Alumni Spotlights
James Lioi, ’15: Taking a Meaningful Detour
June 12, 2017
Like most students who aspire to careers as physicians, James Lioi, ’15, applied to several medical schools during his senior year in the biology program at Niagara University. Unlike his peers, however, James’ path took a slight detour when he decided to take on a year of service in...
More →
Adrienne Kasbaum, ’12: Keeping NU Students Healthy
March 2, 2017
When Adrienne Kasbaum, ’12, was a student in Niagara University’s nursing program, she loved the campus environment. Today, as director of NU’s Student Health Services, she still enjoys the beauty of Monteagle Ridge, as well as the people with whom she works and the students she...
More →
Jodie Papa, ’05: Making a Name for Herself
January 3, 2017
At 34, Jodie Papa, ’05, has already achieved success in the male-dominated field of public insurance adjustment. And, although she is following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, industry icons Ron Papa, ’74, and Frank Papa (president and chairman of National Fire Adjustment Co.,...
More →
Sara Vescio, ’00: Community Changemaker
January 3, 2017
For some, the journey of life is on a winding road, filled with false starts and abrupt stops, wrong turns and do-overs. For others, like Sara Vescio, ’00, the path is straight, the direction clear, and each sojourn along the way prepares them for their next destination.Sara grew up on Grand...
More →
Kyle Bajor, ’13, Joe Hotchkiss, ’14, and Michael Lewis, M.S.Ed.’08: Restaurateurs in the Power City
October 13, 2016
It’s not often that a class assignment leads to a career. But when business management majors Kyle Bajor, ’13, and Joe Hotchkiss, ’14, developed a business plan for a deli and sandwich shop in a business course during Kyle’s final semester, it started them on the path to entrepreneurship....
More →
The Librarians
October 6, 2016
Three NU Alumnae Help Meet the Informational and Lifelong Learning Needs of the Niagara CommunityNU alumnae Samantha Gust, M.A.’11, Melissa Langridge, M.S.Ed.’15, and Bridget (Schumacher) Doloresco, ’04, are three of the Niagara library’s six full-time librarians. Having an NU degree on...
More →
Elizabeth Siematkowski, M.S.Ed.’11: Sharing Buffalo’s Stories
September 27, 2016
As a former competitive figure skater, Elizabeth Siematkowski, M.S.Ed.’11, knew the importance of self-care and personal wellbeing. She also knew that the college years were an especially important time for young men and women and wanted to help them navigate the life issues, concerns and...
More →
Vincent Frazzitta Jr., ’87: Following Destiny
August 31, 2016
Vincent Frazzitta Jr., ’87, believes in destiny. It’s what led him to Niagara University, he says, explaining that, when looking for information on Syracuse University, he discovered an NU admissions brochure that had been misfiled. After finding out more about the university and its programs,...
More →
Matthew Schelter, ’05: The Cheesecake Guy
July 28, 2016
In the back of his mind, Matthew Schelter, ’05, always knew he’d own his own business some day. But after graduation, he entered the corporate world and worked his way up the sales ladder at Verizon Wireless for nearly nine years. When the opportunity to take on a new challenge, that of business...
More →
Ann Sumner, ’73, M.A.’75: Teaching in Turkey
June 28, 2016
Ann Sumner had no plans to become a teacher when she enrolled as an English major at Niagara University. She aspired to be an academic, like her favorite NU professors. But to earn money for her master’s degree, she took a job as a substitute teacher in the local high school and found she had a...
More →