We are comprised of professionals who are trained in student success. We offer academic and career assistance and provide services tailored to address the diverse developmental stages of a student’s collegiate career. We possess the interpersonal skills needed to be able to help individuals with a wide range of support and resources.
Scroll down to read more information about our staff, locations, and hours!
Student Development and Academic Success Administration
Dr. Mark Harrington
AVP, Student Development & Academic Success
Program Director, Higher Education & Student Affairs
Assistant Professor, Graduate Education & Leadership
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Dr. Mark Harrington serves as a faculty administrator at Canisius by leading student development and academic success efforts and directing the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration program. He is responsible of the leadership and oversight of the following: academic achievement, career development, first year experience, pathways: academic exploration program, student accessibility services, Division I student-athlete academic services, veteran resource center, The Steven Leonard Academic Mentoring Center, tutoring center, study center, the cura personalis team (case management), and medical/personal leaves/returns. Dr. Harrington is the co-chair of the university-wide retention committee and chair of the first-generation student success taskforce. As a faculty administrator, he serves in the School of Education and Human Services in the department of graduate education and leadership. In 2020, Dr. Harrington was the recipient of the Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Jesuit Student Affairs. Check out his faculty profile here.
Dr. Harrington's favorite thing about Buffalo is the small-city feel, with big-city opportunity. As a Golden Griffin alumnus, he loves everything Canisius and the guiding Jesuit values that shape the student experience. Dr. Harrington and the student success division look forward to working with you in pursuit of your academic, career, and personal goals as well as supporting you from orientation to graduation!
Jennifer Herrmann
Associate Dean, Student Success & Care Manager
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- Success Coach (College of Arts & Sciences: T-Z)
- Griff 201
- Academic Counseling & Care Manager
Jennifer serves as the Associate Dean for Student Success and oversees the Academic Achievement ares of the Griff Center for Student Success. She is responsible for the advisement and registration of incoming freshmen, transfer students and Pathfinders; she oversees the Student Summer Assistance Program, Mid-Semester Courses, progress reporting functions and also serves as a success coach, academic mentor and care manager. Jennifer is a member of various committees on campus such as the university-wide retention committee, academic affairs working group, APB, Cura Personalis Team and the Behavioral Intervention Team.
There are too many things she loves about Buffalo to choose just one, but the food is like no other which is how we ended up on National Geographic's list of Best Food Cities in the World. In addition to that, the people of Buffalo are of the kindest she has ever met; she love going to the mall, the grocery store, and restaurants and always seeing a friendly face of someone she knows.
As someone who completed her graduate education at Canisius, she feels very fortunate to now be able to work here and serve our students. The students and the people she is privileged to work with are her favorite parts of being here and a part of our community.
Office of Academic Achievement
The Academic Achievement team supports students through advisement of freshmen, undecided students, transfer students, and student-athletes. Additionally, the team is responsible for working with students to set academic goals and assist with their academic success.
Location: Old Main 013
General Contact: (716)888-2170 | @email
Tracy Callaghan
Assistant Dean, Student Success
Director, Academic Achievement
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- Success Coach (College of Arts & Sciences: A-J)
- First Year Experience & Scheduling
- Chair, Cura Personalis Team
Tracy oversees incoming freshmen registration, is co-director of the First Year Experience (FYE) program, and chairs the Cura Personalis Team. Tracy also serves as a success coach, academic mentor, and works with undergraduate students who need to take a leave from the college. She is a member of various committees including the university-wide retention committee, academic affairs working group, and the APB subcommittee.
Having grown up in the Buffalo area and a proud aluma of Canisius, Tracy loves everything about Buffalo! WNY has so many things to offer - excellent food, plenty of cultural events, beautiful scenery, “fun weather” and so many opportunities to explore the outdoors. She is the proud mom of two college-aged children and loves her two very energetic dogs. Tracy interacts with all students at Canisius keeping in mind the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis, care of the whole person.
Lindy Feider
Associate Director, Academic Achievement
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- Success Coach (Student-Athletes)
- Athletics Management Team
- Study Center
Lindy serves as a student success coach and academic mentor to the student-athletes at Canisius. She works closely with the athetics staff, head coaches and Griff Center for Student Success to support student-athletes and assist them in successfully navigating through their college careers. She is also a member of the Cura Personalis Team.
As a Western New York native, Lindy loves that Buffalo is a city with a small town feel. Her favorite things about Buffalo include the delicious food and experiencing all four seasons. As a proud Canisius graduate, she feels fortunate to now be able to work at the college and support current students like the extraordinary staff that helped her through her undergraduate and graduate degrees! Lindy enjoys photography, traveling and attending athletic events. She is excited to cheer on the Griffs, both in the classroom and in their sport!
Victoria Cirillo
Academic Achievement and First-Year Experience Coordinator
Andrew Fron '22
Academic Achievement and Student-Athlete Academic Services Coordinator
Samantha Ianni
Academic Achievement and Transfer Student Services Coordinator
Office of Career Development
The Career Development team is responsible for assisting students with their career goals through strategic partnerships with our Canisius faculty and employers. This team supports our students through career coaching, alumni connections, on campus recruitment, and career events.
Location: Horan-O'Donnell 014
General Contact: (716)888-2174 | @email
Eileen Abbatoy
Director, Career Development
Email | Calendly
- Career Communities: Education, Social Sciences, Communication, Humanities, Healthcare, & Pathfinders
Eileen manages the development and delivery of programs, services, coaching and advising designed to actively engage students and alumni in the process of career exploration and decision making. She collaborates with faculty to incorporate career programming into academic disciplines and provides career assessment tools for both students and alumni. As a career coach, Eileen loves to help Canisius students and graduates discover and clarify how their interests and talents relate to majors and careers, leading them to lives with purpose and meaning.
Eileen grew up on the west side of Buffalo, earning both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Buffalo State College. A lifelong "Buffa-lover," her favorite places include Delaware Park, North Buffalo, the Elmwood Village and the Buffalo waterfront. Her favorite thing about working at Canisius is incorporating the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis, care of the whole person, into her work as a career coach
Jenna French '21
Career Development Coordinator
Ernest Adom
Career Development Coordinator
Office of Support Services
The Support Services team offers individualized support to students through accessibility services, the testing center, the study center, tutoring services, and veterans affairs.
Location: Old Main 3rd Floor
- Study Center | 311
- Tutoring Center | 315
- Student Accessibility Services | 317
- Testing Center | 317
- Scuba Zone: Academic Mentoring Center | 318
- Veteran Resource Center | 304
General Contact: (716)888-2485 | @email
Sierra Bonerb
Director, Support Services
Email
- Success Coach (College of Arts & Sciences K-S)
- Student Accessibility Services
- Veteran Support Services
Sierra oversees Student Accessibility Services and Veteran Student Support. She is responsible for ensuring that students registered with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations and equal access to programs and services. In her role of overseeing veteran students on campus, Sierra is responsible for our Veteran Resource Center, as well as programming that helps create a sense of community for veteran students.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, Sierra celebrated her ten-year anniversary of working at Canisius, where she graduated with both her bachelor's and master's degrees. As someone who transitioned from being a student at Canisius to a staff member, she truly understand the journey that students can experience during their time here. She loves being able to meet students where they are and watch then develop to their full potential! Outside of Canisius, Sierra is a certified yoga teacher. She loves to share her yoga practice with students, and you may even see her teaching some yoga moves around campus!
Monika McFoy
Associate Director, Support Services
Program Director, Pathfinders: Academic Exploration Program
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- Success Coach (Wehle School of Business)
- Tutoring Center
- Academic Workshops
Monika is responsible for managing the Tutoring Center as well as Academic Workshops. She also advises for incoming freshmen and students in our Pathfinders program and serves as an academic coach and student success coach for students in the Wehle School of Business. Monika is on the Student Retention Committee, Cura Personalis Team and Intercollegiate Athletic Board.
Monika was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Buffalo State College. Her favorite thing about working at Canisius is her ability to have a positive impact on student success.
Angela Bufalino
Assistant Director, Support Services
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- Success Coach (School of Education & Human Services)
- Student Accessibility Services
- Marketing Communications
Angela works in Student Accessibility Services, where she assists students with disabilities in receiving reasonable accommodations. In this office, she oversees the Testing Center for students with accommodations, as well as makeup exams. Angela also oversees marketing communications and works as a Success Coach for students in the School of Education and Human Services.
Angela was born and raised in Buffalo and has a passion for the area and all it has to offer. Outside of work, you can find her walking her dog at Delaware Park, trying a new local restaurant, or attending a Bills game. As a graduate of Canisius, she loves to see how our Canisius students are positively contributing to our city. Her favorite thing about working at Canisius is getting to know students on a personal level and feeling like she can truly make a difference in a student’s college journey!
Katara Willis '23
Academic Mentoring and Retention Coordinator
Enoch Atta-Sah Nimfour
Student Accessibility Services Coordinator
Kelvin Baah
Student Accessibility Services Coordinator
Jessica Elston
Tutoring Center Coordinator
First Year Experience
The First Year Experience (FYE) course is a one-credit, optional course for first-year students at Canisius. FYE serves as a bridge, connecting academics with student services, creating a solid foundation that will lead to increased student success.
Jennifer Desiderio
Co-Director of First Year Experience
Tracy Callaghan
Co-Director of First Year Experience
Student Support Specialists
Peter Bergenstock
Student Support Specialist/Professional Tutor
Office Hours: Sundays from 6-9pm; Mondays and Tuesdays 2:30-5pm (academic year)
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Brigitte Morency
Student Support Specialist/ESL Tutor
Office Hours: Tuesdays from 1-4pm (academic year)
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Joanne Kohler
Student Support Specialist/ESL Tutor
Office Hours: Thursdays from 1-4pm (academic year)
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Additionally, please visit the following webpages to meet additional student academic success staff:
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Andrew L. Bouwhuis, SJ Library, please visit here.
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Writing Center, please visit here.
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Study Abroad, please visit here.
Hours
Academic Semester Hours
Monday - Friday | 8:30am-4:30pm
Summer Hours
Monday - Thursday | 8:30am-4:30pm
Friday | 8:30am-1pm