Skip to Content

Nazareth University

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

Nazareth Commencement speaker Anne McCaffrey addresses graduates on May 12 and 13

Former Lockport Mayor, CEO of Eastern Niagara Hospital, and new CEO of People Inc.

Rochester, NY (03/07/2023) — Anne McCaffrey '89, a civic leader and changemaker in western New York health care, will be Nazareth's Commencement speaker on May 12 and 13, 2023. Nazareth will honor this accomplished alumna and board of trustees member with a doctor of humane letters at Commencement.

McCaffrey was recently named the chief executive officer of People Inc., one of western New York's largest nonprofits with more than 4,000 employees. People Inc. serves more than 12,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, and older adults throughout western New York and Rochester. She takes over the role on March 20, 2023.

She was elected to the school board and common council in Lockport, New York, and was the Lockport mayor from 2014 to 2018. While mayor, she led a reform of the city's ethics policies and led the city out of fiscal distress.

In 2018, she was named president and CEO of Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport, where she facilitated a successful restructuring and transaction with Catholic Health to keep hospital services in Niagara County. Before that, she spent 19 years in various positions at Lake Shore Behavioral Health, now BestSelf Behavioral Health, an outpatient mental health and substance abuse provider in Buffalo. There she led a successful effort to secure funding for the construction and development of Harambee House, Buffalo's first "safe haven" residence for 12 homeless individuals with serious mentally illness.

She is a member of the New York state Legislative Ethics Commission.

McCaffrey received a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in French from Nazareth and went on to obtain a master's degree in public policy analysis from the University of Rochester, with a concentration in health policy.

McCaffrey has served on several non-profit boards of directors and is a member of local service clubs, including Rotary and Zonta. She has received numerous awards, including Elected Official of the Year from the WNY American Public Works Association, Woman in Public Service Award from YWCA of Niagara, Buffalo Business First - Power 100 Women, DeSales Catholic High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, and a key to the City of Lockport.

Media Attachments

Anne McCaffrey speaks at Nazareth College Commencement on May 12 and 13, 2023.

Nazareth College

Julie Long, Senior News & Public Relations Officer | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (c) | jlong2@naz.edu

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • Nazareth University Partners with Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) to Strengthen New York's Health, Behavioral Health, and Social Care Workforce
  • Nazareth welcomes more than 50 high school students from around the region for a mental health field summit
  • Who Am I? Who I Am: The BFA Thesis Exhibition May 2-9
  • Awakening Retreat and Public Talk: Finding Refuge and Resilience in a Turbulent World, May 2, 3-4
  • Nazareth University earns BBB+ credit rating and stable outlook from Standard and Poors
  • Nazareth University announces disability rights activist Chris Hilderbrant as its 2025 Commencement speaker
  • First woman to lead the Vatican City speaks at Nazareth University's Interfaith Centennial Summit, April 6
  • Nazareth University sees record interest in nursing applications
  • NAZARETH UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES CUTTING-EDGE M.S. IN BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
  • FAMILY OF ANNIE MANCUSO ASK FOR NO MEDIA AT HER CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT NAZARETH UNIVERSITY, MARCH 2
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out