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State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia Visits NU

  • Oct 22, 2015
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia Visits NU

Niagara University was pleased to welcome New York State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

While on campus, Commissioner Elia met with the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University, along with other presidents from the Western New York Consortium of higher education to discuss higher education and its impact on the region and state.

“It was great to welcome Commissioner Elia to campus today,” said Father Maher. “She is an incredibly gifted educator, and she provided insightful information on the work of educators across the state. She was very gracious with her time, meeting with leaders of community organizations, as well as with faculty, staff and administrators from across campus. We look forward to collaborating with the commissioner and the state of New York on education initiatives.”

Commissioner Elia met with campus leadership at NU to discuss her priorities and interests as the state’s new chief educational officer. The discussion also included serving students with disabilities, preparation of individuals in the healthcare professions, the need for teachers of English as a second language, working in high needs communities, college preparation for P-12 students and STEM fields of study.

Commissioner Elia toured the Niagara campus, including the B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, the Family Literacy Center, and the institution’s new Nursing Simulation Center.