After returning to WNY with my graduate degree from the University of New Mexico. I went searching for a teaching position at a junior college. When I found out that my services were not needed. I returned to Republic Steel as a laborer. Within a short time I was recruited by Human Resources and became a management trainee. Thus I began in 1972 my climb up the corporate ladder. Unfortunately. as I was going up, the industry was going down. Finally in May of .82 the bottom fell out and I was without a job

I quickly recovered the initial shock and took an academic position at Daemen College in its Center for Professional Development where 1 stayed until sometime in the 3rd year, when I was told the position would be eliminated when the Federal grant funding it would be end Changing gears, I then took a position with the Blind Association training the blind and visually impaired. While there I designed an adaptive machine to help blind workers and was told after I moved to Goodwill Industries that the machine had be patented.

At Goodwill Industries I trained mentally and physically handicapped individuals to work and function in groups. I was selected to participate in Goodwill's national executive training program, but when I was informed that upon completion I would have to leave WNY , I again changed job focus and took a position as a salesman, selling industrial tools for Enos and Sanderson. While financially rewarding and a great opportunity to travel extensively through central and southern NY , the company went under and I was again without a job. In order to have medical insurance, I hooked up with the Great Lakes collection bureau. I was a terrible collector, but did excel at skip tracing, that is tracking down debtors who had moved and left no forwarding address

I quickly moved on to a position with a locally owned home health pharmacy to do traffic coordination and delivery cost analysis. Park View Heath Services was subsequently purchased by a national company, American Home patient where I remained as a customer service representative I took my current position at Univera Health Care where I am now a medical equipment specialist responsible for verifying vendor and doctor requests to cover the expense of medical equipment for our members..

The greatest pleasure in employment bar none was the 14 years from 1982 to 1994 when I taught American History in the evening division at Canisius.

Looking back at the diversity of fields I entered and passed through I can honestly say that I succeeded as a consequence of my academic studies at Canisius. I learned discipline, attention to detail. and a sense of confidence that overshadowed the shortcomings of growing up in a Blue collar. Irish Catholic ghetto.

 Harry F. Mooney 69

 When I graduated from Canisius in 1969 I went to Seton Hall University where obtain a Masters Degree in American Studies. I then went on to a very abbreviated tour of duty with the U. S. Army Medical Service Corps. in San Antonio Texas.

In 1972 I entered the University of Buffalo Law School and gradated in 1975. Since that time I have been in private practice in the City of Buffalo. I am presently a memberof the law firm of Hurwitz & Fine, P.C. where I am the Administrative Member for the Litigation Department.

Greg Collins 70

My name is Gregory Collins and I graduated from Canisius in 1970 with a BA majoring in history. In my sophomore year, I took part in the general honors program and in my junior and senior years, the history honors program. 

After graduating I moved to Toronto and registered in the Graduate History Department at the University of Toronto. The U of T is probably the best university in Canada and has always had a strong history department. I received an MA there and passed my comprehensive PhD. exams. Because the job market for academics in the 70’s so poor was, and even poorer for American citizens in Canada, I dropped out of the program before finishing my dissertation. Although it was a good decision then, I regret never being able to complete my studies and teach at the university level. 

Instead of that, I started a career in librarianship. I worked for almost six years at the University of Toronto library. Then in 1977, my wife, a Dutch national, and I moved to the Netherlands where we still live. I went to library school here and after obtaining a degree, I went to work at the University of Groningen. I started out in a small medical library and five years later moved to the main University of Groningen library. My degree in history has enabled me to work as a subject librarian. In addition to the regular library tasks (circulation, reference work, library instruction – especially to history students), I’m responsible, along with several other academics, for collection development in the humanities and social sciences. 

It goes without saying that a degree in history provides a solid foundation for a library career. Even now, almost forty years after I graduated, I still use the knowledge I gained at Canisius. And the history students here are still using the same text, Colton and Palmer’s “History of the Modern World” - though in a much later edition, that I used in my freshman year.

 David Wagner ‘71

 Here is a brief bio to encourage (or reduce to despair) current History Honors graduates. Other than intercollegiate debate, the experience that I most remember and value was the Honors program. It was the rare combination of great teachers, strong peers, and an opportunity to "stretch the mind" not found in other college programs.

A brief bio: Graduated from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. Then, and now, a top 8 law school. Was an associate editor of the law review and was the associate director of Debate in the Rhetoric department at Berkeley while attending law school. Loved teaching and after passing the state bar continued to teach at Berkeley and in 1975 accepted a probationary faculty position in Communication Studies at California State University, Sacramento a large comprehensive university in what is now a 23 campus system (the California State University system). I was the debate coach and developed coursework in media and First Amendment law.

After 4 years I was elected chair of the Communication Studies department which had the largest number of majors on campus (over 1100 majors in 4 programs). Five years later I became an associate Dean in the College of Arts and Letters, the largest college on campus (500 faculty in 23 departments). Since 1989, I have been the Dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs, the chief personnel officer for the campus. During the years I've also progressed up the faculty ladder holding a Professor's position in Communication Studies.

When time permits I continue research interests in visual communication as well as the First Amendment. On a personal note, married a Buffalo woman 30 years ago. Two great children, Lauren is half done with a graduate program in film at USC and Jonathan is a recent grad of Northwestern and is writing plays, acting in musicals, and working at sushi bar in Chicago.  

Beth Barringhous Mattingly ‘72

After I graduated from Canisius in 1972, I went to Notre Dame Law School and graduated in 1975. I worked for the Civil Rights Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office and later, in private practice for about five years when my four children were young. F or the next 9 Y2 years, I worked part-time for the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio representing the United States in civil cases. In 1995 and 2001, I ran for the position of Judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court and was elected-both times. I handle a criminal misdemeanor docket that includes charges of drunk driving, domestic violence, assaults, traffic tickets and civil cases under $15,000.

The study of history has always been enjoyable to me and especially in the law, it is a truism that a line of history is worth a volume of explanation. It is also helpful to be aware of the effects certain statutes or proposals have had in the past when evaluating proposed solutions to current legal

 Michael Pikus ‘73

I graduated from Canisius in 1973 with a history B.A. and immediately got a position teaching social studies and English at a local private high school. My intent was to teach high school for a few years and then pursue graduate work in history with the goal of teaching college. I taught high school for 14 years, about ten more years than I expected, earning an M.S. in education along the way. But I still wanted to pursue my goal of earning a Ph.D. and teaching at the college level. In 1987 I applied and was accepted into the SUNY/Buffalo English Ph.D. program. My work in the program focused on 18th and 19th century American literature, with an emphasis on the works of James Fenimore Cooper. In my studies I consistently approached literature from an historical perspective or in historical context, thus connecting my formal interest in history with my literary studies. I earned an M.A. in English in 1990 and a Ph.D. in English in 1993. My dissertation focused on a reading of Cooper's novels within an historical context, and I found myself reaching back frequently to my undergraduate work in history for ideas and background for my research. In 1994 I took a position teaching American literature and composition in the English department of Niagara County Community College. I have since earned tenure and have been promoted to associate professor. I emphasize historical context and historical influence when I teach literature, and my research continues to be heavily influenced by my study of history.

Mary Grace Diehl ‘74

            About me:  After graduation from Canisius, I got my J.D. at  Harvard Law where I was active in moot court competition and the Harvard  Legal Aid Bureau.  I also coached varsity debate at St. Anselm's College  in Manchester, NH to finance my law education.  Upon graduation, I  accepted a job with an Atlanta law firm then known as Troutman Sanders  Lockerman & Ashmore (now Troutman Sanders LLP and a 500 lawyer firm)  where I joined the litigation department.  In 1977, I married Michael  Jablonski whom I had met during his days as a college debater at Emory  University.  Michael and I have two daughters, Elizabeth Jablonski-Diehl  and Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl.  Elizabeth is a rising senior at Saint  Mary's College of Notre Dame where she has a history minor (in  additional to a double major in psychology and communications) and  Rebecca is a sophomore at Pace Academy here in Atlanta.

            As a lawyer, my early years involved a wide variety of  litigation cases:  commercial real estate disputes, securities fraud  litigation, contract disputes and, increasingly, debtor-creditor  disputes.  Over time, I came to concentrate primarily in the area of  business bankruptcy and I now head up the Bankruptcy and Financial  Restructuring Practice Group of Troutman Sanders.  It is a practice area  which really matches up well with my skill set:  the cases move quickly,  there is a lot of court time and the variety is in the nature of the  businesses that seek protection in bankruptcy court.  I have served in  many leadership positions with bankruptcy bar organizations.  I have  chaired both the Atlanta Bar Bankruptcy Section and the State Bar of  Georgia Bankruptcy Section.  I am beginning a term July 1 as President  of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, an educational non-profit  that sponsors a very large seminar each spring here in Atlanta.  In  1998, I was elected to the American College of Bankruptcy and I am  listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Chambers Guide to America's  Leading Business Lawyers.

            I have also devoted a fair amount of time to issues involving  the role of women in the law.  I chair the Women in the Profession  Committee of the Atlanta Bar and I recently spoke at Harvard's  Celebration 50 which recognized fifty years (only) of women graduates  from Harvard.  I have done a number of presentations for the Georgia  Association for Women Lawyers focusing on balancing career and family -  a constant struggle!

            What does all this have to do with history?  I think a lot of my  ability to juggle and persevere comes from the confidence I built as a  student at Canisius:  the small classes, the very involved teachers and  the constant subtle pressure to do more and better for yourself.  I  think the history curriculum was taught in way that made the Socratic  method of law school almost second nature.  History classes were always  taught in ways that asked why events occurred and why they were recorded  in the way they were and what that meant.  Those skills made law and  life flow easier for me.

            Enjoy the celebration on June 21st!  Say hello to Dr. Sharrow  for me.  I would love to have his reading list from his History of  Buffalo course.

 Greg Harkenrider ’74

As for the effect of the study of history on my career, I work in finance, which would superficially seem to be, like most careers, far removed from the field of history. However, a historical approach provides a crucial perspective on the day-to-day issues that occupy managers. Managers, particularly those who are inexperienced or, unfortunately, incompetent, tend to see every situation they confront as unique. In fact, practically nothing we encounter in business, education, or government is unprecedented. For that reason, I try to present fiscal data in a historical format, say over five or more years. This can help people distinguish blips from trends. When problems come up, I try look for similar situations that have arisen in the past, and how they were handled. This usually leads to far more effective action than "inventing the wheel" over and over again.

The historical approach is a way of thinking that recognizes that what has happened before is instructive about what is happening now. While the academic study is perhaps too oriented to political and military affairs, every business, government agency, school, family and person has a history. And it has a lot to offer. Harry Truman said it best when he commented, "The only new thing in life is the history you don't know." Ironically, he was the last U.S. president not to be college-educated.

Have a great reunion and hope to see you another time.

Sally Murphy (Campbell) 1976

Thanks you for your efforts in organizing a reunion of your History students. I was a member of the class of 1976. I've often thought about the great teachers and courses that I took at Canisius as a History major. After leaving Canisius I worked in public accounting at Price Waterhouse for three years and then in the finance department at Bristol Myers. I went on to enroll at U of Pennsylvania in '81 and received an MBA from the Wharton School in '83.

I've often stated that some of the best professors I had were in the History department at Canisius. I still vividly recall reliving the French Revolution with Dr. Abarca and am passionate about Teddy Roosevelt because of Dr. Valaik (sp). I left the work force in '86. I'm married living in Ct and have five boys ages 10-16. The older three are in high school all taking AP history courses. I'm hoping they develop a love of history also. Keep me on the list for future events. All the best to your students and to the great staff at Canisius. Fondly

 John Provost ‘76

After graduating from Canisius I served 24 years in the Army, serving in Germany, Korea and Hawaii, and I was fortunate to see many of the places we discussed in our history classes. While in the military I had the opportunity to earn a Master in Military Art and Science in History from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth Kansas, doing my thesis on Rangers in the Korean War. I retired in 2001 and I am currently working for the consulting firm of Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington DC. My first consulting job was to create a historical CD archive for the Special Operations Command on their activities during the Quadrennial Defense Review that is conducted every four years by the Secretary of Defense to assess our future military needs. I am also working on a lessons learned project from the global war on terrorism. On my off time I am enrolled in the docent program at the National Museum of American History. My best to all at the reunion

Charlie O'Connell ‘76

Have you heard from Skip Bradley? As I'm sure you recall, it was his desire to study military history at Ohio State that pointed me in that direction. The rest, as they say, is history (sorry, I couldn't resist). He's now Command Historian at Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado (Colorado Springs); his e-mail is George.Bradley@Peterson.af.mil. So, for what it's worth, Canisius has produced two of the Air Force's nine command historians. I'm sorry I won't be able to attend this reunion, but please keep me posted on how things go. And if you ever have a "career night" for History majors, please let me know. I might be able to come up and do a bit of recruiting for the Air Force History Program if there's any interest. (If I haven't mentioned it before, Robins Air Force Base is about 20 miles south of Macon, Georgia.)

 Jim Schultz ‘76

I went from CC to ND Law School on an educational delay from the Army. I met Holy Cross priests, studied in the RCIA program and converted at the end of my first year of law school. After earning my JD in 1979, I married Karen (Hojnacki '76) and went on active duty as a Judge Advocate General Corps officer in Germany and Ft Devens, Massachusetts, serving as trial counsel, claims judge advocate, administrative law officer, contracts law officer, and chief of a legal assistance office. Since leaving active duty, I have been in private practice in Buffalo working as insurance defense counsel and (briefly) as a plaintiff's attorney. I have remained in the Army Reserve and was mobilized for Desert Storm in 1990-91, three months after the birth of our son, Derek. I have completed a variety of postgraduate schools through the military, including The Judge Advocate General's Corps Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College, from which I received a Masters of Strategic Studies in 2000. I am about eight months from completing my final tour of duty in the Army Reserve, command of the 7th Legal Support Organization, consisting of about 70 lawyers and paralegals located in four states. I expect to retire from the Reserve in April 2003 as a Colonel with more than 23 years service. I served in an Army Civil Affairs Battalion for 12 years and used my history training constantly. The critical thinking skills developed through His 401-402 have served me well throughout my legal and military careers. In addition, Karen (and later Derek, too) and I have traveled throughout Europe, Egypt, Israel, Russia, and most of the eastern US, always looking for historical connections in the places we visit.

Eric Tarbox ‘76

I can offer evidence that a history major may take you on a circuitous path. I graduated in 1976 and went into the Army for four years as an infantry office. I then attended Notre Dame Law School and graduated in 1983. After a short stop in the Arizona Attorney General's Office, I joined the FBI, as a Special Agent. After a litle more than five years I resigned and joined the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, in Columbus, Ohio. I am now with the Ohio Attorney General's Office, in the Organized Crime Investigations section.
 

Robert M. Donovan '78

After graduation, I went to law school at Washington & Lee University. I picked W&L after thumbing through the reference book giving descriptions of each of the ABA approved law schools that was on reserve at the Canisius Library. Money was 'tight' (though the Bursar at Canisius let me attend graduation even though my bill was in arrears in exchange for a Prom Note) and I couldn't waste any applying to a bunch of schools. The book was ragged through the first pages on American and B.C. and Catholic, and so even though Yale wasn't quite in my future, I thought I'd start in the alphabetical back instead.

W&L was described as a deliberately small law school with only 120 students in a class year. It was in a new building and each student was assigned a mini office with a desk, light, book shelf, and coat closet, along with, a suite number that allowed you to receive mail delivered to your cubicle. Best of all, W&L employed General Lee's Honor System, borrowed from West Point, and it was understood that a gentleman did not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do. I chose W&L over Georgetown and a few others and you can't know what a pleasure it was to live in a community where those ideals were real.

Applying my Canisius training to law school: save money by not buying text books, read the book straight through when you borrow it without worrying about assignments, pay attention in class if the professor is good, skip class if not, study for exams only to promote velocity rather than content of regurgitation, and enjoy the intellectual process without worrying about grades; I did well. Certainly the Canisius/Jesuit approach of a well-rounded education and the parallel notion that you don't know it unless you can explain it (and write about it too), was a huge help. Sadly, even in a high-end law school like W&L, there were too many students who never had their thinking or their writing exposed to and improved by the critiques of their peers. That part of the History Honors Program at Canisius was, and remains, invaluable.

After law school I got married to Jodi Webster and started working at a small suburban Philadelphia general practice law firm that I had clerked in the summer before. The firm was in Doylestown, which is where my parents lived at the time, and I eventually became the Managing Shareholder of the firm then known as Williams, Schildt & Donovan. Jodi and I have three children, Colleen & Kevin, our first two (twins) and Joseph a few years later. I chose the firm over the few other offers I had in bigger firms because it had an active insurance defense practice and that was (and still is) the fastest ticket for a young lawyer into a civil courtroom. My practice included both plaintiff and defense personal injury work, along with a wide variety of general civil litigation, lite criminal defense work, and a real estate practice involving residential transactions and zoning litigation.

After roughly 20 years in private practice, I was recruited by an auto insurance company to manage a small staff counsel office. We handle motor vehicle accident and carrier defense work in Philadelphia and its four contiguous counties, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware, along with a smaller case load stretching west to the Harrisburg area and north to Scranton. I also support the claim and coverage issues that arise for my company and have the opportunity to continue to get into court with my own small case load.

My Canisius education has been a blessing for me and I talked both an older and a younger brother into finishing their degrees there. Years later, I convinced one of our legal assistants to leave Doylestown for Buffalo so that she could get the health science education she always dreamed of; she now has a PhD and is a University professor. I have volunteered a few times to represent Canisius at local college fairs and I believe that my enthusiasm still shows. The Golden Griffin will always be a part of me. Thank you to my Economics professors and to Dr. Valone, Dr. Sharrow, and Father Dunn in the History Department.


Thomas Deuschle ‘78

After graduation from Canisius, I went to law school at Ohio Northern University) in 1979. I transferred to the University of Buffalo Law School in the fall of 1980. In 1981, I married my high school sweetheart, Margaret Schuessler, who also is a Canisius alumnus. The following year, I earned my J.D. degree.

In the fall of 1983, I opened up my own law practice and have been a solo practitioner in West Seneca since then. History provided me with strong reading, writing and research skills. It also helped me develop my analytical skills. My course of study at Canisius was the springboard for the confidence I needed to pursue my career goals. The professors were excellent and enthusiastic and committed to professionalism.

We have two children, Julianna(17) and Michael(14). Julianna will be entering

her senior year and Michael will be a freshman. Can Canisius be far behind?

We look forward to the reunion. See you there

In 1993, I retired from library work to write fiction. Presently I have 18 published short stories in a variety of literary journals and am completing the final. draft of a novel. Much of my writing necessitates meticulous research and I thoroughly enjoy

I also work for the international anti-hunger organization, Results. The goal of this group is to overcome the worst aspects of widespread hunger and malnutrition within one generation. To this end, Results partners monitor the U.S. domestic and foreign aid budget and lobby Congress to pass microcredit, nutrition, immunization and education-related legislation. I've advised my congressman. for several years, occasionally speeches for him on these topics, and preparing legislative histories

Maria Privitera Kardash ‘79

I went to SUNY at Buffalo Law School after graduating from Canisius in 1979. I graduated from law school in 1982 with concentrations in real property law and legal history. Property law particularly appealed to me due to its roots in medieval history. In 1983 I moved to Washington D.C. to job hunt and take the Foreign Service Officers Exam. From 1983 - 1991 I worked at Standard Federal Savings Bank of Maryland in their mortgage division. I held a number of positions at the Bank including managing its Alternative Mortgage Department and its Customer Service Division. In the 1980s, Standard Federal was an active purchaser of mortgage servicers and servicing portfolios. From 1989 through 1991 I served as Vice President of Acquisitions and was responsible for the review and analysis of loan portfolios, performance of due diligence reviews and the negotiation and execution of purchase contracts. This position tapped my legal and history background as it required an understanding of systems and processes at predecessor institutions. Since 1991 I have worked at Freddie Mac, a Government Sponsored Enterprise chartered by Congress to provide capital to finance homes through the secondary mortgage market. I am currently Director of Structured Transactions managing a production group that structures and negotiates non-standard transactions and develops new products. Our customers are mortgage lenders, investment banks and Wall Street dealers. Many of the transactions we execute are purchases of seasoned mortgage packages from banks and depositories. My background and training in history have provided me with a number of skills I use everyday: problem solving and analytical skills; research skills and the ability to synthesize and organize information from many sources. My love of history is also a major factor in how I spend time outside of work. It greatly influences my reading selections [biographies, history], my choice of travel destinations and even course work I have taken since graduating from law school such as the history of computing systems and of finance. I look forward to seeing you this weekend! Thank you -- Maria Kardash

Paul F. Diehl ‘80

Immediately after graduating from Canisius, I went to graduate school and earned my Ph.D in political science at the University of Michigan. After holding a faculty position at the University of Georgia, I moved to the University of Illinois, where I am now Professor of Political Science and University “Distinguished Teacher/Scholar.” Although the history honors courses at Canisius were the last ones I ever took in that discipline, I use historical methods all the time in my own research. My major research focus is on the causes of war and conditions for peace. I do not study individual cases, but rather a large number of cases (for examples hundreds of interstate rivalries such as India-Pakistan over the last 200 years) simultaneously with various statistical techniques. Still, I must collect data on each of those cases, and this requires what is essentially historical research. Newspaper and historical accounts, as well as government reports, help me identify all conflicts that involve a threat or use of military force, the characteristics of such incidents (duration of the crises, fatality levels, etc.), and details about the various states involved (e.g., how democratic the state was). Thus, underlying the large data sets that I analyze is careful historical research.

Arnie Geisler '80

I received a Regular Army commission upon graduation in 1980.  I served as a platoon leader, troop executive officer, and troop commander.  My staff assignments included installation coordinator, arms control officer, squadron and brigade operations officer, exchange officer to the Belgian army, and, finally, liaison officer to the German army.  I retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in 2000.  Since my retirement from active duty, I have worked as a computer training analyst for the Army in Germany and as operations officer for the training analysis computer support and simulations directorate of a combat training center.
       History has stayed with me throughout my career and life.  Early in my career, military history was particularly important to understanding how the principles of war are applied.  At the mid point of my military career, I studied for my MA at the University of Minnnesota where I particpated in 19th and 20th Century European diplomatic history seminars.  These two seminars gave me a tremendous background for my follow-on assignment at the Neogtiations on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in Vienna, Austria.  My family and I arrived just after the Berlin Wall fell and, as I assumed my duties, I could see how the members of Warsaw Pact began to pursue their historical security goals.  It was particularly fascinating to watch and listen to very real concerns other delegates to the negotiations had about the role of a united Germany.  Today, among my hobbies is research on the role of military government in the region of Germany in which I live.

Daniel A. Nichols '80

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT & ECONOMIC GROWTH

 Daniel A. Nichols currently serves as Vice President for Investment Development and Economic Growth at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). His department identifies new project  opportunities, evaluates respective business proposals, and devises both marketing strategies and business development initiatives. Mr. Nichols is credited with having played a key role in developing OPIC’s new Small Business Center, and was instrumental in helping to achieve the historic Investment Incentive Agreement Between the United States and Mexico. He came to OPIC with over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, serving most recently as Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of State.

Prior to his service at OPIC, Mr. Nichols served as Vice President at ColumbusNewport LLC  (formerly the International Planning and Analysis Center - the global consulting arm of Sears World Trade). There he  assisted emerging e-commerce entrepreneurs and small businesses in need of capital. He was also responsible for coordinating business development and marketing, policy and research analysis, media relations, and personnel management. 

Mr. Nichols’ prior service in the U.S. Government includes Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State; Deputy Associate Director of Presidential Personnel for National Security at the White House; Executive Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in New York; and Special Assistant to the Counselor, and Staff Assistant to three Under Secretaries for Management respectively at the U.S. Department of State.

Mr. Nichols received his BA degree from Canisius College in 1980; and completed his graduate work in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985. He has also completed postgraduate course work at Georgetown University and the Foreign Service Institute. Mr. Nichols resides in McLean, Virginia with his wife Wea and their two children. 

 Mary Carney ‘82

Two years after graduating from Canisius, I enrolled in SUNY Buffalo's Master in Social Work program. I found my Canisius education prepared very well for this career choice. My history degree taught me how to put facts together to make a judgement about a situation - the core of a social worker's ability. I wrote well and found that the library and artifact searches required for history research papers were the same cognitive and investigative skills social work demands. (The compatibility was so high I have written a paper about this in my current career as a social work educator.) My history background was essential in the completion of my Ph.D. work at the University of Illinois where I developed a specialty in social welfare history and policy. I earned the equivalent of 18 cr. hrs. in their graduate history program, even taking Historiography and using the Atkinson text one more time! Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Program Director at SUNY Fredonia. Besides my administrative and teaching duties, most of my work deals with some aspect of social welfare history. I am very grateful Larry Jones asked me (a quiet, unknown, somewhat lost Sophomore history major) to join the History Honors program. The experience pays off every day. Mary B. Carney, Ph.D., C.S.W., Class of 1982

Diane (Borkowski) Christel '83

After graduating from Canisius in 1983 (History and Political Science summa cum laude), I attended the University of Virginia School of Law, receiving my J.D. in 1986. While at UVa, my study of history helped me with my studies, as well as in my roles as articles editor for the Journal of Law and Politics, and research assistant for Prof. G. Edward White as he composed The Oliver Wendell Holmes Devise History of the Supreme Court: The Marshall Court, 1815-1836. Following graduation, I worked as a commercial litigator at the law firm of Dickie, McCamey, and Chilcote in downtown Pittsburgh. Once again, my history background helped me write lengthy briefs, motions, and journal articles. In 1993, when I had my second child, I stopped working to devote more time to my family. I now have three children ages 4 to 14, and am passing on my love of history to them by introducing them to National Historic Sites and Civil War battlefields. (We just came back from Fredericksburg, VA).

Margaret O’Brien Brown ‘83

After I left Canisius, I received a MSEd in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University. I worked at the University of Dayton in residence life and Wright State University in student advising and career counseling. I have been an active community volunteer. I served as the president of the Junior League of Dayton. During my leadership term, the league developed a grade school level curriculum on ten Dayton inventors to be used at a new park celebrating Dayton history. Primary historical research was a major component of this project.

In 2003 The Dayton community will be celebrating the Wright Brothers' Centennial of Flight. Lots of exciting programming will take place.

Martin C. Mahoney, 83
MD, PhD, FAAFP Division of Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences Roswell Park Cancer Institute

After graduating from Canisius in 1983, I enrolled in the Roswell Park Graduate Division where I completed an M.S. in 1985 (Natural Sciences) then a Ph.D. in 1987 (Epidemiology). I then moved to Albany to join the NYS Department of Health as a Research Scientist in the Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology and faculty at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health. Left that position to return to Buffalo, where I completed M.D. degree in 1995, then residency in Family Medicine. Worked as Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor, with UB Department of Family Medicine for about 3 years. Currently with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, involved with clinical work, research and teaching. Hope this is not too late. (You are no doubt wondering how this career path took such a turn after starting in history. The fact is that I enjoyed the history courses and faculty at Canisius and figured that I could get the science coursework which also interested me during graduate school which is more or less as it turned out.) -
 

Lisa Schnorr Geier ‘83

. My case was well documented and I thank my college years for learning such skills, especially since what I did was merely what I had done for His 401-402 10 years before. I received my Masters in Criminal Justice in December 1993.. I was promoted to a Child Support Investigator in 1995, and to my present position as a Probation Officer in 1997. It is my current job where I utilize my teachings at Canisius the most. I am an Investigator in this position, and I literally write mini biographies ever day in the form of court reports with sentencing recommendations for all of the upper and lower courts in Erie County. This position also placed me directly in the Court rooms for the first 4 years, and I earned the respect of numerous Judges due to the fact that I am able to write competently.

Joyce Huber Kanaley '84

 I attended the University of Rochester's Simon School and received my MBA in 1986. I concentrated my degree in finance and marketing. I discovered that I loved the marketing aspect of business and that's how I focused my career. I've held a number of different marketing and sales positions (primarily marketing) over the course of my career but my most recent position was my most challenging. In 1996 I accepted a position as General Manager of Frontier Corporation's Yellow Pages business.

As you probably know, Frontier is a telecommunications company located in Rochester, NY. At the time, Frontier published over 40 directories across 11 states. The position was very broad and required attention in multiple areas such as marketing, sales, sales management, customer service, distribution and publishing.

My history education served me well in this position. How? First and perhaps most importantly, my liberal arts education helped me to express myself in words...on paper and through speech. I had to constantly sell my ideas and influence others with words. Clear articulation breeds confidence and makes sales. Second, as a history major, I learned the art of resourcefulness. Often times, we had to research a topic and had to be resourceful as to what sources we could obtain for the best information. Too much data is overkill and too little can cause bad direction and execution. It all truly comes back to being able to think and speak clearly. I don't think a liberal arts education can be oversold. It has served me well in Corporate America.

My first child, Grace Marie was born on October 2nd. I've been enjoying being a stay at home mom for the present, but I'm in the process of interviewing and hopefully, rejoining the workforce soon.

  Joe Greer '85

Outside Sales Manager for the Washington/Virginia Market Area for Waste Management, Inc.  Responsible for all new revenue goals for  the Market Area which currently bills $160 million per year.  Developed,   trained and implemented reorganized sales department consisting of 14   Representatives and 6 administrative personnel

As Sales/Revenue Manager for Waste Management in Maryland, planned and executed sales department reorganization.  Responsible for implementing corporate initiatives focusing on complete reengineering of  business processes and corporate culture.  Chosen as beta site for customer profit improvement pricing model.      

Developed, planned, and executed corporate roll up of five sales teams into cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams.  Devised contact  management data system based upon a combination of Act and Goldmine  platforms.  Integrated prospect database into system wide marketing plan     based upon methodology of 3 touches in first week, 7 touches in first year.   Culminated in profiled prospect list of 2,000 in 12-month timeframe.         

Authored and developed company marketing program, including     branding, newsletter, Tele-brand, Website, e-mail addressing, and service  differentiation in fully mature market.  Programmed Microsoft® Excel   application for corporate budget and P & L Statement.  Responsible for annual revenue growth from $1.7 million to   $4.3 million in two year period culminating in positioning as largest minority owned company in industry in Mid-Atlantic region.

Now, what does a history background have to do with any of this.  The truth     of the matter is that all sales - from initial cold call, through revenue recording in accounting - is in fact based in a type of historical     methodology.  The ability to review data, spot trends, react to market     fluctuations all stems from an understanding of the ramifications of the     history of your particular industry, in the market in which you compete.  

In my MBA courses at Loyola, I learned the dirty little secret that business and accounting majors never tell you.  They are historians too.  The     compilation of numbers, costs, margins, etc. is really just an effort to accurately record what has happened prior to the current reporting period.     That is why Wall Street has the whole idea of "restating earnings".        

The advantage for History majors comes around the edges.  Numbers, spreadsheets, and data mining programs can all be learned.  It is the ability to  recognize trends, anticipate change, and write a business plan to adjust     that gives the firm advantage to History majors (or English majors).  It is the ability to analyze data (i.e. do your research), and effectively  communicate what has been found and what the future holds that sets History  majors apart.        

Finally, there is this.  History majors can get in to MBA programs.     Computer, accounting, and general business majors cannot get into graduate  History programs.     

Chris Johnson ‘85

I often think of you and your class - more the Historiography than the research. The study of influences on the historians that effected the way they recorded or wrote about history - has impacted the way I read books, documents, letters and newspaper articles. Your course advanced my critical thinking and prepared me for Law School more than any other course at Canisius. I remain grateful that I was part of the program. In regarding the research end - when I return to Buffalo - I can't drive by the Top's store on Elmwood Ave. without thinking about the Pan American Exposition and the Stadium that stood on that spot. The spot where they unsuccessfully tried to electrocute an elephant shortly after President McKinley's assassin was electrocuted. (They charged fifty cents a person, 10,000 seats - alot of refunds). In regards to the dates - a Friday night would work best - any one of the weekends listed - on campus would be great - dinner or wine and cheese - other History Faculty would be great - Informal Discussion w/ brief formal lecture - subject: The Positive Influence of the Study of History on a Variety of Careers.

Kathleen Horohoe ‘86

You asked me in a recent letter to describe how history helped my career. The following is a summary of my career since graduating with a B.A. in History and Political Science from Canisius in 1986.

After graduation, I enrolled in a joint Ph.D.-J.D. program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the Political Science Department and Law School, respectively. History was essential to my study of political science, because historical events (military history, political history, social history) formed the basis for understanding political events, trends and relationships.

In law school, an appreciation of what came before (legal, political, social history, etc.) was necessary to understand, interpret and articulate the state of the law relative to any given situation. So, in my preparatory professional studies, knowledge of history was of great use.

In end, after raising a family (which I am still raising), I settled on the practice of civil law as a career, which I find varied, interesting and fulfilling, and still appreciate exposure to all types of history as an enriching addition to life's journey.

--Kathleen

Kelly Carrigg ‘89

Just to give you a quick update, I have been in the Army since graduation. I am now a Major stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC for the second time. I also had a tour in Germany and various posts in country. We are gearing up for the big showdown right now so life is crazy here.

Education wise, I continued on and got my Masters in French. I was very fortunate that Uncle Sam let me teach French at West Point for three years...in fact, I just left last Spring. Right now, I am looking to continue my education upon retirement in a few years...my love is archeology/anthropology...stay tuned.

I miss Canisius...it truly is a wonderful school. Every  time I come home, I am in shock at the expansion! Keep up the good work!!!

I hope this note finds you well. Take care-

Valerie Latona ‘90

Upon leaving Canisius, I went to the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in Florida (I had won a fellowship through Canisius) to train in journalism for the summer. From there, I traveled to London for a year, where I got a job working as an editorial assistant on a magazine there. (Magazine journalism had always intrigued me. I had served as the editor in chief of The Griffin for two years...so it seemed a natural extension.) From London, I went to New York City and have been here ever since (it will be 11 years in February!). I've since gotten my masters degree in journalism from New York University and have worked as an editor at magazines including American Health, Harper's Bazaar and Allure. Currently, I'm an editorial director at Shape magazine. (I've also found time to get married in the meantime!) I truly believe that it was my background as a history major (less so political science, which was my second major) that has helped me be a successful journalist/editor. The ability to research a topic and then create a document from it ‹ be a thesis or an article targeted to reach 1.7 million readers (the current circulation of Shape) ‹ is a skill that history majors excel in. That has been the biggest strength of my Canisius education and my history degree.

Karen Aavik '92

Following Canisius, I spent a year on active duty in the Army, after which I returned to Western New York. I received my J.D. (with concentrations in Regulatory Law and Policy and Finance Transactions) from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1999, and subsequently passed the NYS bar exam. I then earned my MBA in Finance from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management (concentration: Finance) in 2000. Following graduate school I went to work for M&T Bank, where I have been for 8 1/2 years (the first 5 1/2 in the M&T Securities, Inc. Compliance Department, and the remainder in Centralized Compliance, where I have oversight responsibilities for M&T Securities, Inc., MTB Investment Advisors, and Zirkin Cutler Investments, Inc.). Since starting at M&T, I have earned my FINRA Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 63, and 65 licenses, my NYS Life, Accident, and Health Insurance licenses, my Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional designation, and my Masters in Law (Criminal Law, with a focus on White Collar Crime, in 2008). I also have a wonderful daughter named Haley, who is currently a sophomore in high school and a Cross Country runner, a Girl Scout, and a NeXt magazine (the teen magazine for The Buffalo News) correspondent.

The study of history has helped me in numerous ways, perhaps the most significant being that it has given me the ability to view current events with perspective. Understanding where our nation - and the world - have been helps me better understand where we are going, and gives me the ability to more effectively gauge the implications of different actions and reactions. This perception has also given me a better appreciation of how good - and how bad - things really can be, which in turn helps me formulate my own views on what decisions should be made, and how events should play out. I will always be grateful for this heightened sensitivity.

Jennifer Valvo ‘93

After graduating from Canisius, I went to UB and earned a Master's Degree in Classics. I focused on Latin Comedy, and specifically the work of Plautus. While earning my M.A., I decided I wanted to be a teacher, and concurrently earned an M.S.Ed. from Canisius. At the same time, I was working almost full time as a teacher in a private girls Catholic school. I was younger then and had more energy. About 10 years after graduating with my Bachelor's from Canisius and working as a Latin teacher in Buffalo, Virginia, Connecticut, and Rochester, I decided to leave teaching and pursue my dreams. I now am a 2L at UBLaw and loving it. I remember my classes fondly at Canisius, especially HIS 402, which we took before HIS 401. I have never felt that I had anything other than a superior education at Canisius.

Ian Sullivan ‘94

 It was great to get the message regarding the HIS 401-402 reunion.  It sounds like a fabulous time, and I would love to be able to come.  Unfortunately, my current job (Senior Intelligence Analyst for the Middle East and North Africa for the United States Army Europe and Seventh Army in Heidelberg, Germany) means that I probably will not be able to attend.  All of our travel plans are on hold for now due to world events, so my wife and I (Carrie Golombek Sullivan, another Canisius alum from the class of 1994) probably will be unable to return to the States.  Perhaps I will be able to attend next year.

I will send you a career biography for you to post on your web site if you tell me what format to send it in (a Microsoft Word file, or a simple email). 

I learned a great deal in your history honors program which has served me well over my years as an intelligence analyst.  In addition to learning how to research and write, the understanding of history often allows me to place my analysis in a context that those not trained in the discipline can never really achieve.  (We call it "value added" in the intelligence business).

I wish you well in organizing your reunion, and hope to hear from you soon.  Have a great day.

Nicole Graci  ‘95

You asked for a brief autobiography. After I graduated in 1995 with a BA in History and Political Science I took a year off and worked as a paralegal at a local law firm specializing in medical malpractice defense. I used my organization and communication skills. The following year I enrolled in UB Law School and in 1999 I graduated with a J.D. I passed the NYS Bar Exam and was admitted to practice in January 2000. I am still happily with the firm that hired me out of law school, Hamberger & Weiss. We practice exclusively in the area of workers' compensation defense which means we defend insurance companies and self-insured employers in NYS workers' compensation claims. We practice before Administrative Law Judges at the Workers' Compensation Board in the Buffalo and Rochester districts. We have two offices, one here and one in Rochester. I personally attend hearings throughout WNY including Batavia, Lockport, Buffalo, Olean, Jamestown and Rochester. It is a fast paced, high volume area of law. Again, the organizational skills I learned as a history major are very helpful. The investigative skills I learned are also invaluable when preparing for testimony.  Also, as with any type of law, we also do our share of research and writing, so the analytical and writing skills I learned as a history major are put to use daily.

On a personal note, I got married in 2000 to a fellow Canisius alum, Nick Christou. You might have come across him in your capacity as a Dean, as he was a Management major. About a year ago we bought our first home in Amherst and we are enjoying home ownership very much. I'm sure the novelty will wear off at any moment.

Amy Hammond Kantz  '95

Greetings! After graduating in 1995, I worked in the journalism field as an editor of a business newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio and then as a public relations specialist in a local non profit agency. Though great experiences, I missed the academic setting and returned to Canisius to study education. I received my MSEd. in Secondary Education Social Studies in 1998 and started teaching high school social studies at Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga. Using information from my senior thesis as well as literature from other classes I took at Canisius, I started a social studies elective course entitled Women's History and took the students to Seneca Falls each year. After a five year stint at Maryvale, I was fortunate to be offered a position in the social studies department at Williamsville East HS, where I still teach and love it. I am immersed in history every day and love passing on my passion to the future generations. (Though I am dismayed to see that events of my childhood are now "history" and, at times, I am a primary source!) My studies at Canisius in both honors programs prepared me completely for the challenges of teaching as organization, critical thinking and research skills are skills I teach daily.

On a personal note, I married fellow Canisius honor student Brian Kantz at Canisius in October 1997. We have two boys, Brendan, 4, and Patrick, 21 months, who, like their dad, have a love for baseball and can name the starting lineup for the Cleveland Indians. We live in Snyder.

Ken Kraft ‘95

It's been quite some time since I've touched base with each of you. I'm doing well. Still living in Las Vegas and still with ClientLogic. I am a Sr. Account Manager responsible for two accounts that last year accounted about $33 million in net fee revenue.  I'm not sure if I told you, but with the exception of the next six weeks, I use my history degree just about every day. I don't regurgitate historical theory or anything like that, but do use the critical thinking, researching and reliance on primary sources just about every day. I am very thankful for the education that I received at Canisius and especially with the History Department.

Greg Dyson ‘99

Do not have much for a bio (since I graduated just 3 years ago) but here is my best summary: I went from Canisius to the University of Michigan pursuing a PhD in Statistics. I have finished a Master's Degree and plan on graduating in one year with a PhD. If you think that History has little to do with Statistics, I agree with you; although a History major taught me how to examine details from multiple perspectives and gave me practice writing long papers.


Steve Seegal, Ph.D. '99

I am now teaching in a tenure-track position in Russian and C/E European History at the University of Northern Colorado, having completed my Ph.D. at Brown University in 2005. I worked as an administrator of part of the Harvard Summer School this past summer, and also taught at the University of Tennessee (for one year) and Worcester State College (also for one year).

On a personal note, I hope to teach some of the historiography and historical methodology courses here in Colorado. The history department program is fairly well developed, and we have over 300 majors and some graduate students. I still have copious notes from HIS 401-402, and remember well our debates on Peter Novick's book on 'objectivity' when it first came out. A decade removed from Canisius, it is all gone to good use!

Please pass along my regards to Bruce Dierenfield, and to all the great Canisius faculty mentors in the two programs.

Maria Wichlac ‘00

I graduated from Canisius in 1999 and then started a job as a researcher for the Environmental Law Unit for the Travelers Insurance Company. As you can imagine, I relied heavily on my history methodology during this job. Currently I am the Manager of Education and Community Relations for AT&T Broadband in the Northeast Region (CT, MA, NH and ME). In my current position I work with many schools and community groups to encourage good corporate citizenship and community development, drawing from the Jesuit motto - "Men and women for others". In addition to my work, I am also quite active in state politics. This summer I completed a certificate program from the Women's Campaign School at Yale. Currently I am the Campaign Manager for a State Representative's reelection race, as well as the Headquarters manager for another state representative reelection primary (this September 10th). I hope to be full time at the Connecticut State Capitol by this winter.

Jill Horohoe '01

 Update:  It has been a long two years since graduating with my BA in history in 2001 from Canisius.  I decided to pursue my studies in history and continued on after graduation to University at Buffalo where I earned my MA in May of 2003.  I also continued to pursue my professional career in banking while working towards my Master's and was promoted to Senior Loan Officer at First Niagara Bank in July of 2002, where I had been working for 2 years.  Recently, I have decided to continue further into my study of history and have accepted a teaching assistantship at Arizona State University where I will be working towards my PhD in Public History.  Needless to say history has been an invaluable and important part of shaping my life since Canisius.  Not only has it brought a better sense of clarity to my future academic endeavors, my professional life has also benefited greatly from the superior communicative and analytic skills I gained through my study of history. 

Tim Gallagher '03 

The main point behind this brief autobiography is to see how life has changed for the history honors students since leaving Canisius, and how the study of history plays a role in it.  In my case the study of history plays a serious role in my life since leaving Canisius.  However before I go into describing my life, I feel it is important to point out three things.  The first is that I believe that simplicity in life can be very beneficial and help make life enjoyable.  The second is that the study of history can easily stand on its own in the realm of academics, issues of debates and reviews, and current social importance.  Third, it is also my firm belief that the study of history can be applied to different areas of studies in order to better understand them, and those who had history classes with me know of my view that history and economics go hand-in-hand in order to see a bigger picture of the world and its history. 

            As for my life since Canisius, during the summer of 2003 I was working on my application package for Buffalo State College’s graduate program for an M.A. in history.  By late June I received my acceptance letter into the program, but I already knew I was accepted because the orientation package came in the mail before the acceptance letter (the mail delivery must have got mixed up or something).  In late July I went to the history program’s orientation, which consisted of an interview with the department chairman.  During the interview the chairman was quite impressed with the history courses and honors program I took at Canisius.  Furthermore, he explained that he knew the faculty members who wrote my two required letters of recommendations and that both letters had put me into high regard. 

            In the fall of 2003 I started my graduate courses, and suffice it to say the study of history has a great influence in my life.  I mean where would I be without it (I chose not to think about it).  Since then I have used my history training from Canisius to do quite well at Buffalo State, and to those who underestimated the importance of proper documentation, well take my grad courses and see how important it truly is.  Now as for my life right now, I am currently working on my thesis using both traditional history studies and the historiography methods developed in the honors program.    

Megan Butters '06

 I am currently a second year student at Villanova Law School.  I worked for the Erie County District Attorney's Office this past summer and I am currently clerking for Judge Ott in the Montgomery County Orphans Court as part of an externship.  I am also participating in a pro bono program that pairs law students with local attorneys in the Philadelphia area, providing free legal services to the elderly, poor, and children. 

The extensive writing and researching skills I developed as a result of being in Canisius' Honors and History Honors programs have greatly helped me in law school and in my work in the legal field.  I felt much more prepared than many students during my first year because of this background.  Please say hello to everyone in the history department for me.!   Good luck with your current students (I am extremely jealous of them and I miss Canisius more than I can say) and take care.

I forgot to mention that I am on Villanova's Moot Court Board.  I think that my experiences writing, researching, and defending my senior honors thesis was a big reason why I was able to make it onto Moot Court (we had to complete an in-depth writing assignment and then later argue our case before a panel during the Moot Court competition this past summer).


Katie Olmsted-McIntyre '06
         
I am currently a 7th grade teacher of Civics and Economics. I also serve as the Social Studies Department Chair. I'm currently working on my Master's degree
from the University of Virginia with plans to graduate this spring. My degree will be in Administration and Supervision. In my spare time I work closely with
American Cancer Society and Relay for Life raising money for cancer research and awareness.

The History Honors program helped me to be better prepared in my classroom. I feel that by having completed the Honors program, I am a better teacher for my
students.