Canisius University president returns from temporary leave of absence

Canisius University announced Tuesday that President Steve Stoute will be returning from his temporary leave of absence this week to resume his leadership duties. Stoute began his leave of absence on March 23 to support and care for a member of his immediate family who was facing a serious health issue.

“We are grateful that circumstances now permit President Stoute’s return to campus, and we thank the community for respecting his privacy and that of his family during this challenging time,” said Brian Murphy ’95, chair of the Canisius University board of trustees.

During President Stoute’s leave of absence, Vice President for Student Affairs Harold Fields, Ed.D., “provided exemplary leadership as officer-in-charge, working seamlessly with the senior leadership team to ensure university operations and initiatives continued to move forward without interruption,” Murphy added. “On behalf of the board of trustees, I extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Fields for his service during this period.”

Canisius University is a private, Catholic, Jesuit university in Buffalo. Founded in 1870, it is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the premier private university in Western New York. Through its seven schools and colleges, Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs, 65 master’s programs, and a variety of professional degrees.