker. Everhart is Buffalo's Common Councilwoman representing the city's Masten District and a 2011 Canisius alumna.
In 2023, she made history by winning election to this seat, which had not been held by a woman in more than 60 years. Following the Tops massacre on May 4, 2022, which seriously injured her son Zaire Goodman, Everhart testified before Congress about the need for stricter gun laws, contributing to the passage of the Safer Communities Act, the first piece of federal gun legislation in more than 30 years.
Prior to her election, she worked as a journalist and producer at Spectrum News Buffalo before transitioning to public service as the East Side liaison for New York State Sen. Timothy Kennedy.
Canisius University President Steve K. Stoute will confer honorary degrees upon both speakers during the ceremonies.
Student Speakers
In addition to the main commencement speakers, Canisius has selected student representatives to address their fellow graduates at each ceremony.
Ava Green '25 of Herkimer, NY, will address the morning ceremony for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Green is a journalism major and English minor who has made a significant impact at Canisius through her academic excellence and co-curricular leadership. As editor-in-chief of The Griffin, she oversees the weekly production of the university's student newspaper and provides mentorship to fellow student writers. She also serves as a team learning proctor in the English Department and as a peer mentor in the First Year Experience program.
Green is an active member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association Honor Society. In fall 2024, she was inducted to Canisius University's DiGamma Honor Society.
Mekhi Edwards '25 of Buffalo will deliver remarks at the afternoon ceremony. Edwards is a marketing major in the Wehle Business School who has distinguished himself through exceptional academic achievement and campus involvement.
As a teacher assistant for the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) Masterclass, Edwards mentored fellow students in developing marketing strategies and building skills in client management. Through the IMC Masterclass, Edwards worked with Future in Our Hands (FIOH) USA, a Buffalo-founded nonprofit that funds projects in Kenya and Zambia. His commitment led to his appointment as a Board Member of the organization.
Edwards is also an active member of Canisius University's Afro-American Society and currently works as a digital marketing specialist at Sprint Marketer.
Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award Recipient
The Canisius University offices of Academic Affairs and Institutional Advancement have named Mark Hodin, PhD, professor of English, as the recipient of the 2025 Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award. The award recognizes faculty members who have made significant contributions to the university through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
For more than two decades, Hodin has served the Canisius community as an inspiring teacher, accomplished scholar, and generous mentor. He teaches a broad range of courses—from first-year English to specialized courses of his own design such as Cold War Culture and Counterculture.
"Semester after semester, students express their affectionate gratitude for the care and attention he shows them, for how truly and deeply he listens to them and brings out their very best," noted English professor and colleague Mick Cochrane, PhD.
As a scholar, Hodin's work has been published in prestigious journals and frequently cited. Within the university, he has provided leadership in various roles, including chair of the English Department, the core curriculum committee, and the faculty senate.
Founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, Canisius is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
