Our board members
Candace Darby M.S.W., IIN Certification, Mindfulness Education, Culinary School Experience, and SAG Member. She has had experience as a mental health counselor, an Integrative Nutrition/Mindful Health Coach, a talk show host, and an actress. Candace has since founded Abundant Soul LLC to help support people in reaching their fullest potential. Candace has blogs, weekly newsletters, blogs, e-books, recipe books, challenges, and programs relating to living a more holistic lifestyle.
Shaun P. Stimpson is a Managing Director and Market Executive with Bank of America Private Bank. Shaun leads a team of Private Client Advisors, Portfolio Managers, and Trust Officers across Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo. He is responsible for enhancing the client experience at Bank of America Private Bank by streamlining access to resources, augmenting advisor capabilities, fostering collaboration among team members, and intensifying client outreach.
Shaun plays an integral role with both clients and colleagues; he facilitates a more effective engagement with the services and strategies available through the bank, amplifying the client experience. Shaun fosters an ethos of accessibility, responsiveness and relentless improvement within the Market. A former financial advisor, he understands the opportunities and challenges that can accompany significant wealth. He looks to channel the breadth of local resources and extensive capabilities of the bank, resulting in robust strategies that unify multiple disciplines: investment management, trust and estate planning services, credit and lending through Bank of America, N.A., executive services, family office services and philanthropy. Shaun points to the fiduciary standard as a critical foundation of the bank’s value to clients. Shaun began his financial service career in 2005 as a Financial Advisor at Merrill. In 2008, he moved to Morgan Stanley, where he held successive leadership positions, including Sales Manager and Business Development Manager, ultimately rising to Branch Manager. Shaun joined Bank of America Private Bank in 2014 as a Market Sales Executive.
Fatima Rodriguez Johnson has over 20 years of experience as a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner. She has previously worked as the director of programming with the National Conference for Community & Justice and as an Assistant Dean of Students for multicultural programs and services at SUNY Geneseo. Most recently, Fatima joined the Canisius community as the associate dean for diversity and inclusion where she hopes to make diversity, equity, and inclusion work in the everyday operations of the school a priority.
Prior to joining the college, she served as the director of programming for the National Federation for Just Communities. As the associate dean of students at SUNY Geneseo, she worked to support the experiences of students from diverse backgrounds. This role positioned her to serve as a member of the Equity Taskforce, which partnered with the Center for Urban Education at the University of Southern California. The Equity Taskforce created institutional strategies that addressed racial gaps in student success. Johnson developed and implemented over 35 programs each year reaching over 3500 students and advocated for the creation of three (3) campus cultural centers: The MOSAIC, the LGBTQ Resource Center and the Prayer, Meditation and Reflection Center. She also coordinated the Multicultural Scholars & Mentor program, and advised a number of student organizations. Johnson has received a number of awards for her work including; the State University of New York Outstanding Student Affairs Award for the development of Real World Geneseo (RWG), a high impact practice that combined academic course work, experimental learning and service. This program was also recognized nationally with the 2013 Bronze Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Johnson holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Canisius College, and advanced certification in teaching and leading diversity from the University of Buffalo.
Frank J. Mendicino serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and food services. In his role, Mendicino is responsible for the strategic direction of the Legal, Information Technology, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, and Human Resources functions of Delaware North.
Ken Kujawa is National Grid’s Regional Director in Western New York for Customer and Community Management. He has worked with National Grid since graduating from Canisius College with an M.B.A. in 1990, moving up through client facing roles in the company. He currently ensures that the needs of National Grid’s largest accounts within the WNY area are met, also acting as a primary point of contact for these customers during emergency situations.
Dr. Timothy W. Gordon serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Buffalo State College. Dr. Gordon serves as direct support to the college’s president, oversees various departments including the Office of the Vice President, Athletics, and Residence Life, and works to resolve pressing issues that face the college.
Anaydia Catherine Earle currently serves as a board member for City Year Buffalo, the WNY Women's Foundation, and the Buffalo Seminary, a private school in Buffalo, New York. Previously, she worked in healthcare systems management, leading a team at Hartford HealthCare.
Jennifer Fortune works as a Media Director with FIFTEEN, an advertising and marketing agency in Buffalo. In her role, she uses a data informed approach to design creative marketing and advertising campaigns that meet the unique needs of her clients.
