By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – For the first time in its history, Canisius College will have a lay president. Canisius has selected one of its own -- John Hurley -- as its 24th president. Hurley is currently executive vice president at Canisius. He's also an alumnus, from the class of 1978.
Hurley will succeed Fr. Vincent Cooke, who will retire at the end of the current academic year.
"Canisius has had a stunning list of accomplishments in the last 16 years," said Hurley. "We have invested $142 million in our campus, we've made the transition to a predominantly residential college and we have a long list of contributions to our community. I look forward to working with the trustees, faculty, staff and students of the college to take Canisius to the next level of excellence in Catholic Jesuit education."
Hurley will assume his new duties on July 1st next year.
Canisius has been run by Jesuit priests since the college's founding in 1870.