Buffalo, NY – Canisius University announced today that it has appointed Amy B. Wilson, PhD, and Kathleen Kinney to key leadership roles within the School of Education & Leadership Studies, further strengthening the university’s position as a regional leader in educator preparation and higher education leadership development.
Wilson is the new director of the university’s Higher Education Leadership & Administration (HELA) program and will also serve as faculty associate dean for the School of Education & Leadership Studies. Kinney joins Canisius as director of the Canisius University Teacher Residency (CUTR) program. Both Kinney and Wilson will teach coursework in their respective programs.
These appointments advance two of the university’s most successful graduate programs, each known for strong regional partnerships, immersive field-based learning and 100% job placement rates.
Amy Wilson brings more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education administration, graduate program coordination and faculty development. She previously served as chair and coordinator of Higher Education Administration & Adult Education at SUNY Buffalo State University, where she led curriculum innovation, program revision, faculty assignments, and recruitment across multiple master’s and certificate programs.
A nationally recognized scholar in inclusive supervision, multicultural competence and leadership education, Wilson has authored numerous peer reviewed publications and delivered keynote addresses, invited trainings, and national conference presentations. Her teaching excellence has been recognized with Buffalo State’s President’s Medal for Excellence in Teaching (2025) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA) Mid Career Faculty Award (2023).
At Canisius, Wilson will lead the HELA master’s program - one of the region’s strongest pathways into careers in student affairs, academic advising, admissions, athletics administration, diversity and inclusion, alumni relations, financial aid and academic affairs.
HELA’s comprehensive curriculum, two required internships, flexible full or part time structure, and unique inclusion of regional and national student affairs conference attendance distinguish it as a premier preparation program for emerging higher education leaders.
Kathleen Kinney joins Canisius with more than 20 years of experience in educator preparation, K–12 partnerships and workforce development. Most recently, she served as Advisor & Clinical Experience Coach at Daemen University. Prior to that, she co led a $9 million educator workforce development portfolio as program manager for the University at Buffalo Teacher Residency Program, overseeing partnerships across six districts, three charter schools and 22 public schools.
Kinney brings extensive experience in curriculum alignment, clinical supervision, district partnership development, and management of more than $16 million in federal, state, foundation, and private investments supporting educator recruitment, preparation and retention.
As director of the Canisius Teacher Residency Program - the first teacher residency program established in Western New York - Kinney will lead a nationally recognized model that provides residents with a year long paid residency, dual certification pathways, priority hiring status and a 30% tuition scholarship. Residents earn a $30,000–$35,000 salary during their residency year and gain hands on experience in multicultural, high needs school settings under the guidance of expert mentor teachers.
The HELA and CUTR programs are housed within the School of Education & Leadership Studies, which prepares socially committed professionals for careers in education through high quality instruction, individualized advising, and strategic field placements. Students benefit from supervised, practical experiences in classrooms, administrative offices, organizations, and institutions that deepen professional readiness and leadership capacity.
Canisius University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), underscoring its commitment to excellence in educator preparation.
Canisius University is a private, Catholic, Jesuit university in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1870, it is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the premier private university in Western New York. Through its eight schools, Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs, 65 master's programs, and a variety of professional degrees.
