St. Bonaventure University
Housing, Residence Life & Dining
With 81% of our students living on campus (96% of freshmen), residence and dining halls come alive with activity each day.
Housing, Residence Life & Dining
Student Services
Our academic and personal support services help students succeed in and beyond the classroom.
Student Services
Health, Safety & Conduct
From physical and emotional health to 24/7 campus safety, we support student wellbeing every day.
Health, Safety & Conduct
Career Planning
Our Career and Professional Readiness Center helps students explore careers and build skills for success after college.
Go to CPRC
University Ministries
We welcome students of all religious affiliations to participate in a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth, service learning, social action and community building.
University Ministries
Clubs & Organizations
Joining a club or organization, and we offer more than 50, is a great way to make new friends, develop leadership skills and pursue your passion.
Clubs & Organizations
Activities & Recreation
The Center for Activities, Recreation & Leadership provides plenty of opportunities to keep you active, engaged and playing the games you love.
Activities & Recreation
What we stand for
We strive to walk in the footprints of St. Francis by cultivating a campus culture where everyone feels valued & supported.
Learn more
Arts & Events
The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts headlines a rich array of campus events and activities.
Arts & Events
Student Voices
"The best feeling you can ever get is when you show kindness to others."
Bona grad and Ghana native, Paul Nana Afful, volunteered at SBU's Warming House soup kitchen, one of many service opportunities available at SBU.Social Action Programs
News & Events
Retchless named vice president for Advancement at SBU
Jun 22, 2026
Lindsay Retchless, currently serving as chief of staff to the president and interim vice president for University Advancement, has been named vice president for Advancement at St. Bonaventure University.
Retchless will retain her role as the president’s chief of staff. The structure is designed to more closely connect the work of the President’s Office with the university’s fundraising, alumni engagement and long-term priorities.
“After witnessing Lindsay’s ability to work with our Advancement team to achieve our stretch goals this spring, it was clear that Lindsay is the leader who will take us to the next level in fundraising and alumni engagement,” said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, university president. “The search process made clear that Lindsay’s experience, leadership style and deep understanding of St. Bonaventure’s mission position her well to lead us into a stronger future.”
Since her appointment as interim vice president, Retchless has worked closely with Advancement colleagues on successful Giving Day efforts and year-end fundraising strategies that helped the division exceed key annual goals — approximately $3.1 million for The Bonaventure Fund and $1.3 million for the Bonnies Athletic Fund.
She also helped launch and lead the St. Bonaventure Golf Invitational at Pinehurst with Board leadership and Advancement colleagues. Now in its second year, the event has generated more than $1.4 million for the university’s endowment.
“Lindsay has a unique ability to connect institutional priorities with philanthropic opportunity. We are confident that her leadership will strengthen the alignment between our strategic vision for Bonaventure and the philanthropic plans, partnerships and resources needed to advance it,” said Luke H. Brown, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees.
Gingerich said the structure reflects the importance of connecting the work of the President’s Office and University Advancement around the priorities that matter most for the university.
“Lindsay brings the judgment, institutional knowledge and collaborative approach needed to help move important work forward,” Gingerich said.
Retchless has been with St. Bonaventure since 2020, first as assistant director of Alumni Engagement, and then as director of Alumni Engagement after the retirement of Joe Flanagan in 2022. She has been Gingerich’s chief of staff since August 2024.
As chief of staff, Retchless has worked closely with the president, Cabinet and Board of Trustees on university priorities, presidential communications, governance support, donor strategy, government relations and cross-campus initiatives.
Retchless has spent more than 25 years in advancement in higher education, building relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers and university partners through roles in alumni engagement, communications and fundraising.
Prior to joining St. Bonaventure, Retchless was director of Alumni Relations at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where she led alumni engagement strategy, worked closely with donor prospects and volunteers, launched a Student Alumni Association, and partnered with Advancement colleagues on fundraising and campaign priorities.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving St. Bonaventure in this expanded role and to work alongside the Advancement and Alumni Engagement team every day,” Retchless said. “Bona’s is a university I love deeply, and I’m honored to help lead this work at such an important time.
“Our alumni, parents and friends believe in the Franciscan values that define St. Bonaventure and in the students whose lives are changed here. I look forward to working with them — and with our talented team — to build on that commitment and strengthen the university’s future.”
Retchless holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in International Management from Pitt-Bradford and a Master of Public Policy and Management degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a former member of two boards of directors: Leadership McKean and Interfaith Caregivers.
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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).
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Francis: A New Oratorio by Richard Danielpour
Experience the world premiere of Francis, a powerful new oratorio by acclaimed composer Richard Danielpour inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi and commemorating the 800th anniversary of his death. Featuring a libretto by Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. Led by JoAnn Falletta and featuring Claudia Christian as narrator, the performance brings together the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus for an unforgettable musical experience.
Sunday, October 11 | 2:30pm
- Kleinhans Music Hall
3 Symphony Circle
Buffalo, NY 14201A special ticket price of $40 is available for seats labeled pink and dark blue on the seating chart. Use promo code FRANCISJUBILEE when purchasing tickets online, or call the BPO Box Office at 716-885-5000 and mention the promo code. Tickets on sale now!
Before the Performance:
A Special Bonaventure Luncheon (NEW TIME 11:30AM)Join Sr. Margaret at Marcato by Oliver’s at Kleinhans Music Hall as she shares reflections on bringing the oratorio to life. The luncheon is free, but registration is required by Oct. 5. Performance tickets must be purchased separately.
RESERVE YOUR PLACE AT THE LUNCHEON
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Rochester Mountain On The Road
Thursday, October 15 | 6:30pm-8pm
Our Lady of Mercy School
1437 Blossom Road
Rochester, NY
For more than 20 years, St. Bonaventure University and Mt. Irenaeus have brought the spirit of the Mountain to alumni communities across the country, creating opportunities to reconnect, reflect and share in the Franciscan tradition.
Each gathering offers a taste of the Mountain experience, including a prayer service or liturgy followed by time for conversation and fellowship. It’s a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, make new connections and experience the welcoming sense of community that makes the Mountain so special.
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Explore SBU your way! Next option:
Explore St. Bonaventure your way with campus tours, Discovery Days, Open Houses and personalized visits this fall!
Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions Discovery Day
Friday, Oct. 16Fall Open House
Saturday, Oct. 24
Schools of Communication and Education Discovery Day
Friday, Nov. 6
Jandoli School of Communication | School of Education
Veterans Day Discovery Day, featuring the School of Business
Wednesday, Nov. 11
LEARN MORE ABOUT VISITING SBU
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2026 Hellinger Award
The annual Hellinger Awards Ceremony honors the Jandoli School’s top graduates and recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding alumni. We look forward to honoring 2026 Hellinger Award recipient David Scibilia, honorable mention Conor Amendola, Alumnus of the Year Dr. Michael Hill and welcoming keynote speaker Lisa Wilson, a groundbreaking sports journalist and editorial director at The Athletic.
Aloft Hotel, Grand Aeries Room | 500 Pearl Street | Buffalo, NY 14202
Reception and open bar at 5:30 p.m. | Program at 6:30 p.m.
There is a hotel block at the Aloft, providing convenient access to the event and accommodations. You can make your hotel reservations here through Sept. 25.
For questions about sponsorships or advertising, or to arrange a payment method other than credit card, please contact Ashley Childs at achilds@sbu.edu
Registration and sponsorship information is now available here.
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St. Bonaventure MBB vs. Penn State
Join fellow Bonnies to root on the men’s basketball team as they face Penn State in an exhibition game at the Key Bank Center in Buffalo, NY at 4:00 p.m.
All courtside seats (first row) and floor seats on risers (second row) in sections 1-10 include access to the 1970 Club located behind Section 123. The 1970 Club will include a cash bar that will open at 1:30 p.m. and food served at 3:00 p.m.
Additional pre-game reception information will be announced soon.
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Bonnies vs. Penn State Pre-Game Event
Get ready for tipoff with fellow Bonnies alumni, fans and friends!
Join us for a pre-game gathering at The Draft Room inside Labatt Brew House before St. Bonaventure takes on Penn State at KeyBank Center.
Saturday, Oct. 17
1:30–3:30 p.m.
The Draft Room at Labatt Brew House
79 Perry St., Buffalo, NYFREE to attend but registration is required. REGISTER HERE
Enjoy time with the Bona community before heading over to KeyBank Center for the 4 p.m. tipoff.
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Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Q & A Session - VIRTUAL
, St. BonaventureJoin us for a Q & A session to learn more about the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program at St. Bonaventure University! Discover how our innovative curriculum, hands-on clinical experiences, and dedicated faculty prepare students to become compassionate and skilled OT professionals. This session will provide an overview of the program, admission requirements, and the unique opportunities available to our students.
Register here
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Buffalo Mountain On The Road
Thursday, October 22| 6:30pm-8pm
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
845 Kenmore Avenue | Buffalo, NY
Free to attend but registration is required. REGISTER HERE
For more than 20 years, St. Bonaventure University and Mt. Irenaeus have brought the spirit of the Mountain to alumni communities across the country, creating opportunities to reconnect, reflect and share in the Franciscan tradition.
Each gathering offers a taste of the Mountain experience, including a prayer service or liturgy followed by time for conversation and fellowship. It’s a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, make new connections and experience the welcoming sense of community that makes the Mountain so special.