Attorney Joseph M. Hanna of Amherst, N.Y. will be the first speaker of the Spring 2010 Leadership Development Speaker Series at SUNY Fredonia. He will be speaking about his experience with civic engagement and diversity efforts in the Buffalo, N.Y. community.
The talk will take place Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in Williams Center S104. It is free and all SUNY Fredonia students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.
The speaker series, coordinated by Assistant Director of Campus Life and Coordinator of the Leadership Development Program Mark Suida, aims to demonstrate how the students, faculty, and staff of SUNY Fredonia can facilitate positive change in the community.
The speakers were chosen based upon their commitment to leadership, civic engagement, and diversity, as well as their work with youth to make a difference and create positive change in the Western New York community.
At age 29, Hanna became a partner at his law firm, Goldberg Segalla LLP, as well as a recipient of the State Bar’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, presented annually to a young lawyer who has demonstrated service to both the community and the legal profession and has a record of commitment to the traditions of the Bar through public service and professional activities.
In 2008, Hanna began “Success in the City,” a networking event for business leaders, politicians, and members of minority bar associations aimed at recognizing the importance of diversity in Buffalo, N.Y. Also in 2008, Hanna founded Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc., a Buffalo-based non-profit corporation that collects and ships new and used golfing equipment to U.S. soldiers in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to injured veterans throughout the United States to aid in their rehabilitation.
Hanna is a frequent speaker on diversity issues and has written more than 50 articles and chapters for national and state publications on topics ranging from diversity in the law to sports and entertainment law. Hanna received his juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of law in 2005 and his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo in 2002.
For more information regarding the Leadership Development Speaker Series, contact Assistant Director of Campus Life Mark Suida at extension 3143.
