Alumni Spotlights
Lisa Kurbiel, ’89: An Influencer for Social Good
January 16, 2020
Lisa Kurbiel, ’89, grew up in North Tonawanda, the only child of a father who served as the town’s plumbing inspector and a mother who was a travel agent. Their Polish, Catholic traditions formed the foundation for a happy childhood spent in the Polish American community of that small Western...
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Alexis Wayne, ’13, M.S.’15: Pursuing a Sporting Career
December 9, 2019
Alexis Wayne’s experience as a student-athlete at Niagara University, coupled with her undergraduate and graduate degrees in sport management, has given her a well-rounded background for her current position as associate commissioner for women’s basketball and Olympic sports for the Metro...
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John Ward, ’80: An Artist’s Life
December 4, 2019
John Ward’s delight in having been able to live his dream for more than 30 years is evident when you talk to him. His stories are punctuated with laughter, and he still seems to be a little in awe of the fact that his career as an illustrator has been so successful and taken him on adventures he...
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Salvatore, ’03, and Jaime (Goodness) Salafia, ’03: Giving Wings to a New Business
November 11, 2019
Salvatore, ’03, and Jaime (Goodness) Salafia, ’03, have been together since the seventh grade, when they met in a home and careers class. They dated through high school and decided to attend Niagara University together to pursue business degrees. A week after they graduated, they married. They...
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Gregory Dixon, BA’08: Sharing Stories from Around the World
October 4, 2019
When Gregory Dixon, BA’08, came to Niagara University from Oswego, N.Y., he had two years of experience doing sports broadcasting in his high school’s public access TV station and planned to continue on that path to a career. As a communication studies major, Doxon interned with the...
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Alexandria Andross Fry, BFA 2001: Telling Stories Through Props
September 20, 2019
In the film industry, theatrical property is as important to storytelling as are the words and actions of the actors on the set. Think of Wilson, the volleyball in “Cast Away,” the leg lamp in “A Christmas Story,” the fuzzy pen in “Legally Blonde,” or Forrest Gump’s box of...
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Megan Hahin, ’11: The Importance of Internships
September 17, 2019
A field placement at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo, N.Y., opened the door for a career path Megan Hahin, ’11, didn’t even know existed.“I originally wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “I was going for history, and I was encouraged by my professors to do...
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JoAnna Roberto, BA’97, M.S.Ed.’00: Relationships and Reflection Are the Keys to Her Professional Success
August 27, 2019
In her role as superintendent of curriculum and student achievement at the District School Board of Niagara, in Ontario, Canada, JoAnna Roberto, BA’97, M.S.Ed.’00, oversees the central curriculum for 79 elementary schools and works with her senior administration team colleagues as well as system...
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Ashleigh Robertson, ’16, Celebrates Her Special Day on Monteagle Ridge
August 12, 2019
When Ashleigh Robertson, ’16, began to make plans for her July 20, 2019, wedding with her fiancé, Alyx Reynolds, she knew she wanted Niagara University to be part of the celebration.“NU was like a home for me,” she said. “I loved spending time there, and I never wanted to leave. I wanted to...
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Stephanie Hobbs, BBA’10, MBA’11: Helping Others Find Their Perfect Job
July 29, 2019
As a college student, Stephanie Hobbs, BBA’10, MBA’11, thought accounting was the right career for her. After working for a few years in public accounting, she realized that her favorite part of the job was assisting her clients, so she shifted her professional focus and now assists accounting...
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