“Known for his generosity and passion for empowering students of all backgrounds, Bassam’s forward-thinking vision has made Ģ����ý a true opportunity college for the greater Buffalo community,” said Sean M. Willett, board chair, Ģ����ý. “We are certainly going to miss Bassam’s leadership, and the board remains focused on finding the right successor to tackle the continuing challenges facing higher education and to lead Ģ����ý forward for future career-minded generations.”

Dr. Deeb has served as Ģ����ý’s sixth president since 2012. During his tenure, Dr. Deeb expanded Ģ����ý’s footprint in Western New York and made it a leader in career-oriented higher education within the region, offering academic and workforce development programs in healthcare, veterinary sciences, and business.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past 14 years in terms of strategic growth of both the institution and our support for students in their pursuit of careers of achievement and lives of purpose,” said Dr. Deeb, “However, it’s time for the next chapter – both for the college and for me personally. There’s still more work to be done and it will remain business as usual at Ģ����ý throughout the search.”

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“After having various discussions with local Catholic education stakeholders, it became clear that Catholic schools, particularly at the elementary level, are facing a pressing challenge to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population and their families,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “As an opportunity college, we understand that sometimes our students need wrap around and support services to help them thrive along their academic pathway. This collaborative initiative will bring that support to the elementary level, to ensure students and families have earlier access to needed resources.”

Ģ����ý will lead this pilot program with the goal of supporting a thriving, cohesive, and enduring Catholic education system in the region. The initiative will provide services that align with the cultural, linguistic, and economic realities of individual communities and offer support in crisis response, grief, housing instability, mental health navigation, and more. In addition, the project will look to connect students and families with appropriate resources and seek the input of existing, successful family support centers in the local public-school sectors.

“This partnership strengthens our ability to meet students and families where they are,” said Joleen Dimitroff, superintendent of Catholic elementary schools. “We are deeply grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for its investment and to Ģ����ý for its leadership in expanding access to critical supports that help every child flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually within our Catholic schools.”

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the United States and the largest foundation focused exclusively on healthcare across New York State, provides grants to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of diverse communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services.

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“Our Commission continues to reflect those who value and believe in the power of accreditation,” said Commission President Heather F. Perfetti. “We continue to see nearly 90 annually expressing interest in becoming Commissioners because of the way we center students and demonstrate a commitment to rigor and quality for our higher education community.”

Dr. Deeb joins the Commission from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, to fill an expired term. He has served as a peer evaluator for the Commission since 2012.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Secretary of Education since 1952. As an accreditor and member of the regulatory triad, MSCHE assures students and the public of the educational quality for its over 500 institutions of higher education.

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Ģ����ý announced the appointment of Michael Konopski to dean of enrollment management.

“As Ģ����ý focuses on enhancing our student recruitment efforts, Mike’s experience in growing enrollment will be integral to developing both near and long-term strategic enrollment plans for the college,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “He has more than 20 years working in the Western New York higher education space and understands the needs and challenges of our community when it comes to meeting enrollment goals.”

Konopski brings nearly 40 years in higher education enrollment management to his new role with Ģ����ý, having held enrollment leadership positions at Niagara University, D’Youville University, Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, Shepherd University in West Virginia, and Georgetown College in Kentucky. Konopski most recently served as vice president of enrollment management at Transylvania University in Kentucky.

Konopski has served as past president of both the Kentucky Association of Secondary and College Admission Counselors and the National Catholic College Admission Association. He earned a master’s degree in student personnel administration from SUNY Buffalo State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Geneseo.

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Today, Ģ����ý announced the promotion of Jennifer Blickwedehl, Ph.D. to chief academic affairs officer. She takes on the role from Richard Linn, Ph.D., who recently retired.
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“Congratulations to Jenn on this well-deserved promotion,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “As the Ģ����ý team strives to create a more holistic and integrated approach to academic life, Jenn’s experience will be instrumental in encouraging partnerships between programs and support offerings to set our students on the right path for both academic and career success.”
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As chief academic affairs officer, Dr. Blickwedehl leads all academic matters at the college, shaping the institution’s academic vision while fostering collaboration and a more unified approach for student success. The academic affairs area integrates academic programs, student learning support services, and registrar functions. Dr. Blickwedehl joined Ģ����ý in 2010 as an adjunct instructor, progressing to professor and associate dean of curriculum and instruction and program director of general studies. She most recently served as Ģ����ý’s associate vice president of academic affairs, and program director of general studies, biology, management, and healthcare management. Dr. Blickwedehl earned her Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from University at Buffalo and her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Westminster College. A resident of West Seneca, Dr. Blickwedehl serves on the advisory board for West Seneca Central Schools Academy of Life Science.��

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Today Ģ����ý announced it has named Melissa Masters Brinson to the newly created role of chief external affairs officer.

In this position, Brinson will oversee the college’s external affairs team, including marketing communications, institutional advancement, grants, and workforce development, to strengthen partnerships and advance college initiatives that drive community and workforce engagement.

“Melissa’s diverse mix of extensive private and public sector experience combined with her knowledge of the community will help us explore new opportunities and strengthen relationships while remaining committed to Ģ����ý’s focus on providing the right academic pathways to address the evolving needs of our local workforce,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý.

Brinson brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in business strategy and communications, including fostering relationships that support organizational growth. She most recently was vice president, business development leader at CannonDesign, and previously held positions with Millington Lockwood and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Earlier in her career, she served as chief of staff to the Erie County Comptroller and as town clerk with the Town of Tonawanda.

Added Jason Konesco, executive vice president, Ģ����ý, “In addition, Melissa also brings significant education-related knowledge to her new role, having served more than 14 years as a governor-appointed member of the Buffalo State University’s board of trustees and as president of the Kenmore Tonawanda Union Free School District for six years.” 

Brinson currently serves as president of NAIOP, Upstate New York Chapter, as vice president on the Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust board of trustees, and chair of the Western New York Heritage Press board of directors. In addition, she serves on the board of the Buffalo Sunrise Rotary Club and on the Amherst Chamber of Commerce economic development and public policy council. Brinson earned her M.B.A and bachelor’s degree from University at Buffalo. She resides in Buffalo.

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Limited opportunity for first-time nursing students to lock in the current tuition rate

Today Ģ����ý announced it is offering a tuition freeze for students starting their associate degree in registered nursing this fall.

Students who commit to the RN program starting fall 2025 as a first-time freshman (either part-time or full-time) will have their tuition rate frozen* while they remain enrolled at Ģ����ý and complete both their associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Upon earning an RN degree, students will automatically be accepted into the bachelor’s degree program and receive the locked-in tuition rate they have been previously paying. This is a limited-time opportunity, with applications due by July 15, 2025, for the fall 2025 semester. 

“As the high demand for qualified nurses continues to rise, this ensures tuition stability for students who are dedicated to receiving a four-year nursing degree,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “Further, this program offers students the flexibility to work as an RN while they continue their education to complete their bachelor’s degree.” 

For more details on the tuition freeze opportunity and Ģ����ý’s nursing application, visit Ģ����ý.edu/TuitionFreeze.

*This freeze applies to tuition only and does not��apply to any College or miscellaneous fees (late fees, clinical fees, lab fees, etc.).

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Ģ����ý was ranked in the top one-quarter of 4,500 colleges and universities for return on investment by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce.

Ģ����ý also has been designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications, which recognizes institutions that can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success. Ģ����ý was recognized with the Higher Access, Higher Earnings classification. Further, Ģ����ý received an institutional classification for nursing, showing that the college offers the most degrees related to this academic program.

“As part of our mission of being an opportunity college, we have long served a demographic of students who in many instances work part-time and are raising their own families,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “These rankings solidify the work we do every day to provide the resources and supportive environment our students need to help them reach their academic goals and pursue a career pathway that allows them to make a difference in their own lives, while contributing to the workforce needs of our community.”

The Georgetown University studies 4,500 colleges and universities by return on investment. According to the study, A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges finds that bachelor’s degrees from private colleges, on average, have higher ROI than degrees from public colleges 40 years after enrollment. Community colleges and many certificate programs have the highest returns in the short term, 10 years after enrollment, though returns from bachelor’s degrees eventually overtake those of most two-year credentials.

Researchers used data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scoreboard database, including earnings for students several years after enrolling, average net price at each institution and the type of degree a collage most commonly awarded.

The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.

In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.

Institutions were assessed on two measures: one for access, which is based on the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants and the percentage of undergraduate students who are from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds, and one that is based on undergraduate students’ post-attendance earnings eight years after entering the institution.

The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities. More information about the 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found . 

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education.

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New role fulfills the College’s commitment to financial education and mission

Today Ģ����ý announced the appointment of Jerry Inglet to program director for workforce development, financial health and education. In this new role, Inglet will oversee financial health and education initiatives within the college’s workforce development arm, effective March 31.

“Ģ����ý is excited to announce Jerry’s appointment to our workforce development team. In this new position, he will not only provide financial education to Ģ����ý’s students but will also establish partnerships with local marriage and family therapists, registered investment advisors, financial planners, broker-dealers, wealth managers, community banks, accountants and divorce attorneys,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Ģ����ý. “Through these collaborations, Jerry will help develop and offer financial therapy, financial education for college planning, and family governance for business owners.”

With more than 25 years of experience in finance and more than 10 years in higher education, Inglet most recently served as a senior family legacy advisor for Wilmington Trust, where he provided financial education, financial therapy, family governance support, and guidance on the financial aspects of the college planning process for families. He is a Certified Financial Therapist and Accredited Financial Counselor.

“I hope to help as many people in WNY as possible to think more critically, feel more confident, and behave more intentionally with money,” said Inglet. “Ģ����ý has a strong commitment to training students for careers in healthcare, and financial health aligns closely with the college’s current goals and offerings in the healthcare space.”

Inglet earned a doctorate in educational leadership from D’Youville University, two master’s degrees from University at Buffalo in school counseling and urban policy, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Xavier University.

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New position serves as college’s second ranking officer

Konesco will work closely with Dr. Deeb in pursuing and addressing key strategic efforts to ensure long term sustainability for the college. In his role, Konesco will administer the functions of workforce development, grants, business development for credit and non-credit offerings in collaboration with academic leadership and enrollment and enhance external community partnerships. In addition, Konesco will work in collaboration with members of the President’s Council to provide primary administrative leadership, direction, and evaluation for all activities of the college in addition to acting for the president in his absence as the college’s second ranking officer.
 
“As an education enthusiast, I am excited to take on this new challenge and new role at Ģ����ý during this critical point in higher education,” said Jason Konesco. “I plan to be proactive, while remaining adaptable and flexible in making critical decisions that align with the strategic plan of this fine institution. Additionally, I am thrilled to be moving back to my hometown from Indianapolis to be among family and friends while I pursue my personal and professional goals.”
 
With more than 25 years of experience in education, Konesco most recently served as president, investor and board member of Perceivant, Inc., an interactive and educational software company that changes the way college students learn and instructors teach. He is also the former CEO and co-founder of ClearScholar, Inc. which was acquired by Civitas Learning in 2018. Prior to these leadership roles in educational technology companies, Konesco spent nearly 17 years in higher education as an administrator at Harrison College, including serving as president and CEO of this Indiana-based institution.
 
Konesco earned an MBA in finance from Butler University and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame. He currently sits on two university boards – the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe.

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