communications Reitnour

Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.
President
2008 CANISIUS COLLEGE SOFTBALL
President of Canisius College
since 1993, Rev. Vincent M. Cooke,
S.J. has successfully moved Canisius
into the top ranks of comprehensive
colleges and universities in the
northeast by raising the bar for academic
standards, capital improvements
and fundraising.
In the last 14 years under
Father Cooke’s leadership, Canisius
has invested nearly $120 million
in 17 capital projects on the Main
Street campus.
Canisius will remain in the forefront of undergraduate science
education with the creation of a world-class, interdisciplinary science
center in what is presently the HealthNow building and
parking pavilion at 1901 Main Street. The college is scheduled to
acquire the building in late 2007 and plans to begin construction
of the science center as soon as possible after acquisition of the
site.
Campus renovations completed during Father Cooke’s tenure
also include a complete renovation of the college’s signature classroom
building, Old Main, Lyons Hall and the construction of two
townhouse complexes, the Village Townhouses on Main Street
and the Delavan Townhouses on West Delavan Avenue. Canisius’
newest residence, Eastwood Hall, opened in fall 2005 and is now
home to 286 freshman and sophomore students.
Father Cooke and Canisius College received high marks in
a Buffalo News poll of Western New York leaders which ranked
Father Cooke as the second most influential civic leader and the
college as the second most influential institution overall in terms
of their positive impact on the community. Father Cooke was also
recognized by The Buffalo News as one of its Outstanding Citizens
for 2001 and named the 2003 Renaissance Man of the Year by
the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation (BRF). In 2004, he received
the Liberty Bell Award, presented by the Bar Association of Erie
Country to recognize service to the community and was inducted
into the Junior Achievement Business Leadership Hall of Fame as
its 2004 Educator of the Year. He received the 2005 Humanitarian
Award from Niagara Lutheran Foundation, and the National
Federation for Just Communities (NFJC) of Western New York
presented Father Cooke with a 2007 Citation Award for his community
leadership.
Prior to joining the Canisius community, Father Cooke
served as executive and academic vice president of John Carroll
University. Born in New York and raised in Hoboken, N.J., Father
Cooke received a bachelor of arts degree from Fordham University
in 1960; a Licentiate in philosophy from Loyola Seminary, Shrub
Oak, in 1961; master’s degrees in teaching and philosophy in 1962
and 1965; respectively, from Fordham; advanced theology degrees
from Woodstock College in 1967 and Yale University in 1968;
and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in
1971.
Author of numerous scholarly articles and book reviews,
Father Cooke is assistant editor of the International Philosophical
Quarterly. He is currently a member of the board of trustees of
Fordham University and a member of the finance committee of
the New York Province of the Society of Jesus.
Canisius Administration
Dr. Ellen Conley
Vice President for Student Affairs
Ellen O. Conley, PhD, a
member of the Canisius Community
since 1970, was named vice president
for student affairs in 1998.
One of her many accomplishments
in her new role includes spearheading
the upgrade of the athletics
program at the college.
Dr. Conley earned a bachelor’s
degree from Slippery Rock
State College (1967), advanced
education degrees from the University of Pittsburgh (1968) and
Buffalo State (1973) and a doctorate in higher education from the
University at Buffalo (1981).
During her tenure as dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences, Dr. Conley supported the formation of the School of
Education and Human Services, developed a mentoring program
for new faculty, initiated the development of majors in criminal
justice and environmental science and guided the initiative to
implement a Master of Science in Organizational Communication
and Development. She also established the Fine Arts Department
and facilitated the development of MusiCanisius, which has since
evolved into the ArtsCanisius program.
While acting dean, she coordinated the promotion of the
school’s graduate education program to the Canadian market
and guided the implementation of the Master in Sport
Administration.
From 1987-89, Dr. Conley was the assistant director of athletics
for women’s sports and financial aid, and from 1987-90, she
was the athletic scholarship coordinator. Under her direction, the
women’s athletic program was formed and grew from one club
level team to seven varsity teams. In addition, she implemented
and monitored an athletic scholarship program for men’s and
women’s non-revenue producing sports.
From 1982-1990 Dr. Conley served as chair of the undergraduate
Physical Education Major Program and Coordinator of
the Physical Education Graduate Program. In 1989, she developed
alternative curricular tracks for physical education majors
to enhance enrollment, and in 1986, she co-wrote the New
York State Professional Preparation Council’s position paper for
“Strengthening Teaching in New York State.”
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