As Daemen University prepares to enter its 80^th year, President Gary A. Olson and his Cabinet remain focused on implementing three recently released five-year plans: a strategic and master plan, as well as a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Consecutively launching three pivotal campaigns is a major accomplishment in which Olson revels. “Creating and executing one extensive plan is a feat in itself. We launched all three plans in one year, which is a testament to our dedicated faculty and staff and our institution as a whole,” he said.

Daemen’s first comprehensive campaign, Drive to 75, which launched in 2017, exceeded its $22 million fundraising goal by $4.5 million. The ambitious goal of the current comprehensive campaign, Moving Forward: The Campaign for Daemen’s Future, is $40 million, which Olson is confident the institution will reach, and likely exceed.

“The comprehensive campaign has started off in a robust way and many donors have stepped up to express their support,” said Olson. “Daemen Day of Giving brought in over $104,000 and we anticipate that, by this fall’s Gala, we will be well on our way toward our goal.”

Olson and his wife, Dr. Lynn Worsham, are leading by example, having pledged their second $1 million in a bequest to the institution—they donated their first $1 million during the 2017 campaign. “We believe in Daemen and its momentum and we want to do our part to ensure a promising future for generations to come,” said Olson. “We also hope to serve as an example to inspire others to give back to this institution that has contributed so much to the community.”

Funds raised by the comprehensive campaign will help Daemen create a sustainable future by strengthening student support, including scholarships, health and wellness, and study abroad opportunities; creating a campus of the future that modernizes learning and living spaces, enhances technology, and offers robust athletics; and advancing academic excellence through cutting-edge laboratories, ground-breaking research, and AI readiness.

Maintaining Momentum

The development of Daemen’s strategic plan, Maintaining Momentum, was led by Co-Chairs Joelle Carroll, chief of staff; Dr. Lisa Parshall, distinguished professor of political science and prelaw advisor; and Dr. Mimi Steadman, vice president for strategic initiatives.

They collaborated with a steering committee and five working groups, focusing on five strategic priority areas: rigorous academics, university life and climate, community engagement, university infrastructure, and fiscal stability.

Daemen accomplished significant milestones over the course of the 2020-25 strategic plan, including the creation of three academic colleges; the addition of Saffrin Public Square; the naming of the Scott Bieler College of Health Professions, the Alfiero School of Business, and the Golisano School of Health & Human Sciences; and the opening of the Timothy M. Kennedy Institute for Mobility Innovation & Technology, among others.

“So much of the last strategic plan was accomplished, which set us up for continued success,” said Parshall. “The bones of that plan were instrumental in charting the course for our current strategic plan, and we built on those strengths.”

Rigorous academics and new academic program development were critical to enrollment during the last strategic plan period. “The launch of new graduate and online programs helped Daemen stabilize and grow enrollment during the pandemic,” said Steadman. “The new strategic plan also prioritizes efforts for continued development of new mission-aligned programs that meet market needs and create opportunities for new student populations.”

Collaboration is core to Daemen’s culture, and it’s no surprise that it’s a key component of the strategic plan. “It’s not one person’s plan or one unit’s plan,” said Olson. “It’s the plan of the entire university. It’s essential that members of the entire university be involved in creating it and administering it after it’s complete,” he said.

The strategic plan guides the development of a new master plan as well as division and department-level strategic planning. “A solid strategic plan charts the way forward for the next half decade,” said Carroll. “This plan is an excellent blueprint for how we continue the momentum that we’ve established.”

Building on Momentum

Daemen has been intentional in its development of the master plan, Building on Momentum, as the institution continues to navigate the enrollment cliff. “While we’ve had two good years, we don’t know what the next three years will bring,” said Olson. “We’ve decided to turn our focus to improving, renovating, and modernizing the facilities that we have and to further position the campus to meet whatever challenges we may face over the next five years.”

Campus-wide priorities will be executed in a phased approach, with enhancements made to key buildings, including Daemen Hall and Canavan Hall, the development of the Anatomage Anatomical Sciences Resource Room in Schenck Hall, HVAC upgrades, and various facilities renovations. “These were already identified priorities prior to the beginning of this plan, and some renovations had already begun,” said Olson.

In May 2025, Daemen reclaimed Daemen Hall, which had been used by a local nonprofit since 1991, and renovated key spaces on the first floor, creating an inviting bistro for receptions, meetings, and events, and transforming the theater into an auditorium for academic use.

Olson appointed a high-level steering committee to conduct a thorough assessment of the remaining space in Daemen Hall, focusing on additional first-floor space and the entire second floor, including the addition of an elevator for accessibility. “After assessing the committee’s recommendation, I am pleased to share that the building will become the new home of the physician assistant program,” said Olson. “This will enable us to consolidate the department into one building, featuring state-of-the-art instructional spaces with room for continued expansion and growth.”

Residence hall enhancements remain a key priority to support ongoing student engagement and recruitment and retention initiatives. “We’ve made renovations to Canavan Hall in recent years, though additional enhancements to modernize living spaces and furnishings are needed to accommodate student expectations and institutional standards,” said Dr. Kerry Spicer, vice president for student affairs. 

The development of an Anatomage Anatomical Sciences Resource Room in Schenck Hall will enhance instructional capabilities for health professions and natural sciences programs. This dedicated, technology-enabled space for experiential learning that mirrors professional practice will strengthen program rigor and support enrollment growth.

Daemen relies on donors to bring all master plan initiatives to fruition. In fall 2023, Daemen named Saffrin Public Square in honor of Trustee Paul Saffrin, who dedicated a $2 million gift to replace the parking lot between Duns Scotus and the Yurtchuk Student Center with a traditional campus quad. “This transformation has made a world of difference to our entire campus community,” said Olson. “People have told me that the quad has helped them to slow down and take time for themselves. When the parking lot was there, I think it built tension as students crossed campus. Now, they have this beautiful green space to enjoy. I am delighted that we were able to create this for them.”

Members of the Daemen community have been collaborating together with a common goal: to position Daemen and its graduates for a prosperous future. “We are better positioned than ever to become stronger academically, stronger as a campus, and stronger as an institution of national distinction,” said Olson.