Sherrie Riles-Martin '06 / BS Education
Imagine not being able to wait to get to class. Imagine getting to read the best-of- the-best in books in that class. Imagine getting to talk about these books and comparing them to real life. Now imagine the person facilitating this class in such a way that made you enjoy every minute of it. That’s exactly what you would find in Dr. Robert Butler’s class. I can’t say enough about how influential he has been to me.
Upon entering his class, you couldn’t help but catch the excitement that he had internally, as he anxiously awaited the revelations that his students would have about the selections that he’d chosen for us to read; and even if he didn’t agree with your point of view totally, he was always willing to listen and even change his view a little, if you could prove it, of course.
I remember Dr. Butler always being available to talk more about the book or to help you understand something about it you didn’t. I remember his passion for his job and his unending encouragement to think for myself. Dr. Butler even took my suggestions for readings, some he hadn’t heard of, and used them for his class. I remember thinking as I sat in his class, “If I can be half the teacher that he is when I’m finished , I’ll be a pretty good teacher.”
I’ve put many of the things that I’ve learned from Dr. Butler (patience, passion and love for my craft) into play in my own classroom. I find that my students appreciate me in much the same way I appreciated him. I update Dr. Butler every summer on my newly-ended school year and every summer he provides more encouragement for the next school year. How can you be a better influence than that?
Dr. Butler, thank you for being a GREAT professor and a big influence in my life in the past and the future!
Timothy Hartney '82 / BS Management
As a 1982 graduate of Canisius University, the late Rev. Charles W. Lehmkuhl, SJ, had a powerful influence on me that still exists today. I enrolled in his course, Philosophy of Life, over 30 years ago. From the first day of class, you could tell there was something special about him. Early on in the semester, I had to go up to the chalk board and draw a “picture” of my life. From that brief interaction, I sensed that Father Lehmkuhl not only cared about me as a student but as a person. It wasn’t long after that Father Lehmkuhl became my go-to professor. I’d go to him for help and guidance on school issues, and go to him for anything else that came my way:
Faith: Father Lehmkuhl instilled in me the importance of faith. I’m not sure if it was his mastery of the English language, his cadence or his calm approach to things. No matter what it was, he had the innate ability to make me feel better; that everything would work out. He never said “You need to have faith.” He simply led me down a path and after time, faith just became ingrained in my daily life.
Resiliency: Father Lehmkuhl instilled in me the importance of being resilient. He was suffering from Parkinson’s at the time I took his class. He would have a tough time getting in and out of his chair and writing on the board. It’s important to note that I never heard him complain about the disease. He just kept plugging away, focusing on his students instead. In a world where the common theme or attitude tends to be “You have your problems, I have mine,” I look back and admire Father Lehmkuhl’s attitude now more than ever.
The Paper: I don’t know how many papers I wrote in my four years at Canisius. I just know that one still sits in my office today (and I didn’t even get an “A” on it). It was a paper for Father Lehmkuhl’s class called “Who Am I.” I wrote about a late relative who had an impact on my life. When Father Lehmkuhl returned the assignment, there was a note on the cover that read “Your grandfather sounded like a wonderful person. I wish I had known him.” That one statement meant the world to me.
Who was your Favorite Teacher: When my kids ask me “Hey Dad, who was your favorite teacher,” I respond without hesitation. “That one is easy: Father Lehmkuhl. He was a wonderful person and I wish you had known him.”
JoEllen Alvarez '87 / BS Technical and Liberal Studies
I met Marguerite Kermis on the same day I enrolled at Canisius University. Upon registering for classes, I learned that the semester was already underway and that my first class was to be that very evening. I was a Registered Nurse seeking to earn a bachelors degree and a certificate in gerontology, but I knew very little about the field of aging.
I realized that first evening that gerontology was a rapidly growing field and Dr. Kermis was a strong advocate. Her presentation style was rapid fire and the content was significant and thought provoking. I quickly fell under her spell and continued to register for any gerontology course that she was teaching.
After graduation, I worked as the director of an adult day care program. I loved the work and felt that I was applying everything that Dr. Kermis had taught in the classroom. Her enthusiasm had been infectious and I easily allowed that enthusiasm to power my own energy. Aging was exciting work. I was able to work with bright people who had similar interests and values.
I continued to work in the field of aging for almost 15 years until I moved to the land of perpetual aging, Florida. I again returned to school, this time to study epidemiology. At the age of 57, I received a master's degree in public health. Dr. Kermis had laid the foundation for my understanding that life can be lived to the fullest at every age.
As soon as I graduated, I began working for the Florida Department of Health as an epidemiologist, a position I've held for almost ten years. My job involves tracking reportable diseases, investigating disease outbreaks and communicating important health information to the public.
I love to share health information with the public and use the "Dr. Kermis rapid fire method" of presentation. I think of her every time I'm a guest lecturer at a local university, presenting basic epidemiology on the first class-day of the new semester. I hope I speak with the same enthusiasm that captivated me on my first day of class at Canisius as I came under the spell of Dr. Marguerite Kermis.
Natalia Kuklova MBA '09
We meet many people in our lives – most of them come and go but there are a few who make an immense difference in our lives. The kind of difference you notice and fully appreciate many years later. When you look back and think about those people, it brings back bright memories and you feel lucky to have met them. In my life, that person is Dr. George Palumbo, PhD, professor of economics and finance.
We met at MBA Open House in November 2007 at Canisius University. I just had relocated from Russia to Buffalo and at that time been evaluating my options. Dr. Palumbo instantly gave an impression of an experienced, knowledgeable and caring person. He spoke of the MBA program and we discussed my future plans. When I mentioned I planned to move out of Buffalo in a couple of years, he quickly assessed my situation and advised to pursue one year MBA degree and get a one year work experience. His advice at that transitioning stage of my life and a tough job marker was invaluable. It resulted in me making a right decision which worked out for the best.
In 2008, I joined the MBA program. It was a joy to have Dr. Palumbo as the program director, professor and a coach. He was supportive, encouraging, and his classes were interesting and naturally, very educational. From the first day of class, he always said networking was important and regularly invited speakers to our MBA class, one of whom offered me an internship. This eventually led to my first full time job in the United States.
It’s been four and a half years since my graduation and I am very thankful to Dr. Palumbo. His advice triggered the chain of events that has led to my present day success.
