S.J. Velazquez: Living Cura Personalis every day

By Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief

Have you ever wondered what being a professional really feels like? As anyone older than 25 will tell you, it’s not fun. However, work can be fun if you make it fun. For S.J. Velazquez, a Canisius alumnus, her work isn’t just about getting a job done, it’s about carrying out the Jesuit legacy that Canisius taught her.

Velasquez graduated Canisius in 2007 with a communications degree as well as a religious studies degree. At the time, Canisius College didn’t have a journalism program, only a sequence within the communications department, so Velasquez found herself in video production, a decision she wouldn’t realize the impact until years later. “I really wanted to go on a religious studies trip to El Salvador while I was a student at Canisius. I convinced Dr. Timothy Wadkins and Dr. Barbara Irwin to let me go, and that I would shoot a documentary about the changing religious landscape of Central America,” said Velasquez. It was Dr. Wadkin’s trip while Velasquez, being in the communication department, but not part of the actual video production program, used her connection with Dr. Irwin, who ran the video production program as the chair of the communication department, to make it happen.

Her religious studies background came from being raised in a Roman Catholic household. Going to Catholic school and Mass every Sunday was normal for Velasquez, but when she came to Canisius and opened up Pandora’s box, she found something that changed her beliefs. Even though Velasquez is an atheist, Canisius’ Jesuit values led her to take a year of service in New York City, N.Y., a place she longs to go back to. “I worked in the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, and I did grant writing for them for a year. I figured it was as close to reporting as I was going to get because I was reporting on grants and putting in grant proposals. It was very good practice in writing facts and working in a non–profit. I love Buffalo, I grew up here, but I miss the Bronx, and that’s why I encourage students to study abroad and step out of their comfort zones,” said Velasquez.

Returning to Buffalo last year was special for Velasquez after working for 10 years in New York City for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as she returned to the place she became the woman and person she is today. As she takes on a new role at Buffalo Toronto Public Media (BTPM), Velasquez strives every day to live out the message that Canisius once taught her: Cura Personalis, care for the whole person. “When I was on my year of service in New York City, I was doing grant writing to help offset the cost of education for kids in some of the most financially, socioeconomically, disadvantaged communities in America. The Jesuit way of serving people who need help is something that I really value, and I carry with me every day,” said Velasquez. Even though there are things she disagrees with, the core of serving others will always be a main point of emphasis for Velasquez.

As I prepare for graduation as many of you do as well, I felt the need to ask one more question about tips and tricks that Velasquez sees in 2026 to help us get that job after graduation. “Pitch your stories now. Pitch it to National Public Radio (NPR) or the New York Times. You don’t need a certification to be a journalist. It’s a piece of evidence that I learned from a Syracuse University professor when I was in graduate school, and it’s stuck with me ever since. If you’re in journalism now, you’re already writing, you don’t need a diploma to prove it,” said Velasquez.

So if you’re sitting on the couch wondering how am I going to find something after graduation, find opportunities and take them. You never know what you’ll find.