- Cynthia A. Zane, Ed.D. will step down in June 2018 -

Hilbert College Accomplishments 2006-17

HAMBURG, N.Y. – Cynthia A. Zane, Ed.D., Hilbert College president since July 2006, announced she will retire on June 30, 2018 ending her 12-year tenure leading the Hamburg college.

She advised the College Board of Trustees of her plans at their meeting earlier this afternoon.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Hilbert College President for what will be 12 years,” Zane said. “It has been a wonderful journey. I will leave Hilbert with a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to have worked with a College community committed to excellence, and with a passion for our Catholic Franciscan mission. I will always hold my memories of Hilbert and the Western New York community close to my heart.”

When Zane was named the third president of Hilbert College, she was the first lay president in the school’s history.

Edward Gelia, Jr., immediate past chair of the Hilbert Board of Trustees, said: “The Board of Trustees is immensely grateful for the leadership Cynthia has provided and for the many accomplishments during her tenure. Cynthia has guided the College during tremendous years of change and growth.”

Gelia continued: “Now, the most important responsibility of the Board of Trustees is the search, selection, and appointment of Hilbert’s fourth president.  The timing of Cynthia’s announcement will ensure the Board can be effective and successful in initiating an ideal succession plan and transition process.”

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, issued a statement upon learning of Zane’s intent to retire following this academic year.

“I have great personal esteem for Cynthia and am grateful for her service to Hilbert College for the past eleven years. She has always strived to maintain Hilbert’s proud Catholic and Franciscan tradition and continuing presence in our diocese. I wish Cynthia the very best in the years ahead especially as she will now have more time to spend with her grandchildren. Of course, I look forward to my ongoing collaboration with Hilbert College,” the bishop said. 

Sr. Ann Marie Hudzina, General Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph and member of the Hilbert Board of Trustees, said: “During her tenure at Hilbert College, Dr. Zane, has tirelessly worked to further making a college education an attainable option to first generation students, following in the tradition of her predecessors.  The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph appreciate all Dr. Zane has done to further Hilbert’s Mission to that end.”  

While president, Zane oversaw the completion of a $3.5 million capital campaign, which included the addition of two new science labs and the renovation of an academic building, Bogel Hall.  She was also president during the construction of Hilbert’s largest residence hall – the 155-bed Trinity Hall.

During Zane’s tenure, enrollment grew to its highest level and the college’s endowment has increased by 55%.  Currently, new freshmen full time enrollment is at its highest level in four years, the student-athlete retention rate is 88%, and Hilbert’s career placement rate is 95.6%.

She spearheaded the acquisition of 12 acres of land contiguous to the campus and added five sports to the college’s NCAA Division III program.  Zane oversaw the successful submission and implementation of a Title III grant focused on fostering the success of at-risk students.  She was instrumental in the addition and development of significant new academic programs including Cybersecurity and Sports Industry Management, at the undergraduate level, and she initiated a charter change amendment process to offer the college’s first graduate degrees.

During her time as president, Zane has served on the boards of numerous community institutions including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, State of New York Regents Accreditation Council, Catholic Health and the Council for Independent Colleges to name a few.  With respect to the Western New York Higher Education Consortium, she worked with women leaders to form the Women’s Leadership Institute.

Zane has been widely recognized for her accomplishments, including being named to Buffalo Business First’s Power 100 Women, which recognizes the most influential women in Buffalo.  She was also selected to Buffalo Business First’s Power 250, which highlights WNY’s most influential people, and she received an honorary degree from St. Bonaventure University.

A native of Johnstown, Pa., she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Saint Xavier College, completed her master’s degree in nursing at Rush University, and earned her Doctorate in Education at Northern Illinois University.

Zane plans on being full time to her husband, Stephen Mazurak, who recently retired as a professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and has commuted from Detroit to Western New York for the entirety of her Hilbert tenure, and she plans to spend more time with her 10 (soon to be 11) grandchildren after she retires.

-- www.hilbert.edu --

Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 900 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college’s engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college’s first graduate programs and adult and evening programs geared toward working adults.