BUFFALO, NY - The College Student Personnel Association of New York State Inc. (CSPA-NYS) conferred its 2022 “Eminence in Mentorship Award” upon Mark R. Harrington, EdD, during its annual conference. Harrington is assistant vice president for student success at Canisius, director of the college’s master’s program in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) and an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership. The “Eminence in Mentorship Award,” which he received, honors a higher education professional who has made meritorious and sustained contributions to the personal scholastic or professional development of undergraduate students, graduate students and/or professionals in the field.
Canisius students and alumni of the HESAA program nominated Harrington for the award. Their submissions described Harrington as:
“ … Someone who is an active listener, leader, supporter, empathetic, understanding and enthusiastic about helping others to reach their goals” and is “ ... Truly committed to helping his students network and develop professionally … so they are uniquely and exceptionally prepared to enter the field of higher education.”
In his role as assistant vice president, Harrington oversees student success and retention efforts with oversight of academic achievement, career development, tutoring services, study center, success and career coaching, veteran affairs, student accessibility services, and NCAA Division I student-athlete academic affairs. He also is responsible for care management through the Cura Personalis Team, serves as co-chair of the university-wide Retention Committee, and is the founding advisor to Delta Gamma chapter of Tri-Alpha, the national first-generation honor society.
Since joining the Canisius community, Harrington has implemented research-based, high-impact practices to better serve Canisius students. This includes the implementation of a proactive model of academic support, a comprehensive first year experience program, the creation of student success teams for undergraduate and graduate students, adding programming and initiatives for first-generation students, reviving and administering student outcomes analyses, and rethinking retention to help employ effective strategies for academic, financial and engagement student success.
In addition to his role as assistant vice president, Harrington is director of the master’s program in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA). He oversees all internship experiences and teaches courses related to leadership, counseling, advising, strategic planning, and administration.
Harrington earned his bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in counseling and health psychology, a master’s degree in college student personnel administration from Canisius University and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Regis College.
The College Student Personnel Association of New York State is a comprehensive professional student affairs organization dedicated to fostering the development of its members; a diverse community of educators, students and scholars within higher education.
One of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
