BUFFALO, NY – The Canisius University Board of Trustees appointed five new members to fill outgoing positions. The new members will each serve three-year terms, which became effective on July 1, 2024. The Canisius University Board of Trustees formulates and recommends policy to Canisius President Steve Stoute. The new Board of Trustees members are:
• Jack J. Dempsey ’83, of Edina, MN, senior advisor of Norwest Equity Partners and adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas;
• Rev. Jason G. Downer ’03, MS ‘06, SJ (ex-officio), superior of the Jesuit community at Canisius University;
• Jesana D. Gadley ’20, of Buffalo, vice president for community strategy and emerging talent lead at M&T Bank;
• Anthony B. Habib ’95, of Amherst, president of Pellicano’s Marketplace; and
• Crystal J. Rodriguez-Dabney, JD, of Buffalo, senior vice president and chief diversity officer for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Officers for the Canisius University Board of Trustees during the 2024-25 academic year are: Chair Brian M. Murphy ’95, Vice Chair Cindy L. Odom ’90, Treasurer Robert L. Baumet and Secretary Cecelia R. Gotham ’13, MS ’15.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
