Amelia H. Lyons ’93 has built a career studying history, migration and global change—but the foundation for her work began at Canisius University.
A graduate of Canisius’ History and French programs and a member of DiGamma Honor Society, Lyons is returning to her alma mater as a new member of the Canisius University Board of Trustees, bringing with her a deep commitment to mentorship, experiential learning and helping students understand how their education prepares them to make an impact.
Lyons is an associate professor of history at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where her teaching and research focus on modern France, colonialism, migration and the historical process of decolonization. A Fulbright Scholar, she is the author of The Civilizing Mission in the Metropole: Algerian Families and the French Welfare State during Decolonization and has secured more than $1.8 million in grant funding for public-facing and student-centered research initiatives.
Lyons credits her undergraduate experience at Canisius with shaping both her academic career and her approach to teaching. “I had such amazing personal relationships with my professors,” Lyons said. “I felt their genuine desire to give me and my classmates individualized support and mentoring.”
Lyons said she never felt her professors’ research interests came at the expense of their commitment to students. Instead, they modeled the type of faculty-student relationships she now strives to create in her own classroom. “As someone who teaches at a huge university, I have worked hard to ensure that my students feel like they have similar experiences to what I had at Canisius,” she said.
Her Canisius experience extended well beyond the classroom. Through faculty-led experiences in France, interactions with international students and involvement in student organizations, Lyons gained a broader understanding of the world and discovered how a liberal arts education could prepare her for a lifetime of learning.
The same commitment to meaningful learning experiences now guides Lyons’ approach as an educator. At UCF, she has emphasized what higher education increasingly calls “high-impact practices”—experiences such as internships, research projects, service-learning and collaborative programs that help students develop skills they can apply beyond graduation.
Lyons said her own Canisius education gave her critical skills in research, reading and writing, but she did not fully understand as an undergraduate how valuable those skills would be. “I did not realize as an undergraduate, that I was learning transferable skills—that I could use these skills in any career path,” Lyons said.
Today, Lyons works intentionally to help students make those connections and encourages them to recognize the value of their education and confidently communicate the skills they have developed.
Her commitment to helping students move forward is also rooted in a lesson passed down from her grandfather, Leo Lyons ’41, a Marine who fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific during World War II and remained deeply connected to Canisius throughout his life.
Lyons remembers her grandfather as a familiar presence on campus when she was a student. He swam at the Koessler Center, participated in alumni fundraising efforts and proudly supported the university he loved.
His advice was simple: “Get at it and get it done.”
For Lyons, the phrase represents more than just taking action. It is a reminder to push past uncertainty and fear in order to pursue opportunities.
“I find that anxiety is often the most difficult barrier we face, especially as students,” Lyons said. “How do we get started studying, writing a paper? How do we write that first email asking about an internship? How do we find the courage to join a club?”
She hopes to bring that same encouragement and perspective to her role as a trustee, helping ensure Canisius students have the support, experiences and confidence they need to pursue their goals.
“My professional drive comes right out of Canisius’ mission to offer transformative learning experiences that engage students both inside and outside the classroom,” Lyons said. “I am excited to bring my experience and my drive to Canisius University’s students—building on the work our alma mater has already done to offer students as many skills and opportunities as possible.”
For Lyons, joining the Board of Trustees represents a meaningful opportunity to give back to the institution that helped shape her. “I throw myself into life with zest, and I want to help others do the same,” she said. “I am excited about the new adventure I am embarking on at Canisius.”
